What "floats your boat" when it comes to guns?

[cowboy77845]

"C" engraved SAA or any high relief engraved pistol

 

[Mike J]

My modest accumulation is mostly purpose driven. My first firearms interest was hunting. So I picked up a post 64 (the unpopular one) model 70 in .30-06, a Mossberg model 500 12 gauge & a Marlin model 60 .22. Then I decided I should have something for self protection so I bought a used Dan Wesson .357 for $100 back in the mid 90's. Then a Ruger P94 in .40. I have a few inexpensive .22's and a handful of handguns. I still have the Dan Wesson (it is my only revolver) & the P series pistol. I like it (the Dan Wesson) & my SR 1911 best out of all my pistols but I tend to carry polymer striker fired handguns. I did put together an PSA AR kit back about 6 years ago. I mostly wanted it because they didn't want me to have it. It is fun to shoot & I like to have it around just in case. I just picked up a M&P 2.0 40c on Friday but haven't gotten to shoot it yet. Hopefully tomorrow I will. I intend for it to be my new carry pistol.

 

[DeepSouth]

In short, fine craftsmanship

Sometimes when you hold and look over a gun you can just tell the fit and finish is excellent, the mechanics are smooth, machining marks are nonexistent. You hold it and can tell instantly this a beautifully made machine.

Doesn’t matter much to me what it is, when I spot the quality I admire it and normally desire it. Unfortunately fine craftsmanship is usually crazy expensive.

But compare a old Colt Python to a new Taurus, the instant you hold them you know which is superior.
Look at a LCP and a Seecamp
A Les Baer 1911
A H&K P7
A Shilo Sharps rifle
A Holland & Holland double barrel

If I have to explain it you want get it, but you’ll likely know if you ever hold it.


Yep, what floats my boat is quality I can’t normally afford.
And on the flip side, I hate junk.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Others have written about the hunt. I love nothing better than keeping an eye out for something I’ve been thinking about, happening across it and making a deal for it. My collection is meager, but I also greatly enjoy understanding the relative history behind each gun and what generally makes them tick.

But my small collection is also purpose driven. My shotguns are all used for hunting or clay sports, pistols for plinking and defense, rifles mainly for hunting. They all get used somehow.

 

[AmmunitionDepot]

I love to shoot. For a few years I collected Colt Revolvers but found it too difficult to spend so much money on guns that I couldn't/ wouldn't shoot. More recently I have been enjoying shooting more lever action rifles and single action revolvers. I still very much enjoy my semi-auto pistols and AR's but this has been more fun for me lately.

 

[Five shot groupie!]

Never met a handgun I didn't like, just like some more than others. I've bought and traded a boatload of guns. My latest fetish has been polymer frame lightweights: 32 ACP, .380 & 9's. Overall the 1911 remains my favorite......in .45 ACP.
Naturally.

 

[Obturation]

Big bore revolvers is where my interests currently lie.
Don't get me wrong, I love all types of guns, but that's what is getting most of my attention these days.

Ohhhh yeahhhh!

 

[exbrit49]

Beautifully blued, walnut gripped rervolvers from the 60's and 70's, The Colts, S&W, and the Dan Wesson,s. If in good condition. they float my boat. I have a nice selection and as far as accuracy, whether shot SA or DA, they go exactly where I aim
. Pretty to look at and a joy to (be)hold. got to love em!

 

[Reeferman]

I like all guns. Some I can afford some I wish I could.

 

[Delford]

My interest in guns came late. I was in my early 60s when a friend introduced me and he has a safe full of shooters. He has a nice collection of Ruger SA and DA revolvers and Glock semiautos of various sizes and calibers plus a nice assortment of long guns. Being a frugal guy I like a good value and while Wilson and Les Baer make some fine pieces, I haven't paid more than $400 for any gun I own. Every purchase I made was a good, sometimes exceptional, deal.

I like to shoot my 12ga tactical and initially was surprised how accurate it was for me. Same with my Russian C&R 7.62x54R. I can hit an 8.5x11 target at 250 yards with iron sights, probably farther, but I don't always have access to a rangefinder and sometimes the crops limit where we can shoot. That one is fun for about 20 rounds each time. I bought a .22 semiauto pistol early on and enjoy it but found a Marlin Model 60 makes me happy. It is pretty accurate even in the hands of an older guy. My carry and bedside guns are .45 ACP and I shoot them most to keep sharp.

I have several friends who like to shoot so three or four of us can spend a few hours on the farm trying out CZs, Bersas, Springfield polymers, Glocks, and Ruger Blackhawks and Redhawks. Then out come long guns - Mini 14s, Henrys in .44, M1 Carbines, Remington 870s, Mosin Nagants, AK47s, whatever they brought that day. We've purchased long guns after they've shot mine and I theirs. If I ever go to 9mm I'll spend more than $400 for a CZ 75 after shooting theirs. What floats my boat is the friendship and relaxation and challenge of target shooting and every outing is a chance to improve my skills. Knowing I can hit what I aim at with a variety of guns give me confidence.

 

[SCMikeyP]

Overall, the engineering involved in a tool that internally harnesses the power of an explosion to cycle *near* flawlessly internally and put ranges down range predictably and accurately has always fascinated me.

As for what floats my boat, I love a trusted track record of excellence... I don't jump on the latest and greatest as the options that have proved themselves are more than I can ever afford... I prefer DA/SA or DA hammer fired but won't overlook striker fired options, however I don't go out of my way to pursue them. My biggest turn off is a manual safety... I know you can train around it, but I haven't and don't plan to start.