what should a young gun collector like me get next?

[Justin]

What do you want to do?

Perhaps I'm just getting crotchety, but I've found that it's best to come up with a use for a gun (competition, defense, hunting, whatever.) and then find the best choice to go with that.

 

[mattdus]

I would vote for the Garand myself, I wish I could find one I could affored (am not affiliated with CMP in anyway and can find no practical way to be).
if not the garand I would like the M1 carbine, I have one I got for $600 awhile ago and would gladly sell/trade up to a Garand. (I only go with the carbine from a collectors stand point however, do not recomend hunting large game with one)

 

[50 Freak]

It isn't a gun collection until you have a Garand in there.

Hate to disagree, but it ain't a collection without a 50 bmg.

And hate to tell you, $500 isn't going to get you much in the form of a good "battle rifle" unless you go with a AK clone.

AR's, FALs, G3s, Galils M-14s etc usually are a lot more than $500

 

[Slimjim]

Slimjim, where are these $500 AR's let alone a $500 DSA FAL?

Slightly over 500 dollar AR's.

http://www.model1sales.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=KSE200&storeid=1&image=s20prek.gif
Add a 99 dollar mega, or stag lower, and you come in slightly over 500 dollars.
And the other was just a question.

 

[Titus]

I would vote for the Garand myself, I wish I could find one I could affored (am not affiliated with CMP in anyway and can find no practical way to be).
if not the garand I would like the M1 carbine, I have one I got for $600 awhile ago and would gladly sell/trade up to a Garand. (I only go with the carbine from a collectors stand point however, do not recomend hunting large game with one)

If you have a carry permit, get thee to http://www.vcdl.org and for $15 you should be good to go with the CMP.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Garand. Garand. Garand.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

(am not affiliated with CMP in anyway and can find no practical way to be).

It's actually pretty easy to qualify. You can join the Garand Collector's Association for your membership requirement http://www.garandcollector.org/

You also must shoot a highpower match. Look for matches at www.odcmp.com or do a Google search on rifle or Garand matches in your area.

You also must prove US citizenship - passport or birth certificate.

I think that's it -- and you then cen get nice rifles shipped directly to your home.

 

[mr.trooper]

pesonaly, id say scratch off the 870, as you alread have an HD shotugn in the 500, and use the money to buy a better 9mm carbine.

Also, why get a WASR if you have a VEPR? Especialy if they are the same caliber? Seems a little silly to buy a cheaper version of a gun you would already have. Try using that money for something a little different: like a mint condition, all numbers matching Albanian SKS.

 

[RoyG]

You also must shoot a highpower match.

You no longer have to shoot at a high power match. You just need to show proof of "Marksmanship or other Firearms Related Activity" now. there is a list on the CMP website.

 

[Mot45acp]

get whats comfortable

go to a big gun retailer and play with your potential canidates select the one you want note the price then go to a hole-in-the-wall gunstore and talk to them they will usually order it for cheaper and if not its worth the extra $20 to help keep the small fish around
MINI 14 or 30 most bang for the buck $300 to $400 1000 rounds of 223 or 7.62 wolf or norinco is about $100 good luck

 

[MAUSER88]

Another vote for the Garand. No collection is complete without one IMHO.