Years go by - tastes change (weird)

[Checkman]

I'm thirty-six now and I've become a big fan of revolvers. I'm also partial to milsurp bolt action rifles, lever action rifles and old fashioned (i.e. - no commando add ons) pump shotguns.

What the heck? I can remember a time when all I was interested in was "evil" assault rifles and semi-auto handguns. Six shooters and lever actions were quaint at best - downright old at worst. I still own a few of my semis, but I've also traded off several in exchange for S&W wheel guns and what not. The whole thing is very strange.

Perhaps it was all the years I spent in the military - I'm burned out. But I like the old fashioned pieces more. Several of the officers that I work with have turned their 870's into the armory and are now carrying Bushmasters and so on. I have done the exact opposite. Once again a Remington 870 is riding in my car. Well my trunk because I'm a detective now and I don't have a rack up front. Nevertheless it's in there.

I don't think I'm the only one who has experienced this. Anybody else out there?

P.S. I carry a Sig 45 and a Colt DS as my back up. Old school and new combined I suppose.

 

[DMK]

I go through phases.

For a while, I'll get into the Black FAL and AR thing, maybe favoring my hi-cap CZ-75 or my CZ-52s. Sometimes I'll get hung on shooting something classic like the Garand and 1911 or N-frame .357. Then I'll get nostalgic and get on a single action wheelgun and lever action kick (always lots of fun! ). Now and then I even like to do the bolt action from the bench rest thing and see just how small I can get those groups, usually trying a few rounds each from a whole stack of different kinds of ammo boxes.

I always seem to cycle back around though even if it takes a long while. I guess that's why my collection keeps overflowing my storage capacity.

 

[444]

I have been into shooting for many years now. Practically my whole life. Over the years my interests have changed many times. Heck, my interests sometimes change daily depending on what catches my eye. I might read a thread on a board like this and be totally into it. Then read something the next day..........................................
This is one of the main reasons that I consider it silly to sell, trade, or "get rid of" guns. I have been through that process before. I get totally into something, lets say milsurp rifles. Then my interest fades so I sell them and get into something else, say, revolvers. Then a year later I am totally thrilled with milsurp rifle except I sold them all. Many times I looked back at stuff I sold and realized that I couldn't replace it. This of course happened to me with the AWB. I owned a lot of that stuff long before the ban, then foolishly sold it only to find out that if I wanted to replace it, it was now five times as expensive. For the last 15 years or so, I just put the guns away that no longer interest me. It never fails that I am happy when my interest changes back to them and I still have them.

 

[manwithoutahome]

I have the same problem. Tastes or wants change. I have just about every caliber in handguns (sans the .40, need to pick up a new one, sold the last one).

Then I got into SKS's. Had to get one from every country that I could.

Then I got into older pistols.

Then I needed ( ) some more .22's.

Now I'm into 1911's.

If (when?) the awb dies, then I've got to get an AK, maybe a FAl.

Then it gets worse, you have to get custom grips. Then night sights, then think about a new blueing, chrome, park., stainless, coating. Then you think about changing out parts (pistol or rifle), new stocks, etc..

Then you get into holsters, what will work for CCW, what looks best, what feels great, what just floats your boat.

Then you start thinking class III, then you start thinking AOW, then you start thinking making your own.

Yup, taste change

Wayne

 

[4v50 Gary]

Guilty.

During college I loved the HK and thought it was the cat's meow. Also liked semiautomatic pistols too (largely due to the infatuation with the 45 ACP). Now that I'm older, for pure fun I enjoy the 22 LR for virtually any type of firearm (revolver, semi-auto rifle, lever action). I also prefer shooting smokepoles now.

 

[Bullet]

It's called your getting older. I've got a few (several) years on you and I find myself selling 44 Mags and buying 22's. Tried macho, now just want a little fun. Lots of firepower doesn't seem to matter so much any more. Just getting outside away from work is at least half the fun. Maybe it's not getting older just getting better.

 

[Spieler]

Count me in the same boat.

I'm 34 and when I started shooting in earnest and collecting guns when I was a teenager it was all about the hi-cap wonder nines and evil black assault rifles. I started with the then new Glock 17, Hungarian AK, SAR-48 and it went from there to HKs, Valmets, ARs, FNC, etc. In the last year I have discovered wheel guns and MISURP rifles of every flavor. And I practically cringe every time I see another tricked out AR or M4orgery or slapped-together CETME or FAL from Century. Don't get wrong, there isn't anything particularly wrong with those if they tickle your fancy, but they don't do anything for me anymore. I think my more domesticated homelife, family, kids, mortgage, bills, etc. plays a role in my current interests too as used wheelguns and old military rifles really help stretch that gun-buying buck for me! Who knows, maybe in a few years I'll be ready for CAS and black powder guns!

 

[GigaBuist]

It didn't take too long for me to realize that the "un-tatical" guns had value and were fun to shoot. When I bought my first gun I was looking for a slick semi-auto pistol. I got a CZ-75B and Glock 21. Then I got an 870 (with the synthetic stock) -- and a year later an AR-15. I got an AK a few months later. Totally sold on EBRs and high-capacity pistols at this point.

I began thinking I needed a bolt action rifle. I wanted something that'd give me some range. I did some research on rounds and I got side tracked into the history of the Mosin Nagant. I didn't even know reasonable prices at this point but I thought it'd be pretty cool to own one.

Well, I was at a gun show a while later and I saw an MN M44 for $130. Yes, it's a bit high (didn't know that) but I grabbed it.

Boom, sold on milsurps after that. Thus began my slide into "every gun is a good gun" thinking.

I went to my last gun show and enjoyed every single firearm on display. Even the crap has some interest to me. Muzzle loaders have interest to me now. Two and a half years ago I was just looking at EBRs and fancy semi-auto pistols. Well, now I want a lever action .357 and wheel gun to go along with it. I really want a 45-70 for some reason unknown to me. Heck I'd think it's nifty to own a muzzle loader eventually. I really should -- they're cheap.

If you'd have shown me a Garand 3 years ago I'd have called it antique and outdated. I've love to have one in my stable today though. That's a fine battle rifle. I didn't know that back then though.

Eventually it happens. No gun is a bad gun. Well, except for those Jennings, Bryco, and Lorcin things

 

[Rexzila]

Yes we all go through cycles. In the eighties I was into wondernines. Now I have gravitated to single stack ie slim guns like Kahr. I have a penchant for old pump shotgus, also. That desire never goes away. An 870 Remmington is one of the those guns that always "feels" right. In the ninties I had my share of "black rifles" that has waned and now I look for lever guns in odd calibers. The older I get the simpler I want my guns.

 

[fix]

The last 2 years have found me leaning more and more towards the simpler things. I have begun to see firearms more as tools than toys, for a number of reasons. The collection is shrinking based on this change in philosophy.