I know that everyone here lost all his guns...

SaxonPig

New member
In a tragic boating accident, but when you were buying guns which did you do more often: impulse buy or seek out something specific?

No question 98% of my purchases over the years have been impulse. I saw something and wanted it. Right now I am shopping for a particular piece and it's much harder.

Impulse or methodical for you?
 
Half and half. The impulse buys have mostly been more collect me collectible type guns.

Edited: stupid cell phone predictive text
 
Last edited:
Impulse 20%
Seek out 80%
I have a certain type of gun that I will buy no matter what (44 special) if I have the money. Depending on the gun I have paid more than it was worth. Guns that are no longer made and in very good condition like old S&W’s.
But in most cases I have researched and decided on the next gun then go looking for the best price.
 
Yep

I do not care if they are big or small, if they are for sale heck I want them all!!!


But 60 pec imp, 40 perc specific
 
I was in collector mode for a while,,,

I was in collector mode for a while,,,
But I started out this time in random mode.

Long story short I was an avid shooter as a young man,,,
I owned several mil-surp rifles and a few reasonably nice handguns.

Location, a liberal wife and in-laws, and lack of disposable money,,,
Were the factors that got me down to only one handgun.

I was like that for the better part of 20 years.

I was offered my picks from a rather large collection,,,
The price was too good to pass up,,,
So I purchased six handguns,,,
That was the random part.

Then I got a good job which gave me a disposable income,,,
Then my purchases became deliberate as I was amassing matched sets.

I searched for a model 34 snubbie to match my model 36 snubbie,,,
I sought a Trooper MK-III in .22 to match mine in .357,,,
I hunted down a Model 18 to match my model 15.

Of course there were the random finds,,,
Like the Pristine 4" Model 12 I stumbled across,,,
And a few oddballs like my H&R 929 that was just so danged cute.

For the most part though,,,
They were deliberate purchases to make "sets",,,
Like purchasing a stainless Charter Arms Target Pathfinder,,,
I did this so I could case the revolver along with a stainless Henry Acu Bolt.

The Stainless Charter Arms .44 bulldog was an impulse buy,,,
But It did fit nicely with the other Charter revolver and the Henry rifle.

I enjoy assembling my "sets" of guns,,,
One has to be fairly deliberate to do that.

So I do spend a fair amount of time perusing my Catalogue of Firearms,,,
Just looking to see what is out there that might tickle my fancy,,,
But I'm always open to an intriguing impulse purchase.

So until that oh-so-tragic boating accident,,, :rolleyes:
It was probably 80% methodical,,,
And 20% buying on impulse.

Aarond

.
 
Last edited:
I'd say 40% impulse, 60% researched endlessly before purchase. Have enjoyed impulse and well thought out purchases. Also have had slight problems with both.
 
Most of my purchases are impulse even today, BUT I impulse buy one of two types of guns:

1. A smokin' deal

2. Older Smith & Wesson revolvers.

I don't find many of the second category that I can afford, but I found some smokin' deals on other stuff last year.
 
The first 20 years of my adult gun owning life was all impulse buying. See something neat, buy it, then usually regret it later. The second 20 years of my adult gun owning life has been carefully planned and researched. The last firearm I bought was a little mouse gun, nothing special about it. But, it took me 6 months of looking at shops and gun shows, and hours upon hours of reading reviews on the internet. Almost seems like I was buying a $250,000 house not a $250 gun. But I felt confident it was the one I wanted, I’m very happy with it, and that’s a plus.
 
The only thing that has slowed down my impulse purchases is a lack of disposable income. I'd say my purchases have always been 75% impulse buys. The good news is, I have nothing I really "need". The bad news is all the best deals come along when I'm broke.
 
In a tragic boating accident, but when you were buying guns which did you do more often: impulse buy or seek out something specific?

No question 98% of my purchases over the years have been impulse. I saw something and wanted it. Right now I am shopping for a particular piece and it's much harder.

Impulse or methodical for you?

Early purchases were purpose driven, methodical, and many of these turned into collectors or would be collectors.

I retain a mental list of things that I am interested in in terms of firearms. When an appropriate one becomes available, the actual purchase is almost always IMPULSE driven. Makes it more fun. But the mental list is fairly DELIBERATE.

Basically, I set up a framework of things that I might be interested in. Yes, there are specific models and variations that I seek more, but in general, what I pick up depends on availablity and resources at the time.

Used to maintain a "gun fund". That is not practical anymore considering for the most part my wants are fairly specific now and EXPENSIVE if the decision to buy is DELIBERATE. But, I still impulse buy things like pre-lock Smith revolvers, shooter handguns, and 22 rifles if they catch my eye even if they do not "fit" into my focused interest area. Figure I will be more willing to sell one of these than the core of the collection.

Of late, most of my purchases have been 22 rifles, not part of any conceived collection focus (just shooters), and tend to be less expensive that the things I really want.
 
Obviously collectors seek specific guns. I'm not a serious collector. I buy what speaks to me. The only model I have a lot of are Model 27 Smiths. I like them a lot and have a hard time walking away.
 
Planned and researched.
Then plans changed.
Or a new facet was added or logistics overlapped.
Then more research and plans.
lather, rinse, repeat.
 
Generally, specific - but not always a particular gun. Sometimes, it's more a category thing. Like a D/A revolver in 38 Special, for instance. Or have a group of guns in mind, ranked from first choice, then down the list. I've never come back from a show or an LGS with a gun that I wasn't looking for ( when I have bought one there ).

And no boating accidents - cars, on the other hand.......
 
While most of my gun purchases were purpose specific, thought out and researched, many have been because I came across something else in their pursuit and bought on impulse. That's why I tend to not even look at guns until I really feel the need. Better to not know something is out there than to try and deny it to myself...........:o
 
can't impulse buy due to stupid laws.:mad:

still my first rifle was a impulse, being young I just assumed that you had to have a semi-auto shot, much cooler you know, I should have bought a cheap sbs and had the stock altered to me instead

still it is the rifle I grab most often
 
Back
Top