My handgun buying habit is out of control

R

reaganmarine84

New member
Hi. My name is reaganmarine84 and I have a handgun buying-a-holic. Every time I think I'm done,I see a new one that I just "have to have". I'm spending every spare dime on buying handguns. I constantly have one in layaway at Bud's. Sometimes 2 at a time. What good does it do me to continue buying pistols and foregoing buying ammo and paying for trips to the range for practice. And then I have the nerve to complain to my wife that I don't have enough ammo or range time. I need help. I recently discovered the EAA Witness P 9mm for about $300 NIB at Bud's. This is a practical clone of my Bul Cherokee at about $180 less. I gotta have it!!! I've gone so far as to take out small payday type loans,just to buy guns I wanted 'before the price goes up'. Of course this is kinda tongue-in-cheek,but,does anyone else have this type of addiction???:confused::rolleyes:
 
If you're really taking out "payday" type loans then you really may have a problem. I used to buy quite a few handguns, but I never bought one that I couldn't afford to pay for right then and there. I buy very little anymore. I'm pretty content with what I have as far as handguns go. I'm paying on a used SA Mil Spec at the moment, because I thought I might like to try my hand at doing a little customizing, though.
 
It is foolish to have too many different guns. Familiarity of each is what it takes to become an efficient shooter. Have just A COUPLE CHOICE PIECES instead of a bunch of Cr-p. Guns are toys and you do not take a loan out for toys ,,,ever. You are not being responsible. Your collection is more than sufficient .
 
It is foolish to have too many different guns. Familiarity of each is what it takes to become an efficient shooter. Have just A COUPLE CHOICE PIECES instead of a bunch of Cr-p.
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I wish I would have started out that way myself. I never bought any "crappy" guns, but I wish I had about a third of what I have in numbers in favor of some nice custom guns.
 
When you buy a gun you get a surge of dopamine in your brain which makes you feel good, but then it wears off so you need to do it again.

You need to find healthy alternative ways to get dopamine to your brain, like exercising, socializing with people, things like that. Physical intimacy is a huge dopamine producer BTW...

I was so happy when I purchased my Glock 17L that I actually giggled. I was so happy I snagged one, and for a great price! But then that happiness wore off :(
 
Taking loans out for guns may be a problem, but just owning a lot of handgun isn't. I have a lot of them just for the purpose of collecting. I regularly practice with only a few that I use for self defense purposes. The rest are fun guns. Collect away if you can afford it.
 
Lol yeah I second that few better guns are better then bunches of crappy guns.

Like Honestly I think you have your taurii handled. Its true I have no love for that brand (i've seen to much of it fail) but if you took all the money you invest in those you could've had two or three very nice pistols. Technically your BUL and EAA are both copies of the famed CZ75 pistol which im pretty sure is better then both your clones.

I mean no offense to your collection as long as it makes you happy I am just saying you have all the base model guns covered twice over. save up for something fancy now. just my .02

PS i concur don't do the payday advance thing to buy guns. Thats BAD!
 
all i know is what you like now can change. i was buying mostly handguns and now i've been buying military surplus rifles like there is no tomorrow. just dont buy cheap stuff, if you get good quality guns you are not going to lose money if you ever decide you want to change hobbies and want to sell of a few. most people throw their money at things that in the end will have little value, you seen the price of drivers now....sheesh my whole set of clubs didn't cost as much as one of these. as long as you dont go in debt to buy them, keep'um coming and enjoy.
 
I would suggest taking a step back and see why you are buying so many guns. Spending money is fun (unless it's on bills) and it brings enjoyment if only for a short while. Your collection is full of lower end guns, not judging, just making an observation. I was guilty of this as well.

When I started getting into guns about a year ago I wanted the cheapest, reliable gun there was. Cheap and reliable often do not go hand in hand. I bought several guns just trying to find the "right" one. I soon realized that for all of the money I spent on all that garbage I could have bought 2 very nice guns and been done with it.

Cancel your lay-aways, save your money for a nicer gun and take the wife out and do something nice for her. She will appreciate it and it will help you avoid the inevitable crap storm that she will bear down on you for mismanaging money. Trust me, my wife and I have had that discussion and it was not pleasant.

As far as taking out a loan to pay for guns.... bad, bad idea.
 
It is foolish to have too many different guns. Familiarity of each is what it takes to become an efficient shooter.
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Now that's funny right there, I don't care who you are!

That was meant as a joke now, wasn't it?:eek:
 
To the OP

I think most of us here can understand where you are coming from.

I have some ground rules that are not written in stone, but they are just my natural way of doing things. First of all, if I dont have the cash, I dont buy it. Only once did I do a lay-away, and that was because once that gun was gone, the new ones they were to receive were going to be a higher price. I had already decided that was the gun I was going to buy, so I locked it in, paid it off... now it's mine, no big deal.

But when it comes to enjoying your firearms, your dilemma is real.

In my mind there are 3 main bonding experiences we have with each firearm we own.

#1 Owning it...
knowing it is yours, and that you can use it, fondle it, look at it, think about it, even show it off when ever you want. It's a beautiful piece of engineering and is a piece of art to own and behold.

#2 Cleaning it...
Having a physical experience with the gun, dissembling it, cleaning it and lubricating it in your own personal way. Having that time to get to know your gun and appreciate it's workings, construction and beauty. Also reading the owners manual :)

#3 SHOOT IT!...
If your a decent shot, you get to decide things like, "does it shoot low? High? left? right? or is it right on!" You get to feel it with each shoot, subconsciously comparing it to others in your collection. You decide what you like about it, and what you dont. Then you find ways to make yourself deal with the things you dont like so that you can fully appreciate the gun for what it is. Then of course you get to ultimately decide, do I CARE about this gun??? Is it reliable? Does it fill my intended purpose? If not can I change my purpose for this gun so that I will be happy with it? Or is it just a lemon that needs to be as far away from me as possible? OR are you ok with it being a lemon, and who cares, you'll keep it anyway.


As you can see]
#3 is the most involved aspect of owning a firearm (collector firearms could maybe side step #3 to some extent) As you know, you have #1 down really well... but what about #2 and #3? Do you have handguns that you've never even taken out of the box and cleaned?

This all comes down to your own personal satisfaction. As long as you appreciate what you have, your in good shape... if you have more than you can appreciate... make sure to find the balance.

Regardless Enjoy :D
 
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Hope this is not off topic, but I have seen a couple of post about the OP taking loans out. Does BUD's charge interest on layway or did I misread his post and he is taking loans elsewhere?

**edit to say i just now saw the part of the post where the OP mentions using payday loans. Let me add that no matter how much a gun price increases you will still be paying more by using a payday loan. Please do not support the crooks that own the payday loan companies
 
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If you already own several handguns that money you spend on buying more would be much better spent on getting to good training and ammo. I know a lot of guys with a safe full of guns of every type and they really aren't proficient with any of them. I used to buy lots of guns until I started focusing on "upgrading my software" to become a better shooter with what I had through classes and competition. Once I started competing I began to see deficiencies in some of the stuff I'd purchased. I mean some were great guns but I simply didn't shoot them well when it came time to run them fast and hard.

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Payday loans for gun purchases...WOW! I wouldn't even consider that.

I do a whole lot of thinking before I plunk down my cash.

I have on occasion sold or traded a pistol in order to get something else. And there have been times when I had seller's / traders remorse. Like the time I traded my Colt LW Officers for a Glock 36. WHAT A "FRIGGING" MISTAKE. I about cry when I think of that one.

I don't have any safe queens.

Collecting guns is only have the fun. The other half is shooting them.
 
Hey man, its your gun safe and your money. Dont let anyone else tell you what to do with your money. I have occasional flare-ups of G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrone) I recently put in another order with rock river because "I had to have it".

Its ok if you splurge with your money. Its your money. Youre not hurting anyone or anything cept maybe your bank account. Plus it sounds to me like youre a "value shopper" kind of guy. Youre going for pistols in the value priced EAA range. Youre not buying brand new wilson combat 1911s every week. Right?
 
Here's my 2 cents worth: as long as the bills are getting paid and you're not acquiring debt to buy them, have at it if that's what you want. If your debt is mounting as you're buying you need to reevaluate your priorities. Personally I'd rather save up and buy something of higher quality than buy a new gun every payday. Unfortunately for me my priorities don't include buying new guns on a regular basis, I have to save up to buy them which makes the actual purchase that much better. My advice would be to slow down a bit and shoot the ones you already own and get familiar with them before you buy anymore. You can squirrel some money away while you do that to buy something really nice.

Stu
 
When I was young in the 70's I had a fair gun collection. They were for the most part stolen from me. I didn't buy a gun for over 30 years. I had kids to raise and a family to take care of. In the last several years I have been buying guns again. I now have a small but quality collection again.

I understand wanting to buy new guns. I also enjoy that. I would pass on the pay day loan criminals. :):):)
 
and foregoing buying ammo and paying for trips to the range for practice.
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There are less expensive bookends and paperweights available.

Just for a fun twist, try saving up and buying a Colt or a Wilson Combat. I vote quality over quantity. Especially if you are having a difficult time budgeting for ammo and range time.

And you really do need your kidneys! I would recommend keeping both.
 
Sometimes works for me

What sometimes makes that "must have more feeling" go away is to be honest about my level of training - in a hands-on kind of way. How smoothly can you draw, present, aim and dry fire with your carry gun? (when's the last time you tried?) With each of the guns in your collection? - Have you noted how the difference between each of the guns in your collection affects your presentation / gun handling?

Have you (safely) tried dry fire practice in different areas of your home dealing with different scenarios? With each gun? Practice reloads? Failures with snap caps? With a flashlight in hand?

Have you tried downloading a free shot timer app - which also can be used for dry fire practice?

Perhaps if you got your hands dirty again with practicing you may find that to be more than enough fun - and you might appreciate the ones you have.

Or you might find a range where you can rent rather than purchase in order to satisfy curiosity.
 
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