My handgun buying habit is out of control

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 .
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Thank you, Dad.:D

Actually, having a lot of different guns is a matter of choice, not foolishness. Knowing different operating systems is an assett, not a liability,
and doesn't preclude one from sticking with one operating system for every day carry.

Just my thoughts on the matter--though thoughts shared by John Farnum, whose course I've taken a couple of times, in which every student shot every other students gun as part of the training. Under some circumstances, one may not have the weapon of his choice to fight with.
:cool:
 
Investment

I would not be blunt, but this is a public forum in which you posted. So yes, I do consider that you have a problem which IMO is an issue of potentially mammoth proportions and subsequent irrevocable ramifications.:(

Conversely, two positive points to be noted here::)

1) Self-Recognition of the problem (done). Now address it by stopping until such time that it's under of control.
2) Guns are average to good to perhaps great investments (more so than the markets in some cases nowadays). So sell some for money and catch up whereby your financial predicament is ameliorated.

-Cheers
 
Pay day loans for guns is a bad idea. I'd suggest that you reel in your shopping and spend some trigger time with what you have. Don't get me wrong, new guns are fun, but actually shooting them is pretty damn fun too.
 
Wow. If I just got rid of most of my guns, then I could be a gun-fu master too.

My cheap milsurp guns have appreciated the most, as a percentage of value. And they're fun. I think I'll keep them.
 
Yes hi, I am there right now, bought 2 guns from march and another one is on the way. :confused:

Also I am a broke college student. lol

It will only get worse once I finish college and have a job. :rolleyes:

Oh and P.S never take a loan/advance in cash to buy guns. Just have cash on hand and make sure you have money on hand for other things after you buy your gun.
 
If one has a gun for protection, then additional guns and any other type collectible or toys should be out of pocket expenses. My personal view is they should not be purchased on layaway or credit. Maybe you should be calling Susie Orisman and get a "DENIED". :)

I just read where 49% of working adults have zero (zilch) in savings for retirement. I trust you are not in that unbelievable high percentage.
 
My personal view is they should not be purchased on layaway or credit.
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I'll agree with you on the credit part, but layaway is a great way to buy firearms. Here's how it works for me.

I've been wanting to buy a different handgun for a while. Don't need one, just wanted one. I ran across a used SA Mil Spec 1911 last week and thought it might be a fun gun to try my hand at customizing without putting out too much money. So, I put some money down on it and this particular shop will let you pay over nine months. I don't know if I will take that long to pay for it, but I am not in a hurry to get it because knowing that I am paying on a gun kind of squelches the desire to buy another one for the time being. I could have paid for it up front, but decided to pay over time for that reason.

I just read where 49% of working adults have zero (zilch) in savings for retirement.
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Funny how that exactly equals the percentage of people that don't pay any taxes. Not relevant here, just interesting to me.
 
You should not buy anything non essential unless you have to money for it or expect to have the money for it shortly after putting it on the credit card. I have put gun purchases on credit cards in the past but always paid for them in a matter of a few months.
Recently I was in Cabelas and spied a S&W 686+ 7 shot revolver with a 4" bbl.
I had been looking for one with either a 4" or 6" barrel for a while in various shops but never saw one. As it turned out they were running a S&W promotion where any Smith firearm purchased with a Cabelas Club card was eligible for "no interest and no payment for 12 months. I had a 0 balance on my Cabelas' card so I "pulled the trigger" so to speak. I have the money to pay cash for it right now but figure I'll let my money stay where it is and pay for the 686 in a couple of months or so.
Insofar a crappy guns...if they go bang every time, hit what you are aiming at and last for decades are they crappy guns?
 
My personal view is they should not be purchased on layaway or credit.
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I haven't done the layaway thing, but do buy guns, and other things with my credit card quite often. However, IT GETS PAID OFF EVERY MONTH! With using a credit card with rewards program like Bass Pro, or Cabela's I can build up points to use for another purchase later. While it takes quite a large amount of purchases to get the price down to the same as some local shops, with sales, and gift cards I have gotten some pretty good deals. Including a Remington 870 Express 18" 7 shot for $0.00!!! A Beretta 92fs for about $300 out of pocket, Cimmaron 45 for around $200, and a Henry Golden Boy 22 Mag for something like $200 out of pocket.
 
Layaway actually slows me down a bit, otherwise I would just buy guns outright on a whim.

I do my research, then pace the payments out (about 100-150 bucks every couple weeks until paid off), then the disease goes into remission for a couple months, then I repeat the cycle.

I never spend money that's needed for bills, and this method actually allows me to stay on budget pretty well. Your experience may vary, of course
 
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I hear ya on the guns vs ammo. Although I still shoot quite a bit, I know I could shoot that much more if I stopped buying new guns so frequently. Although I think I've finally reached a point where most of my gun money will go to ammo and classes and less to new guns(Finally in a CC state so there will be at least one purchase). At least for the next several months :D
 
Get Serious!

Guys, Listen to yourselves--you should all be ashamed of your undisciplined, reckless and out-of-control spending habits--Sober up! Look, we live in The Unites States of America and as loyal citizens we need only look to our representatives in Washington and follow their sound example of fiscal frugality, balanced budgets and...Oh...never mind....;) As you were.

-Cheers
 
Of course this is kinda tongue-in-cheek,but,does anyone else have this type of addiction???
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Yes, although because your funds are cutting straight into your financial well-being -- you need to concider stopping.

only thing that worked for me was switching to exersise/outdoor/going back for masters degree (this one was the best).

Any other hobby where you must buy stuff (photo gear, motorcycles, audio, etc) -- is not good alternative -- because you will be stimulating the same behavior.
 
I am curious to see the reasons why the anti layaway people say not to use it. I see several benifits in it. I have money in savings, 401k, and IRAs. I am not quite 40 yet so I still have the benifit of growth. Most months I can afford to spend a couple of $100 on "fun stuff". for me most of my fun stuff involves firearms.

This week I say first hand how layaway can benifit. I wanted my first 1911 (have a .22lr ...I know that does not count ;) ). Since I this is my first I did not see the need to save up and buy a high end. figured I would get an entry level 1911 and see what all the fuss was about first. I wanted a stanless in the $700-$800 range. On Monday Buds had a Remington R1 listed for $618 shipped. After doing some research I decided the remington was the gun I wanted. I did not feel comfortable taking money out of savings and I knew the $618 was a good price. I decided to go ahead and try layaway out for the first time. Figured I would use the 90 days to put my fun $ toward it. On Thursday Buds had the R1 listed at $680. I will be suprised if it get as low as $618 again in these 90 days.

Layaway is 0 interest and allows you to secure a gun that you might not be able to get if you just saved up at home or it allows you to take advantage of a good sale.

Payday loans are another story though. To the OP i would really reconsider that
 
Have a purpose in buying guns, instead of just buying them because you want to.

Of course, that often leads to rationalization...

Take it from someone who was just like you...you'll soon learn that purpose and quality beats quantity.
 
Why dont you invest in reloading? Best money i ever spent and now instead of buying guns im always trying out new loads. Once you buy the equipment its not as expensive and after a while it pays for itself. Its a great hobby and sometime this summer im getting into casting my own bullets
 
I'm hoping the payday loans portion was part of the tongue in cheek... If you are buying a lot, try and make those purchases worth while. Make sure you buy something with resale value instead of a heap of cheap guns. After all, if you can't afford everything your buying, you'll probably end having to sell them some where down the road.
 
Here's a guaranteed cure to your buying so many guns:
Pick a couple or three and go to the range.
The more the better.
Shoot them until they are really filthy.
Spend the rest of the day cleaning them up real good.
Repeat regularly until you get real sick of cleaning so many guns.
 
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