buying on a whim ?

[hd0642]

ever go into a store to "browse" and before you know it your saying i'll take one of these......?

[Moonclip]

Generally only if the price is much lower than normal. I'll buy almost any gun if the price is right.

[Miltiades]

My approach

I like handguns but try to exercise some "buying discipline" because of both safe capacity and financial reality. So my approach is to have a mental list of what I would consider buying that I use as a screening device in a gun store or online site.

My mental list might have 3 or 4 fairly specific guns on it, and if I see something that isn't on my list I pass it by. If I see one from my list, I try to estimate condition and price as a further screen - I like 95% or higher guns at an attractive price. Sometimes I'll just pay the asking price if I think it is fair, and sometimes I'll offer less.

The key is to not "fall in love" with a particular gun and lose your power of reason. If you can be patient there will be another gun along eventually, and it might be better than the one you didn't buy.

I might buy one per year or three per year, depending on what I see and how affluent I feel.

[Moonclip]

I have a mental list in my head too of guns I really want, guns I really want but can't afford, guns I sorta want, and guns I want but are not too important to me at the bottom of the list, you get the idea.

Guns like at the bottom of the list but I'd pick up for cheap would be like a Springfield armory M6. Guns I want towards the top of the list more that I can afford would be say a Ruger Bearcat.

Guns I want but I can't afford right bow would be like a Sig Sauer P220ST.

Guns that would be impulsive would be like the EAA big Bore bounty hunter .45LC I got in 2003 for $25 as new. I never gave these guns any thought and I don't even really like cowboy stuff and I already had a $200 Ruger Vaquero .45lc but the price was too good to pass up and it's a good gun.

Most of my single action revolvers have been picked up in this manner as somewhat impulse buys due to very low pricing. I don't do CAS or even like most SA revolvers.

[galabomber]

impulse buy

i've done that once. USPc .40. she needed to be in my house. next thing i know, i was starting the DROS. sometimes i regret it, sometimes not. i try to stay with "my list" nowadays.

[slowfire]

Superman has kryptonite, I have spantaneous bargain buying syndrome. If I see something that I can't live without or if the deal is just too good to pass up. . . . I'm all over it

[VegasND]

Impulse buys are not always bad, and sometimes a purchase is "can't pass or I'll regret it". I found a Century L1A1 in Madison, Wisconsin a few months ago for $375--I couldn't possibly leave that there. It went home in the trunk (except for motel rooms, I just had to take it out and play with it)

[heycorey]

But ... but ... it was ON SALE!

[Beelzy]

Yep........Isn't it nice to be able to do that?

[Kishfisser]

I ususally have a pretty good idea of what I am in the market for, but I have been known to find a really good deal and throw it on Layaway (impulse). But money is often a huge limiting factor. Of course I have also walked in to a store with the intention of buying something and walking out with something completely different. There is also the impulse to add another long gun to a dros.(or third)

[///D]

I'd have to say 60-70% of my purchases are like this

[Gunhacker]

Guilty as charged and my local dealer knows my weakness for S&W's.

As fate would have it, while doing my patriotic duty of spending my "economic stimulus" check towards a S&W pre model 28, there was a 4506-1 that had gone back to the S&W performance center and had the 3rd gen action package done, sitting in his display case... couldn't help myself, great price and it had the sweetest SA/DA action that I've ever laid a trigger finger on.

10 days later, I'm picking it up... and the owner says "Hey, you interested in Colts? ... this just came in and you don't see them in this condition that often... for you I'll sell it for... (where have I heard that line before)" and produces a Colt 1903 Hammerless Pocket Pistol in .32acp, that looked like it spent most of it's life in a draw, condition is easily 99% condition with an extra magazine.

Oh crap, a bargain is a bargain.... next thing I know I'm heading to my car to retrieve the copy of my C&R FFL and COE that I always keep in the glove box, and the 4506-1 had some company on the way home. I subsequently found out on the Colt Forum that it was no B.S. about the good price he gave me, especially with the extra factory magazine.

Sometimes it's good to listen to the little voice in your head and go with the impluse, normally I do try to stick with my "short list" and exercise some iota of self control.

[savasyn]

I went to Turners the other day to check out some ammo and walked out with paperwork for a Buckmark and a Puma lever action. I paid more than I wanted to for the Puma, but I've been looking for one of those in .357 for a while and I'm glad I didn't have to buy it at Big 5.

I'm a real sucker for C&R rifles as well. Very hard to resist getting those.

[GI_JOE]

I'd have to say 60-70% of my purchases are like this

And if i happen to go to the shop with him, I tend to get easily influenced to do the same.

[mike100]

lately, I have seen a lot of under priced guns on consignment..even under priced considering the tough financial times.

guns at half price make good trade fodder when you under value it by $150 against another pistol. I'm picking up a ruger mk II stainless today that I bought on a whim..I haven't hardly ever seen any for sale used - certainly not cheap- so I got it.