Had the strangest thing happen the other day. I was cruising through the local gun board's classified section, just checking to see if there was anything interesting, when it hit me:
Not a single gun in the classified section spoke to me.
Now, don't get me wrong, there were some really nice guns listed. It's not that there weren't any good firearms up for sale, far from it. I just think that I'm hitting that point where I have pretty much everything I want with a few exceptions (M1 Garand, frex), and the guns that I do really want are rare, expensive, or a combination of both. 2011's acquisitions reflect my slowing pace: I added three new firearms to the armory last year, and sold two - a net gain of one firearm, and that was a grail gun...
With the exception of perhaps a 6" Colt Python, there aren't any more revolvers that really make me reach for the wallet. Semi-autos? Until I'm out of MA, the high-cap pistols are more infuriating than anything, and I've got one (or two) of anything else I really want - 1911, Hi-Power, Sig P226, S&W Bodyguard 380. For rifles, I have a decent AR-pattern and AK-pattern rifle, a couple SKSs, and a good bolt-action rifle. Shotguns, well, I've got one with a bayonet - what more could a gunnie want?
On the one hand, I'm hoping my gunnie ennui passes quickly. This is the first time in nearly a decade that some new shiny hasn't captured my attention and made my hands reach for my LTC and my wallet. On the other hand, it'll allow the gun fund to build back up to more robust levels - maybe that'll get me to pick up something I really want, like a correct grade Garand. I suspect this will pass - I've been running a lot of rounds through the various T&E guns from Smith & Wesson and Ruger, so shooting has been more of a job lately than just fun plinking and such. Not to mention that the bulk of the ammo budget's heading down those barrels... (hey, anyone want some .45 ACP or 9mm tested???)
Fortunately, in ten days I'll be headed to SHOT Show, where I'll overdose on the latest and greatest in gunnie goodness. While some people (*ahem*) are all doom-and-gloom about "oh, look, another AR!/1911!/polymer 9!", I'm sure there will be quite a few new guns to ogle, fondle, and put on the wish list. If nothing else, I can assemble my dream list of "when I move to America" firearms... But for right now, nothing's really singing.
Or maybe I'm just a recovering gunnie-holic?
That is all.
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20 comments:
Yes, I know the feeling , especially when I go to Kittery (check spelling and pronunciation!) and come out of there saying is that all they have?
This too shall pass. I'm sure something will 'speak' to you in the future, my friend. Mean while, save your $$$$ for something special!
Time to reload. Really, I'm not joking. You want to get reinvigorated, suddenly realize what you want next? Start reloading. Plus, if you have the money stashed for a gun, you have the money to get started.
Get a single stage press, like a Hornady Lock-N-Load, or a RCBS Rock Chucker. And get the kit, like this one:
http://www.natchezss.com/Category.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=PC&prodID=PC085003&prodTitle=Hornady%20Lock-N-Load%C2%AE%20Classic%20Kit
Then pick one pistol caliber, .357, or .45ACP, and learn to load it. Then one rifle caliber, 30.06, or .308 maybe. By then you will be on your way and can pick what direction to go from there, and what equipment to buy. You will learn so much about ammo, about how guns function, about ballistics, you will wonder why you resisted for so long.
And you will have blog fodder for months.
Upgrades!!
I feel your pain, and actually wrote a similar post a week or two back. I'm reaching the point of opening the safe and saying, "OK, I could get more in, but I don't shoot what I do have, and there's very few that I really want anyways."
I expect I'll be working on upgrades instead of additions now. E.g., the Remington 710 will eventually be moved along when I have saved the pennies to put something like a Cooper in its place. The bone-stock A2 upper will be supplanted by a more precise (and to my taste) setup. Etc.
And the ammo stocks ... they've got to grow. A lot.
Honestly the more you shoot the more the modern wizz-bangs fail to impress.
There are a lot of guns AS good as the 1911 under my coat, but none BETTER as far as I can tell. Same goes for most guns.
That being said there are still lots of guns I need to get. My .460 Rowland Bear gun from an M&P45, a York Arms AR-15 in .22 LR, a Radom P64.
I find myself going through shops and listings and not seeing much that interests me...but that doesn't mean I'm immune from walking into a shop one day looking to buy some cleaner and some oil, and walking out with a new gun.
Libertyman & Sharon,
I suspect this will pass. I spent quite a few years where I didn't buy a single gun; now, granted, a lot of that time was because of a distinct lack of funds (building a house will do that), but still...
ASM826,
As for reloading, well, that's definitely down the road. Need to clear the crap out of my attic and set up the reloading bench first (which, btw, means wiring and insulating the attic first...)
One of the things I know I can do RFN, though, is to start separating my brass. There's a good winter project!
Marty & Zercool,
That's not a bad idea, really. One of the new guns of 2012 is going to be a second AR, one built for distance rather than CQB. One of these days I need to invest in a quality piece of glass...
Weerd,
Oh, there's still some projects rattling around in this bald head. See above re: long distance AR, frex. Plus our mutual friend in Maine, the wizard of York, is restoring a couple of my favorites to their original glory, so there will be more shooting options as well...
I'll second ASM826. Start reloading and you will find a whole 'nuther world of gunny goodness to add to your wish list. There's always dies and case prep tools and measures and all kinds of crap you can buy.
I concur on reloading but have to say that I expect that you'll look through those ads in a few weeks and see something you want. We are cyclical creatures.
It's a question of WHY you buy guns. Me, I don't buy guns to have, I buy them to use. I'm not a collector, I'm a shooter.
I've got enough guns to participate in just about any gun-related activity. I need a backup gun for my primary activity (USPSA Production), a pocket 9mm to replace the questionable one I have now and a 1911 in .45 because, well, it's 1911, and that's about it until the kids leave home and my wife and I get into cowboy action.
Never got into the habit of buying stuff just to have.
That might be a part of it, actually. I try to shoot (just about) everything in the safe at least once a year or so, and with the ever-burgeoning collection, that gets harder and harder to accomplish.
Might be time to simplify a bit... Or just shoot more!
I wonder if the local ads are showing mostly "junk" (or more politely, "common") guns listed because the sellers needed money for the holidays. On my local forum a lot of shotguns, AKs, and bog-standard ARs went up for sale in November for just that reason.
Such kind words!
I am at a similar point here Jay, doing a lot of 'business' shooting and no recreational. There may be some acquisitions for a new shooter, but very little that I want for me...
Well maybe a mosin 28/76 and a 4" stainless blackhawk. Not that Id shoot either much-
Another issue is that the classifieds on that forum just had a reboot where all old ads were tossed due to changing software. It'll take a few weeks for things to get back to normal.
I'll join the reloading chorus. I'd suggest you get a brass tumbler so that in addition to sorting brass, you can clean it so it's ready to load.
There is no recovery from the gunnieholic disease. There can be temporary remissions, sometimes lasting years followed by a resurgence of symptoms, usually more severe than before.
I'm now pulling them out of the back of my safe & selling them to buy new (to me) ones to put in the front of the safe. Reloading only makes the disease more manageable because you can justify the new toy with, "Ammo is cheap, 'cause I can reload for it."
You are a doomed Gunnieholic. Accept it and attend the meetings (Held at your local gun club)
I've gotten to the point if I don't shoot everything at least twice a MONTH I feel guilty . . . I do NOT believe in safe queens!
How much do you want to tempt fate?
Get a .458 SOCOM upper AR receiver, and then some 10 round .458 SOCOM (caliber and capacity stamped) magazines.
The fact that they are mechanically identical to 30 round .223 magazines is ENTIRELY beside the point because those things EXPLICITLY say they're for 10 rounds of .458 SOCOM.
See, the market did this dance once already. When the federal 10 round ban came about, the pistol manufacturers made compact pistols that were designed with a standard capacity of 10+1 rounds. If you can't have lots of rounds, have the legal limit of really big rounds.
The CMP has service grade garands for $625. They have about 2,000 of them now, who knows when they'll have more.
How about a Boberg Arms XR9-S?
http://www.bobergarms.com/
Legal for sale in Massachusetts or California? No, but in Massachusetts it is because of non-submission of a test gun and a 5.5 lb. DA trigger pull which is much less than the required 10 lb. DA trigger pull:
http://www.bobergarms.com/forum/topics/my-xr9-s-long-review-and-range-report-in-california
Why does Massachusetts government regulators insist that the modern pistol DA trigger pull be as bad as older revolver DA trigger pull? Four year old children can learn to cock a revolver to fire single action with the lighter trigger pull instead of the harder DA trigger pull.
You know, I'm a BIG Believer in the "2 is 1, 1 is 0"/ New York Reload School. And your Kids will be getting older, and need some "Family Heirlooms/First Guns." So I'd take a look in the Safe, and say, 'H'mm, do I really need a Ruger LCP, or should I trade it in for another LC9? And what does Mrs. G. need? And I really like my 1911's but do I need another one, or should I do an Upgrade towards a better 1911? Would a 20 gauge for the Kids be a good buy, and should it be a Mossie?"
Lots of Brain Food there, and with the SHOT Show, you should "Tan, Rested and Ready to Run" as the Man from Kennebunkport once said.
Of course, he also said "Read my Lips..." and got his clocked cleaned by Clinton.....
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