Sharp as a Marble - Decisions, opportunity costs, needs, and wants

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Decisions, opportunity costs, needs, and wants

Guns. Lots of Guns.

So, as far as a gunnie goes, I’m pretty well covered in firearms. I have long arms, .22’s in both rifle & pistol, a wheelie, and handguns in both common and not so common calibers. I have range guns, carry guns, a BUG, and really the only thing I don’t have is a hunting rifle, but then again, I don’t hunt. Yet.

I sold my 9mm the other day because I need something with a larger frame, but I’m not sure I need another 9. A 9mm is a great pistol for teaching newbies, but .40 isn’t too shabby either and I’m rather in love with my Smith & Wesson M&P40. Still need to get a holster for it and look at how it carries.

I want a Coonan .357 Magnum Autoloader. I’ve always wanted a Deagle in .357 Magnum simply because… dude, .357 Magnum in an autoloader. But Deagles are ugly, bulky, and have a reputation for not being the most reliable pistols. However, the Coonan is a minimum of $1300 and the magazines alone are $60 a pop. When all is said and done, I’d be burning $1500 on a single pistol that could ostensibly be a carry piece, but even then. I have a wife and two beautiful children. Yes, I’m debt free, but buying $1500 guns simply isn’t feasible. I have a yard that needs new sod, the washer & dryer have seen better days, at some point we’re going to have to finish the master bathroom that we started demoing. Just like my Kriss looks like a new kitchen, a Coonan is going to look astonishingly like other house related repairs.

I need accessories to be sure. I don’t have any optics for my AR, just irons. I could use a laser bore sighter (the aim on the AR is off and I’ve just not had the time to really zero it in like I should). I’m the worst when it comes to buying magazines, mostly because of the false feeling that they add little value to shooting. I could use more reloading gear.

So, while I don’t have thousands to spend on my hobby, I do have a little that I can use. Trying to figure out what I need vs. what I simply want is tricky enough, but also trying to determine what gets me the most value is making my head hurt.

Thoughts? Opinions? Should I just say screw it and get a “Bring Back Full House” tattoo?

posted @ 6/17/2011 10:38:59 AM

Comments

Freiheit says:

on 6/17/2011 11:06:56 AM

No advice, just empathy.

I am also debt free except the mortgage and have the means to buy lots of toys. I don't for the same reasons you have, gotta save for the lean times and there are things the family needs/wants more than I want a gun. It sucks being a grownup sometimes, but then again I gain more comfort from having some cash in the bank than I do with another gun in the safe.

For the AR, don't be a bitch. Zero it like a man, get some targets, follow the directions at AR15.com for zero-ing irons and go do it. Every grunt in the Army learned to do it that way, a non-military putz like me can do it, so can you. Remember that $Boresighter = $Ammo + $Targets + $Lunch + $RangeFee. :D

Tasso Rampante says:

on 6/17/2011 11:30:47 AM

Run a few full house loads through your G20 and remind yourself that for $550 you have a reliable pistol with ballistics and capacity superior to that Coonan.

Stuart the Viking says:

on 6/17/2011 11:49:21 AM

"We read to know we are not alone."
C.S. Lewis

Funny, I didn't realize it also applied to blogs.

I have wanted a Coonan since I read about his first model many years ago. Now I REALLY want one (Damn you Oleg Volk and your wonderful pictures! Damn you in the nicest way possible! )

I guess I've got a double dose of it as I also want a Freedom Arms single action pistol (with specific options that I would have to special order)... but (sigh) sadly I have a "Heritage Rough Rider" budget.

Maybe one day...

s

Robert says:

on 6/17/2011 12:02:11 PM

Easy enough to answer, then. Spend a little money on accessories with each paycheck, and save up for your next gun purchase as a birthday/xmas/BAG day gift.

Gregory Morris says:

on 6/17/2011 12:34:14 PM

More ammo > more guns. As many guns as I've bought in the last few years, I've probably spent just as much on ammo.

As for optics... I still don't own a single scope. I was gonna get one for my AR, but then I thought, "for the price of this Trijicon, I could buy an AR for my wife."

I do agree with the idea of having a good hunting rifle, if only for the fact that a rifle good at shooting a deer at 300+ yards is equally as good at shooting other things at 300+ yards. If and when I actually put some glass into my gun safe, it will be attached to a Remington 700 or somesuch. Of course, while your 6.8SPC is a perfectly capable hunting rifle, I believe you should be able to find ammo for your deer gun at Bubba's tackle shop in Booger Hole, WV.

Les Jones says:

on 6/17/2011 1:20:14 PM

I'll be That Guy again and say I don't get the point of the Coonan for factory .357 loads.

A doublestack 9mm loaded with +P+ will get you close to the same ballistics. As a bonus you'll have double the ammo capacity, lots more choices in platforms, you'll pay a whole lot less than $1300, and you can practice with cheap, standard pressure 9mm.

I will say that the Coonan I shot had a great trigger.

For me, my photography wants are overwhelming my gun wants right now, even after buying a new camera, telephoto lens, and flash in the past year. There's always more stuff to buy.

Robb Allen says:

on 6/17/2011 1:25:31 PM

Les, I simply have a soft spot for .357 Magnum and the concept of a rimmed cartridge reliably feeding in an auto chucker is just neat.

However, it's a specialty thing and, like pretty much everyone else here, I have a lot more "opportunity costs" I'd rather toss the bones toward.

I wouldn't turn one down as a gift, however.

sburch79 says:

on 6/17/2011 2:00:22 PM

Seriously Robb, if you were half as serious about getting Full House back on the air as you were about this gun rights crap, Danny Tanner wouldn't have to travel the country making raunchy jokes to feed his family.

ExurbanKevin says:

on 6/17/2011 6:35:52 PM

Go for the long-range rifle. No, you are not a hunter, but making a long distance shot is something every shooter should practice and know how to do, along with hitting a flying target with a shotgun or a smooth, quick, efficient draw with a pistol. To quote Robert Heinlein, specialization is for insects.

emdfl says:

on 6/17/2011 11:34:25 PM

Toys are toys are toys. If you don't need to use the money on something necessary, spend it on what you want.
A side bar here is that I suggest a quid pro quo with your wife. You gets your toy and she gets a toy for herself.

Bobby from USF says:

on 6/18/2011 11:39:20 AM

Savage makes a good rifle that normal comes with a scope for around $500 or so. I have one in 7mm/08 and its very well made. It will out shoot my uncles $900 rifle all day.

Skip says:

on 6/19/2011 3:27:47 AM

As above go with Savage.
NIB Model 10 .308 was $700.
I mounted a $500 Leopold and was kinda happy.
I think Paw Paw or someone reviewed a $150 Whitetail glass, ordered one, sucker cloverleafs and holds zero after rough handling.

Deadcenter56 says:

on 6/20/2011 5:20:00 PM

Hey Robb,
Come hunting with me in the fall where the Suwannee dumps into the Gulf. We hunt deer and hogs with Black Powder muzzleloaders. I'll turn you to the dark side and get you to shooting flintlocks. Once you smell REAL black powder smoke you'll never want to shoot them suppository guns again.....

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