Gun Purchase Squirreling

[Snaveba]

So, does anyone else start off with a plan for a gun purchase, research, follow auctions, bid on auctions, then randomly make a 90deg turn and purchase something else? Or is it just me?

I have been looking for a Marlin 444s for a while. I’ve bid on several.  I even picked up a box of ammo in anticipation of acquiring one. I even had an active bid on one (thankfully I was out bid), when out of the blue, I purchased a Remington Model 81. My neck still hurts from the whiplash. 

I’m looking forward to cleaning it up and posting picks. I know it’s not a lever gun (my current obsession) but it is really cool. And it’s in .35 Remington. 

Edited May 2, 2023 by Snaveba

[Defender]

3 minutes ago, Snaveba said:

So, does anyone else start off with a plan for a gun purchase, research, follow auctions, bid on auctions, then randomly make a 90deg turn and purchase something else? Or is it just me?

I have been looking for a Marlin 444s for a while. I’ve bid on several.  I even picked up a box of ammo in anticipation of acquiring one. I even had an active bid on one (thankfully I was out bid), when out of the blue, I purchased a Remington Model 81. My neck still hurts from the whiplash. 

I’m looking forward to cleaning it up and posting picks. I know it’s not a lever gun (my current obsession) but is is really cool. And it’s in .35 Remington. 

Ive done that more times than i can count!  Congrats!

[KahrMan]

That just seems like par for the course. lol

[Sleep profit]

Yes lots of times 

[res308]

Nope. It’s just you. ‘Cept when I do it. 

[billmeek]

I tend to buy it anyway and just get the second one too.

[JT59]

No, I think long and hard before I buy another gun. I do miss the days when guns at yard sales were sometimes too good to pass up.

[NoBanStan]

Classic mistake. Even if what you got was better... you'll always wonder. and thus... the safe queen was born.

[CMDRStormBorn]

7 hours ago, billmeek said:

I tend to buy it anyway and just get the second one too.

Same here! And a lifetime of THAT boys & girls is how you end up with a 3-4 digit firearm collection, most of which you’ve never shot.  Someday I will be reduced to the greatest estate sale ever!!

[derf]

Many times. Hell I went to make breakfast and wound up washing my truck and mowing the yard. 

[Snaveba]

I will still look for a Marlin 444s as it’s “on the list”. I just need to replenish the fund. 

[Guest]

Once upon a time, in getting ready for a Maine black bear hunt, I (of course) decided I needed a new "bear rifle".  (Right!) I had it in my head (because our genuine Maine Guide mentioned he liked .444), that I needed a nice, classic .444 Marlin. Well, I ended up with a pristine pre-safety vintage Marlin in .375 Winchester. Now there's no arguing, .375 Winchester would be fine for black bear, and the rifle itself? The wood, the metal, the whole aurora of that sweet, SWEET trim, graceful lever gun was really ... Something! 

Yeah. In epilogue, turns out you can't exactly FIND very much .375 Winchester ammo if you've got this .375 only three months before Maine's bear season. In fact, you can't really find ANY! ANYWHERE! At any price! So that sweet gun turned into a modern Remlin 1895 in 45-70, of which you can find PLENTY of those. But it was just not the same.

And of course, to remind me, it seems like I find a box or three of .375 Winchester in EVERY dang back woods gun shop and at least every other gun show. NOW, now that I don't NEED any...

Fortunately, a year or two later, another buddy decided he needed my set of stag S&W K frame grips worse then he needed his old (pre-safety) Marlin straight stocked carbine in .35 Remington, so I think I'm covered in that department now. Post pics of that Model 81, maybe we can swap someday!

[Snaveba]

Will do on the Model 81 pics. I do like the .35 Remington cartridge. Also, it’s the cheaper (relatively) of the two available cartridges that the Model 81 came in (the other being 300 Savage) 

[KahrMan]

2 hours ago, OMCHamlin said:

Once upon a time, in getting ready for a Maine black bear hunt, I (of course) decided I needed a new "bear rifle".  (Right!) I had it in my head (because our genuine Maine Guide mentioned he liked .444), that I needed a nice, classic .444 Marlin. Well, I ended up with a pristine pre-safety vintage Marlin in .375 Winchester. Now there's no arguing, .375 Winchester would be fine for black bear, and the rifle itself? The wood, the metal, the whole aurora of that sweet, SWEET trim, graceful lever gun was really ... Something! 

Yeah. In epilogue, turns out you can't exactly FIND very much .375 Winchester ammo if you've got this .375 only three months before Maine's bear season. In fact, you can't really find ANY! ANYWHERE! At any price! So that sweet gun turned into a modern Remlin 1895 in 45-70, of which you can find PLENTY of those. But it was just not the same.

And of course, to remind me, it seems like I find a box or three of .375 Winchester in EVERY dang back woods gun shop and at least every other gun show. NOW, now that I don't NEED any...

Fortunately, a year or two later, another buddy decided he needed my set of stag S&W K frame grips worse then he needed his old (pre-safety) Marlin straight stocked carbine in .35 Remington, so I think I'm covered in that department now. Post pics of that Model 81, maybe we can swap someday!

I also have a Marlin 375.  The ammo is not the easiest to find but don't forget you can also fire .38-55 in it.  I actually like shooting .38-55 because the oal is a tad shorter than .375 and cycles better.

 

And @Snaveba post some pics of your 81.  We all want some gun porn. Also did you get the 81 A, C, D, E or F?

Edited May 4, 2023 by KahrMan

[Snaveba]

I will post pics when it comes in. It has checkering, but no scroll work. It does not have a letter designation, but by the serial number it is from ‘37

[pop pop]

I just did that 3 weeks ago. Went to Outpost Armory looking for ammo on a sale they had going on. Told myself I would go to he revolver case and purchase an 8 shot 5" brl revolver for a house gun. They had a ported Taurus Tracker, but it didn't call out my name. A 7 shot 3" 656 revolver did, and it came home with me. So much for the 8 shot 5" I went there looking for. By the way the ammo came home also. They have been having some good sales on ammo lately. Purchased Sig Sour 357 mag HP's self-defense for 14.99 per box of 20. Haven't seen that price since before Coved. 

Edited to add; Outpost Armory, in Murfreesboro, has 9 MM USA (Winchester) 115 gr RN and PMC 9 MM 115 gr RN on sale, and both are 12.99 per box of 50. Sale last 4 may thru 7th. Good prices around here. 

Edited May 4, 2023 by pop pop

[runco]

Well I use to be like this a number of years ago.  To avoid this sickness, I came up with a top 10 list, and if I came across something I liked but it was not on the top 10 list (unless a real real bargain) I would just turn my heals.  This is not 100% fool proof, but it does work.  FYI, I have been known to come home and immediately adjust my top 10.  

My top 10 list is made up of my own home grown back woods algorythm, basically 20 questions.  Otherwise I am like unbridled horse in a candy store!