Does every gun you own have a reason to justify its purchase?

GBExpat said:

No. I also have a LOT of (really neat) tools that I only rarely use.

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What I'm about to write isn't really off-topic. It's an analogy (at least I think that's what it's called).
I'm going to need a hammer drill when I have to replace some fence posts come spring, so I've been keeping my eyes open for a good one that's on sale. A few weeks ago, I was telling a buddy about my buying myself a hammer drill, and he said, "No need. You can just borrow mine." Then he took me out to the garage and showed it to me. It's a dandy. In fact it's bigger and better than the one I've been planning to buy. So I'm all set for fixing our fence come spring - I won't have to buy an expensive, one time use (probably) power tool.
On the other hand, I remember Dad saying, "There's three things I never loan out - my wife, my kids, and my guns." I feel the same way.

Never.
Having bought over two dozen rifles, and more than a dozen handguns, all except one were acquired for fun. Most were milsurps.

Only each gun's expense needs to be justified. Most of the cost came from selling other guns, which were within this same group.

GBExpat said:

No. I also have a LOT of (really neat) tools that I only rarely use.

And, yes, large (especially) Firearms Collections/Accumulations represent beaucoup bucks just "sitting on the shelf".

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Same here, but I also know that someday my two sons and their boys are going to have a lot of fun finding some surprises while clearing out my safe. There will be more than enough to go around so nobody will feel slighted.

If you have to "justify" it to your self, you can't afford it.

.308 Norma said:

What I'm about to write isn't really off-topic. It's an analogy (at least I think that's what it's called). ...

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It's going to be a good day because the first THR post that I have read left me with a smile on my face. Thanks for that!

DM~ said:

Yeaaa, it's called "I wanted them"...

DM

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Yup about sums it up.

Only four or five out of the fifty or so firearms that I've accumulated over the past sixty years have reasons to "justify" their purchases. But, as the current Reeses Peanut Butter Cup ad defiantly proclaims, "NOT SORRY!"

.308 Norma said:

"There's three things I never loan out - my wife, my kids, and my guns."

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I would add my truck, my English Setter and my chainsaw.

For me largely yes, but I'm not terribly strict about it. If I have zero use for a gun that I kinda want, I probably won't buy it just because I know I won't use it, which means sooner or later I will end up selling it because I don't use it, so why buy it in the first place. I don't care to have a few different guns that serve the purpose of home defense or a few for carry use, it is good to have options after all, but I'm not the kind of guy who's going to own two dozen guns that effectively do the same job.

It's tough at times because as people who like guns it's not always easy to not rush out and buy a new toy when you really want to, ya know? But I've already wasted a LOT of money on guns that were good but guns in hindsight I really shouldn't have bought. The worst ones are guns you buy, then sell only to buy them again and sell them again...and again or the ones you buy and never even shoot before you sell it. Geeeesh.

Yes!
I wanted it!

Never really saw a reason to have them just to have them. If it doesn't serve a specific purpose than I don't need it.

Hokkmike said:

A lot of people say that firearms are like tools. I kind of agree. I am not rich enough to have guns just to have guns.

If, after time, I see one that is not getting use or seem to have a purpose then I think about trading or selling it. I will admit that this is probably not a good trait.

I would think the ideal compliment for a "minimalist" shooter would consists of a hunting rifle, home defense gun, shotgun, cc weapon, and a .22 of some kind. That is just about where I am. I know some people like to collect on a theme - say WWII rifles, or Winchesters. Others have some guns that are family heirlooms and have sentimental value.

I have a friend that says he has 64 firearms but I never have seen more than one or two. I keep thinking that they are stored around the house for his kids to sell after he passes. Of course, how many guns he has and how he spends his money is his business, but that is a is a lot of $$$$ sitting around.

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To me, weapons are tools. I have 3 rifles: A RPR in 308, a LR-308, and a Ruger 10-22

One shotgun, an 870

And 4 handguns (two 1911s, one 2011, and one Ruger Mk III)

That's plenty for me. And yes, each was purchased for a specific purpose. But then I'm weird I guess.

I ran out of need a long time ago. I buy because I want now. It doesn't matter if I don't shoot them much. They're mine and for the most part none of them are for sale.

brmiller said:

That's plenty for me. And yes, each was purchased for a specific purpose. But then I'm weird I guess.

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Not necessarily. There's plenty of people that either can't, or won't spend money on things they don't need - including guns. My wife and I only have 2 motor vehicles - a Jeep Wrangler and a pickup-truck. We could afford to have another motor vehicle (the neighbors have 3 for just the 2 of them) if we wanted it, but we don't. The fact is, the 2 of us could get by just fine with just our pick-up truck. But we don't want to do that either.
So I guess you could say we bought that Jeep Wrangler for the same reason(s) we bought some of our guns - we wanted it, and we could afford it.

Generally when I walk into a gun shop I am heading in with a pretty good idea of what I am going to walk out the door with , however there have been a few times that impulse buying has occurred . Once I had money set aside for an AR15 and instead went in a whole different direction and got a Henry , another time I went in for some shells and stumbled across a Stevens Favorite just like Grandpa had .Well that one Had to come home with me !

I think one of the saddest things I've ever heard in the way of gun purchases was from a guy I know who was very excited because "His Wife was going to LET him buy" a Heritage .22 revolver. When I think of that it just makes me sad. I have bought lot's of guns and quite a few were on impulse but none were bought "with my Wife's permission." Something wrong there. Wife or a Mother? Also I've heard a lot of "Snuck one by the Old Lady" and "Got that one past the Wife".. I've heard this right here.

.308 Norma said:

Not necessarily. There's plenty of people that either can't, or won't spend money on things they don't need - including guns. My wife and I only have 2 motor vehicles - a Jeep Wrangler and a pickup-truck. We could afford to have another motor vehicle (the neighbors have 3 for just the 2 of them) if we wanted it, but we don't. The fact is, the 2 of us could get by just fine with just our pick-up truck. But we don't want to do that either.
So I guess you could say we bought that Jeep Wrangler for the same reason(s) we bought some of our guns - we wanted it, and we could afford it.

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I will admit that I built the second 1911 for two reasons: One, I wanted a single-stack 10mm/40 S&W, and the other was because I just wanted to build 'one more' 1911. I recently sold my lathe and mill so I won't be building any more 1911s, or any guns any more. All things come to an end.

YES, I wanted it

Have I justified each firearm purchase to my wife? Yes. Have those justifications been a bit of a stretch at times? Also yes. We don't ok every single purchase with each other, but most purchases over $50 or so we'll talk to the other beforehand just to make sure we're on the same page.

I also take surveys and stuff like that on the side for gun and ammo money, so if I'm using that side gig money I don't always bother.

I have a growing selection of pistols...mostly ones that I wanted, but lately, multiple guns that my son bought. Call me ol' softie...rather than seeing my son accept a half-price (or less) offer from our LGS, I pay him what he's hoping to get (or more if I believe he's discounting too deeply). As a result I have a Taurus G2C, a S&W Shield 2.0, and a Kahr CM9 - all 9mm, a Berreta PX4 Storm 40S&W, and a Bersa Thunder 380ACP. I really wish he would just buy guns that I want...at least then when he moves to sell or trade it I'll get my pistol at a slight discount.
So yes... I can easily justify every firearm that I own...but probably only to myself. The court of public opinion would likely rule against me.

No one needs amusement parks or Taco Bell, but life would be boring without each. Same with guns.

Terry G said:

I think one of the saddest things I've ever heard in the way of gun purchases was from a guy I know who was very excited because "His Wife was going to LET him buy" a Heritage .22 revolver. When I think of that it just makes me sad. I have bought lot's of guns and quite a few were on impulse but none were bought "with my Wife's permission." Something wrong there. Wife or a Mother? Also I've heard a lot of "Snuck one by the Old Lady" and "Got that one past the Wife".. I've heard this right here.

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It may be a lack of money situation. I'm lucky, my wife is into guns as much as I am. She drags me kicking and screaming to the gun store.

Hokkmike said:

It MIGHT have to do with sharing limited resources. Guns are expensive and not always essential.

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Indeed it "MIGHT" have to do with sharing limited resources. I've probably said a hundred times that my custom built 308 Norma Magnum was my retirement gift to myself 11 years ago. I've also said a number of times that the Jeep Wrangler (the one I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread) was my wife's retirement gift to herself.
Neither statement is exactly true. I mean sure, I DID treat myself to my custom 308 Norma Magnum when I retired, but not without talking it over with my wife first. WE decided WE could afford it, and this was the result of our mutual decision:

(That's OUR dog, Ruger with his XRAY eyes)

It was the same way with that little Jeep Wrangler. My wife had wanted one like it for years, but when she retired, she sure as heck didn't go out and buy one without talking it over with me first. WE decided WE could afford it, and this is the result of our mutual decision:


BTW, I could have (and DID for 45-46 years prior to my retirement) get by with my .308 Win, and later on, my 30-06 for my big game rifle. And like I said, it was and is the same with my wife's Jeep Wrangler. We can afford to have more than one motor vehicle, just like we can afford to have more than one gun apiece.
Besides that, I don't mean to brag, but the reason why we can afford 2 motor vehicles and as many guns as we have is probably partly due to the fact we talk expensive purchases over before WE make them. AND there's not a doubt in my mind that that's one of the same reasons we've been married for 50 years!