Christmas Money = Lever gun, Long range, or carry gun upgrades?

[TJ McChucklenuts]

Okay, so I have about 750$ of Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket, and i'm looking to ya'll for help deciding how best to use it...

I could get a Marlin lever action .30-30 in stainless steel, or the blued version for a little less...
or
I could get a long range gun, something in 7mm or .270 or similar, something I could use for elk eventually...
or
I could get some upgrades for my carry gun, a S&W Shield 9mm, I was thinking some Ameriglo cap sights, or XS big dots, some kind of night sight, and a magazine capacity upgrade from MagGuts, maybe a laser/flashlight, but that would require a new holster... (I already put an Apex trigger on it) And there would be some leftover, which would probably go to ammo...

Let me know what you think...

 

[Squire Western]

I would get the .270 or a .308 and take home that elk!

Happy hunting.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I would put the money in my sock drawer until I knew what I really wanted.

 

[bannockburn]

Me, I would get a Marlin .30-30 to replace the one I had to sell years ago to pay for school.

But that's just me.

Best advice: get something you have a real need for and are going to get some decent use out of it. I think hunting or self defense are very good reasons to get the guns or accessories you have listed.

 

[ShowMeState1977]

I'd go for the lever gun.

 

[JohnBiltz]

If you don't know what you want why spend the money until you do?

 

[Mousegun]

Upgrade the Shield by getting a Performace Model

 

[Pelo801]

If it were me, I'd go for the lever action. But if you don't have a definite need for it, maybe you spend that ammo and training for your carry gun.

 

[Armored farmer]

Spend the $$ on what you are going to actually shoot most often.

 

[Milt1]

If you're a hunter, really be a hunter by buying a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 Magnum and hunt Elk with that. Yeah, you have to get close but that's the essence of hunting. Good luck!

 

[buck460XVR]

I would put the money in my sock drawer until I knew what I really wanted.

^^^this. I'm always amazed at the amount of folks that have a burning desire to get a gun, but don't know what they want. Then, for some reason, they think random strangers on the internet know their needs and wants better than they do themselves or think they need to buy a specific gun to gain acceptance from those strangers. TJ McChucklenuts, your choices are all over the board, which appears to me you are grasping for straws and in no real immediate need of any of them. I say enjoy the feeling of having a fair amount of cash to spend on a firearm and go look at some. Fondle a few at a LGS and see what trips your trigger, instead of taking the run of the mill "get one like mine" replies on an internet forum.

 

[Ttexastom]

270 or some sort of 7mm will get the most good. You can deer hunt, hog hunt,antelope, mule deer elk, moose. If you are not a serious hunter, get a good idea on how to spend the money on self defense. If you are not exactly sure, wait a while. Sometimes just a few days of thought can clear up your decision. Merry christmas!

 

[redneck2]

I would put the money in my sock drawer until I knew what I really wanted.

Yep. If you need to ask strangers on the internet what to buy, I'd hold off

 

[maxxhavoc]

Well you asked for opinions...

For the 30-30:. If you want one you should get it. But personally I would set aside the money for it and get a used one. Lever action 30-30s aren't safe queens, to me they look better with a little character and age. And the older ones are usually better made as well. If you look in gun stores and pawn shops around the opening or closing of deer season, you can get a good one at a good price. My '64 Winchester (NOT pre-'64) cost me $350 and shoots well and operates smoothly. Stock is a little dinged up, and the finish shows wear, but everything that counts is good.

If you hunt with a scope, take the price of the scope into account. I would buy rifle and scope new if possible. For hunting, my absolute bottom end would be a Savage of some kind if you only plan the occasional trip, but I would probably end up recommending the Tikka T3 for your budget...especially if there will be many rounds shot from a bench through paper as well.

I like to keep carry guns as they came from the manufacturer. Sight upgrades are fine, but if you want more capacity, start looking at another carry gun for days where you are wearing more clothes. The M&P Compact (to stay in your brand) carries more rounds that the shield ever will, and it will take full size M&P mags as well.

If it was me, I would put the money in the bank and start going to gun shops and pawn shops on a weekly basis. That's how the folks who show off their $250 Smith and Wesson revolvers or ridiculously cheap milsurp pawn shop finds do it. Bargains do show up in any place that sells used guns. Having the money to take advantage of those bargains is the key.

 

[redneck2]

This isn't gun related, but right now I'm selling guns and buying pre-64 silver coins. I suspect the economy is in for a very rough ride in the near future.

If you want something shooting related, ammo and reloading supplies.

In the past, I've been in your position. Buying just to be buying. I've ended up selling most all of them. After a while, it's just a collection of wood/steel/composite that never gets used.

 

[huntsman]

^ Make it a couple of tubes of Silver Eagles.

 

[22250Rem]

Been in that situation more than once; don't get into the buying just to be buying mode. You'll probably regret it, so don't let money burn a hole in your pocket. I've learned to put it in the bank and let it sit while you can leisurely and meticulously explore your options. Compare the pros and cons of each option and think it out first and avoid the "wouda", "couda", "shouda" regret syndrome. That's why they say, "Hindsight is 20/20". Forums like this are always good for bouncing ideas around and helping folks make intelligent decisions.

 

[Sunray]

Squander it on a new rifle. None of the "upgrades" will keep you any safer. Mind you, $750 isn't going to go very far, but you have a down payment at least.

 

[MistWolf]

Buy ammo.

Shoot Before Modifying. Ammo Before Accessories

 

[ridgerunner1965]

idk your situation. if you have debt of any kind i would use the 750 for that.. guns are toys in the most part.

unless you need a gun to feed your family, which is legitimate. but even then a 200$ gun would do that.

if you have car debt or credit card debt or home debt, well then purchaseing a toy is irresponsible.

thats what my gpa told me.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I'd go for the Marlin lever gun. I have it in stainless with the gray laminate stock in 45-70 and I love it.

 

[dh1633pm]

First thing is to "stop the burn". Money burning a hole isn't always a good thing. Then figure out what you really want. Don't worry, whatever it is you settle on will still be there when the time comes.

 

[Crawdad1]

Nothing better to own, to fondle, to savor than a good bolt action rifle.

 

[dh1633pm]

Not sure I fully agree Crawdad1, but I like your passion.

 

[Crawdad1]

I do get carried away sometimes don't I?