How much does "impulse buying" factor in to your firearms purchases?

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I'm getting really good at getting on my knees and groveling about how I was overcome by greed and the :evil:...promising I will never do it again this week, I'll take the trash out when you ask...ill put the toilet lid down...it was just a overwhelming impulse that I can't control...but trust me...:evil:...because I love you I can now control the uncontrollable impulse...
 
I do it too much. I sometimes just look on auction sites to kill time and once in a while, I bite, usually seeing something used that I've wanted for a long long time, or a new gun that is hard to get at a decent price. If it's a "grail" gun, and is a fair price, I tend to just buy it, but the rest of the time, if it's a "don't care" gun, I put a minimum bid on it, and about 50% of the time, I end up with that too. Latest deal was for an S&W 28-2, from the original owner, with box and papers and receipt. I also bid on another 28-2, no box, but very pretty. I ended up with both of them. Now I have 6" 28-2, and two 4" 28-2's. I'm looking for a 629, or a 625 in .45 ACP now. So far, I've resisted....but..
 
Hi...
Impulse buys???
Well...it happens now and then.
Last week I went on a little gun shop tour with my son after picking up some lumber to do some maintenance on my deck.

Looked at a couple of guns at a couple of shops but nothing that really got my attention.
The last shop we stopped at I looked at a couple of revolvers...a Virginian Dragoon in .44Magnum, a flat top Blackhawk (stainless) in .44Spl and a Model 27 in .357Magnum.
I don't need any of them...I have multiple handguns in each caliber but not a stainless Blackhawk or an N frame in .357Magnum but I do have two Virginian Dragoons in .44Magnum.

Finally negotiated $100 reduction on the Model 27. Serial number number indicates it is a late '70s revolver. $900 plus tax and transfer.
Don't really need it but now I have an N frame in .357Mag to go with my N frames in .41Mag, .44Mag and .45Colt.

While I don't need it, my son and I managed to put about 100 rounds through it on Memorial Day during our trip to the gun club.
Didn't shoot it for groups...just ringing steel out to .25yds. Took a couple of adjustments to the rear sight and we were both consistently hitting the steel plates at 25yds.

Another impulse buy that seems to have worked out quite well.
 
Hi...
Impulse buying, huh???

I had to go out this morning to get some blood work done... afterwards I stopped at McDonald's for breakfast.
Left there and was driving home and decided that I would stop at one of the local gun shops to see if there was anything interesting in the used gun racks.

Couple of interesting used rifles but nothing that really got me excited.
Saw a nice Super Blackhawk in .44Mag in the handgun case but I already have one of those and don't have much need for two.

And then I noticed a Uberti Schofield in the back of the case. Blued gun with 7-1/2" barrel in .45Colt. No marks on the gun anywhere, no evidence of blueing wear and the barrel and chamber holes are clean and shiny. No room for negotiation...consignment gun, owner wants $850 and won't take less.

Bottom line...I put $500 down on it and will pick it up after the first of the month when my pension deposits happen. $906 with tax and transfer.
I have actually wanted one of these for quite a while just never seemed to find a deal that I liked when I had the disposable funds.

So...five months into 2020 and I have managed to buy an average of one gun per month. All impulse buys to one extent or another even though each one was something I always wanted...I just wasn't actively searching at the time I found it.

Oh....revolver came with two holsters. One is a Hunter (right hand) the other is left hand with no maker's mark on it. So...a nice little added bonus.
 
Impulse buying (Or even impulse bidding) of gun related things happens far, far too often to me. On Wednesday, for no other reason than I saw no line and a parking spot right in front of the store, I went to the LGS for the first time since Covid craziness gripped the land. I intended to buy a couple of bricks of rimfire ammo if they had any left on the shelves.

I walked towards the ammo shelf, and as I passed the consignment counter, I impulsively asked what the price was on a 6” Colt revolver I saw in there, and within two minutes of trying the 2 lb SA trigger and checking lock up on all six dropped $620 OTD on a very nice 1930’s vintage Colt Officers Model Target Heavy Barrel 6” in .38 Spl.

Oh, I bought two bricks of Armscor .22LR and 250 .22 WMR as well.

Impulse buying is my Achilles heel for sure o_O.

Stay safe.
 
Most of my gun buys have been on impulse. But, When I have the impulse I also must the have the cash. Funny, Wondering. Does having the cash cause the impulse or does the impulse cause me to find the cash. Heck. Who cares as long as I get that new gun.
 
"Impulse buying" of any kind, firearms or otherwise, doesn't factor hardly at all in my budget.

Well...maybe when I walk by and see what new flavor Oreos are out, or something!

My biggest beef are the email notifications...for things that are only happening THE FRICKIN' DAY I GET THE EMAIL!

Sorry...that's not how I work.
 
Not very much! Nearly everything I've ever bought I kind of carefully researched and planned for.
I occasionally unexpectedly come across something I think I'll like, but I research it in detail before actually buying it.
I bought my first cell phone in Jan 2000. I researched phones, companies and plans for about 2 years before I committed.
I don't know how many times I went into a mobile carrier store and spent an hour there before just leaving, not satisfied that I knew enough, wasn't about to get a good deal, or just didn't want to commit. My gun buying habits have been mostly parallel to that. My first handgun was a Bersa Thunder 45. In the months before I bought it online I also looked at Charter Arms Bulldog, CZ82, SP101, and a few others. I knew I liked the style of the Bersa, and a LGS employee convinced me to go with a larger caliber instead of the 38/380 size and level. I wasn't enitrely disappointed.

The only two purchases I ever made which qualify as "impulse buys" were a shiny nickel S&W 59 and a blued 1978 Charter Arms Target Bulldog in 357 with a 6" barrel. I struck out on number 1, as the 59 didn't fit me and was just all wrong (but I still liked the look of it)! The $225 Bulldog, in spite of Charter's underdog status in the gun world turned out to be a very fun and serviceable gun. I've brought it on vacation a number of times. It's light and trim, will handle full house loads one-handed if it has to, has decent accuracy and power with a 6" barrel, and feels great with a Pachmayr combat grip. The screw which adjusts the slack on the cylinder release needed some fine tuning and a little loktite, and then it was a pleasure to shoot and carry thereafter. Not a collector piece, just a nice simple comfortable gun for offhand shooting with very decent accuracy.
 
No impulse buying at all for me. I’m a determined researcher so when I finally decide on exactly what I want or need, I get on a mission to find it.
 
Not a factor.
It was when I was younger and a "collector" but no longer.
I know what I can use and I already have what I need.
Unless a new role appears, my cast of characters is complete.
 
On occasion if it is one of those deals that are to good to pass up and it is something I am interested in. Other times it takes me weeks of research and shopping.
 
I tend to do a lot of research before I buy. But having said that, I've gotten rid of firearms that I researched but that did not suit. I'd say I've impulse bought 3 guns. A DW Guardian in 45 ACP I saw in my LGS that was like $900 and in excellent condition. But I like it. Sticking with 45 ACP, I saw a Marlin Camp 45 at a big gunshow and great price. Could not pass it up. But it was the filthiest gun I ever shot and I sold it at a slight loss easily. I placed a WTB on a great statewide online venue for buying and selling guns. For a 1990s-era Beretta 92FS centurion. 10 minutes later I had mail and 2 hours after that I purchased it. I really like this pistol. I did a Langdon trigger job in a bag, replaces mag release, WC ultrathin grips, and had the integral front sight drilled out and replaced with a green LED. Just sent it to CCR refinishing. So, yea, I like it. "batting 2 for 3."
 
Impulse buying is why I named my LGS owner,,,
The Evil Pawn Shop Guy.

Right off the top of my head I can recall these guns I've bought there,,,
Just because I was "browsing" with a clean credit card.

  • S&W Model 15
  • S&W Model 34
  • S&W Model 12
  • S&W Model 36
  • Charter Arms Bulldog
  • Charter Arms Pathfinder
  • Western Field .22 rifle
  • Cricket .22 rifle
  • Two different H&R .22 revolvers
  • Beretta model 85


Hey, I'm single with no debt and a decent job,,,
I am fortunate to be able to indulge myself every now and then.

Aarond

.
 
I never impulse buy when it comes to guns and gun related stuff. :uhoh:
Ok. I do buy a lot of guns, but only when I come across a good deal or see something I really like. I look at it like this. If I see something I like or want, and I have the money, I buy it. What’s the harm in that.
I’m also glad that I don’t have to worry about someone fussing about me buying guns, because I would most likely get fussed at every week or two.
 
There's two kinds of seasoned gun owners -- those who readily admit to impulse buys -- and those who lie never buying anything on impulse, who'd have us believe that they've planned every gun purchase out two years in advance ...

Wait: maybe there's another kind as well -- those who don't understand the meaning of an "impulse buy." Maybe I don't get out enough, but I don't know anyone who collects firearms who's never made an impulse buy -- or several ... or many ...
 
In this new world we live in, there are no “impulses.” We no longer need to reason, think or consider any possible repercussions of anything we do. Rewarding our current emotions with thoughtless action (impulses) is what the mob demands.

Oh wait that’s only if we believe exactly what they believe. Never mind go back to thinking and being responsible.:)
 
Is that criticism? Just wondering; some of us (such as myself) have no debt, substantial savings and a decent retirement, have put our children through college, make annual significant contributions to charitable causes, and have some disposable income that we can use at our discretion. If buying a consumer product on an impulse, when one can afford to, is wrong, I'd just say ... pack sand, brother. I think, and am responsible, but free to do with my money as I wish.
 
No impulse buying at all for me. I’m a determined researcher so when I finally decide on exactly what I want or need, I get on a mission to find it.

We're both apparently very German.
Dont let the Irish screen name fool you.
My father was fresh off das Boot, literally!
Ok, ok... The other half IS impulsive and Celtic...but I definately do some handy research before impulsively buying! Usually the stoic German side wins when I invest, but I have's me moments...
 
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We're both apparently very German.
Dont let the Irish screen name fool you.
My father was fresh off das Boot, literally!
Ok, ok... The other half IS impulsive and Celtic...but I definately do some handy research before impulsively buying! Usually the stoic German side wins when I invest, but I have's me moments...

We are now in a time when your ancestors will be held against you.

I grew up poor until I was 10, then we moved up to lower middle class. My dad had a genius IQ but that was his third best quality. My mom picked cotton as a kid in Texas. Good luck figuring out where I came from!:D

I take after my dad in most ways but I'm a tight wad from my moms farming side.
 
It doesn't. I spend quite bit of time researching what it is I'm after and I have a set price in mind. I admit I'll get a bug for something in particular and I will eventually get it but not on impulse. I've been like that my entire life. Yeah, I know I'm no fun!
 
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