{"id":1812,"date":"2022-01-24T12:01:02","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T17:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/?p=1812"},"modified":"2022-01-24T12:01:04","modified_gmt":"2022-01-24T17:01:04","slug":"should-i-buy-that-gun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/should-i-buy-that-gun\/","title":{"rendered":"SHOULD I BUY THAT GUN?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SHOULD I BUY THAT GUN?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Craig Boddington<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddy John Stucker sent me a photo of a Christensen <\/a>rifle, new in the box, carbon-fiber barrel, synthetic stock chambered to 6.5 PRC, price sounded good. He asked, \u201cShould I buy it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Christensen
Boddington\u2019s buddy, John Stucker, texted him this photo of a Christensen in 6.5 <\/a>PRC asking, \u201cshould I buy it?\u201d Stucker already had a Christensen .300 Win Mag, loves the rifle, had tried the 6.5 PRC and liked it. The price was right so, why not? But did he really need it? <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Good Lord, you\u2019re asking me? That\u2019s like asking a fellow alcoholic to share a drink!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to buying guns, I\u2019m the wrong person to ask! In some cases, my resistance is pretty good; I don\u2019t buy many handguns, only one shotgun lately. Sporting rifles, well, I\u2019m weak\u2026especially with left-hand or ambidextrous actions! However, I have more guns of all types than I need, many that haven\u2019t been out of the gun safe in a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve only got so much space in the gun safe(s). That fact bolsters my resolve. I buy, sell, trade\u2026and I\u2019ve gotten ruthless about trimming the herd when safe storage gets crowded. However, I\u2019m not a really smart wheeler-dealer; I\u2019ve overpaid simply because I couldn\u2019t resist!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Savage
Boddington is always \u201clooking.\u201d In September \u201921 he walked into Capital Sports in Helena, Montana\u2026and saw the Savage 99 .300 Savage he\u2019d been looking for. The price was good\u2026better with their \u201cmilitary discount.\u201d This one is a keeper\u2026at least for a while!\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s nice to say that \u201cgood guns never lose their value.\u201d Probably true over the long haul, but fair value what it is. The bible is Blue Book of Gun Values<\/em>, now in its 42d edition, an amazing reference! Condition is subject to interpretation, but the Blue Book is the standard reference.   A great deal is always suspect. Today, with so many firearms in short supply, overpaying a bit isn\u2019t uncommon (same as vehicles and houses!). Just be sure and ask yourself: Do I want it that<\/em> bad? Again, I\u2019m the wrong person to ask, but I try to give myself a rational answer to three questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DO I REALLY NEED IT?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my case the answer should always be \u201cno.\u201d But it\u2019s often difficult to separate \u201cneed\u201d from \u201cwant.\u201d My guns are an eclectic array; I\u2019m not building a collection and I don\u2019t buy expensive collectibles but, heck, the kids are out of college. Not the end of the world if I buy a gun just because I want it, but budgets and needs vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ruger-Marlin
This is one of the first Ruger-Marlin 1895 .45-70s. It\u2019s a very nice rifle in all ways, but Boddington has big lever-actions and intended to send it back. Until he shot it: Accuracy is so exceptional for a lever-action that this one is a no-brainer \u201ckeeper.\u201d\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a gunwriter, test guns come and go. Usually, we can buy them at a decent price\u2026or send them back. Most often, I resist temptation and send them back. But not always. In November, I received one of the first Ruger<\/a>–Marlins<\/a>, an 1895 .45-70. Beautifully finished, smooth action. My intent was to do my work and send it back! I have an older Marlin .45-70<\/a>\u2026and other big lever-actions. No way that I \u201cneed\u201d it! Then I shot it, MOA accuracy with five-shot groups. Gotta rationalize: My other 1895 has a long octagonal barrel. This one has a short barrel and Picatinny rail, easier to scope. It isn\u2019t going back!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Needless to say, John Stucker bought that Christensen 6.5 PRC<\/a>. (Why ask me?) His excuse makes more sense. He doesn\u2019t have a bunch of rifles (yet). His \u201cgo to\u201d has long been a Browning A-Bolt<\/a> .280 Remington, good rifle and cartridge. Wanting a \u201cmodern\u201d platform with (perhaps) more range and accuracy, he bought a Christensen .300 Win Mag<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 On its maiden voyage, it accounted for an aoudad ram at 450 yards. He was sold!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Springfield
John Stucker with a big-bodied (and ancient) Georgia buck in October \u201921, taken with Springfield Waypoint in 6.5 PRC<\/a>. This was Stucker\u2019s first experience with any 6.5mm cartridge. He liked the modest recoil and the way it dropped the buck; four months later he bought a Christensen in the same chambering. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, I used the new Springfield Waypoint<\/a> in 6.5 PRC and liked it. That one needed to be sent back, but I bought another, also in 6.5 PRC. In \u201921, Stucker used that rifle on a Georgia whitetail hunt. He liked the light recoil, and the way the 6.5 PRC dropped a big buck in its tracks. Months later, he chanced on a Christensen in that chambering. Will it do anything his .280 can\u2019t do? Probably not, and its only advantage over his .300 is less recoil. He didn\u2019t really \u201cneed\u201d it, but it\u2019s a modern platform in a modern cartridge. I admit he \u201cneeded\u201d it more than I \u201cneeded\u201d the Springfield 6.5 PRC<\/a>. I have a half-dozen rifles that will do everything it can do! The only rationalization I can offer: I don\u2019t like to be left too far behind by new developments! It\u2019s a thoroughly modern platform\u2014and I like the new 6.5 PRC!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a new gun buyer, or shopping for specialized capability you don\u2019t have (like an elk rifle or turkey gun), it\u2019s easier to come up with genuine need. The millions of new gun owners who have joined us in the last few years have different needs. Many probably started with a firearm for home defense, but after a while learn shooting is fun<\/em>. Some decide to try their hand at clay targets or join a friend on a deer hunt. These folks have genuine needs for firearms that guys like me satisfied decades ago. There\u2019s a lot of hype out there and, for any imaginable purpose, dozens of firearms that suit the need. Talk to experienced shooters, and try to get a consensus on the type of gun you should look for\u2026to suit your need. Don\u2019t call somebody like me and ask, \u201cShould I buy this gun?\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ruger-Marlin
This is one of the first Ruger-Marlin 1895 .45-70s.<\/a> It\u2019s a very nice rifle in all ways, but Boddington has big lever-actions and intended to send it back. Until he shot it: Accuracy is so exceptional for a lever-action that this one is a no-brainer \u201ckeeper.\u201d <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

HOW AM I GONNA FEED IT?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a new concern! The big box stores rarely carry large variety, but well-stocked gunshops had, almost anything. It\u2019s different today. Shortages and backorders are real, there aren\u2019t as many Mom and Pop gunshops as there used to be, and shelves are shockingly bare. I am not a conspiracy theorist; I believe this is because of those millions of new gun owners\u2026and old-timers like me purchasing more than we need. The manufacturers are churning out ammo as fast as they can, but the demand is unprecedented and unanticipated. As a sensible business decision, they are focused on the top-selling cartridges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s better than it was six months ago; takes more looking, and prices are up, but you can get the more popular cartridges. Some of the arcane stuff I shoot, good luck! Ammo availability must influence buying decisions! I saw a nice1898 .30-40 Krag at a gunshop recently. Didn\u2019t need<\/em> it, but the price was great and I wanted <\/em>it. No ammo, no loading dies. I didn\u2019t buy it, mostly because I saw ammo headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"CZ
Quail hunting in Arizona with the left-handed CZ Bobwhite <\/a>in 20 gauge 3\u201d. This is not exactly the only upland shotgun Boddington has, but a light, left-handed 20-gauge side-by-side was far beyond his weak impulse control. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday, same shop had a well-worn Savage 99 in .300 Savage, the hang-tag announcing \u201cwith three boxes ammo!\u201d Dealers never used to care about ammo, didn\u2019t want to mess with it when I sent a gun \u201cdown the road.\u201d Today, a used gun in an older or obscure cartridge may be nearly useless. I handload, so that\u2019s a partial solution, but you still must find dies, cases, and appropriate projectiles. I gave that Savage 99 a quick glance, and moved on. I have a Savage 99 in .300 Savage, with dies, cases, and ammo. Plan to keep it for a while!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to popular numbers, ammo companies are also running new cartridges. Not fair, but also sensible business: New cartridges don\u2019t have a chance if ammo isn\u2019t available! So, although prices are too high, John will find 6.5 PRC ammo, and I\u2019m seeing 6.8 Western and .300 PRC ammo around. For sure, there\u2019s plenty of 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> ammo out there. I have one, in part because it\u2019s so popular as to be inescapable! After initial shortages, there\u2019s quite a bit of .223<\/a>, .308<\/a>, and .30-06<\/a> ammo. Likewise, 9mm<\/a>, .38 Special<\/a>, and .45 ACP<\/a>\u2026and both 12 and 20 gauge. But if you need ammo for unpopular numbers, you need to think about it. Maybe with an eye toward: How much ammo do I really need\u2026and where can I get it?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"CZ
Boddington couldn\u2019t resist this CZ Bobwhite<\/a> 20 gauge a wonderfully complete and inexpensive upland shotgun\u2026and this \u201csouthpaw\u201d version had a left-hand-cast stock. He knows he didn\u2019t need it, but who cares?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH IT?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is slightly different from need<\/em>. Will you shoot it a lot? If so, better think even harder about ammo. I have a Uberti Courteney <\/a>Stalking Rifle test gun on hand. Chambered to .303 British, it\u2019s a cool rifle, just love it. I have dies and adequate cases, but it\u2019s oddball .312-inch bullets are scarce, and I can\u2019t find fresh factory ammo at all. I want to buy this one, purely because I like it, but I gotta think about how to feed it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Uberti
On the bench with the Uberti Courteney<\/a> Stalking Rifle in .303 British. Great-looking rifle, and this one shoots very well. Boddington loves it, wants it\u2026but doesn\u2019t \u201cneed\u201d it. Today, the .303\u2019s .312-inch bullets are extremely scarce. Keep or return decision pending, but ammo availability is a concern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you don\u2019t want to shoot a certain gun at all, just squirrel it away for the grand-kids. Ammo resupply won\u2019t be your problem, but try to stash a few boxes\u2026and don\u2019t shoot them up! I often pass up nice guns in obscure, obsolete, or wildcat cartridges. Almost all ammo problems can be solved, but lack of ammo magnifies expense and hassle. Provided even a few cartridges go with the gun, loading dies can be had or made\u2026and any handloader can load it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond low impulse control, my left-handed affliction is a problem. I have a terrible time turning down left-handed or ambidextrous guns. I have too many left-hand bolt-actions, lever-actions, single-shots, and break-open guns\u2026with redundant capabilities. That one recent shotgun: Last year I bought a CZ Bobwhite side-by-side 20 gauge with left-hand cast to the stock. Great little shotgun, great price! I didn\u2019t need it, but how could I not? That\u2019s the problem with being a lifelong gun guy\u2026sometimes I don\u2019t even try to come up with a reason!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SHOULD I BUY THAT GUN? By Craig Boddington Buddy John Stucker sent me a photo of a Christensen rifle, new in the box, carbon-fiber barrel, synthetic stock chambered to 6.5 PRC, price sounded good. He asked, \u201cShould I buy it?\u201d Good Lord, you\u2019re asking me? That\u2019s like asking a fellow alcoholic to share a drink! … Continue reading “SHOULD I BUY THAT GUN?”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[7,101,35],"tags":[8,19,32,61,39],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/IMG_3497-Medium.jpg?fit=1152%2C768&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1812"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1812"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1825,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1812\/revisions\/1825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wholesalehunter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}