smithnframe
Member
If I want it, I buy it after negotiating for the best price.
How do you guys afford our gun habit?
- Thread starter mrcllusb
- Start date
I decided not to go to college but went to 2yr technical school/college instead.Received my certification in electronics and electrical engineering and technology.I believe that hands on schooling then straight into apprenticeship has gotten me further then a lot of others that i know that went to straight college then tried to get into the electrical field.Don't get me wrong having a degree has its advantages,but having someone whom has that hands on knowledge has started to outweigh someone whom is just book smart.
I have been blessed to have spent the last 47 years fully employed. Mostly one career after 4 years in the USAF. Married 39 years and one child. We lived within our means and still do, on my earnings alone. Credit card balance is 0 or a minus. Morgage paid off 25 years ago. Same small house for 38 years. Put our daughter through a total of 6 years of collage and a wedding. She is employed in her field.
I really only started buying guns again about 3 years ago. Previous purchases were in 1971. I buy what I like and keep all I buy. I have never sold a gun. I try to buy the best condition I can afford of the gun I want. I quit smoking when cigarettes were .50 a pack and drink about 3 beers a month.
Reloading is your friend. I reload .38spec., 9mm, 40S&W, .44spec. / mag., 45acp & 45Colt. It works out to about .10 - .13 per round using range brass.
I shoot all the guns I own. I am partial to S&W K & N frames and lever action rifles, mostly .22cal.
LTC
I really only started buying guns again about 3 years ago. Previous purchases were in 1971. I buy what I like and keep all I buy. I have never sold a gun. I try to buy the best condition I can afford of the gun I want. I quit smoking when cigarettes were .50 a pack and drink about 3 beers a month.
Reloading is your friend. I reload .38spec., 9mm, 40S&W, .44spec. / mag., 45acp & 45Colt. It works out to about .10 - .13 per round using range brass.
I shoot all the guns I own. I am partial to S&W K & N frames and lever action rifles, mostly .22cal.
LTC
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Afford "our" gun habit? Heck, I can barely keep up with my own! 
smithman 10
US Veteran
Just ask yourself if you are willing to trade or sell one of the guns you already have in order to finance the one you think you gotta get right now.
If you're not willing to part with one of yours for the new one, then you don't really want the new one enough. Wait a little while and the urge to buy will probably go away.
When you REALLY want another gun, you'll find one in your inventory that you are willing to trade or sell to finance the new one.
That's how I keep it under control.
If you're not willing to part with one of yours for the new one, then you don't really want the new one enough. Wait a little while and the urge to buy will probably go away.
When you REALLY want another gun, you'll find one in your inventory that you are willing to trade or sell to finance the new one.
That's how I keep it under control.
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i would suggest a single stage setup...the RCBS rockchucker comes as a complete setup kit except for dies..which you need for each caliber...it's fun,easy,and you save a lot of money...last i looked the rockchucker kit was under $300
Smitty357
Member
Me and the ole lady have been together almost 14yrs, and i'm not dumb enough to marry her. And before anyone asks, NO Louisiana is not a common law marriage state (never has been either). Lucky me
So I guess that's how I afford my gun habbit, lol
So I guess that's how I afford my gun habbit, lol
I like to be on record that I do not have a gun habit!
BE
YEAH RIGHT!!! LOL
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I am retired, on a fixed budget, so..... When at the range I see the people next to me leaving brass on the ground I ask if they want it, if no may I take it? Scrap price for clean yellow brass is around $1.80 to $2.00 per pound. So I take in about 50 - 60 bucks a month plus recycling aluminum another 20 to 30 and there is about half my guns and and ammo $$$ per month. May sound "chincy" but it works for me.
I'll brag a little about being lucky, in one regard anyway. First know that, except for a few months here and there, I have been out of work for almost 5 years. So you can imagine something like a hobby involving ANY exchange of funds is mostly out of the question.
Few years ago talking with one of my brothers about living in the rural parts of PA vs his Philly neighborhood, the topic of hand guns came up. Happens he has a M13-1 sitting in his sock drawer for 25 years, shot a little handled a lot, that he bought in a pawn shop in Charlotte when he was in the Navy. Turns out his wife has bugged him for years to get rid of it, so he GAVE IT TO ME. This got me started on S&W enthusiasm.
Some time later I entered a S&W contest on-line, won 4th prize of $1,000. Bought a new M&P45fs and a new 642-2.
Some time later I was talking with another brother one day about my new M&P, he says his department is changing over to the 4" M&P45. I ask what they are trading and he says 4513TSW. Can you get one? sez I; when do you want it? sez he. He selects the 2nd least used one in his department, and GIVES IT TO ME FOR MY BIRTHDAY.
Some time later I'm talking with that same brother, bragging about carrying that 4513 every day, and I mention that one day I will have a job and get serious about looking for one of my grail guns, M-65 3". He says when ol' Aunt B retired several years ago she gave him her revolver. My brother couldn't remember what it was but thought it was a stainless 3" something. He is not a gun person, and has no use for it in NJ, so he gets it to show me and it isn't my M65, but it is a never shot M60-10 3" J frame 357, with a hint of a ring on the cylinder. Said I COULD HAVE IT AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
13-1, M&P45fs, 642-2, 4513TSW, 60-10 and except for transfer fees i don't have a penny in them.
I am REALLY hoping one of my other brothers has reloading equipment he doesn't want.... I am truly the guy walking the streets with the sign "WILL WORK FOR AMMO".
Few years ago talking with one of my brothers about living in the rural parts of PA vs his Philly neighborhood, the topic of hand guns came up. Happens he has a M13-1 sitting in his sock drawer for 25 years, shot a little handled a lot, that he bought in a pawn shop in Charlotte when he was in the Navy. Turns out his wife has bugged him for years to get rid of it, so he GAVE IT TO ME. This got me started on S&W enthusiasm.
Some time later I entered a S&W contest on-line, won 4th prize of $1,000. Bought a new M&P45fs and a new 642-2.
Some time later I was talking with another brother one day about my new M&P, he says his department is changing over to the 4" M&P45. I ask what they are trading and he says 4513TSW. Can you get one? sez I; when do you want it? sez he. He selects the 2nd least used one in his department, and GIVES IT TO ME FOR MY BIRTHDAY.
Some time later I'm talking with that same brother, bragging about carrying that 4513 every day, and I mention that one day I will have a job and get serious about looking for one of my grail guns, M-65 3". He says when ol' Aunt B retired several years ago she gave him her revolver. My brother couldn't remember what it was but thought it was a stainless 3" something. He is not a gun person, and has no use for it in NJ, so he gets it to show me and it isn't my M65, but it is a never shot M60-10 3" J frame 357, with a hint of a ring on the cylinder. Said I COULD HAVE IT AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
13-1, M&P45fs, 642-2, 4513TSW, 60-10 and except for transfer fees i don't have a penny in them.
I am REALLY hoping one of my other brothers has reloading equipment he doesn't want.... I am truly the guy walking the streets with the sign "WILL WORK FOR AMMO".
tenntucker
US Veteran
The picture on the post office wall only looks like me. I'm not him.
the "secret" is……………..
fugal living
a. save your money
b. work your butt off for 40 years
c. save your money
d. invest your saved $$ for the FUTURE
e. save your money
f. pay cash for everything
g. save your money
h. don't buy trinkets and gizmos that are gone in a few years.
now mama & I have what we want, when we want, as much as we want
fugal living
a. save your money
b. work your butt off for 40 years
c. save your money
d. invest your saved $$ for the FUTURE
e. save your money
f. pay cash for everything
g. save your money
h. don't buy trinkets and gizmos that are gone in a few years.
now mama & I have what we want, when we want, as much as we want
Denver Dick
US Veteran
How do I afford to collect firearms and knives (including many Randall Made knives), here's how:
- My wife and I have always worked, and at pretty good jobs, too.
- We lived within our means, especially cars and houses (we own our cars for an average of 9 years). We had the two televisions we owned before the current two for over 10 years (they were Sonys).
- We use credit cards wisely (that means we pay them off every month).
- The wife is in a retirement system (that helps). Even though I paid into and will receive Social Security starting next year at 62, I made sure to take advantage of my company's 401k by contributing more than the amount that the company matched (I did not panic and sell cheap in 2009 to buy 1.5% CDs
). - We have not taken more than one week vacation each year since 1998.
- We chose not to have children. My wife is a middle school teacher so she gets more than enough time "taking care of young ones." (Not having kids probably accounts for $300,000+ of our current net worth.)
- I quit smoking cigarettes 27 years ago when they were still less than a dollar a pack (whoa, that saved some bucks).
- Except for my firearms, knives and my classical CD collection, I'm cheap. I never met a coupon I didn't like. Oh, and I quit going to $9.50 movies about 10 years ago. If folks I know really talk up a movie, I can always rent it or wait until it comes on cable. Besides, I love the old B&W movies on Tunner Classic Movies channel.
kdailey
Member
Until I turned 50, I could not even think about buying the firearms I wanted. I had my share, but was limited. Now 55, I am able to enjoy S&W revolvers as I want. It takes a great wife, hard work and good sound decision making over a period of time. And most importantly, all of that is a blessing from the Lord. Leave Him out and it's all in vain. And that's just the way it is.
I knew I shoulda taken more pictures. I generally make custom one-off holsters or holsters for hard to fit guns such as the Ruger SR22 when it first came out.
I do have some standard models.
The first is a wet molded concealment holster for a 1911. It's a prototype and I can see ways to tweak the design.
Second is a wet molded ammo pouch. I also make pouches for LeatherMan type multi-tools.
Third is my 442 in my daily carry thumb break owb holster.
Last up is a pocket holster.
