Annoying advice requests

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Look on the bright side. There are thousands of people viewing this forum every day. If the person asking for advice doesn't find your recommendations useful, there are others who likely will. Even if you offer very stupid advice, you can rest assured there will be someone in cyberspace who thinks it's pure genius.

In good cheer...

 

[Arik]

I have learned this the hard way. Im 33 an honesty i never thought of asking gun questions online or that even there was an online gun community untill about 07 or 08. Anyhow i used to own Taurus's and other cheap guns. Why? Because polymer is polymer and a revolver is a revolver .....right! Wrong!

Those guns are long gone and when i think of "the best" i Always look at what i can afford and then how much i need to save to buy that.

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[RonJ]

Thanks to this forum I now own an American Standard Champion 4. This was on the ADVICE of several forum members. I feel that that I am less full of **** than I was before that advice. Thank you.

 

[Dalkowski110]

While we're on this topic, I just feel the need to add my two cents about one particular guy at a range in NY who was an absolute know-it-all. Gave everyone advice and didn't know what the heck he was talking about. As in, to the extreme. The funniest two I can remember were...

"Every rifle barrel is only good for about a hundred rounds and you've got to replace it with a Clerke or a Shilen." (Upshot: has this guy worn his arms off yet changing out barrels?)

"You know, with those Mausers, they shoot better than the American ones. You should enter a competition with it." (I was shooting a Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. I)

 

[palmettosunshine]

My favorites are the ones asking "should I do this?" and everyone says NO in many different ways then the OP chimes back is to say they are going to anyway.

Wheelgun28 was right, most people are just seeking validation/reinforcement for a decision they've already made.

 

[JJEH]

...most people are just seeking validation/reinforcement for a decision they've already made.

That is probably true. But there are also people who are looking for an honest advice, b/c they have no idea what's going on and just need a hand to hold on to...

Also, even if you give advice you cannot expect that someone will take it. So it's really not a thing to get upset about...

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Uh...wouldn't that be knives?

No. Do a search on knifes.

 

[Rule3]

Uh...wouldn't that be knives?

Long story, ya had to be there

 

[Rule3]

I believe that, in a lot of cases (not all), where the person asks for advice on the "best", they really mean the "best value".
I know that the word "value" can be complicated to define. But a lot of people are really asking to know which is the lowest price object that will meet and exceed their performance criteria. Of course they better think about, study, and define that performance criteria in some detail.
What do you think?

When people ask me for advice on what to buy, I ask them "What do you want it to do and for how long?"

That's how I look at most purchases, To me there is a point of diminishing returns.
It's always easy to spend someone elses money and say buy the best "whatever", but that is not usually practical. Even if I had the money, I do not need a Zeiss or Swarovski scope. A Nikon, Leopold, Burris will work and work well for me. I see guys in the gun shop buy the most expensive fancy shotguns which is fine but then they claim they are to afraid to actually take them out in the woods. Same with rifles and the above expensive scopes. Sure it's nice to own such items if you can.

 

[REM 3200]

Seriously now, I just picked up a CTG. How much is it worth?

And can I shoot +P in it?

 

[Arik]

That's how I look at most purchases, To me there is a point of diminishing returns.
It's always easy to spend someone elses money and say buy the best "whatever", but that is not usually practical. Even if I had the money, I do not need a Zeiss or Swarovski scope. A Nikon, Leopold, Burris will work and work well for me. I see guys in the gun shop buy the most expensive fancy shotguns which is fine but then they claim they are to afraid to actually take them out in the woods. Same with rifles and the above expensive scopes. Sure it's nice to own such items if you can.

Yea but thats the difference between a practical purchase and an expansive purchase. Practical doesnt mean sub standard. I like Blazer rifles but at $2000 + per rifle i can just as easily hunt with a Remington 700. It doesnt make the Remington a Taurus but if you bought a Taurus because youre trying to save a penny you will not get Remington quality.

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[Rule3]

Yea but thats the difference between a practical purchase and an expansive purchase. Practical doesnt mean sub standard. I like Blazer rifles but at $2000 + per rifle i can just as easily hunt with a Remington 700. It doesnt make the Remington a Taurus but if you bought a Taurus because youre trying to save a penny you will not get Remington quality.

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Does Remington still have quality??

Every neewbie question in the reloading forum on what press should I buy.

"Oh get a Dillon"

 

[beemerrider]

On a fairly frequent basis, I get questions from friends or acquaintances who ask me what type handgun they should buy for personal and home defense and concealed carry. I usually suggest they go to a range and try out several different models to see what fits them, which they can shoot most accurately, etc. I also highly recommend they take classes that cover Oregon's laws, as well as proper safety and gun handling skills, and finally I recommend they train with both dry and live firing.
Invariably they will venture forth to gun shops or shows, where they purchase a gun based upon size, weight, cost and seller's recommendation. Upon getting home, they will load their new prize and stick it someplace handy. One friend went so far as to get CCW permits covering the majority of the Continental US, but has failed to participate in any safety and skills classes, nor has he fired his new Crimson-Trace equipped 5-shot hammer-less S&W J-frame.
At this point, I am backing off my willingness to share my knowledge and experience. I recall many years ago someone sharing the following wisdom; "Never teach a pig to sing; it waste's your time and annoys the pig."

 

[jaykellogg]

I guess I am a bit different from the folks described. When I wanted an AR-15 I went to a gun store that sells them and asked questions. I joined a couple of AR forums, and I PM'd folks. I explained what I wanted and I bought the recommendation. Twice recently I have posted "should I buy" requests here and when the answer was "no" I passed.

Once a friend asked me what his sister should buy for a handgun in a medium high crime area and I replied a 1911 .45 auto. I explained my logic was to avoid an armed robbery she should wear the gun while at work. I said if it became known that she was armed the BGs would go elsewhere. Well, she bought a .32 revolver and kept it under the counter.

I agree as other posters have said that a lot of folks are looking for you to recommend what they already have in mind. It would help if they would just say so.

 

[gdauth]

May I suggest that if you don't like the question, don't answer it. Better yet don't read it.

 

[S&WIowegan]

I met a nice young man at our range last Saturday afternoon(damn it was cold). He had just got off work and needed to bust some caps. He unlimbered a genuine Model 29-2(70s vintage) and started shooting his own handloads.

He said it took him years to find the 29 in a local shop. His next grail gun is a 4" Model 27. I explained they were devilish hard to find since S&W only made them a few yrs. I then brought up the Model 28 which was standard in 4" for decades. He seemed to be unaware of 28s so I explained the differences. His response was: "I wanna 27!"

He knows what he wants...at first I was a little annoyed but here's a young guy with a hunger for N-frames....what's not to like.

He needs Sal to help him out on his grail gun.

 

[Stu1205]

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.

 

[Foodfuzz]

Uh...wouldn't that be knives?

Why yes, I'm glad you asked. That's the new Investigative Discovery series, "Wives With Knives" One I hope to never be on........Yes dear, I was just shutting down.

 

[Foodfuzz]

On a fairly frequent basis, I get questions from friends or acquaintances who ask me what type handgun they should buy for personal and home defense and concealed carry. I usually suggest they go to a range and try out several different models to see what fits them, which they can shoot most accurately, etc. I also highly recommend they take classes that cover Oregon's laws, as well as proper safety and gun handling skills, and finally I recommend they train with both dry and live firing.
Invariably they will venture forth to gun shops or shows, where they purchase a gun based upon size, weight, cost and seller's recommendation. Upon getting home, they will load their new prize and stick it someplace handy. One friend went so far as to get CCW permits covering the majority of the Continental US, but has failed to participate in any safety and skills classes, nor has he fired his new Crimson-Trace equipped 5-shot hammer-less S&W J-frame.
At this point, I am backing off my willingness to share my knowledge and experience. I recall many years ago someone sharing the following wisdom; "Never teach a pig to sing; it waste's your time and annoys the pig."

I believe that most people want validation of what they bought or have in mind to buy. You can recommend from your experience what you consider best, but if it doesn't fit the corner of their puzzle they will just re-invent the wheel to the shape they think it should be.