I once bought a Ruger 77 in 458 because I'd read am article on the joys of shooting large appliances at the landfill with elephant guns. The article did not exaggerate. Watching an upright freezer slowly topple over after a solid hit with a 458 was strangely satisfying.
Silliest reason you've bought a gun? I'll go first.....
- Thread starter sigp220.45
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Bullseye 2620
Member
Like others of you, a "free gift" of this. . .
. . .has led to the pending acquisition of this. . .
Bullseye
. . .has led to the pending acquisition of this. . .
Bullseye
During the Clinton/Reno assault on "Saturday Night Specials", I went to my favorite shop and asked for the biggest handgun they had in the store. I wound up with a beautiful 6-1/2" Model 29-2. I guess I showed them. 
......moon
......moon
vico512
Member
I bought a Model 70 in .458 while living in Fairbanks, mostly for grizz protection, but also just because I was enamored with thought of shooting an "African" gun. Shooting at old mining equipment out in the abandoned tailings was similar to shooting appliances, but the challenge was in keeping myself from toppling over -- the 510 gr factory loads were brutal! Still own that puppy -- unfired since 1976.
Bought my first gun, a Ruger 41 mag, because I saw an episode of the old show, "American Sportsman" hosted by Curt Gowdy, where a guy in Alaska took on a grizzly with one. [FWIW, it took the guy five shots, IIRC, and the bear dropped about twenty feet in front of him...and you did not see the "backup shooter" off camera with the 12G slug gun!]
Not a great reason to buy, not a great caliber to learn how to shoot handguns for the first time, but I still have it and treasure it.
Len
Not a great reason to buy, not a great caliber to learn how to shoot handguns for the first time, but I still have it and treasure it.
Len
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That IS a cool old Beretta. I like it... for some reason.
The silliest things I do in gun buying are: buying duplicates (which I like to call "back-ups") of guns I particularly like, and falling victim to the old "helping a friend out" ploy of buying a gun I probably wouldn't buy otherwise, but do it anyway because I convince myself it is a fair deal, it is something I might want to toy around with, and he needs the money.
Only slightly less silly purchases have been: replacing guns I never should have sold with better and even more expensive versions of the same thing that I made a decision years ago that I didn't need, and buying a similar gun to one I already have, hoping to get a more accurate one - and ending up with two that shoot virtually the same.
I guess I could make quite a long list of silly reasons I have bought various guns.
The silliest things I do in gun buying are: buying duplicates (which I like to call "back-ups") of guns I particularly like, and falling victim to the old "helping a friend out" ploy of buying a gun I probably wouldn't buy otherwise, but do it anyway because I convince myself it is a fair deal, it is something I might want to toy around with, and he needs the money.
Only slightly less silly purchases have been: replacing guns I never should have sold with better and even more expensive versions of the same thing that I made a decision years ago that I didn't need, and buying a similar gun to one I already have, hoping to get a more accurate one - and ending up with two that shoot virtually the same.
I guess I could make quite a long list of silly reasons I have bought various guns.
After the first box of factory ammo I mostly shot reloads. I still consider the 458 a VERY versatile ctg when reloaded. I essentially used the top end Marlin/Ruger load data for 45-70 and cast bullets to get my 458 "Plinking" loads.
Alpo
Member
I remember that article. "This is my elephant gun." "What do you shoot with THAT!?" "Refrigerators."
Kinda like raisedin99, I bought my CZ 375 H&H, in case the neighborhood was ever attacked by rogue elephants. Word musta gotten out, 'cause the elly-fants have all stayed away, so far. But I'm ready, justin case.
shooboy
US Veteran
I went and bought an Rock Island Armory 1911 .45 because my wife came home with a bag from Victoria's Secret. Guess I win on both counts !!! Guess I showed her !!! Shoo
I picked up some fired .45ACP brass at a range, so naturally I had to buy a Colt Gold Cup to shoot it in. I also bought a couple of magazines for a Swedish Lahti M40, therefore I had to get the gun.
But I wouldn't say either of those reasons was silly.
But I wouldn't say either of those reasons was silly.
vico512
Member
I did the same -- loaded-up 350 gr Hornady SPs. It was actually a very good gun for moose, and a pleasure to shoot. When I took the remote canoe trips through bear country (which was, essentially, everywhere), I loaded-up the factory bazookas. I still have 10 rounds left in the original box.
Silliest reason I have is that I buy one that's LNIB or unfired and I can't bring myself to shoot it. Then I have to find the same model gun in "shooter" condition.
I've done this too many times!
I've done this too many times!
I was going to say that I bought a gun for a set of grips (Goodyears with C*** medallions) that I had, but so many others have done that that I am starting to wonder whether it was silly.
cowboy117
Member
Had a set of nice grips.I needed another gun,anyway! 
Wyatt Burp
Member
Around 1971 when I was 14 I was watching my nephew and this movie Shane came on. WOW! I've been real fond of long barreled nickle Colt SAA's since. My "Shane" gun is on top here. A 1958 .45 that I always wanted 'cause of that movie. No carved ivories, though.
Joni_Lynn
US Veteran
I've done it because it was unusual, or too cheap to pass up and sometimes just to break the boredom.
LVSteve
Member
That's cold...and I love it.
The silliest reason I bought a gun was because somebody at the door of the Internet area at work kept on rattling on about...well, who knows, and because of the distraction I ended up bidding on a ratty Arisaka sporter instead of the unusual French rifle I was after.
I thought my FFL was going to bust his ribs laughing when it came into town.
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I tell people that I hunt rabbits with my .458. Just aim in front of the rabbit, blow a big hole in the ground, the rabbit falls in and you have got him.
I bought a gun once because I joined a gun web-site and everybody there said that, "No S&W collection is complete without a Model....."
