I'm a sucker for good deals on guns and accessories. Such a sucker, in fact, I stay about 2 credit card charges ahead of bankruptcy. Throughout my life, I've passed on several "deals of a lifetime" only to kick myself every day since. Here in the last 3 years or so, I've been more inclined to snatch something up just because of an incredibly low price tag. As examples, I picked up a 2nd Kelbly Atlas Lite action when finding it on sale for $850 after having just finished a custom project with one (full disclosure, I had another fully inlet custom stock onhand already). Then, a few months later, I picked up a 3rd when found for $800. I also found a reasonably priced CF stock for the 3rd one.
I jumped on an unfired store demo Sauer 101 synthetic in .300 Win Mag just because it was half price ($750). Had it Cerakoted to hide the spots worn by handling and safe/rack storage. It has yet to print a group larger than an inch, but it kicks like a Russian mule on steroids and is currently disassembled in order to remove the sticky DuraTouch.
This past fall, I netted Leica, Vortex Razor, and Schmidt & Bender scopes, all illuminated, and a couple of Zeiss scopes and 1 Leupold that wasn't, and 2 Leupolds that were. Savings was between $100 and $500 below the lowest price I've seen since. I kept the total price below $1000 in every case. That's saying something for illuminated Razors, S&Bs, VX-5s, and Amplus 6 large objectives! Also got a Vudu 34mm the year before for $1200 new - a $600 savings. It's arguably brighter than the 56mm S&B, but it's close. Also hauled in a new Remington Alpha 1 Hunter for $1400 even. It was my favorite hunting rifle this year and performed as such.
3 months ago, I snagged a Winchester 70 Extreme Weather slightly used in a hard-to-find .325 WSM that had a small divit missing from the B&C Medalist pistol grip and a scratch as the only detractors for like $700. I decided to buy a new B&C Medalist and change the color to black with red web and had it professionally bedded - it drives tacks and doesn't hurt to shoot, even being a lightweight. A month ago, I nabbed a Seekins PH2 on closeout for $1499 total out the door in 6mm Creedmoor. Picked that one over 6.5 Creedmoor because I don't like 6.5 Creedmoors and over .300 PRC due to the potential punishment in a lightweight package. Keep in mind I have the fast twist .243 I loved in the Alpha 1. My rationale was the PH2 was being replaced by a heavier model. Weight savings in an accurate rifle is king around here. Also, there was the price...
THIS WEEK... 1) A new and discontinued Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalker in 6.5 Creedmoor for $699+tax (see statement in above paragraph - "...I don't like 6.5 Creedmoors...")
2) A new Benelli 12ga Compact Montefeltro w/26" barrel - they don't make that one in the Compact anymore. 20ga only now it looks like. $999+tax.
3) A new Proof Research stainless 28" heavy sporter 1:9 twist .338 caliber barrel blank for $195 + $15 shipping. IDK WTH I'll do with it exactly unless I have it spun up into a .33 Nosler or possibly .338 RUM. It's .691" at 28", so should finish around 3B size. It would almost be a drop-in replacement for the 27" Hawk Hill in 7 PRC of very similar contour screwed onto one of those Kelblys mentioned above.
4) A S&W Model 60 Performance Center 3" 5-shot .357 that popped up on a Grab-a-Gun ad for $655 + $20 shipping and a $10 transfer on the backend. I've been looking at pistols far and wide lately and fondled a few Colts and Glocks. I couldn't find anything on sale far enough to tempt me. I had started out looking exclusively at 3" revolvers for concealed carry, and broadened my search considerably in the past 2 weeks. I had also made up my mind at one point to go buy a Ruger 1911 .45 ACP Lightweight from Academy Sports for $50 more than most anywhere online because I have a $214 gift card at my disposal. I let the price of the Model 60 PC make my mind up for me. Seems about $190 cheaper than the next cheapest option for that gun. Though now I'm hearing all sorts of either negative or unflattering reviews about it. Seems they are put there for EVERY model of pistol shy of a full custom for over $3k. So now I have a lightweight .357 5-shot in route.
And as an honorable mention, 2 weeks ago, I got a Ruger LC Carbine in 10mm Auto with folding stock and 30-round Glock magazine sporting a 16.25" barrel. It was not a super deal per se, as it set me back $850 after taxes, but I guess considering it runs for over a grand in some places, it wasn't bad, though I saw one for $750+ a week ago on sale somewhere. I supported my LGS, though, whose owner is also my neighbor up the street.
This changed my focus in pistols to a 10mm, and I considered everything from a Glock 40 to a Dan Wesson Bruin. Then saw the slab-sided Model 60 PC and jumped on it due to price without scoping it out far just because I knew (thought) it wouldn't be available long. I bought the LC Carbine because it was going to let me get rid of my Sig P320 modified 9mm full-size (heavy springs and guide rod for +P+ ammo), my H&K VP 40, my Franchi Affinity 3 20ga that's had 1 round fired to kill a rattlesnake at the front door, and my CMMG Endeavor .22 ARC that has seen a total of 7 rounds through it just for function testing. (Got a deal on it, too - $200 off regular with no tax or shipping. Forgot that one.) Thinning the herd, I said... Need to get rid of some because I'm getting too old to use them all anymore and don't have sons to will them to. My son-in-laws couldn't give a bat's bum less about me or my guns, so I'd take them to the grave with me first.
This was a lot of info. Everyone hates long posts. Sorry for that, but necessary to convey the seriousness of the disorder I'm afflicted with. I feel like when I run my card for these that they are good investments that can be auctioned later if kept in as new condition. Not considering auction fees or the possibility that any of them may just not appeal to anyone at the auction that day. Doesn't sound like a wise investment strategy from that perspective.
Does anyone else have this "disorder," and, if so, what have you acquired mainly for price's sake? Do any of my "investments" sound horrible? I think everyone could agree that I should stay off the Internet. Anyone else with this affliction??
I jumped on an unfired store demo Sauer 101 synthetic in .300 Win Mag just because it was half price ($750). Had it Cerakoted to hide the spots worn by handling and safe/rack storage. It has yet to print a group larger than an inch, but it kicks like a Russian mule on steroids and is currently disassembled in order to remove the sticky DuraTouch.
This past fall, I netted Leica, Vortex Razor, and Schmidt & Bender scopes, all illuminated, and a couple of Zeiss scopes and 1 Leupold that wasn't, and 2 Leupolds that were. Savings was between $100 and $500 below the lowest price I've seen since. I kept the total price below $1000 in every case. That's saying something for illuminated Razors, S&Bs, VX-5s, and Amplus 6 large objectives! Also got a Vudu 34mm the year before for $1200 new - a $600 savings. It's arguably brighter than the 56mm S&B, but it's close. Also hauled in a new Remington Alpha 1 Hunter for $1400 even. It was my favorite hunting rifle this year and performed as such.
3 months ago, I snagged a Winchester 70 Extreme Weather slightly used in a hard-to-find .325 WSM that had a small divit missing from the B&C Medalist pistol grip and a scratch as the only detractors for like $700. I decided to buy a new B&C Medalist and change the color to black with red web and had it professionally bedded - it drives tacks and doesn't hurt to shoot, even being a lightweight. A month ago, I nabbed a Seekins PH2 on closeout for $1499 total out the door in 6mm Creedmoor. Picked that one over 6.5 Creedmoor because I don't like 6.5 Creedmoors and over .300 PRC due to the potential punishment in a lightweight package. Keep in mind I have the fast twist .243 I loved in the Alpha 1. My rationale was the PH2 was being replaced by a heavier model. Weight savings in an accurate rifle is king around here. Also, there was the price...
THIS WEEK... 1) A new and discontinued Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalker in 6.5 Creedmoor for $699+tax (see statement in above paragraph - "...I don't like 6.5 Creedmoors...")
2) A new Benelli 12ga Compact Montefeltro w/26" barrel - they don't make that one in the Compact anymore. 20ga only now it looks like. $999+tax.
3) A new Proof Research stainless 28" heavy sporter 1:9 twist .338 caliber barrel blank for $195 + $15 shipping. IDK WTH I'll do with it exactly unless I have it spun up into a .33 Nosler or possibly .338 RUM. It's .691" at 28", so should finish around 3B size. It would almost be a drop-in replacement for the 27" Hawk Hill in 7 PRC of very similar contour screwed onto one of those Kelblys mentioned above.
4) A S&W Model 60 Performance Center 3" 5-shot .357 that popped up on a Grab-a-Gun ad for $655 + $20 shipping and a $10 transfer on the backend. I've been looking at pistols far and wide lately and fondled a few Colts and Glocks. I couldn't find anything on sale far enough to tempt me. I had started out looking exclusively at 3" revolvers for concealed carry, and broadened my search considerably in the past 2 weeks. I had also made up my mind at one point to go buy a Ruger 1911 .45 ACP Lightweight from Academy Sports for $50 more than most anywhere online because I have a $214 gift card at my disposal. I let the price of the Model 60 PC make my mind up for me. Seems about $190 cheaper than the next cheapest option for that gun. Though now I'm hearing all sorts of either negative or unflattering reviews about it. Seems they are put there for EVERY model of pistol shy of a full custom for over $3k. So now I have a lightweight .357 5-shot in route.
And as an honorable mention, 2 weeks ago, I got a Ruger LC Carbine in 10mm Auto with folding stock and 30-round Glock magazine sporting a 16.25" barrel. It was not a super deal per se, as it set me back $850 after taxes, but I guess considering it runs for over a grand in some places, it wasn't bad, though I saw one for $750+ a week ago on sale somewhere. I supported my LGS, though, whose owner is also my neighbor up the street.
This changed my focus in pistols to a 10mm, and I considered everything from a Glock 40 to a Dan Wesson Bruin. Then saw the slab-sided Model 60 PC and jumped on it due to price without scoping it out far just because I knew (thought) it wouldn't be available long. I bought the LC Carbine because it was going to let me get rid of my Sig P320 modified 9mm full-size (heavy springs and guide rod for +P+ ammo), my H&K VP 40, my Franchi Affinity 3 20ga that's had 1 round fired to kill a rattlesnake at the front door, and my CMMG Endeavor .22 ARC that has seen a total of 7 rounds through it just for function testing. (Got a deal on it, too - $200 off regular with no tax or shipping. Forgot that one.) Thinning the herd, I said... Need to get rid of some because I'm getting too old to use them all anymore and don't have sons to will them to. My son-in-laws couldn't give a bat's bum less about me or my guns, so I'd take them to the grave with me first.
This was a lot of info. Everyone hates long posts. Sorry for that, but necessary to convey the seriousness of the disorder I'm afflicted with. I feel like when I run my card for these that they are good investments that can be auctioned later if kept in as new condition. Not considering auction fees or the possibility that any of them may just not appeal to anyone at the auction that day. Doesn't sound like a wise investment strategy from that perspective.
Does anyone else have this "disorder," and, if so, what have you acquired mainly for price's sake? Do any of my "investments" sound horrible? I think everyone could agree that I should stay off the Internet. Anyone else with this affliction??
