Have you ever gone a year without buying a gun?

[AZRedhawk44]

Last year, I bought 2 guns...a Ruger 10/22 takedown and a Springfield XDs .45.

The year before, I bought an XD9 tactical model and XD9sc.

The year before, two 12ga shotguns and an AR-15... also a Beretta 92A1 and a KelTec PF9.

The year before that, my match AR-15 and a Garand... as well as a Beretta M9 (sold later that year) and a Browning Buckmark.

Prior to that, I don't remember other than there was never a year that went by without buying a gun.  All the way back to my first gun, a Glock 21, in 2002.

I thought that I would possibly go all year without buying a gun in 2014, but I've got an AR receiver on my desk here for an AR pistol build.

[RevDisk]

I think I have. I've leveled out my collection. I intend (HA) to keep roughly the same number and category. Just increase the quality of each.

[charby]

I usually buy at least one firearm a year, but this year I may not. I'm going to take an extra vacation instead.

[MillCreek]

My safe is full, and I have not bought a new firearm in probably four years or so.  I have no pressing needs or wants, but if I see something I cannot live without, I will buy it. 

[MechAg94]

Why would I want to do that? 

[Jamisjockey]

Multiple years at a time sometimes. 
Still tweaking my collection. 

[Tallpine]

Yes, many times - although I've also bought two within a 12 month period.

I'm at the point that I really don't need to buy any more guns.

[SADShooter]

Yes. Typically it's a disposable income or priority question. Last year I bought 3. At this point I need to focus on ammo and range time, or I will officially become a "collector" rather than a "shooter", and I don't want that.

[Monkeyleg]

I've actually sold off some, and am down to just seven, which are the ones I shoot. It's been 2011 since I bought a gun. In years past I'd buy at least one a year. I still like guns, but there's other things requiring my money.

[mtnbkr]

I don't think I've gone a full year since the early 2000s, but I'm close to it now.  My collection is leveling out as well.  The few revolvers I want are crazy expensive, so I doubt I'll get them anytime soon.  I have two rifles covering any hunting I'm likely to do, as well as numerous shotguns (though I only use 1 or 2).

I *might* get the new Remington 51 if it turns out to be good and fits my hand, but I doubt that'll happen before this Summer.

Chris

[41magsnub]

Yep, my next project is to shrink down the collection.  Ended up taking a number of stabs at shotguns and pistols before I figured out what I really wanted.

[Ben]

I think a lot of what we'll find in this thread is that the older the poster, the less likely they're doing the "gun a year" thing (anymore). For my adult years, I get pretty close to it, but only because of a C&R, the days of the $75 Mausers, and five-pack deals from Century Arms. Otherwise I'd have a lot less guns, and I've gone a few years in between purchases.

[MillCreek]

^^^ My rate of purchases was much higher in my 20's and 30's, and started really leveling off in my mid 40's.  So I am a data point fitting Ben's hypothesis.

[Tallpine]

^^^ My rate of purchases was much higher in my 20's and 30's, and started really leveling off in my mid 40's.  So I am a data point fitting Ben's hypothesis.

Actually the other way around for me - I was too poor back then 

[roo_ster]

Was too poor when in college & US Army.  Bought 1/2 or 1/3 years.  After Army, bought probably 1/year for a while that included an 03C&RFFL and the days of cheap milsurps. 

Cooled off for a while, but now the kids are getting to be shooting age and have bought a couple recently and will buy more for them if I keep my job in this economy.

[lee n. field]

Last year, I bought 2 guns...a Ruger 10/22 takedown and a Springfield XDs .45.

The year before, I bought an XD9 tactical model and XD9sc.

The year before, two 12ga shotguns and an AR-15... also a Beretta 92A1 and a KelTec PF9.

The year before that, my match AR-15 and a Garand... as well as a Beretta M9 (sold later that year) and a Browning Buckmark.

Prior to that, I don't remember other than there was never a year that went by without buying a gun.  All the way back to my first gun, a Glock 21, in 2002.

I thought that I would possibly go all year without buying a gun in 2014, but I've got an AR receiver on my desk here for an AR pistol build.

It varies, but for the last decade or so I've managed one a year or so.  The collection is in slow churn.  (Almost) anything is fair game for trading off.

Actually the other way around for me - I was too poor back then  sad

Yup.  With kids mostly on their own, finances are less desperate.

[French G.]

Plenty, bought my first two guns in 1994, they sat in a closet. Bought nothing else until late 1999 when I was suddenly single, had $30K of cash running around, and needed a hobby. If someone said "well, that escalated quickly" they would be correct. I think I've bought something every year since, went through a phase known as not working for 3 years sold a lot of duplicates. Need more, right now I have nothing I want to sell, and a few I absolutely won't, so my collection as a liquid asset is lacking.

[Boomhauer]

I've decided on not buying any guns this year. With the non-availability of .22 and 9mm I'm not going to be shooting much this year anyway. I'll be spending my money on tools instead, plus I have to build a trailer for my welder and tools since I'm running out of room on the truck. Also have to start socking money back for a replacement for this truck, as I want to be able to get a good replacement in a few years.

[AJ Dual]

9mm?

The Walmart's here are lousy with it. 

[Boomhauer]

9mm?

The Walmart's here are lousy with it. 

Don't know why but we are still short of 9mm here. I've seen a little bit but not much at all. Usually a box or two at a time when it is sighted.

.45 is available, 5.56 is available, no problem.

[AJ Dual]

9mm is no problem mail-order either.

[Boomhauer]

9mm is no problem mail-order either.

I don't buy in the quantities to make mail-order worth it.

[AZRedhawk44]

I don't buy in the quantities to make mail-order worth it.

Then change your habits.  1000rds of 9mm is just good preparedness.  When you're flush with ammo, go train.  When you get down to 200rds or so, start saving your pennies for the next order.  Buying ammo at retail stores is for suckers.

The last two years has made me glad I shoot more than one caliber, though.  I did shift to .45 for awhile and while it was more expensive, at least I could buy it.

[Boomhauer]

Then change your habits.  1000rds of 9mm is just good preparedness.  When you're flush with ammo, go train.  When you get down to 200rds or so, start saving your pennies for the next order.  Buying ammo at retail stores is for suckers.

The last two years has made me glad I shoot more than one caliber, though.  I did shift to .45 for awhile and while it was more expensive, at least I could buy it.

I have higher budget priorities than buying cases of 9mm.

When I buy WWB at Walmart it's .25 cents a round. Show me a lower price on brass case 9mm from a reputable maker on the internet because I don't recall seeing it.

For the amount I shoot, a couple hundred rounds at a time fits well within my budget for practice. I don't have the cash laying around to drop on cases and cases of ammo.



 

[brimic]

I've tried not buying anything for a year, but it doesn't work.
I'll end up with $500 worth of Cabela's points, then get a serious itch to get something new. Haven't bought much more than 1 or 2 per year over the last 5 years or so- just don't have the need (or space) to acquire more.