Is buying cheap pistols an addiction?

[Cheapshooter]

Went to the range today to break in a Walther P22 I bought a month ago. I stopped by a gun shop in the area, and there it was! Something I have been thinking about for a couple days.
A Heritage Rough Rider Special edition in a Civil War theme presentation cedar box, LR & Mag Cylinders, and a holster. I couldn't help myself. What's next, a Hi-Point!!!
By the way, both my new "cheapshooters" were loads of fun to shoot!!!

[Standing Wolf]

We're not going to start worrying about you until you tell us you're buying Cracker Jacks by the case for the really cool pistols you can sometimes find at the bottom of the boxes.

[45Gunner]

Whatever floats your boat...if it works for you, than it must be good.

[H&K MAN]

Yes buying cheaper weapons can be an addiction. I also own a Heritage in the Cedar Box, and a walther P22. I believe a cheap gun isnt measured by its cost. I believe a cheap pistol is measured by its components, and its manufacturer. For instance i can shoot head shots at 25 yards with my Heritage, all day long. So in my opinion Heritage is NOT a Cheap firearm. Hi-Point on the other hand is the only automatic pistol i would not hesitate to play Russian Roulette with.

[w_houle]

Hmm... you might be on to something

[greyson97]

depends on whats cheap, average and expensive

under 300 is cheap, around 500 is average, and over 500 but less than 1000 is expensive. i'll never buy a gun over 1000...anymore

its easier to buy cheap guns cause you get them faster and they are easier to save up for, and it fulfills our instant gratification thingy in our brains.

its bad in the sense you might possibly be a person who lacks discipline and is unable to save up for that more expensive fancier classier, and POSSIBLY more accurate and reliable.

(i dont need people telling me how their $300 guns outperform someone elses $2000 custom shop model)

i have a friend who has an arsenal of crap cause he cant seem to save up more than 200 at a time before he buys some russian army surplus pos

[Daryl]

I'll start by saying that it's your money, your choice of firearms, so choose what satisfies you and makes you happy.

I've no desire these days to buy what I consider a "cheap" firearm. Inexpensive? Sure. But not cheap.

I've never owned a Heritage Arms revolver, or a Rossi, Charter Arms, and so on. I know what I like, and I LOVE the feel and look of a "good", solid firearm.

I believe it's bad to pay too much for something, but I believe it's worse to pay to little, and end up with something less than what I want and/or need.

That said, I have no "need" to buy any more firearms. My needs are filled by the collection of firearms I've aquired of the years, so when I buy one these days, it's because there's something "special" that I want.

Those "special" ones that I want usually run at least $400.00, and usually somewhat more than that. I don't buy many these days, but when I do buy something, I see no reason to buy something less than what I already have.

IOW, there's no reason to buy a Jennings .22 LR if I have a Colt Woodsman in the safe. There's no need to buy a Heritage RR if I have a Ruger Single Six or two in the safe.

But if I don't have those, then "something" is certainly better than "nothing". I bought my first .22 rifle back in 1980 simply because it was "cheap", and I could afford it at the time. I paid something like $44 and change for it NIB, and I figured it'd get me by 'till I could buy something better.

And I still shoot that little Marlin 60 30 years later. It's never broke, and any malfunctions have been due to either cheap ammo, or not having cleaned it often enough.

At just a bit over $1.46 per year (if it broke now and never worked again, which isn't likely) it was a worthwhile investment.

And to be sure, I've never cared much about what others think or do on issues like this. When it comes to my toys, it's all about me!

Daryl

[CRUE CAB]

I have a P22 I bought a month or so ago and I really like it.
I just bought a Bersa 9mm.
Both guns were under $400 each.
But quality and workmanship and feel do not indicate "cheap", or cheaply made.
I also own Colts and Springfields, so I know quality when I see it.

[Cheapshooter]

Daryl and greyson97, points well taken. I really posted this thread to be kind of silly. Yes, I have bought several guns that I consider to be inexpensive. The P22 and the Rough Rider, along with several C&R Milsurps like Maks, CZ 50, 52, and 82. Beretta 1934, Romanian TT33, and even a 1895 Nagant. Also too many rifles to mention. Mausers, Enfields, MAS, Swiss, and SKS's.
I don't only have my "cheapshooters" that my user name came from. I also have Colts, Rugers S&W, Springfield Arms, L1A1 FAL, AR15, Romanian Dragonov, and a sweet Remington 700 7 M/M Mag that has a LOT of custom work done on it to make it a 500 yrd tack driver.
Bottom line, I like to shoot ANYTHING!!!
When I see something I like, and I have the money for it, I buy it.
I've been thinking about a PA64 for a while, so that will probably be my next "econo gun", and a Taurus Judge the next mid-priced. As long as I can afford to feed my hobby or habit, which ever you prefer to call it I say it's all good. Better than a lot of habits in todays world.
Now I have to go to see if I can find some change in the ashtray in my truck, under the seat, or in the couch so I can put that Judge in Layaway!!!LOL

[bigghoss]

buying GOOD cheap guns is fun. buy cheap junk is a habit I grew out of quickly.
I really think the heritage fall under the first category.

[w_houle]

It all depends on what you need it for: Not all firearms need to fill a practical role. Most of my guns are for neither SD nor HD, so making them run is more of a running pet project than absolute need.

... there's no reason to buy a Jennings .22 LR if I have a Colt Woodsman in the safe. There's no need to buy a Heritage RR if I have a Ruger Single Six or two in the safe.

On one hand; sure there is: The Colt works, and if... IF something should break then what? Take it to a gunsmith and have it fixed, right? The Jennings is something you can work on yourself and not feel too bad if you break it.
The other hand being that there isn't enough of a difference between the Heritage and the Ruger (Yes I know the difference and don't need a reminder, thanks.) to warrant going the cheap route. The big problem that I see with the RR (AFAIK) is that it's either working or trash.

... I know quality when I see it.

So since I have bought cheap: Would this mean that I don't? I've eaten steak, so does that mean I will have to turn down potted meat?
I don't understand this pervasive attitude of being a better person for having a bitter disdain for... Whatever. Somehow that the person who avoided such things on sight are inherently smarter. I know... as someone else on the board said, "... You don't have to eat the egg to know that it's rotten." (or something to that effect). Then again, one man's rotten egg could be another man's lunch.

[Onward Allusion]

I tend to call them inexpensive pistols rather than cheap. I buy them to shoot and have fun with them, but that's just me. I have a couple that I consider collectible, but the overall majority of my collection are shooters.

Now, keep in mind, my "cheap" shooters are CZ surplus, ATI's, Heritage, Walthers, Taurus', H&R's, Iver's, & NEF's. I would never get RG's, Jennings, Locins...etc...they would be a total waste of money.

There's nothing wrong with "cheap" pistols if you're intending on using them as shooters, but for me, they would have to be reliable enough to use in a defensive situation as well if absolutely necessary.

[Mastiff]

I'm addicted. I've never paid more than $300 for any firearm, but I feel I am well protected.
I presently have:

1 Norinco Model 213, a TT-33 clone in 9mm, paid $89 NIB in 1992 ( I bought 2 then. I gave the other one to my brother after shooting 55,000 rounds through it with no FTE or FTF)
1 Star Super A, paid $129
1 CZ-82, paid $199
1 Romanian TT-33, paid $209
2 Yugo M-57s, paid $219 each (A slightly updated version of the TT-33)
1 Argentine Sistema, paid $300 (a .45 Colt 1911 made on Colt machinery in Argentina, fully compatible)
1 MAS 49/56, paid $229 (a semi-auto battle rifle, cartridge equivalent to .308)
1 Turkish Mauser, paid $40
2 Double Barrel 12 gauge shotguns, paid $100 the pair

I love military surplus, you get high quality firearms for extremely low prices.

[KyJim]

I don't see a problem with buying inexpensive handguns. I've considered getting a Heritage just for plinking but never have. For a defense weapon, the main thing is reliability. This does not necessarily mean an expensive handgun. Surplus CZs and Makarovs are examples.

I don't own either but I do own a Bersa Thunder .380 which some believe are cheap. To me, they are reliable, inexpensive or moderately priced handguns. It may not last 50,000 rounds but I didn't buy it with that in mind. I shoot it occasionally and carry it in warm weather.

Now, there are some guns that are really cheap that nobody should trust their lives to unless they simply can't afford anything else -- Lorcin, Bryco, etc. Still, if someone wants to plink with one of these, it's okay with me.

[CRUE CAB]

w. houle, I think you missed my point when I said I know quality when I see it.
There is a precieved higher quality in something that costs more based on its price.
Like I said in my post, I own a P22 and a Bersa 9mm. Both relativly inexpensive but not poor quality.
But I also own more expensive guns as well so I have a side by side abilty to compare them.
And unless you are talking about steak from Forman's Steak House in Indian Harbour Beach FL, everything else may as well be potted meat.

[Webleymkv]

To my mind, there is a difference between a gun being "cheap" and "inexpensive". "Cheap" refers to the price and quality while "inexpensive" refers only to the price. I've got several very good guns that were quite inexpensive, but I don't own anything cheap.

[Daryl]

Cheapshooter,

I know and can appreciate what you're saying.

If I ever have to use a gun to protect myself, I want it to be reliable and accurate. :Those things don't often come cheap.

But after it's over and done with, I'd want it to be a "cheap" gun, 'cause I'm not likely to ever get it back.

Anything will work for range use, and all guns are fun. I'm a poor fella though, with limited resources, so I make 'em count!!

I have a "coin" bottle that originally came up from Mexico with a gallon of Jose Cuervo in it. That's my "gun fund", and I rob the ash trays, sofa cushions, and such regularly.

Daryl

[CRUE CAB]

Well my next one wont be "cheap" or inexpensive.
Iam torn between a 3" Ruger in .454 Cassul and a SIG 220 in 9mm.
Both used both in the asking range of $575. Both in very very good condition.

[Microgunner]

More like an affliction.

[DiscoRacing]

pends on if you ask the guy buyin.... or his wife

[Onward Allusion]

Just wanted to add one more thing... "Inexpensive/cheap" is relative. To me a CZ82 might be an inexpensive plinker. Another person may have it as their HD gun or CCW.

[L_Killkenny]

I've only bought one gun over $300 in my life. That was a Savage package deal 8 or 10 years ago. But my gun cabinet only has centerfire Rugers, rimfire Rugers, Winchesters, Savages, Marlins, Remingtons and 1 H&R. None of them are cheap but by "some" definitions they have been inexpensive.

Anyone who thinks you need to spend $500 to get quality and reliability is wrong.

Are they addictive? Betting they are. I'm even thinkin about starting a "inexpensive" derriger/mouse gun collection just for the heck of it. Note I didn't say cheap. If it ain't finished decent I won't buy it, if it ain't reliable it won't be around long.

LK

[SwampYankee]

More like an affliction.

HA! Yeah, it might be time to find a good shrink...

[Glenn Dee]

I buy inexpensive better quality firearms... as an addiction.

[Cheapshooter]

If I ever have to use a gun to protect myself, I want it to be reliable and accurate. :Those things don't often come cheap.

Got the CC covered, not really cheap, but really reliable. LCP (for the Sig minded, that is cheap), Springfield XD40 Sub Compact,
Colt 1991A1 Compact W/trigger job, mag well, Wilson Combat trigger & hammer, full length guide rod, Wilson Combat 7Rnd Mag.
Any of those could be on my person at any time. Then there is the CZ82 or E. German Mak that have always function reliably, and accurately. Either of those can be left in the truck, secured as best as possibly, but if they disappear I'm not out that much.

pends on if you ask the guy buyin.... or his wife

Ahh, the advantage of having so many she doesn't even know when a new one shows up!

More like an affliction.

OK, I'm afflicted, now I feel special!