Christmas Money = Lever gun, long range, or carry gun upgrades?

TJMchucklenuts1105 · December 31, 2016, 12:11 AM

Okay, so I have about 750$ of Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket, and i'm looking to ya'll for help deciding how best to use it...

I could get a Marlin lever action .30-30 in stainless steel, or the blued version for a little less...
or
I could get a long range gun, something in 7mm or .270 or similar...
or
I could get some upgrades for my carry gun, a S&W Shield 9mm, I was thinking some Ameriglo cap sights, or XS big dots, some kind of night sight, and a magazine capacity upgrade from MagGuts, maybe a laser/flashlight, but that would require a new holster (I already put an Apex trigger on it)... And there would be some leftover, which would probably go to ammo...

Let me know what you think...

turtlehead · December 31, 2016, 12:50 AM

Aero Precision AR15.

http://www.brownells.com/firearms/ri...prod81838.aspx

shootniron · December 31, 2016, 01:05 AM

I would get the lever gun...cause every gun owner should have at least one. JMO

O4L · December 31, 2016, 01:51 AM

Get an older JM stamped Marlin 336 and then you will still have plenty left over to upgrade your Shield.

FrankenMauser · December 31, 2016, 02:42 PM

If you're not sure what to spend the money on, then it isn't the right time to be spending it.

Save it and wait.

If you must sate your desire to blow some cash, then spend $150 or so and save the rest for later.

Hal · December 31, 2016, 04:29 PM

Lots of new but never fired lever guns will start showing up on dealer's shelves in a couple of months - - when their owners get rid of them to have money to put towards real estate taxes or income tax.

That's been a staple here in NE Ohio for decades.

Guys get talked into going deer hunting, go out and buy a lever gun, get to deer camp and see their first gut pile and rethink why they are there - - and spend the next three days drinking beer....

Crankylove · December 31, 2016, 06:03 PM

Quote:

which would probably go to ammo.

Buy reloading press, dies, accessories (scale, blocks, a couple manuals, trimmer,etc), bullets, primers, and powder.

shafter · January 1, 2017, 01:43 AM

FrankenMauser gives sound advise. Hide the money in the gun safe and forget about it. One day a deal will come along on a gun that you just have to have.

SJCbklyn · January 1, 2017, 09:50 AM

I hate being sensible but I would save and wait.

I have a 1k stashed but I'm waiting on the release of the Marlin 357/38 and maybe a CZ 512. Fighting the urge to spend it ain't easy

Sagerat · January 3, 2017, 01:35 AM

I would go for the 30-30. I have numerous weapons in lots of calibers.
I pulled and old '94 win. from my safe last year and find myself shooting it more than all the others. Love that gun...

Sequins · January 21, 2017, 01:31 PM

I'm eyeing lever guns myself so that's the direction I'd suggest. I fired a gentleman's. 357 Henry the other day and it was a hoot. I'd want one in a larger caliber, but lever guns rule!

Nathan · January 21, 2017, 01:52 PM

My advice for what I would be comfortable putting $750 into....

- a long range rifle with optic and mount for $750 new wouldn't make me happy, but it might be funny to surf armslist looking for a good deal!

- a 30-30 lever is always a fun gun, but to me, they are of limited utility....now a 45-70 is another idea all together!

- carry gun upgrades are fun....maybe sights and new custom leather with shark accents! Try looking up Overland Gunleather.

Gunplummer · January 21, 2017, 02:21 PM

I agree with O4L, but holding on to the money for a deal is smart too. An older lever gun is better than new. I cruise the auctions and they seem to hold on to their value, even now with the gun glut market. I have picked up some deals lately. Some of the used guns I did not really want, but I could not pass on the price. They make good "Trade guns". New guns, not so much.

SocialAnarchist · January 21, 2017, 05:47 PM

I have a newer, less than 5 years old, Henry lever action in .22. It is one of my favorite rifles. It is fun to shoot, accurate, and heck a good companion to my .22 revolver that looks like a Colt SAA. Come one who didn't want to be a cowboy when they were younger?

The Henry has given me absolutely no problems of any kind and I highly recommend it.

**JohnKSa** · January 22, 2017, 02:02 AM

I think I'd put part of it into an in-depth training class--one where you actually shoot your carry gun. Then spend the rest on ammo for the class or any magazines/holsters/equipment required for the class.

ballardw · January 22, 2017, 02:30 AM

Mine went into a Henry .41 magnum lever gun, so likely not the best to ask...

Pep in CA · January 22, 2017, 03:17 AM

Buying a new gun often means buying more ammo too, and more practice and more training. Generally speaking, we'll spend more money on ammo, practice, and training than we will on guns.

Gunplummer · January 22, 2017, 06:11 AM

Can't argue with that. Just about anything new I buy needs new dies and reloading components.

g.willikers · January 22, 2017, 11:14 AM

Another vote for:

Quote:

If you're not sure what to spend the money on, then it isn't the right time to be spending it.

If you're not sure, that usually means you don't actually have a need for any of them.
Might be better off spending the dough on taking an advanced training class of one kind or another.
That would probably be better motivation than just acquiring another gun to collect dust.

December 31, 2016, 12:11 AM	#1
TJMchucklenuts1105 Junior Member Join Date: December 30, 2016 Posts: 1	Christmas Money = Lever gun, long range, or carry gun upgrades? Okay, so I have about 750$ of Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket, and i'm looking to ya'll for help deciding how best to use it... I could get a Marlin lever action .30-30 in stainless steel, or the blued version for a little less... or I could get a long range gun, something in 7mm or .270 or similar... or I could get some upgrades for my carry gun, a S&W Shield 9mm, I was thinking some Ameriglo cap sights, or XS big dots, some kind of night sight, and a magazine capacity upgrade from MagGuts, maybe a laser/flashlight, but that would require a new holster (I already put an Apex trigger on it)... And there would be some leftover, which would probably go to ammo... Let me know what you think...

December 31, 2016, 02:42 PM	#5
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	If you're not sure what to spend the money on, then it isn't the right time to be spending it. Save it and wait. If you must sate your desire to blow some cash, then spend $150 or so and save the rest for later. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

January 1, 2017, 09:50 AM	#9
SJCbklyn Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 2016 Posts: 102	I hate being sensible but I would save and wait. I have a 1k stashed but I'm waiting on the release of the Marlin 357/38 and maybe a CZ 512. Fighting the urge to spend it ain't easy Last edited by SJCbklyn; January 1, 2017 at 10:04 AM.

January 22, 2017, 02:02 AM	#15
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,972	I think I'd put part of it into an in-depth training class--one where you actually shoot your carry gun. Then spend the rest on ammo for the class or any magazines/holsters/equipment required for the class. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

January 22, 2017, 02:30 AM	#16
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,411	Mine went into a Henry .41 magnum lever gun, so likely not the best to ask... __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.

December 31, 2016, 12:50 AM	#2
turtlehead Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,203	Aero Precision AR15. http://www.brownells.com/firearms/ri...prod81838.aspx

December 31, 2016, 01:05 AM	#3
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	I would get the lever gun...cause every gun owner should have at least one. JMO

December 31, 2016, 01:51 AM	#4
O4L Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2015 Posts: 646	Get an older JM stamped Marlin 336 and then you will still have plenty left over to upgrade your Shield.

December 31, 2016, 04:29 PM	#6
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	Lots of new but never fired lever guns will start showing up on dealer's shelves in a couple of months - - when their owners get rid of them to have money to put towards real estate taxes or income tax. That's been a staple here in NE Ohio for decades. Guys get talked into going deer hunting, go out and buy a lever gun, get to deer camp and see their first gut pile and rethink why they are there - - and spend the next three days drinking beer....

January 1, 2017, 01:43 AM	#8
shafter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Posts: 1,624	FrankenMauser gives sound advise. Hide the money in the gun safe and forget about it. One day a deal will come along on a gun that you just have to have.

January 3, 2017, 01:35 AM	#10
Sagerat Junior Member Join Date: November 21, 2016 Posts: 2	I would go for the 30-30. I have numerous weapons in lots of calibers. I pulled and old '94 win. from my safe last year and find myself shooting it more than all the others. Love that gun...

January 21, 2017, 01:31 PM	#11
Sequins Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2014 Posts: 394	I'm eyeing lever guns myself so that's the direction I'd suggest. I fired a gentleman's. 357 Henry the other day and it was a hoot. I'd want one in a larger caliber, but lever guns rule!

January 21, 2017, 01:52 PM	#12
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,326	My advice for what I would be comfortable putting $750 into.... - a long range rifle with optic and mount for $750 new wouldn't make me happy, but it might be funny to surf armslist looking for a good deal! - a 30-30 lever is always a fun gun, but to me, they are of limited utility....now a 45-70 is another idea all together! - carry gun upgrades are fun....maybe sights and new custom leather with shark accents! Try looking up Overland Gunleather.

January 21, 2017, 02:21 PM	#13
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	I agree with O4L, but holding on to the money for a deal is smart too. An older lever gun is better than new. I cruise the auctions and they seem to hold on to their value, even now with the gun glut market. I have picked up some deals lately. Some of the used guns I did not really want, but I could not pass on the price. They make good "Trade guns". New guns, not so much.

January 21, 2017, 05:47 PM	#14
SocialAnarchist Junior member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 508	I have a newer, less than 5 years old, Henry lever action in .22. It is one of my favorite rifles. It is fun to shoot, accurate, and heck a good companion to my .22 revolver that looks like a Colt SAA. Come one who didn't want to be a cowboy when they were younger? The Henry has given me absolutely no problems of any kind and I highly recommend it.

January 22, 2017, 03:17 AM	#17
Pep in CA Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2016 Posts: 191	Buying a new gun often means buying more ammo too, and more practice and more training. Generally speaking, we'll spend more money on ammo, practice, and training than we will on guns.

January 22, 2017, 06:11 AM	#18
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	Can't argue with that. Just about anything new I buy needs new dies and reloading components.