Upgrading in quality vs. number of firearms

I have had a problem for a while with always buying inexpensive bargains. It is something that 20 years as an enlisted Airman that has been hard to shake. By the time I get all my stuff and upgrade, I could have bought a nice mid-tier rifle. Then, when I find a deal, I buy another one or two budget firearms in the same caliber. So, besides a very few custom rifles and pistols, I have a butt load of $500 and less bolt guns and handguns. Plus, I reload and it is almost hard to keep up with working loads out for all of them. I do fairly well now, and I feel like I want to cull the stable for a few nicer firearms.

Anyone else who wants to or has done the same? Please share your thoughts.

I tried to cut back on at least calibers to make keeping bullets in stock less expensive. My problem is I have a fair few that older guys have gifted and I really don't feel like letting them go for a few hundred buck

akdad said:

I tried to cut back on at least calibers to make keeping bullets in stock less expensive. My problem is I have a fair few that older guys have gifted and I really don't feel like letting them go for a few hundred buck

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I have a couple from my late son that I will keep or give to one of his friend's kids, so I understand. I have a few primary calibers I load and one off caliber with a firearm I bought from a friend who builds rifles that I won't let go. 308, 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmoor, 30-06. In just those calibers I have 9 rifles. Not to mention ARs. A bunch of PSAs.

Me personally, I'd rather have 5 high quality firearms vs 20 cheap ones!

C.O. Shooter said:

Me personally, I'd rather have 5 high quality firearms vs 20 cheap ones!

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That is my direction as well.

USAFRet said:

I have a couple from my late son that I will keep or give to one of his friend's kids, so I understand. I have a few primary calibers I load and one off caliber with a firearm I bought from a friend who builds rifles that I won't let go. 308, 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmoor, 30-06. In just those calibers I have 9 rifles. Not to mention ARs. A bunch of PSAs.

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Definitely keep any for your sons kids!!!
I was given one from a brother-in-law who then passed yrs later I was able to give to my nephew and it really meant something to him.
i have some that may not be most expensive or fancy(browning blrs and similar) but I'm going to keep them since they came from good friends who passed one and wanted me to have them.

Yeah I'm starting to get there. This time even a year ago I joked that if I had more money I'd probably just have more savage 110s, weatherby vanguards, and random old rifles with character from auction sales haha.

I honestly don't feel that as much anymore. I'd rather have fewer nicer things than a collection of random cluttery stuff and need to handload for them all and buy dies and bullets and so on and so forth. I guess it's not even just getting rid of cheaper things so much as redundant things…I didn't even have a proper waterfowl shotgun nor anything remotely "tactical" haha and I do not have money out of pocket to buy new guns at this juncture…so I sold off a few of my bolt guns, much as I like them all I just don't really need a whole bunch of "all purpose" hunting power bolt action hunting rifles. Honestly one or two will suffice. And I bought a Benelli mr1 .223 semiauto and a Benelli supernova 3.5 inch pump gun instead for a more well rounded battery of guns.

Been cutting back and upgrading for the last few years.

USAFRet said:

I have had a problem for a while with always buying inexpensive bargains. It is something that 20 years as an enlisted Airman that has been hard to shake. By the time I get all my stuff and upgrade, I could have bought a nice mid-tier rifle. Then, when I find a deal, I buy another one or two budget firearms in the same caliber. So, besides a very few custom rifles and pistols, I have a butt load of $500 and less bolt guns and handguns. Plus, I reload and it is almost hard to keep up with working loads out for all of them. I do fairly well now, and I feel like I want to cull the stable for a few nicer firearms.

Anyone else who wants to or has done the same? Please share your thoughts.

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Yes and I'm about to do it again.

You can go broke finding "good deals"

You need to decide what you'll be happy with and stick to it. Otherwise you'll be upgrading forever.

I have the same problem buying budget guns and struggle with the same decision. The problem is, some of my $500 Savage bargains will out shoot anything else I have that is much more money. It is hard to part with a tac driver and is hard to spend money on something "nicer" when I can make 1/2 moa reloads for all of my budget guns.

Well there are some cheap factory guns that shoot well. Ruger Americans and Savages. I have a cheap Savage varmint rifle that will shoot with any custom I have. I have also shot some rugers that will hang with them. The thing with a full custom you are almost guaranteed it will shoot. But there is a price for that. With the cheap rifles if they don't shoot you sell them and move on. Lately I have been doing semi customs with barrel nut set ups or shouldered prefits at much less cost with good results.

USAFRet said:

I have had a problem for a while with always buying inexpensive bargains. It is something that 20 years as an enlisted Airman that has been hard to shake. By the time I get all my stuff and upgrade, I could have bought a nice mid-tier rifle. Then, when I find a deal, I buy another one or two budget firearms in the same caliber. So, besides a very few custom rifles and pistols, I have a butt load of $500 and less bolt guns and handguns. Plus, I reload and it is almost hard to keep up with working loads out for all of them. I do fairly well now, and I feel like I want to cull the stable for a few nicer firearms.

Anyone else who wants to or has done the same? Please share your thoughts.

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In the process of doing the same. I had fun trying a lot of different things, but now just want a few that I know shoot well, feel nice in the hand, and bring me joy.

Decluttering is really nice and having your few favorite rifles ready to go with ammo at hand is a pleasure. It's a work in process, but I'm settling in on a 6.5 and 300 prc for my go to cartridges, with a 17HMR, 22lr, 223 and 375 H&H for special occasions

Upgrade in quality all day long.....



Up until a bargin factory gun floats by and gets adopted....



I'm a smaller volume higher quality gun hypocrite....