[Hippie Dave]

Don't come to my shop then.
I ask why sometimes especially if it is a "unique-ish" type gun so if a future a customer ask looking for gun like you are buying I have some answers for them. I am not prying into your life I am trying to find out why you like this gun or it's particular good points (Or bad) and I think you are blowing this out of proportion and should just answer the question because you could be helping someone learn.
If you answered with what some has said (Or a smart butt answer) you would not be buying that gun from me.

Like your opinion..... I too buy unique-ish guns, mostly vintage or historical types. My top break revolver collection is vast and when I started the collection they were inexpensive.
I like to load mild reloads for them and enjoy reliving the past with them.....
Anybody can get a kimber or glock, what fun is that? My local gun shop calls me with the odd ball questions or, asks me to stop in to look at an old nickel plated handgun, It's always appreciated and goes both ways!

 

[LIKTOSHOOT]

You would not like our policy when we were in business. Frankly if a quality store I would be offended if not ask those questions.

 

[Santa Ron]

Simple for me---"My wife said it was OK"!

 

[REParker]

Maybe, instead of defaulting to being snarky right out of the box, a better response would be, "Why do you ask?" There may be a legitimate reason and result in an enlightening conversation...for one or the other of you.

 

[sharps4590]

If LGS's stocked anything I had an interest in, maybe I'd be asked. I think my feelings are going to be hurt.....

If the local dealers get a German sporting firearm in, I usually get a call unless it's really common.

 

[C3Shooter]

A lot would come down to who asked, and in what manner. A shop employee may legitimately be trying to screen out straw man purchases. If it is one of the know it alls hanging out at the counter asking "Why did you want to buy THAT?" my answer might be" The voices in my head told me to."

I actually have a PAIR of Baby Browning 25s If you . asked me WHY I bought them- they were in excellent condition, well made, price was VERY good- and they looked lonesome.

And one day, two of my adult granddaughters will think they are great. As far as critiquing the .25 ACP cartridge- lot of folks badmouth it- don't see many folks lining up to volunteer to be shot with one.

 

[soundguy]

Some people are generally curious and figure if you are buying out the norm, you must know your stuff. And of course you have the firearm snobs that want to criticize your purchase. I love .32 cal firearms and have at least one of every caliber in .32. I recently bought a Ruger Birds head Single Seven (327 mag). A guy at the counter ask why I bought that one. First I always answer this type of question with "I am a collector of .32 caliber firearms" or whatever unusual caliber or weapon I am buying at the time. If they are truly curious they will ask further question and they get a long boring, but enthusiastic rendition of why the .32 is such a great caliber. If they are a snob (jerk) I cut it short by sternly saying "To each his own my friend" which almost always ends that conversation.

Wow...birdshead 327? If you ever hate the gun I'd adopt it lol.

Ps.. I love 32 as well.

Now you need a 30 super carry ( 32 )... So I'm not the only person that bought one...

 

[ARRon]

I just tell them "the voices in my head told me to!"

 

[AA Shooter]

Just curious, what do you guys say when employees/patrons at the counter ask “Why are you buying/why did you choose that?” I like to buy a lot of unique-ish guns (at least for my area), and it gets pretty annoying trying to “justify” my purchases.

Thanks

Well my guntree started with a BSA mark 1airgun and after that I bought a Anchutz 22 Hornet for hunting Springbuck in the Karoo. After 5 headshot kills in one day of hunting, I was hooked on this new found venture. Second rifle 308 Obendorf Mauser (set trigger) and then my rifle collection started piling up. Curiosity got the better of me getting to know everything about rifles, reloading, what the different calibres are for and what you can hunt with the different calibres. Started participating in range shoots. Today I own new and old rifles that came past me not by wanting to buy a certain calibre, but was given to me by my dad in his will and that bargains that I stumbled upon. For more than 20 years I looked for a 6" Colt Python before I got one in very good condition (South Africa) Calibres I own .22 10/22 Ruger, 22 Hornet, 22-250 Ruger M77 Mk11,243 Browning X- Bolt hunter, The popular 6.5 Creedmoor Howa 1500 Varmint Stainless steel, 7 x 64 Obendorf Mauser (set trigger), 303 British Bulldog, 9mm Taurus and my Colt Python. As you can see not a selective bunch but in the end I can hunt in every situation if needed, if the optics allow it. Love reloading bullets and all the effort going into it. A bit of me time, concentrating on the perfect batch thats going to work on the range as well as on the hunting trip. I just want to say if your curious about a calibre make sure you read alot about it and watch YouTube clips to get a good feel about the rifle you're interested in. I bought some of my rifles and afterwards found out what I can do with it. Sold some through the years( 308 Foerre, 308 Mauser, 9mm Astra a75 & Astra a100, Colt 6" Trooper, 9mm FN Browning, 22 Hornet Anchutz, 264 Mauser, 300 Holland &Holland, 1894 Alexander Henry dubble barrel Shotgun, 357 Uberti lever action) as well, not because I didn't like it but because it didn't fit my length of pull and I didn't want to ulter the perfect gun. The new owners got a good deal and they are all happy with their bargain they got from me. Lol Happy gun hunting. Hope you guys find the one you're looking for. PS Don't ever sell a bad new gun, it might just be a small thing that makes it a terrible performer. Stock touching the barrel( had that with Howa syandard syntheticstock), not perfect manufacturing that can be fixed, scope mounts, scope itself, trigger settings, length of pull, urgonomics of the rifle not fitting you're liking and many more that the experts can tell you thats been through the mill. As the saying goes ask if in doubt for you out there that's new in the game. Just remember, not everyone is a proper gun digest.

 

[sparkyv]

This -->

I've never had anyone ask me that, but if someone did I believe my response would be, "Because I want it".

I don't justify my purchases. I buy what I want, when I want it, and the only one I have to justify it to is me.

 

[marlinguy]

Maybe, instead of defaulting to being snarky right out of the box, a better response would be, "Why do you ask?" There may be a legitimate reason and result in an enlightening conversation...for one or the other of you.

Excellent advice! It might be that the person asking has something they want to sell, and they're curious because they're looking for a buyer. Get defensive right out of the gate, and you might turn away a possible bargain.

 

[REParker]

Well my guntree started with a BSA mark 1airgun and after that I bought a Anchutz 22 Hornet for hunting Springbuck in the Karoo. After 5 headshot kills in one day of hunting, I was hooked on this new found venture. Second rifle 308 Obendorf Mauser (set trigger) and then my rifle collection started piling up. Curiosity got the better of me getting to know everything about rifles, reloading, what the different calibres are for and what you can hunt with the different calibres. Started participating in range shoots. Today I own new and old rifles that came past me not by wanting to buy a certain calibre, but was given to me by my dad in his will and that bargains that I stumbled upon. For more than 20 years I looked for a 6" Colt Python before I got one in very good condition (South Africa) Calibres I own .22 10/22 Ruger, 22 Hornet, 22-250 Ruger M77 Mk11,243 Browning X- Bolt hunter, The popular 6.5 Creedmoor Howa 1500 Varmint Stainless steel, 7 x 64 Obendorf Mauser (set trigger), 303 British Bulldog, 9mm Taurus and my Colt Python. As you can see not a selective bunch but in the end I can hunt in every situation if needed, if the optics allow it. Love reloading bullets and all the effort going into it. A bit of me time, concentrating on the perfect batch thats going to work on the range as well as on the hunting trip. I just want to say if your curious about a calibre make sure you read alot about it and watch YouTube clips to get a good feel about the rifle you're interested in. I bought some of my rifles and afterwards found out what I can do with it. Sold some through the years( 308 Foerre, 308 Mauser, 9mm Astra a75 & Astra a100, Colt 6" Trooper, 9mm FN Browning, 22 Hornet Anchutz, 264 Mauser, 300 Holland &Holland, 1894 Alexander Henry dubble barrel Shotgun, 357 Uberti lever action) as well, not because I didn't like it but because it didn't fit my length of pull and I didn't want to ulter the perfect gun. The new owners got a good deal and they are all happy with their bargain they got from me. Lol Happy gun hunting. Hope you guys find the one you're looking for. PS Don't ever sell a bad new gun, it might just be a small thing that makes it a terrible performer. Stock touching the barrel( had that with Howa syandard syntheticstock), not perfect manufacturing that can be fixed, scope mounts, scope itself, trigger settings, length of pull, urgonomics of the rifle not fitting you're liking and many more that the experts can tell you thats been through the mill. As the saying goes ask if in doubt for you out there that's new in the game. Just remember, not everyone is a proper gun digest.

I had a 6" Python years ago (1975?), blue (I don't think Stainless had made an appearance yet) that I used to shoot in the local Police matches. Bought it, if I recall, for the outrageous sum of $125!! Didn't care for it...and it didn't have that "collectibility" factor yet. Much preferred the S&W 4" Mdl. 19 that I replaced it with.

 

[stmichps]

Here a month or so back. I was at a LGS that I have been doing business with for close to 35 years, picking up a recent find that I had in layaway when another patron came up and started asking question. The item that I was picking up was a Browning Auto-22, Belgium, that I had been looking for, for some time. I just happen to come across the rifle while I was waiting for a background on another purchase to come back.

Anyway, the patron started by asking if that was an Auto-22 which I explained that it was. He than explained that he too was looking for one and than asked if it was a Belgium which is what he really wanted. I explained to him that it was and that I just happen to run across it while waiting for a background check. He started to tell me how he had always wanted one since he was a boy but never could afford one because of one thing or another and how great of a shape the one I was picking up was. He explained that he couldn't find one under 10 Benjamin's at which time he ask how much I paid?

When I told him, he got a disgusted look on his face, turned around and walk away. After the gentleman was well out of ear shot, the guy working with me behind the counter and I had a good laugh not so much at the gentleman's misfortunes, but having been in his shoes before. Looking for that one item for the longest time and seeing it before you in someone else's possession. Needless to say, in this day an age I was careful going out to my vehicle when I left the shop.

 

[amos_nunoy]

I have the same 327 3.5" birds head. Had to have it, ordered from my LGS. When it came in they laughed and asked me if I was going to go Wyatt Earp and pistol whip people with it. We all laughed 😂 Life is harder if you are thin skinned.

Yep it doesn't pay to be thin skinned. And the really funny part is Wyatt Earp carried a Colt Buntline Special that had a 12" barrel. He used it to pistol whip bad guys instead of shooting them

 

[Oldirongut]

You mean you actually expected and got helpful information from most gun counters ??

 

[sharps4590]

Yep it doesn't pay to be thin skinned. And the really funny part is Wyatt Earp carried a Colt Buntline Special that had a 12" barrel. He used it to pistol whip bad guys instead of shooting them

1920's, Stuart Lake myth!! No evidence exists for it. Longer barreled Colt SAA's, yes. That Ned Buntline gave one to several old west personalities is made up from whole cloth by the Wyatt Earp "biographer", (and I use the term very loosely), Stuart Lake.

More than one old west peace officer did wallop miscreants with their revolvers. I THINK I remember a trustworthy historian mentioning Masterson and his older brother, I think Jim(?) and, Dallas Stoudenmire supposedly did the same.

 

[ral357]

1920's, Stuart Lake myth!! No evidence exists for it. Longer barreled Colt SAA's, yes. That Ned Buntline gave one to several old west personalities is made up from whole cloth by the Wyatt Earp "biographer", (and I use the term very loosely), Stuart Lake.

More than one old west peace officer did wallop miscreants with their revolvers. I THINK I remember a trustworthy historian mentioning Masterson and his older brother, I think Jim(?) and, Dallas Stoudenmire supposedly did the same.

Guess that would be the old west tasing... 😂

 

[amos_nunoy]

1920's, Stuart Lake myth!! No evidence exists for it. Longer barreled Colt SAA's, yes. That Ned Buntline gave one to several old west personalities is made up from whole cloth by the Wyatt Earp "biographer", (and I use the term very loosely), Stuart Lake.

More than one old west peace officer did wallop miscreants with their revolvers. I THINK I remember a trustworthy historian mentioning Masterson and his older brother, I think Jim(?) and, Dallas Stoudenmire supposedly did the same.

Thanks for the info. It's like the Bowie knife legend. Bowie did carry a big kitchen when he figured he would be in a scrap because he had had a pistol misfire during another scrap. But it was not what it considered the classic Bowie knife. That knife was commissioned to be made by his brother Rezin Bowie after his death at the Alamo. Several were made and they were handed out or sold as the original Jim Bowie knife to gain influence in political and business deals. When it come to historic legends "facts" can be a little shady.

 

[Old School or Nothing]

Personally I think there are enough probing questions on the backcheck forms when you purchase a firearm. The person you hand it to has all it in their hand and can read it.

With everything being so woke is there a real reason they ask you what your race is. And I still can't figure out what the first block of that is for about if you are white hispanic or non-white hispanic (or something similar). WTH does that mean 😂

Like it when the counter guy ask you what the ammo you want is for - I'm like well the box says 38spl so it's for a 38spl. Duuu - then I ask them how old they are. If they say why, I reply - just wondered how long it took you to get so smart.

I understand you guys talking to customers and keeps about different things but I don't think those are the things the OP was talking about.

 

[sharps4590]

Thanks for the info. It's like the Bowie knife legend. Bowie did carry a big kitchen when he figured he would be in a scrap because he had had a pistol misfire during another scrap. But it was not what it considered the classic Bowie knife. That knife was commissioned to be made by his brother Rezin Bowie after his death at the Alamo. Several were made and they were handed out or sold as the original Jim Bowie knife to gain influence in political and business deals. When it come to historic legends "facts" can be a little shady.

You mean the Alan Ladd movie, "The Iron Maiden" isn't factual? OH NO!!!!!! I'm deflated.....