Stocking Up On Gun Stuff Before Retirement.

[arakboss]

I was moving stuff around in my safe space this morning and decided that I have way too much brass. Beyond the two purchase commitments I already made, I will not buy anymore for a couple of years. The exception will be for a really good deal on 450BM, 458 SOCOM, 45-70 or 44-40 brass.

The good news is I freed up four crates yesterday. The bad news is I don't really have room in the safe space for the crates if I fill them.

That $500 a month firearm budget is going to have to be spent on really small items, maybe some gift cards.

 

[The Heretic]

It won't make you sad.

I don't have a lot, but I have a lot more than I used to. I can't complain about having actual savings and less stress over unplanned events.

Agreed.

I have been poor in my adult life. The first 5 years I was unemployed more often than I was employed, and when I had a job it was always min wage. I worked at whatever someone would pay me to do. I had a wife and a baby girl to shelter and feed (several times had to live with parents - which was hell when it was the in-laws, my FIL was a mean drunk who hated me).

Even when I was in the military and had a steady paycheck (Congress more than once held up our paychecks with fights over appropriations) I still struggled to make ends meet. Then after my enlistment I used my GI bill to go to college because even with 4 years experience/training as a marine diesel mech, I could not get a good paying job. After college it took another year to get a job as an electronics tech.

So yeah, for over ten years, I was relatively poor (more than half that time my income, when there was income, was less than the gov "poverty" line). Money troubles were a factor in my failed marriage.

 

[OngNoi]

Many of us are probably thinking about this too!

For me, getting the gun heard down to stuff that I will use or simply can't part with and stocking up on the ammo and components I actually use are the priorities..

 

[Sawtooth58]

Many of us are probably thinking about this too!

For me, getting the gun heard down to stuff that I will use or simply can't part with and stocking up on the ammo and components I actually use are the priorities..

Let me think…. that one, no, Let me think…. that one, no, Let me think…. that one no. I'll come back to this next week

 

[arakboss]

You know your wife loves you when she thinks you have way too much stuff and still orders a bullet sizer & punch and an order of 4.5 cent 308 bullets.

Time to see if the ultra thick powder coat will size properly.

 

[Mark W.]

I slowly built up what I have over 40 years of buying reloading supplies. I am still buying some even though I really don't "need" it.
As to what happens when I am gone my son will be very happy to inherit anything in my toy closet.

 

[arakboss]

Another thing I want to buy is a decent pair of digital calipers. I am about fed up with both pair of Frankford Arsenal calipers I have now. The issue is the battery compartments are not reliable.

 

[orygun]

Another thing I want to buy is a decent pair of digital calipers. I am about fed up with both pair of Frankford Arsenal calipers I have now. The issue is the battery compartments are not reliable.

Buy a good set of dial calipers. No battery to die.

 

[The Heretic]

Another thing I want to buy is a decent pair of digital calipers. I am about fed up with both pair of Frankford Arsenal calipers I have now. The issue is the battery compartments are not reliable.

Some vernier calipers are on my b-day list, but I try to keep the cost of each gift item down to about $25.

Later I might buy a nice set of Starrett calipers and micrometers, etc., with my own dime (dimes - lots and lots of dimes for Starretts or similar quality).

 

[arakboss]

Some vernier calipers are on my b-day list, but I try to keep the cost of each gift item down to about $25.

Later I might buy a nice set of Starrett calipers and micrometers, etc., with my own dime (dimes - lots and lots of dimes for Starretts or similar quality).

I am looking at this one for a mid to late August purchase.

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/62529482

Total shipped cost is under $133.

I have a decent 12in dial caliper but it is unwieldy to use for reloading and I much prefer the digital display over a dial.

 

[orygun]

There is a benefit to the digital calipers. Switch from metric to SAE with the push of a button. Wanna know what 33.2mm is? Run the number and then push the button to switch. Kind of a cool feature in some instances.

 

[The Heretic]

There is a benefit to the digital calipers. Switch from metric to SAE with the push of a button. Wanna know what 33.2mm is? Run the number and then push the button to switch. Kind of a cool feature in some instances.

I think for reloading, a decent inexpensive (less than $50) caliper is good enough for most stuff. For some things a 0-1" micrometer would be good. If you are really into precision shooting then some more specialized and costly measurement tools might be helpful.

 

[Colt Carbine]

I don't think having lots of money would make me happy. It's what I get in exchange for the money that makes me happy.

Judging from the pictures you've shared in the past, you should've been happy a long time ago. True happiness doesn't reside in consumerism chasing materialist items.

Enjoy what you currently have and shoot for contentment. Otherwise, you'll be chasing your tail until you die.

I have a feeling this will fall on deaf ears along with a lot of the great advise within this thread and the many others prior to this one.

 

[arakboss]

Judging from the pictures you've shared in the past, you should've been happy a long time ago. True happiness doesn't reside in consumerism chasing materialist items.

Enjoy what you currently have and shoot for contentment. Otherwise, you'll be chasing your tail until you die.

I have a feeling this will fall on deaf ears along with a lot of the great advise within this thread and the many others prior to this one.

Think about an art collector. They could collect a few pieces of art and call it good. They could look at them day in and day out and be happy with those same few pieces until they die. Truth is most art collectors probably wouldn't be happy with those few pieces. They like the hunt for new pieces. They like going to galleries, bidding at auctions, going to estate sales, antique stores, etc to find new pieces. Consumerism makes our economy go round. I admire those who hoard money instead of items but it's not my nature.

 

[orygun]

Judging from the pictures you've shared in the past, you should've been happy a long time ago. True happiness doesn't reside in consumerism chasing materialist items.

Enjoy what you currently have and shoot for contentment. Otherwise, you'll be chasing your tail until you die.

I have a feeling this will fall on deaf ears along with a lot of the great advise within this thread and the many others prior to this one.

When on the hunt and acquiring things, the hunt and find is the high. Living your life havin to dig thru all of that bubblegum is not what you think it is.
I'm going to have a lot of bubblegum for sale or getting donated/thrown out soon.

 

[Cavedweller]

I have a feeling this will fall on deaf ears along with a lot of the great advise within this thread and the many others prior to this one.

I have a feeling it already has.

 

[CountryGent]

Think about an art collector. They could collect a few pieces of art and call it good. They could look at them day in and day out and be happy with those same few pieces until they die. Truth is most art collectors probably wouldn't be happy with those few pieces. They like the hunt for new pieces. They like going to galleries, bidding at auctions, going to estate sales, antique stores, etc to find new pieces. Consumerism makes our economy go round. I admire those who hoard money instead of items but it's not my nature.

Sounds like the Diderot effect / hedonic treadmill. Big "no thanks" to that, but to each their own.

 

[arakboss]

Sounds like the Diderot effect / hedonic treadmill. Big "no thanks" to that, but to each their own.

It is certainly the case with firearms. You buy a rifle and now you want a scope for it, maybe a new case, and accessories, and ammo, maybe reloading supplies for it. Firearm collecting is a deep rabbit hole.

 

[CountryGent]

Firearm collecting is a deep rabbit hole.

No question. But moderation in all things. Or, knowing when to say when.

 

[arakboss]

No question. But moderation in all things. Or, knowing when to say when.

I think I have finally got to the point where I'm ready to say "when" to adding more firearms (we'll see).

Now my resources can be directed towards outfitting the firearms I have.
I could see that costing more than the firearms themselves, especially with the rifles.