If you have been around me for any amount of time, you hear me say "Learning what not to do is a big part of the learning process.". And unfortunately, a lot of it has done at my own expense. After being around guns for over 20 years, I thought I would share some of the mistakes I have made, and what I now do to hopefully save others from doing the same thing that I did.
cheap optics suck
First off, there is a difference between "Cheap" and "Cheep". "Cheap" would be an NC Star wonderCOG for $40. "Cheep" would be buying a real Trijicon ACOG for $400. It has been my experience that cheap optics suck. My first experience with cheap optics was on my beloved 1895 Chilean 7x57mm Mauser. This was the first centerfire rifle that my dad bought for me, back when I was 8 years old. It had been tastefully sporterized by Gene Ness out of Salt Lake City. The barrel was turned back to 18 inches, good iron sites were installed, bolt was bent, and the rifle was drilled and tapped for scope bases. All numbers matched, and the stock was hand made by Gene. It features nice basket weave checkering in the grip and forearm, and is topped with a nice ebony cap on the foregrip. The trigger is smooth and crisp, and it is all around a fantastic rifle. The first scope on the rifle was a Weaver K4, a classic fine crosshair fixed 4 power scope. We decided that a bit more magnification would be nice, so we topped it off with a Simmons 3-9. When I was 12 years old and got my first deer tag, I had a nice opportunity on a great 4x4 muley (note: for you easterners, around here we score the rack by points on both sides). It was early morning, and an easy 150 yard shot. I shouldered my rifle and looked through the scope, only to see a foggy haze. I wiped both lenses and brought the rifle up again, only to find the same damned thing. The buck ended up running off, and I was skunked out for the day. For me this was my first "clue" that cheap optics might suck. Later on, once I purchased a decent scope for it, I removed the Simmons from the rifle, took it to the curb, and beat the tube flat, so that this scope will never have another chance to ruin another hunt.
Being a bit stubborn, it still took me a little while to learn that cheap optics sucked. Throughout my teens and up until I was 22 or so, I figured that optics were like hookers; cheap, disposable, and you could always get another one if they died tragically. I purchased a few BSA scopes, low end Tasco, and gun show special red dots, and they all ended up having one thing in common: They sucked. When I put together my second AR, I finally sprung for a good optic, an EOTech. As to be expected, it didn't suck. This was more wifey material than hooker, and I like it and still have it to this day. I started spending a bit more on optics, and became hooked. In 2011, when I purchased a Nightforce, I was completely enamored. Having a superb optic really spoiled me, and as a result, I am hooked on good glass.
One thing to think about with good glass, is you can always put it on something else. Through personal experience, every single time I have bought a cheap optic, I have always ended up buying something else. When you add up the cost of all of the junk optics I purchased, I could have easily have bought an entry level Zeiss or Leupold. And you know what? I would still have it today, and it would not be in a landfill somewhere along with the rest of the junk optics I purchased.
Being a bit stubborn, it still took me a little while to learn that cheap optics sucked. Throughout my teens and up until I was 22 or so, I figured that optics were like hookers; cheap, disposable, and you could always get another one if they died tragically. I purchased a few BSA scopes, low end Tasco, and gun show special red dots, and they all ended up having one thing in common: They sucked. When I put together my second AR, I finally sprung for a good optic, an EOTech. As to be expected, it didn't suck. This was more wifey material than hooker, and I like it and still have it to this day. I started spending a bit more on optics, and became hooked. In 2011, when I purchased a Nightforce, I was completely enamored. Having a superb optic really spoiled me, and as a result, I am hooked on good glass.
One thing to think about with good glass, is you can always put it on something else. Through personal experience, every single time I have bought a cheap optic, I have always ended up buying something else. When you add up the cost of all of the junk optics I purchased, I could have easily have bought an entry level Zeiss or Leupold. And you know what? I would still have it today, and it would not be in a landfill somewhere along with the rest of the junk optics I purchased.
sir, set down the beer and place the dremel on the table
It is no big secret that I love to tinker. I have a Wile E Coyote School Of Gunsmithing Diploma hanging on the wall of my gun room. No matter what I had, I always thought I could make it better. In my youth, there is no mistake that I fucked up many good guns, with my "improvements". Coors light in one hand, Copenhagen in my lip, and Dremel in the other hand, I set out to do a trigger job on everything I had, polish feed ramps, and, in general, just destroy every single thing that I could do. Much like bargain basement titty jobs, not many of these turned out well. Shit, I still have a stack of guns in pieces, with parts I need to replace due to my improvements.
As I grew older, I found that there is no substitute for the proper tools, reference material, and knowledge. There is no way to make the trigger on an Ishapore Enfield break at a crisp two pounds with zero overtravel just by using a Dremel and copious quantities of alcohol and cussing. When I set out in 2011 to build a 1911 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the design, I did it proper. I purchased all the specific tools, stones, and reference materials, and as a result it came out very nicely.
As I grew older, I found that there is no substitute for the proper tools, reference material, and knowledge. There is no way to make the trigger on an Ishapore Enfield break at a crisp two pounds with zero overtravel just by using a Dremel and copious quantities of alcohol and cussing. When I set out in 2011 to build a 1911 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the design, I did it proper. I purchased all the specific tools, stones, and reference materials, and as a result it came out very nicely.
buy once, cry once
Time and time again, people ask me something along the lines of "I want this XXX for $600, but I can get YYY for $400, what should I do?" From experience, save up the extra money, and get what you really wanted in the first place.
Every single time I have purchased something, simply on the fact that it is cheaper than what I have really wanted, I have not been satisfied, and eventually ended up purchasing what I really wanted, spending more money than I initially would have in the process.
Just bite the bullet, and buy the gun/scope/hooker/cheeseburger you really wanted, and in the long run you will be much happier.
Buying a firearm is an investment. In a world of convenience and disposable goods, it is sometimes hard to see past the price tag. Think of it as a long term purchase, where a quality product will have an amortized cost over the years. Looking at the guns of my dad, he has owned them for over 30 years, and they are still in serviceable condition, that can be passed down.
Every single time I have purchased something, simply on the fact that it is cheaper than what I have really wanted, I have not been satisfied, and eventually ended up purchasing what I really wanted, spending more money than I initially would have in the process.
Just bite the bullet, and buy the gun/scope/hooker/cheeseburger you really wanted, and in the long run you will be much happier.
Buying a firearm is an investment. In a world of convenience and disposable goods, it is sometimes hard to see past the price tag. Think of it as a long term purchase, where a quality product will have an amortized cost over the years. Looking at the guns of my dad, he has owned them for over 30 years, and they are still in serviceable condition, that can be passed down.
research, research, research!
I, like many others right now, am experiencing tough economical times. Even with the massive amount of money I make off of this website (averaging $1.25 per month, so click on the ads and make me rich!), I do not have an unlimited amount of money to spend on firearms and the related accessories.
When you are using the google to research anything, also try adding "Problems", "Failures", "Jams", "Recalls", and things such as this to the end of your search terms. If you start seeing quite a few topics on this, that might be a clue.
Compare and contrast a few different products. You may find that you actually like a comparable product better than what you did at first.
When you are using the google to research anything, also try adding "Problems", "Failures", "Jams", "Recalls", and things such as this to the end of your search terms. If you start seeing quite a few topics on this, that might be a clue.
Compare and contrast a few different products. You may find that you actually like a comparable product better than what you did at first.
In closing
Buy good optics, quality guns, research your purchases, and put the dremel down. I like to think that (god forbid), if I ever have children that when my children inherit my firearms, that they will not think I was a cheapass.
EZ
EZ
