In this thread we combine street smarts and budget smarts all together:
Several years ago, I had a dilemma. I decided to invest in a nice full sized 1911. Settled for the Auto-Ordnance PKZ model. No gimmicks, budget and reliable. At the time I happened to have enough saved up for this event to make TWO choices:
1. Get 2 of the pistols and a good supply of ammo. They are good enough to be collector's grade so why not go all out and get 2 right? OR
2. Get 1 pistol. Get 5 to 6 extra spares of any part in the gun that is prone to breakage/wear/tear. And spend the rest on AMMO.
I settled on the second choice. And for good reason too.....From an article titled "Backup Guns Of The Buffalo Hunters", in Dixie Gun Works' Blackpowder Annual magazine, it is noted that a large number of commercial hide hunters in the 1870's went onto the field with their massive Sharps and Remington Rolling Blocks. These mighty rifles can drop a fully grown buffalo at 800 yards with one shot...Until they break down, usually due to one tiny spring in the lockwork. And then the hunter is at the mercy of the Comanche or Cheyenne, who would just be waiting in the distance for something like this to happen. The result is usually the hunter's bloody scalp mounted on a war lance.
These old timers initially did not even carry spare parts for their rifles, until a mounting death toll translated to hard lessons, and they began to adapt quickly.
In a modern CCW setting, it is highly unlikely that I am going to need/want to carry dual handguns. My username obviously is not Gecko45. So instead of having an additional pistol sitting dormant and taking up space, I invested on the little things to keep my main gun ALWAYS running in top condition. And additionally I ended up with enough to get A LOT of ammo.
So I am posting this question here to see how everybody else in the hive thinks. This scenario can be used for rifles too.
Several years ago, I had a dilemma. I decided to invest in a nice full sized 1911. Settled for the Auto-Ordnance PKZ model. No gimmicks, budget and reliable. At the time I happened to have enough saved up for this event to make TWO choices:
1. Get 2 of the pistols and a good supply of ammo. They are good enough to be collector's grade so why not go all out and get 2 right? OR
2. Get 1 pistol. Get 5 to 6 extra spares of any part in the gun that is prone to breakage/wear/tear. And spend the rest on AMMO.
I settled on the second choice. And for good reason too.....From an article titled "Backup Guns Of The Buffalo Hunters", in Dixie Gun Works' Blackpowder Annual magazine, it is noted that a large number of commercial hide hunters in the 1870's went onto the field with their massive Sharps and Remington Rolling Blocks. These mighty rifles can drop a fully grown buffalo at 800 yards with one shot...Until they break down, usually due to one tiny spring in the lockwork. And then the hunter is at the mercy of the Comanche or Cheyenne, who would just be waiting in the distance for something like this to happen. The result is usually the hunter's bloody scalp mounted on a war lance.
These old timers initially did not even carry spare parts for their rifles, until a mounting death toll translated to hard lessons, and they began to adapt quickly.
In a modern CCW setting, it is highly unlikely that I am going to need/want to carry dual handguns. My username obviously is not Gecko45. So instead of having an additional pistol sitting dormant and taking up space, I invested on the little things to keep my main gun ALWAYS running in top condition. And additionally I ended up with enough to get A LOT of ammo.
So I am posting this question here to see how everybody else in the hive thinks. This scenario can be used for rifles too.
