For around 10 years now, I have been purchasing firearms for a variety of reasons but mostly for fun and interest. Most of the weapons I have acquired filled a roll or purpose. The wide variety of firearms comes from the wide variety of rolls I want my guns to fill. I have guns I prefer to hike with and I have guns I prefer for static home defense. Some of my guns are for hunting and some are for showing off (think BBQ gun). I also have guns that are specific to everyday, personal defense and even those guns come in a variety of configurations. Just within my EDC rotation there are at least three pistols of differing configurations that I can choose from based on what I'm doing that day, or moment, and how I'm dressed or where I'm going; I literally pick my carry gun like some folks pick their shoes.
Having spent the last few years developing the setup for the guns I tend to carry, I have learned that buying a new gun is a giant pain in the rear.
When you look at all the guns that have my preferred setup, they all have the same extra parts; a weapon light, tritium sights, extra magazines, high quality hollow point ammunition, a decent number of FMJ rounds for practice and a good holster typically made from some molded thermoplastic (like KYDEX) or sometimes leather.
This is where buying a new gun becomes a problem. Some people like the phrase 'buy once, cry once' but the reality is that you don't just buy once. You'll end up spending probably an additional $5-600 or more on the accessories to bring that new gun up to your current specification. This may not even include milling the slide to make it more comfortable for carry or the addition of an MRDS or refinishing for style (Cerakote).
Most pistol ammunition that isn't 9mm typically runs over $15 for 50 rounds and it's not unusual for it to run around $20 for more obscure rounds. I've been looking at 10mm automatic lately and the cost is nowhere close to the cost of 9mm and $0.30 on the low end. I have some pistol calibers that you're looking at best $0.45 per round for low end; compare that to 9mm's $0.20 per round. Add any range time and you'll go through those rounds requiring a resupply. This will always be a recurring cost.
Magazines can run you anywhere between $20 and up. I have some CZ magazines that push the $75 mark with the extra base plate extensions. H&K pistol magazines can be pretty hellacious but STI magazines go for way more pushing into the $100+ range for a single magazine. Your new handgun could easily cost you an extra $150 for just 2 to 4 magazines and you should have at least two extra. I recommend at a minimum of five total per magazine pattern.
A weapon light is a must for any pistol of mine that has any serious use. There is very limited exceptions to this rule such as a micro compact or revolver of any size but if I can put a light on it, I do. This adds a significant layer of complexity to a situation as holsters now become extremely limited on the commercial market. More obscure firearms, such as my IWI Jericho in .45 ACP, already suffer from limited commercial support for holsters. Add something such as a Streamlight TLR3 or other obscure light and now you have a combination that requires a custom made holster. Weapon lights are already expensive and some a even more so; see Streamlight vs Surefire.
Holsters can also be fairly expensive as well. Sure, low money Uncle Mike's holsters can be had for cheap but a properly fitting IWB holster can run you around $85 depending on extras. Safariland leg drop holsters regularly run into the $200. Years ago I heard that I would end up with a dresser drawer full of holsters. They were almost correct, I have a Tupperware tub full not a dresser drawer. I remember when my go to holster was the FOBUS paddle holster. Now I run IWB and OWB holsters from companies like Vedder, Gearcraft and KT-MECH with the occasional name brand leather holster. Your tastes will change as you gain more experience.
Good high quality sights are a must too. While three dot, white sights are fine for range use I don't feel comfortable with them on a carry gun. Add an additional $115 for Trijicon HD sights. I used to run Tru-Glo TFX Pro's (and still recommend them) but I've since made the switch to Trijicon.
Basically, buying a new gun and bringing up to speed when you're at my level can daunting and aggravating but most importantly annoyingly expensive and I don't add parts like threaded barrels or MRDS to all my guns. I feel bad for the guys that do that on all their pistols.
Long guns are the same way; magazines, lights, scopes, slings, ammo suppressors and other goods. I try to stay away from long guns but it still happens.
Either way, if you're looking at starting a collection or interested in buying, know that you'd better do it out of love or need because it's going to get expensive, fast. Try not get hooked.
My name is Ian and I like to buy guns.
PS - Don't forget to buy a good safe. Proper storage is a must not some AmazonBasics cheap-o deal. A real safe like from Liberty Safe (not sponsored by Liberty Safes - I would tell you up front if I were).
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