Which firearm should I buy ?

[ducatiz]

I'd like to have one of the 50 cal. sniper rifles I saw on Ultimate Weapons on TV.

40 lbs of rifle and shooting it costs $2 per round. 

i know a couple of guys who have them, they shoot them about once every 2-3 years now.  too expensive unless you own an ammo factory.

i guess i can see the attraction, but if i was going to spend 10k on a gun, i'd get one of those korean war era howitzers..  fires 3 " shells.

[MotoCreations]

I always say "buy what you want" -- but go shoot it first if at all possible -- even if it costs you money.  Most shops w/range will apply funds to purchase. I've bought too many guns and went and fired 50 rounds through and never shot again because I didn't like. 

My choices are as follows for carry pistols: 

Glock 27 (40S&W) -- have three.  I've put tens of thousands of rounds through them with only one misfire (stovepipe) on the first clip years ago.  I can't ask for more from a gun.  Not super nice though to shoot.  Super easy to carry and conceal.

ParaOrd LDA singlestack Companion (.45ACP).  I used to shoot at the range with Phoenix PD and after many officers had shot mine, they all ended up buying one for their off-duty gun. Incredibly fantastic gun to shoot.  Most were Glock enthusiasts but not anymore. Easy carry but not as ding resistant as a Glock. I'd give up every single Glock and replace with these -- but they are expensive.

Iver Johnson Super Enforcer PP30 (30 carbine). Manufactured many years ago usually for prison riot duty or military use.  M1 carbine with 9" barrel and 17" overall length with walnut stock and handguard and < 4lbs.  Pretty easy to shoot one-handed or two. Nicely balanced.  Moderately easy to conceal under lightweight jacket.  Legal.  Most gun ranges will ask you to put it away if you bring it though.  Nobody will mess with you if you pull it out. Throws nice "flames". LOUD. Everyone will assume you rob banks for a living when you do get a chance to shoot it.

[DoubleEagle]

40 lbs of rifle and shooting it costs $2 per round. 

i know a couple of guys who have them, they shoot them about once every 2-3 years now.  too expensive unless you own an ammo factory.

i guess i can see the attraction, but if i was going to spend 10k on a gun, i'd get one of those korean war era howitzers..  fires 3 " shells.

The key word is ..............Sniper !  One shot.  One kill.

[c_rex]

Nobody will mess with you if you pull it out. Throws nice "flames". LOUD. Everyone will assume you rob banks for a living when you do get a chance to shoot it.

ROFLMAO

[ducatiz]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The key word is ..............Sniper !  One shot.  One kill.

and 95% of people couldn't hit a tin can with a 22 at 20 feet.

accuracy is nothing unless you are experienced.

and yes, i have fielded a 50 bmg anti materiel rifle.

[ducatiz]

I don't know if you have a purpose in mind, but read some of this:

The Tale of Ol' Dirty. A Texas Legend. (Update:14,320 rounds fired without cleaning)

it's about a guy's FAL rifle that he hasn't cleaned -- and has put almost 15,000 rounds through it.  i would never abuse my guns this much, but jeebus, that is beyond the service life by far and still accurate.

certainly would make Dieudonne Saive proud.

[707soldier]

Get yourself a nice 4" Colt Python 357 in blue  and call it a day.
It's the most beautiful revolver ever made.

[ducatiz]

Get yourself a nice 4" Colt Python 357 in blue  and call it a day.
It's the most beautiful revolver ever made.

exc they are no longer made.

[EvilDuc]

40 lbs of rifle and shooting it costs $2 per round. 

i know a couple of guys who have them, they shoot them about once every 2-3 years now.  too expensive unless you own an ammo factory.

i guess i can see the attraction, but if i was going to spend 10k on a gun, i'd get one of those korean war era howitzers..  fires 3 " shells.

All of the shops around me are selling .50 BMG rounds @ $50 for a box of 10

The same shops each have one Barret Model 82A1/M107 selling for just shy of $9,000 with no optics.  No thanks

I'm personally holding out for an FNH SCAR Heavy and a Sig Sauer P226 Combat

[ducatiz]

All of the shops around me are selling .50 BMG rounds @ $50 for a box of 10

The same shops each have one Barret Model 82A1/M107 selling for just shy of $9,000 with no optics.  No thanks

I'm personally holding out for an FNH SCAR Heavy and a Sig Sauer P226 Combat

for $5/round it better give me a reach-around as it goes out the barrel.

[DoubleEagle]

and 95% of people couldn't hit a tin can with a 22 at 20 feet.

accuracy is nothing unless you are experienced.

and yes, i have fielded a 50 bmg anti materiel rifle.

With the right Scope and Spotter, I believe this rifle will take someone out up to at least a mile.

[trenner]

I believe this rifle [firing .50 BMG] will take someone out up to at least a mile.

The longest range publicly recorded for a sniper kill currently stands at 2,430 metres (2,657 yd, or 1.51 miles).  And, yep, it was using the .50 BMG.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniper#Range

Almost a 5 second flight time!

That takes a truly perfect convergence of equipment, conditions, and shooter. 

[707soldier]

exc they are no longer made.

you can still get them on the secondary gun market, at a premium price.

[ducatiz]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             With the right Scope and Spotter, I believe this rifle will take someone out up to at least a mile.

scope and spotter?  how about someone who can shoot it?

you miss my point.

you can have the most accurate gun in the world.  and it takes lots of practice, experience, and the right ammo to "take someone out" a mile away.

that's why the DOD spends 100 millions on our military ammo, so each round is identical to the previous one.

practice all you want on ammo X, once you start shooting ammo Y, your impact point will be off.

I spent almost 2 years as a DM, trust me, I know!

The longest range publicly recorded for a sniper kill currently stands at 2,430 metres (2,657 yd, or 1.51 miles).  And, yep, it was using the .50 BMG.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniper#Range

Almost a 5 second flight time!

That takes a truly perfect convergence of equipment, conditions, and shooter. 

Rob Furlong, a former corporal of the Canadian Forces, holds the record for the longest confirmed sniper kill in combat. Established in 2002, it exceeds Carlos Hathcock's 1967 record of 2,286 m (7,500 ft) by 144 m (472 ft).[1]

...and Hathcock was using an M14 with 1960s glass and no spotter.  I consider him a far superior sharpshooter.

[rgramjet]

"I spent almost 2 years as a DM, trust me, I know!"

a Dungeon Master?