RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
 

I have no idea what is going on with Dakota. I bought one in 1992 for $1200. Now that rifle is $4,000 or more. I have no idea what the difference is in the rifle. I think Dakota has done a fine marketing job. Shoot one before you buy It. You may not believe this but I believe an out of the box Remington or Savage will outshoot the Dakota. The one I had was a LH 280 Remington. It shot a little over one inch groups at 100 yards. I thought that was pretty poor for a $1200 rifle. I contacted Dakota-their reply was our rifle's are built for form and function, accuracy is not our main concern. Tom.

RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
 

I own some expensive guns... All of them are now worth a lot more than i paid for them...

On the other hand, that pickup that i paid $26,400.00 for in 1992 is now worth about $4,000.00!!

Guys have given me crap for carrying an expensive gun when hunting with me, yet they have a boat, travel trailor, SUV, and many other things setting at home "depreciating" to a level that's a lot more "loss" than my gun cost me!

Anyway, i don't have to "justify" what a firearm cost me, cause if i want it, i'll save and go without someplace else untill i get it! AND, i'll use it too, as i don't have any "safe queens"...

DM

RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
 

With the price of fuel, increasing rent, and the generally poor economy.... I think you'd need to be pulling in at least $12K..... or you could stretch it at $11.5K/year ;)



I'd rather spend $7,000 on a safari with a $700 rifle, than $7,000 on a rifle and be too broke to hunt anything with it. By and large I am of the opinion that if you have to budget to buy a rifle, then you probably have no business spending that much money on a luxury item.

If you are single, live alone.. then its your business. But I've seen too many men with new trucks, $40K bass boats, satelite TV and $1000 deer rifles and have kids wearing second hand clothes. The measure of a man ain't his toys, and I'd say it takes a very small man to be so selfish as to not give the best to his family he can.

RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
 

This is so true. [>:]

RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
 

I haven't found the measure of a man to be, that they live in a half million dollar house, with 100 thou in gas guzzleing SUV's in the yard, and the kids wearing brand name high dollar cloths either...

Some of us were/are smart enough to find a wife that loves to hunt and is very happy to live in a decent house in hunting country... Driveing a nice "once owned" vechile that isn't a gas guzzler... Living like this is how you have a couple, thousand dollar rifles to hunt with, one for you, and one for your wife that loves to hunt with you...

DM

RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
 

You could make under 50K and buy this rifle if you really wanted to do it. My retirement income is slightly less than that and I support my wife(doesn't work outside the home) and three kids and buy what I want. Yes, I have some investments, but I'm not tapping that resource just yet. You just have to save for a longer time before you get it. Being smart with your spending and avoiding debt is like doubling your income. It is also a great stress reliever!

RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
 

1,000 dollars is a pretty good chunk of change for me to spend on a rifle.. So I would have to have 7x my current salary to justify the 7k rifle :D

RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
 

I never said it was. Never implied it was either. Never stated that anyone who would spend so much on a gun was a small man in character. What I said was that there are several folks who spend more on things that don't matter, who also don't spend enough on things that do. Would you not agree?

I own a $3K+ rifle (a Dakota, in 330 Dakota). I buy all my suits, and most of my good wool sweaters second hand. I don't have kids (unless you count the dogs, which would be a fair argument). And I have a fiancee who hunts and fishes with me. Beats me at 3D archery half the time too. I know what its like to be blessed. I don't care about fashion, and no one does without around here. I bought that rifle when I was single, just out of college. And if money ever became an issue, it would be the first thing to go too.

RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
 

I was more adding onto your post,than aiming my answer at you... I've seen many folks do all of the above in both our post...

To answer your question... yes

DM

RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
 

I gotcha. I certainly agree with you as well. Living beyond your means is no way to go, no matter what your situation. Good hunting to you DM! ;)