I need a little help here..
 

So, a couple of months ago I went in to our local gun shop and asked the guy about a rifle. I made up my mind that I wanted a Browning A Bolt Medallion in 270 and I wanted it new, but last years model because I didn't want the BOSS. He told me that they had some coming in, although he didn't know when, and that I could put my name down to get one when they arrived. I asked what the price would be and he told me $550, and I didn't even have to think about it. So I have stopped in and called several times to see if it had come in, and it still hasn't and they still don't have a clue when it is coming. Not a huge deal, but I would like it at least a couple of months before the deer season starts so we can get to know eachother.

Now about 3 weeks ago, our local radio station was having an online auction for gift certificates to some local stores. I thought I would have to be stupid not to win a couple of these gift cards since I was going to spend the money there anyway, and I bought 2 $250 cards for this store. Well when I went in and picked them up, they tell me that I have 30 days to use them.

So now my rifle still isn't in, and I have to spend $500 within the next week, and I am wondering what I should spend it on.

Some things I am considering.

Asking if they have the same gun with the BOSS on it.
Used smaller caliber rifle for Varmint hunting.
Some kind of handgun


Here is my current gun inventory. My deer rifle that I have been using for a few years, that I will give back to my dad when I get my new one, Over/Under shotgun, pump shotgun, and a 17 HMR. I also have a bow that I bought last year, a new set of bino's that I bought in the fall, and my new scope and rings for my rifle.

If I didn't already have the scope this wouldn't be too tough of a decision to make. And I guess there just really isn't anything else that I need right now. I am kind of leaning towards buying a smaller caliber rifle just because it would be fun, but I don't think I would use it that much.

So there you go, I have $500 to spend, what do I spend it on??

RE: I need a little help here..
 

You can't put the money down on the gun?

RE: I need a little help here..
 

I guess I haven't asked about that yet. I am going to go in there tomorrow and get it straightened out, that would be an option.

RE: I need a little help here..
 

If they can't give you a ballpark figure on when they'll get the gun in, then I wouldn't put a dime down on it. If they can get it, they should be able to special order it right away and not make you wait until they feel like ordering some in, if they can at all.

As for the $500 worth of gift cards you bought for yourself (not really sure why you did that :eek:), since you're in a hurry to get rid of them before they expire (which seems odd to me, too), you could always put that money toward another rifle to suit your needs instead of the Browning. If you have your heart set on the A-Bolt, and you don't handload, you might consider investing in a handloading setup.

I guess I don't really have your problem, as I can easily find a way to blow $500 in a big-box sporting goods store if my wife would let me! ;)

Regarding the A-Bolt Medallion, are you dead set on getting a 270 Win? Why now consider betting one in a similar cartridge like .280 Rem, .270 WSM, 7mm-08, or .25-06? Any of those would perform very well as a deer rifle.

You can also try buying online to get the rifle you want. Look here:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=125248870

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=125011247

I just bought my first gun online last week through a dealer on gunbroker.com, and the transaction went very smoothly.

My only other suggestion would be to never buy gift cards when you have cash, especially ones that expire in 30 days with no refund! [:@]

Mike

RE: I need a little help here..
 

Okay I didn't know that they expired until after I bought them, and they only cost me $330. That is why I got them. I am pretty sure I am going to get the A-Bolt whether I can use the gift cards on it or not, you can't get a deal like that anywhere. I don't have a problem spending 500 bones at the sporting goods store, I just don't know what to spend it on.

RE: I need a little help here..
 

Ok, that makes sense.

Like I said, you could look into a handloading setup, or a rangefinder, or a new blind/treestand, etc...

Mike

RE: I need a little help here..
 

Buy another rifle! Or maybe a range finder! if you plan on shooting any distances the range finder is a must!
-Jake

RE: I need a little help here..
 

Guys, the dealer is very likely telling the truth. Browning is not known for being very fast on shipping. We are a premier Browning dealer and when we place our orders every year we never know what they are going to ship first and when they are going to ship it. We are completely at the mercy of Browning or any other manufacturer.

All of the gun manufacturers are notorious for this and alsoholding onto firearms if they know a price increase is coming. Sometimes we don't get certain firearms for an entire year. Once the price increase takes place they suddenly show up. Amazing!

He might be able to find the rifle that you are looking for from a distributor but I doubt you will get the same price.

RE: I need a little help here..
 

see if he has any tikka rifles,i like them better then the a-bolt

RE: I need a little help here..
 

ide stock up on ammunition before its priced so high we cant afford it at all

RE: I need a little help here..
 

Rob, I have an A-Bolt WSM .270. You may want to look at something like this. The bullets are a little more expensive, but it's a sweet gun.

RE: I need a little help here..
 

Guns are flying out the doors around here,And Ammo shelves are always empty. A friend went to gethis permit to carry a concealed weapon the other day. Sheriff toldhim when ask. His county has issued over 10,000 new permits just since January 1. He said it appears people are just fed up with the gun grabbers and getting ready to fight back.

RE: I need a little help here..
 

I really considered a 270 WSM, and I love the one my brother has, but I really don't think I am going to see much of a difference with a 270 Win and the ammo is going to be that much cheaper, and I already have a small inventory of 270 ammo, so I think I am going to stick with my caliber choice.

Thanks for the input guys, I still have a little while to think about it but hopefully I can put my money toward my rifle one way or another, and if not I will probably end up getting a used rifle is some sort of varmint caliber. I have kind of been wanting one for a while now anyway.

RE: I need a little help here..
 

How about a muzzle loader set-up? lots of fun shooting and depending upon the season where you hunt, might give you a few more days to hunt deer. here in Alabama, the last 5 days of "archery only" are now open to ML hunting. I hunt in Arkansas too, and they have had several days of ML only. With $500 you could buy a darn good rifle, and maybe some ML "stuff" too.

RE: I need a little help here..
 

Good thinking.. That never even crossed my mind. I am going to look in to that for sure. Thanks a lot. I have some research to do now.

RE: I need a little help here..
 

I would consider the Remington 700 camo in .270. I got one for my grandson at Christmas at Wal Mart for $503 including tax. They have been around for over 50 years and is time proven as a very dependable rifle.

RE: I need a little help here..
 

Well here is an update. Thanks for the input from you guys, I still couldn't figure out anything else to use my gift cards on so I asked the guy if they had ANY A-bolt Medallions in 270, so he went and looked and brought out this one. Its the Grade III with octogon barrel and I decided to just get it. I am very happy with it, and excited to shoot it. I got the scope mounted on it today, but didn't feel like taking it out in the rain to shoot it, so maybe next weekend.. I will try to report back to let you know how she shoots. Here is some pics.











And here is one with it next to my brother's X-bolt 270 WSM

RE: I need a little help here..
 

Very nice, you should be happy with that. The wood looks pretty nice too. Don't tell your brother, but yours looks nicer than his. The X-Bolt is nice, but I still like the A-Bolts a little better.

Mike