I'm an addict. I can't help myself when it comes to finding a firearm that I've been wanting, and suddenly run into it at what I consider a good deal. In this particular instance, the story starts in a deer blind a couple weekends ago. A local gun shop has a website and a section called "recent additions" or something like that. I check this page every day to see what's come in, and get an idea about going rates for specific firearms. Anyway, I'm sitting in the blind, it's about 19 degrees, and the deer have just departed, so I check the website and find four Browning 1885 rifles with octagon barrels. I love octagon barrels. The first one is a BPCR model in 45/70 with a Leatherwood/Malcolm 30 inch scope on it at $1099.99. Good price I thought, and cool. Quigley down under cool. Next was in 50-90 Sharps with four boxes of ammo - $799.99. I always wanted a 50 cal rifle, and at a decent price. Third was in 38/55 at $899.99. This is the one I really wanted. Easy to shoot, easy to load, cheap lead bullets, oh yeah this is the one. Last was a 405 Win at $899.99. I like my shoulder too much for this one, even though I already have a SSK Contender barrel in this chambering. In the length of time it took me to get back to the truck and pack my guns and stuff, the BPCR sold. It's 10 o'clock in the morning on a Saturday, and they opened at 9. It's already gone. I head back home, about a thirty minute drive, and get unpacked and change clothes. I check the website again and find that the 50-90 is sold. Damn! The one I really wanted was still listed so I better hurry. I drive the twenty minutes to the shop, and inquire about the 38/55. I know, you're wondering what this has to do with a handgun hunting forum. I'm getting there, I promise. While the salesman is looking for the rifle, another fellow comes out of the back room with a rack of six handguns that apparently just came in the day before. I'm curious, so I go over and see what they are, and if they are on my wish list. The first one that catches my eye is a X frame Smith with a scope mount and scope. I ask another salesman to see it, and it turns out to be a 500 S&W Performance Center with unfluted cylinder and a Leupold 2.5-8X. Price tag says $1099.99. Not a bad deal and I have been wanting to try out a 500. The revolver next to it was a Smith as well and I asked to see it, and it turned out to be a 625-7 Power Port model for $599.99. I already have one of these, but love it dearly, so why not two. When all was said and done, the salesman knocked off $100 from each one and I put them in layaway. The first salesman finally comes back and says that the 38/55 was already sold. Karma? Fate? I went there for rifles, and ended up with two nice revolvers. It's a good start to the year!
