"I wish I could quit you". What handguns do you keep buying/selling over and over?

[MEGASTAR]

These two abominations are like a bad girlfriend (probably a redhead) that no matter how many times she hurts me, I just keep going back again and again for another beating.

Like a trailer park wife. Too much abuse is never enough.

The Steyr GB. This is the latest one of about 4 or 5. I have no idea WHY I keep buying them. I find a nice one. Get it. Find some mags at obscene prices. Get those. Shoot it <100 rounds. Curse the whole time I'm cleaning it. Then sell it off, typically at a loss. Dumb. Glock's first victim. Coolest thing about this toad is the easy to load double feed mags, like an Uzi or Sterling. Gas delayed blowback like a P7. But far dirtier. Interesting crinkle coat finish on the frame of the commercial ones. Flat green parkerizing on the surplus .mil variety. Plain sights with dots and a decocker. 

The HK Volkspistole 70Z. Why. Just why. This damn thing. What an utter piece of crap. Straight blowback. Even the very rare "M" is kinda garbage, once the novelty of 6-3rd bursts at 1400rpm wears off. BRRT.  The one in the pic is at LEAST my sixth one. Probably more but I'm embarrassed. I was slotting them and making them into (very fragile) SBRs for awhile using Airsoft VP70 stocks. Great wallhanger, not such a great or sturdy interface. The trigger is flippin' awful. Even with a Wolff spring to knock a pound off of it. No way to make it any better without sacrificing ignition reliability. The rifling is SO deep it robs the 9mm of velocity. Plastic frame 10 years before Glock. Ja ja. whatever. 

Honorable Mentions:

P7 PSP/M8/M10/M13 Before the prices went stratospheric on these I owned at least 2 of each. Overrated garbage. Video game dorks know nothing.

Sigh...my kryptonite. The "why the heck did I get ANOTHER ONE?" P9s. Prices are nuts on these now too, but I've picked up well-heeled examples for <400 back in the day.

[MEGASTAR]

The dual feed Steyr magazine, 18rds

[MEGASTAR]

The dual feed HK VP70Z magazine. Heel catch monstrosity. 

[TGO David]

Off the top of my head, the repeat performances in my collection have been the HK P2000, the HP VP9, the Walther PDP, and the Zev OZ9.

I now have two different PDP's and am carrying one or the other of them most days.  My VP9 and P2000 don't see much use anymore but I can't bring myself to get rid of them again.

 

[pop pop]

I grew out of my Walther James Bond PPK and a new PPKS after purchasing 3 different one would not run. Should have purchased the Bersa clones. They were reliable. 

[gun sane]

My problem is that I sold off several guns in my mad, impetuous youth that I simply cannot afford to get back.  I'm talking a Belgian-made Browning Hi-Power, an HK M308 rifle, a Ruger Red Label 12-gauge over-under and three Colt offerings:  a Woodsman, an early Python and a '70 Government Model .45. 

I do have a chunky baby Glock 26 that's been with me for years, even after a few adulterous relationships with slimmer 9mms.  I just can't quit her.

 

[Moped]

I don’t want to talk about.

[Grayfox54]

For me its the Colt/Ruger style single actions. I've owned 5 or 6 over the years. Sold them all. 

I grew up on westerns and always loved the cowboy guns. I have an ongoing love affair with lever rifles and own about a half dozen from .22LR to .45-70. 

The problem is that a touch of arthritis in my shooting hand keeps my middle finger from closing completely. The result is that a Colt or Ruger type plowhandle grip makes the back of the trigger guard slam into the middle finger knuckle HARD! It only takes about one cylinder full to have that knuckle bleeding and make it sore for days. 

However, I found a solution by going to a couple of lesser known cowboy guns with a slightly different grip shape. A S&W Schofield and a Remington 1875. 

But alas, I still yearn for a real Colt. 

 

[ken_mays]

I have a Steyr GB and I agree on all counts.   Despite its history and interesting design, it's not really a fun gun to shoot.  The HK P7M13 I owned briefly was similarly disappointing.  Well made and the machining was beautiful but it got hot and too dirty to run way too fast and I didn't own it long. 

When it comes to repeat ownership, CZ P-07 is probably the worst, more so because you often run across them DIRT CHEAP.   I've bought three and sold the first two.  I decided to end that particular madness and keep the third one.  

The Browning High Power is another one that I have a love/hate relationship with.  I love the way they look and feel in the hand, but they're relatively miserable to shoot compared to more modern designs.  I'll probably always have a couple around, though.

 

[et45]

I guess it would be Colt 1911s. I’ve owned 2 Govt Models,a Gold Cup,2 1991A1s and 2 Commanders. I do have one I won’t part with,it’s a Colt slide/frame mixmaster 1911A1 I got from the CMP. I have a custom Springfield and a Sig 1911 that are better than any Colt I’ve owned,they are keepers as well.

[MEGASTAR]

On 5/2/2025 at 4:40 PM, gun sane said:

 

I do have a chunky baby Glock 26 that's been with me for years, even after a few adulterous relationships with slimmer 9mms.  I just can't quit her.

 

   A very famous and hypertalented homosexual, who didn't even partake of the subject matter at issue, stated 

"Fat-bottom girls, you make the rockin' world go 'round." and he was right!

[bersaguy]

Believe me when I say I have a love affair with Bersa firearms period. A buddy that passed away sometime back hooked me on his Bersa Thunder 380 and now since I lost my range partner they spend their lives oiled and quiet unless I go some place I might need one. I did sell my Bersa 40 cal some years back but I could not get attached to it like the 380's and I had a close friend that wanted the 40 cal.

[BigK]

2 hours ago, bersaguy said:

Believe me when I say I have a love affair with Bersa firearms period. A buddy that passed away sometime back hooked me on his Bersa Thunder 380 and now since I lost my range partner they spend their lives oiled and quiet unless I go some place I might need one. I did sell my Bersa 40 cal some years back but I could not get attached to it like the 380's and I had a close friend that wanted the 40 cal.

I gave my wife a choice of 6 pistols to choose from for her first carry gun. I did this so she didn't wind up choosing a bad gun because it was cute, LOL. Well, she picked out a two-tone Bersa Thunder .380 and I was so proud of her. It's a great gun and has been very reliable. Sadly, she never got her HCP, so it just sits in the safe in a cute pink gun case.

[MEGASTAR]

2 hours ago, bersaguy said:

Believe me when I say I have a love affair with Bersa firearms period. A buddy that passed away sometime back hooked me on his Bersa Thunder 380 and now since I lost my range partner they spend their lives oiled and quiet unless I go some place I might need one. I did sell my Bersa 40 cal some years back but I could not get attached to it like the 380's and I had a close friend that wanted the 40 cal.

I just picked up a really nice Bersa Lanber in .32 for 250. They can be intriguing.

I haven't even gotten into my Star pistol obsession. That's gonna be a whole other series of posts.

[Sleep profit]

I’m been married to a redhead for 28 years so I understand your analogy . For me it’s Sigs I have a hard time not buying another one when they become a decent deal But I certainly don’t need any more  

[Choatecav]

4 minutes ago, Sleep profit said:

I’m been married to a redhead for 28 years so I understand your analogy . For me it’s Sigs I have a hard time not buying another one when they become a decent deal But I certainly don’t need any more  

I've been married to a redhead for 40 years.  So, I would understand his analogy even if written in ancient Hittite cuneiform...

[TNmedic1776]

I don't find glocks to be ergonomic, I don't feel as though they're innovative anymore,  Glock "perfection" comes with trigger upgrades, slide stop upgrades,  stippling jobs, etc etc etc... All that being said,  the G17 and the G45 always find their way to me. I sell or trade them away,  and they find their way back home to me lol. Other guns in the mix would be be the Sig 229, 226 and 220... I love almost everything about the 200 series, but the grass is always greener and my wondering eye leads the way. 

[bersaguy]

To reply to MEGASTAR's post. My Screen name should help a little. At one time I owned 7 Bersa Thunders and 4 Firestorms. I have slowly began moving them to new homes. I was able to begin when I turned lose of the Bersa 40 Cal. 

[bersaguy]

12 minutes ago, bersaguy said:

To reply to MEGASTAR's post. My Screen name should help a little. At one time I owned 7 Bersa Thunders and 4 Firestorms. I have slowly began moving them to new homes. I was able to begin when I turned lose of the Bersa 40 Cal. 

The only 2 Bersa's I will not part with is my first one I bought and it was the one I earned my Carry Permit with and the other belonged to my range partner that died and it is a model 85 double stack and I have spent the last years like he did trying to find a couple back up Magazines for it.

[MEGASTAR]

On 5/2/2025 at 11:50 PM, ken_mays said:

The Browning High Power is another one that I have a love/hate relationship with.  I love the way they look and feel in the hand, but they're relatively miserable to shoot compared to more modern designs.  I'll probably always have a couple around, though.

I have a multipart thread started about BHPs and will eventually engage in musings and pontifications regarding same.

Stay tuned

[22lr]

Glocks. :Sigh:

I have long ago lost count of how many have come and gone through the collection. I thought I was finally done for good until I stumbled across a deal last year on a G17. Too good to pass up. Why?!? 

It is ugly as sin and even after upgrading the trigger it is so so. Ugh..

It IS reliable though. Not a single hiccup. 

Edited May 6 by 22lr

[MEGASTAR]

1 hour ago, 22lr said:

Glocks. :Sigh:

I have long ago lost count of how many have come and gone through the collection. I thought I was finally done for good until I stumbled across a deal last year on a G17. Too good to pass up. Why?!? 

It is ugly as sin and even after upgrading the trigger it is so so. Ugh..

It IS reliable though. Not a single hiccup. 

I do some magic to Glock triggers. Zero take-up and 2 lbs. But you'd never carry it EDC.

[1gewehr]

The Beretta 1934 .380 and Star F/FR/FM .22s.  I have too many of these and yet when I see one for sale, I get a bad case of 'I want it'.

[leroy]

Glock 21... I can't bear ta see one without a home... SIGH.

leroy...

[btq96r]

I'll have to come back to this if I ever sell a gun.  Haven't been able to bring myself to do it yet.  I do have little overlap, so that helps my "buy and hold" on this.