20 Guns I Would Have Bought More of If I’d Known Then What I Know Now

Photo credit: 704 TACTICAL/Youtube

Every gun guy has a few that got away. Not because they were pretty, not because they were “collectible,” but because they did a job so well you didn’t notice until they were gone. Then you look up five years later and the price is up, magazines are scarce, or the “new version” isn’t really the same gun.

This isn’t a museum list. It’s the stuff I watched climb out of reach, or the boring workhorses I should’ve stacked deeper back when they were everywhere. A few of these I sold to fund something “better.” That one hurts. Others I passed on because I figured they’d always be around. They weren’t.

1. Marlin 336 (JM-stamped)

There was a time you could walk into a small-town shop and find a used Marlin 336 that had honest wear and a smooth lever. It wasn’t fancy, it wasn’t tactical, and it killed deer like lightning inside 150 yards. Then they dried up, and the ones that show up now come with a story and a price tag.

I didn’t need one. That was my mistake. A slick 336 carries flat, points like a finger, and rides in a truck without snagging on everything. If you hunt thick timber, it’s one of those rifles you don’t appreciate until you spend a season fighting a long bolt gun through brush.

2. Ruger 10/22 (older walnut carbine)

I’ve owned a pile of .22s, but the plain-Jane 10/22 carbine in walnut is the one I wish I’d bought by the case. Not because it’s rare, but because it’s useful in a way that never goes out of style. When ammo is scarce, when you’re teaching kids, when you just want a quiet afternoon, it shows up and does the work.

The best part is parts and magazines are everywhere. The worst part is you’ll always talk yourself into “just one more” upgrade until you’ve spent more than you planned. Still, the basic carbine is a forever gun.

3. Remington 870 Wingmaster (older blued guns)

The Wingmaster is what a pump shotgun is supposed to feel like. The action isn’t just smooth; it’s that oiled, bank-vault smooth that makes you want to rack it twice for no reason. I let one go thinking I’d replace it any time. I was wrong.

Newer guns can work fine, but the older ones have that fit and finish that’s hard to explain until you’ve handled both. For hunters, it’s also simple: an 870 with a good barrel will run dove fields, duck blinds, and deer season without drama.

4. Ruger GP100 (4-inch .357 Magnum)

I used to think the GP100 was boring. Heavy. A little blocky. Then I spent more time shooting .357 and realized boring can be a compliment. It soaks up recoil, doesn’t beat itself to death, and keeps timing like it’s not even trying.

A 4-inch GP100 is the revolver you can actually practice with. It’s also the kind of gun you can hand down without giving a speech about “don’t shoot hot loads.” It just holds up.

5. Smith & Wesson Model 10 (police trade-in)

Trade-in Model 10s were one of the great values that lasted longer than they should have. Plain fixed sights, a trigger that usually surprises you, and a shape that still carries well. I passed on stacks of them because they weren’t exciting.

They are exciting the first time you shoot a tight group with a gun older than you are. If you like revolvers at all, a Model 10 is a baseline. It teaches you what “good enough for decades” feels like.

6. Glock 19 Gen3

I know, I know. Everybody has said Glock 19 a million times. But the Gen3 era hit a sweet spot: simple, durable, magazines everywhere, and it just ran. I sold one to “upgrade” and spent years circling back.

The practical part is boring: holsters, sights, magazines, and spare parts are still easy. If you actually carry and actually train, that kind of support matters more than whatever the new hot pistol is this month.

7. SIG Sauer P226 (German/West German classic)

There’s a certain weight and balance to the older P226 that makes you slow down and shoot well. The trigger resets in a way that feels mechanical and honest. It’s not light, and it’s not cheap, but it’s the kind of gun that makes range time feel like practice instead of noise.

When I see one now that isn’t beat to death, I have to remind myself I already own enough 9mms. Still, I wouldn’t mind having a couple more tucked away for the long haul.

8. CZ 75B

The CZ 75B is one of those pistols that makes you wonder why you ever fought a grip that didn’t fit. It sits low, points naturally, and tends to shoot better than the guy holding it. I should have bought extras back when they were always on the shelf.

It isn’t perfect for everyone. The slide is smaller to grab than some designs, and some folks don’t love the ergonomics for fast manipulation. But for a working steel 9mm with real durability, it’s hard to beat.

9. Ruger Mark II (target model)

The Mark II is a .22 pistol that feels like it was built for a lifetime of camp plinking and small-game hunting. Mine ran filthy, ran dry, ran on whatever ammo I fed it, and still printed respectable groups. I traded it off when I got distracted by something new and shiny.

Yes, field-stripping can be a lesson in patience, especially if you don’t do it often. But if you can handle basic maintenance, the payoff is a handgun that will outlast your interest in trendy gear.

10. Smith & Wesson Model 617 (10-shot .22 LR)

A good .22 revolver is a cheat code for training. The 617 lets you work a real double-action trigger without burning through centerfire ammo. And with ten shots on board, you get more shooting and less loading.

I used to think it was overpriced for a .22. Then I watched .22 pistols turn picky, watched ammo prices swing, and watched new shooters gain confidence with a revolver that never surprises them. I should’ve bought it sooner, and probably bought another.

11. Ruger American Rimfire

This is the definition of “nothing fancy,” and that is kind of the point. The Ruger American Rimfire is a rifle you can toss behind the seat, drag through the woods, and lean in the corner without feeling precious about it. It shoots better than it has any right to for the money.

If you’ve got land, a solid rimfire is always in season. Traps, pests, squirrels, tin cans, teaching new shooters—this one just keeps finding reasons to come along.

12. Savage 110 (older long-action hunting rifle)

For years, the Savage 110 was the rifle you bought because you needed a rifle, not because you needed attention. They aren’t glamorous. The older ones especially can look plain and feel a little utilitarian. Then you sight one in and realize it just wants to shoot.

I’ve seen more than a few older 110s that outshot rifles that cost twice as much. If I’d known how consistent they could be with the right load, I would’ve grabbed more used ones when they were cheap and everywhere.

13. Remington 700 BDL (older production)

I’m not going to pretend every Remington 700 story is sunshine. But the older BDL rifles, the ones with decent bluing and that classic stock, still feel like “American deer rifle” the moment you shoulder them. Mine carried well, fed smooth, and made cold mornings feel a little less cold.

I let one go when I got convinced I needed a different action and a different caliber. What I needed was to keep the rifle that already fit me and already had seasons in it.

14. Winchester Model 70 (pre-64 style, controlled-round feed)

Controlled-round feed isn’t magic, but it’s comforting when you’re hunting hard and conditions are ugly. The Model 70 has a feel that’s hard to copy: it’s steady, it’s balanced, and it feels like it was meant to be worked with cold fingers. When you run the bolt, it feels purposeful.

I passed on a couple because I figured I’d always find another. You can, but not always in the configuration you want, and not always at a price that makes sense for a working hunter.

15. Ruger M77 Hawkeye (stainless)

Stainless rifles get called “boat paddles” sometimes, and I get it. They can look plain. But in wet woods and sloppy weather, stainless is a gift. The M77 Hawkeye has the kind of ruggedness that makes you stop babying your rifle.

It’s not the lightest mountain rifle, and the factory trigger can vary by year. But if you want a rifle you can actually use in rain, snow, and mud without having a heart attack, it belongs on the short list.

16. Tikka T3x Lite

If I’d understood how many “accurate enough” rifles aren’t actually accurate enough, I would’ve bought more Tikkas early. The T3x Lite is easy to carry, has a smooth action, and tends to shoot right out of the box with minimal drama. That matters when you’re busy and hunting season is close.

The magazines aren’t as cheap as some options, and you either like the feel or you don’t. But for a no-nonsense hunting rifle that doesn’t need a pile of tinkering, it’s hard to argue with the results.

17. Mossberg 500 (older all-purpose 12 gauge)

I’ve watched Mossberg 500s live in muddy duck boats, ride in tractors, and sit behind kitchen doors for decades. They rattle a little. They aren’t as slick as an old Wingmaster. And they still work when a lot of “nicer” guns start acting delicate.

The big win is flexibility. Barrels and parts are common, and you can set one up for birds, bucks, or basic home defense without turning it into a science project.

18. Benelli Nova

The Nova is ugly in a way only a mother could love. It’s also one of the toughest pump guns I’ve ever been around. I’ve seen them run in foul weather that made everyone else question their life choices, and the Nova just kept cycling.

It’s long, it’s a little clunky, and it’s not the gun you buy to admire. It’s the one you buy because you’re going to hunt hard and you don’t want to think about your shotgun.

19. Browning Buck Mark (standard URX)

There was a stretch where you could find Buck Marks used for a reasonable price, and I should’ve grabbed every clean one I saw. They’re accurate, comfortable, and they don’t feel like a toy. A Buck Mark with a decent trigger is a confidence-builder.

They also tend to just keep going if you do basic cleaning and don’t get cute with “fixes.” For small game, range time, and new shooters, it’s one of the easiest recommendations I can make.

20. SKS (Norinco and other common imports)

This one is pure regret. There was a time SKS rifles were stacked like cordwood, and plenty of us treated them like disposable truck guns. Then prices climbed, ammo trends shifted, and suddenly that “cheap beater” became something you actually think twice about.

It’s not a precision rifle, and it’s not as ergonomic as a modern carbine. But it’s reliable, simple, and has a certain charm that grows on you. I get why people sold them years ago. I still wish I’d bought more when they were easy to find.

If there’s a lesson in all this, it’s that usefulness beats novelty. The guns that earn a permanent spot aren’t always the ones that look best in a photo. They’re the ones that carry right, run when they’re dirty, and don’t make you hunt for magazines or parts when something breaks. If you’ve got one of these and it runs, maybe don’t be so quick to let it go.