I like all kinds of guns for the most part, bolt action my favorite. Same with brands, I like many different brands and can't say I like a Model 70 any better than I like Rem. 700 or Wby.

I've had the oportunity to buy a few guns I passed on that I wish the chance again. Most many years back and now the price is much higher.

I'd guess 15-20 years ago, I had a mint Steyr M-III Professional in my hands for about 8-900 bucks, if I recall it was a 300 WM. Always wanted one, just to have one. Knowing me it may have ended up in the safe and never shot. Wouldn't be the first time that happened. For whatever reason, I woke up with Steyr M-III Professional on the brain this morning. I guess it because I thought about taking a custom 376 Steyr I built a few years back on a M98 action to the range and shoot, can't remember how it shot

So I poked around this morning and found a Steyr M-III professional in 30/06, to the tune of about 1400 bucks. Guess I should have bought one years back.

The other one that came to mine, I was in Carter Country in Houston mid 90's, the one on 59 south in Stafford. On the used rack was like new Browning A-bolt in 284 Win. I though no, I have to many guns. Couple of days later I thought, I'll buy that rifle, it was gone when I called back.

Another one that came to mind was a Weatherby Vanguard in 7mm-08. In a previous marriage I bought a Wby Vanguard Weatherguard in 7mm-08 for this now ex wife, which she got in the divorce. Few years later, I'd guess about 2005, was working in Corpus driving back to Houston. Stopped at the gun shop in Warton. Guess what was on the rack, that 7mm 08 I'd lost in the divorce. They had a big price tag on it, around 700 bucks with the same Redfield scope. I couldn't make myself buy the same gun twice. If I had it do all over would have bought it and not looked back.

I'm sure there are more I wanted to buy but didnt.

What did you guys pass up you wish you would have bought.

Colt Python everytime i pick one up

We should have all bought one of those years back. I don't even want to know what they go for now days.

Mid 80s push feed M70 Featherweight in .257 Roberts. Just a beautiful whitetail gun.

Pawnshop find, a stainless/wood R700 in .270 with a stainless Leupold 3-9x40. Tag said $550 but there were 7 customers and only one employee; I couldn't get his attention and had to leave. It was gone the next day. Probably worth 800-900. I had no use for it, honestly.

Rem Model 7 in 7mm SAUM with the laminate stock and factory irons. Just a cool hunting rifle. They were closing out 450 rifles and it was in the mix but they wanted $700. I tried to talk them down. The LGS owner said that one was a commission item and they couldn't reduce it. Needed a rifle for elk at the time and it would have fit the bill pretty well.

In the mid 70's I had started my welding business and was scratching up every penny I could find to get it going. I came home one day and my wife handed me a Winchester Model 101 Pigeon Grade 12 gauge O/U shotgun. I was speechless for a few seconds then I said "honey, we can't afford this". She said she wanted me to have it and we could afford it although it would be a little tight for a few weeks. With a young son and a newborn daughter, a mortgage and expenses involved in funding a startup business, I just couldn't make myself keep it. It was the most beautiful, easiest shouldering shotgun I had ever seen and I held and stroked it for an hour or so before reluctantly telling her to take it back the next day. I don't remember what she paid for it back then but they are crazy expensive today. I've always regretted not keeping it but I still have the woman that thought I deserved it so, I'm okay with that.

A fella that hunted on my old lease bought a savage 99 in great condition chambered in 300 savage for $300 off a widow. He brought it out to show it off. He has never fired it. I offered him $350 for it he said no then $600 he still said no. I'd still love to have it.

Winchester 65 218 Bee. It had one very small scratch on the stock. Almost bought it then called the next day and it was gone

Fortunately I’m an impulse buyer so I can’t think of any. For the same reason I have a hell of a list of things I should have never bought, or done.

I had a mint Remington 788 in 7-08 in my hands a few years ago.

Should have taken that sucka home and didn’t

Few years back I looked and looked trying to find one and never could. Who would have thought a rear locking lug gun would shoot the way a 788 did. I guess that short thick barrel was the ticket.

Excellent condition 700 BDL 6mm Rem for $450 at local gun shop.
Excellent condition 700 BDL style blued Mtn Rifle for $650 at local gun show.
Regret the 7-08 the most.

Rem 788 in 44 Rem Mag. Found one with a decent scope in a LGS for $550. I knew they were rare, but didn't realize I was holding an actual unicorn in my hands. Boy was I a dubazz that day.

Last year, I found a Coonan classic on here for $1100 if I remember correctly. I was looking for a Coonan Compact, so I turned my buddy on to the seller. He snatched it up PDQ. Now, you can't find either of them, and prices are up over $2000. UGH! Did I mention that .357 is my favorite round of all time?

In a gun shop in Hico I found a tang safety Ruger 77 Ultralight 223 in the used rack. Such a small, easy to handle rifle. Had to use my right hand to pry it out of my left hand. It was beat up. Stock needed work and bluing was just a memory. Would have cost me time and money to pretty it up, but it would have been a perfect rifle for me. But I had a 223 and a good bit of money in it, so I passed on that little gun.

That's a sad story...

Many years ago at an auction I had a chance to get a Remington 16 gauge SxS cheap, I regret not keeping bidding and getting that gun.

Agreed, but that’s a good woman!

Only gun I wish I would have bought was a Mark V deluxe left handed in .257 wby back in 05-06’

They had it marked down at sportsman’s warehouse for like $1500. I went in there three different times to look at it but couldn’t bring myself to spend $1500 on a rifle. Shortly after they stopped making left handed Deluxes, had to go thru the custom shop to get one.

That’s the only gun I regret not buying, but as a young 20 something self employed kid it was a lot of scratch to part with

Good story. You made the right decision though!

Brownells had one of the new Colt Pythons in stock and I sat on it because it was $1600. Now they are impossible to find.

Late 70’s . Remington 788 in 30-30

A model 7 223. It was beat up bad. I’m a 22-250 fan but liked that little rifle. $250. I went back the next day and it was gone.

Colt 1911 from 1914 complete with Army issue leather holster. Could have had it for $600 about 12 years ago but I had no money.

A Greener harpoon gun similar to the one used in Jaws. In the case with all the accessories.
Was at a show in Phoenix for $450, today could add a zero to the price.
Not very useful but would make an interesting hog gun!

I've learned not to pick up any new gun that I really don't need. It's why I don't test drive new vehicles either.

But there is a 30-30 in Kerrville that I wished I had picked up.