Pooch,
Here's how much ground I'll give you in this debate. The manson guage is mediocre. If you had a gun in your hands that was being sold for $20,000, and it was YOUR $20,000 on the line, you can follow the instructions provided over the course of say an hour and properly blueprint the entire pair of barrels. No one working retail at Cabelas with the pressure of customers, noise, and the fact that it is other people's money is going to make such measurements feasible with a manson gauge.
The classic gauge used throughout Europe's fine gun rooms (a.k.a. a Galazan gauge in this country since they sell them) works very, very well. I can get accurate measurements within a minute or two. For a methodical blueprinting of an entire pair of barrels, I can do it in 15 minutes or less.
Other people rave about the Hosford gauge and I've seen a very well respected gunsmith outworker to Purdey's use a Hosford very proficiently...It's just not for me.
Before I ever started buying best guns from private parties I bought myself a quality gauge so I know exactly what I'm dealing with. Call me anal, I just don't have big cash to throw around making measurement mistakes on guns I buy for my hobby. Thousandths matter significantly as to value and I do tire of some of my guns over time and may wish to sell or trade them in the future. Neither buyer nor seller deserve a lemon that is misrepresented.
As to Cabelas gun purchasing strategy, I'd call it the hall of rank amateurs. (minus perhaps Dudley up in Maine) I decided to unload a few guns and brought 12 in for evaluation. They offered me $1200 for a $5000 gun wholesale. (no deal) They offered me $1800 for a gun worth $12,000 wholesale, $20,000 retail. (no deal) They then offered me $2700 for a gun worth $2700 retail. (sold) They offered me $2500 for a gun worth $2500 retail, $1200 wholesale. (sold) They offered me a $1700 for a gun worth $1700 retail. (sold)
The pricing system is a bit Zaney for me and definitely erratic. You certainly have to be able to control emotions as you hear the offers because the pricing is so very erratic. Knowledge is shallow as are the appraisals. Much easier to sell Cabelas cheap guns for full retail than best guns for 1/4 retail. A gauge would go far to help out the outfit if they knew how to price guns based on whether in proof and with thick walls.
Last edited by Rookhawk; 09/10/12 11:44 AM.
