When Should You Buy Something New, Even if it isn't an Upgrade?

When is it time to replace gear, even if it isn’t an upgrade? I think everyones answer is going to be different to this question, but here’s my thoughts on it: I’ve got this old Glock 34 that I’ve been shooting forever. It has an unknown number of rounds through it, and I’ve replaced a bunch of parts in it over the years. At one point the gun started grouping really far to the left, and I could actually see wear on the locking block where it was starting to lock up off-center. No idea how or why that could happen, but it seemed like the lockup wearing the left side of the locking block was in-line with the gun suddenly grouping to the left. This wasn’t an issue of me not being able to pull ac Glock trigger and pulling the gun low and left, it was literally the gun wearing funny, and causing the barrel to lock up weirdly. So, I looked around a little on the internet, consulted with a listener who’s a Glock armorer guy at Glock, and then replaced the slide release (not the slide lock/slide stop) the slide release, as well as the locking block, and immediately the gun was shooting straight again. Then, I bought some Dawson Precision adjustable sights. A huge, fantastic upgrade, and I couldn’t zero the gun with them. Even maxing out the adjustment on them, I was still hitting something like 12” high at 20y. I called upo Dawson and they did the math, and sent me a front sight that’s as big as the sail on a pirate ship, but the gun is zeroed now. At that point in time, the gun was pretty easily shooting 2-3” groups at 20y, which was acceptable to me, and honestly about all I expect from a stock Glock shooting the cheapest mixed brass reloads I can possibly load. However, as time has went on, the gun is starting to lose that accuracy. I don’t know how many rounds it has through it now, a lot, but it’s to the point that I’m having a VERY hard time putting 10rds consecutively in the head box of a target at 20 yards. It used to be very easy, and now… it’s not. The thing is, I can’t see the difference. I like to think that I’m pretty good at noticing these things, and knowing when I’m pulling the trigger poorly, etc. I think it’s just the gun wearing, and losing some of it’s accuracy. So, I’m at (and have been at for a while) this crossroads of buying another new locking block and stuff and seeing if I can get the accuracy back, and then keeping shooting this gun, or buying a new gun. If I buy a new gun, do I just buy another Glock 34, toss a connector, grip plug, and set of Dawsons on it and have it be my match gun, and continue beating this one up in practice, or do I maybe see what the DA/SA thing is all about? David from the Humble Marksman YouTube channel keeps taunting me with his Shadow 2, and I’m kind of intrigued by a gun that is basically good to go right out of the box. But, at the same time, I REALLY like the idea of having two guns. Not really sure why I like that idea so much, considering I haven’t EVER needed a backup gun at a match, but I like the idea none the less. So, when do you buy new gear even if it isn’t an upgrade? When it’s time. I know that sounds like a cop-out answer, but I think everyone has their own tolerance for this, and I don’t know if there’s a right or wrong. A lot of guys would have left the range when they realized their Glock wasn’t as accurate anymore and went straight to the gun store and ordered a new one. I’m not that guy. A lot of folks wouldn’t have bothered replacing the locking block and other parts trying to get the accuracy back either. Some folks would have went to a completely different type of gun at this point and never looked back. I don’t think any of those things are the wrong answer. For me, it comes down to confidence. I’ve found that when I’m completely confident in my gear, I shoot a LOT better because it’s completely off my mind. Years ago, when I was shooting M&P;’s I put together a bastardized M&P; with the lower from one gun, and the slide from another and headed out the door to a match. Turned out the trigger parts from the two different guns didn’t play super well together, and the trigger was just awful. Horrendous. I got through a couple stages, realized how awful it was, and it broke me. I felt defeated because I knew in that instance that I couldn’t perform to the level I should because of that terrible trigger. So, I think when you lose confidence it might be a good time to move on to something new.