Did you hit a point where aquiring new guns wasn't that much of a priority anymore?

Shanghai McCoy said:

..,
"La Penultima", The next one until the last one...

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“One more ‘last gun’ “ is phrase I use in asking my FFL to handle the latest acquisition. I still find an oddball design that intrigues me, but I’m slowing way down on buying more guns. As my brother says when someone asks him how many guns he has, “I don’t count them anymore. If I did I wouldn’t be able to buy another one,”

There’s still room in the safe ...
if I stack these, .,,.
& slide that one over ...

Yeah, I'm drying up; I now own 15 less guns than I did at one time and will probably loose up a few more. The "buy any bargain", "buy because it's interesting", guns are no more...because I know I look at them later and wonder why I have them.

Years ago, my son in law suggested that we try elk hunting. I allowed that my 223 was not up to the task, and bought a 30-06. And so started the accumulation of firearms.

Today, I have a group of firearms that are ideal for various types of hunting, and another group that gets taken to the range for fun. I have very little motivation to add more.

My wife won't let me sell any firearms. She likes the security of having them in our home. I started down the path of selling a beautiful Tula SKS, and she raised a ruckus.

denton said:

Years ago, my son in law suggested that we try elk hunting. I allowed that my 223 was not up to the task, and bought a 30-06. And so started the accumulation of firearms.

Today, I have a group of firearms that are ideal for various types of hunting, and another group that gets taken to the range for fun. I have very little motivation to add more.

My wife won't let me sell any firearms. She likes the security of having them in our home. I started down the path of selling a beautiful Tula SKS, and she raised a ruckus.

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My God, man. Does your wife have a sister? I think I could fall in love again if they think alike.

I haven't gotten there yet, but I'm still on the comfortable side of 40, so I may down the road.
I have began focusing on quality over quantity lately though.

I've actually got to own at least 1 of every type of gun I've ever wanted and what I found out was that they were all disappointing in some way or another. I never got any particular thrill out of shooting this or that particular gun. Even artillery got old after awhile.

Someone already said it but I view each gun as as package. For each gun I own I have to buy the accessories that go with it and after a while that gets to be expensive and (IMO) wasteful (Why am I spending 800$ on 6 different holsters if I'm only carrying 1gun?)

I never had a huge accumulation of guns but I had a bunch of uncommon guns in uncommon calibers and I could never seem to keep an adequate (to me) supply of ammunition on hand and I couldn't seem to stock an adequate (to me) number of magazines for the guns I had (because they were all oddball and expensive).

After a while I decided to focus on commonality. I sold all the oddballs and replaced them with common guns with a focus on guns of common caliber that could take common magazines (EG a Glock 26/19).

I don't necessarily get any thrill out of a Glock either but it fills the role I bought it for and I can put the money I'm saving to better use.

I'm not searching for a new gun but if a good deal comes along and the gun falls into a category that I like , I'll buy. I think it's all about knowing what you like and not getting all excited by the latest fad and buying on impulse.

At sixty seven, I have been at the gun hobby for well over fifty years now. Really closer to SIXTY as I was a gun nut when I was in the 1st or 2nd grade!

Don't hunt anymore, short of varmints and that is occasional. No more deer or elk, can't make myself pull the trigger. Shot enough of them over the years. Let the young guys have the thrill and the work.

Between myself and my cadre of gun nut friends I have been around most everything going, one way or another over the years. From original Sharps and Colt SAA's to Class 3 stuff and most everything in between.

I still love the look of a nice old S&W revolver, a well done Custom 1911 or BHP, as well as a host of other rifles and shotguns. But they are just NOT enticing me to buy anymore. Sold some real excesses in my S&W and hunting gun collection back in December at a Show. There I am walking around with $6K in my pocket and NOTHING appeals.

Same thing a few weeks back at the Vegas Antique Arms and SHOT Show. Saw lots of interesting stuff....but too expensive or "What the hell will I REALLY do with that" , brings me back to reality.

About THE only thing I'd like to get, as I have ALWAYS liked them, is an MP-5 subgun. But at the cost of a new car....forget that.
At SHOT looked at the semi auto HK MP5 pistol...SWEET! Loved it. But at $2600 and $80 per magazine....Crazy over priced.

I'm sure I will still buy a few in the future but I have surely slowed down.

There’s only a few left on my list, and I’m in no real hurry. I will build several before I buy the big money guns left on the list. My current empty slots are:

357 double action super accurate...probably DW or Cyclops
10mm witness elite or hunter
Chassis rifle
Shooter grade classic double (LC if I can)
Mountain Howitzer...no really it’s high on my bucket list

The slots to build are too many to list, but will be my own unique designs.

I never was into guns. But I always said I’d like to have a house in the mountains, then I’d get a shotgun and a big dog. Well got the house, and the dog is medium sized. So got a shotgun when I was concerned about social unrest after the second Obama election. My concern was that the losing side would get vilolent.

As we learned that didn’t happen.

While preparing for unrest, I had a friend teach me to shoot pistols. Saw a PF9 at a gun show and loved the size. At that point decided I wanted my conceal carry permit. From there I got a full size S&W then my first AR. Things got hard financially so had to sell the AR.

When things improved and I had a few bucks I ordered a PSA lower. Saved some more then got an upper. Then a scope.

Learned about the XDs45 and saved for one.

I then decided to try putting together an AR from parts. Picked up a stripped lower at a gun show. Slowly got the rest of the parts and put the lower together. I’m now working on the upper. A move slowed it down, but a barrel and a handguard and Ill have all the parts. A few nice gifted parts by a friend here helped speed up the build.

So, the short answer is that I have all of the basics covered. I have some guns I’d like but guns aren’t my top priority. I get what I want when I save up the extra cash. So no specific speed and no rush.

460Shooter said:

I find myself not buying and trading guns with the same fervor I once did. I find myself with 14 handguns, 13 of which are safe to shoot. I also have 4 rifles, only one of which I shoot regularly.

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Ive definitely hit this wall! With only one or two guns still on my realistic bucket list, I find that I am concentrating more on perfecting the guns I have, I.e. getting vintage, correct grips, restoring original wood finishes and acquiring period correct holsters, slings, and bayonets.
I think you're at this point when you see a new gun you want, but then realize you don't have anything else you'd be willing to trade towards it!

Sig line changed!

My big buying days were the 80-90’s, since the new millennial I average buying a new gun about every 3-5 years.

Trades have slacked off because I’m comfortable with the battery as it is, next will be liquidation at some point.

Just this week I gifted a treasured gun to my best friend, who has wanted one for a long time. I decided he didn't have to wait for me to die in order to have it.


This has really let me know that I have reached "that point". I'm not saying that I'll never buy anything else, and I might very well buy another specimen to replace what I gifted one day if I'm so inclined. But I certainly don't NEED anything else...

I have more guns than I need now, and I'm happy with what I have. Some still come and go, but at a very slow trickle- nothing like before. After 32 years of wheeling and dealing, I finally know what I like.

Have more than one person will ever need---there are a few more that I want and I'll probably get those ---maybe--if I ever get around to it---possibly

460Shooter said:

What about all of you? Are you still buying with all the same interest as usual, or have you tapered off a bit? Also, can you identify one or more reasons for your attitude?

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What affected my purchasing and shooting was my wife getting laid off work in the summer of 2016, my step-son graduating high school that year, my daughter graduating high school in 2017, me buying two used cars with cash for the two of them, my daughter starting college in 2017, and me paying cash for a new home central AC compressor unit-evaporator coil-plenum.

Life really takes away from one's hobbies.

Things are looking up for 2018, though. My wife started work again in November 2017. I hope it takes off.

BSA1 said:

I view a firearm as a package, not a individual item ...

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shoobe01 said:

That's where I've gotten.

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Trunk Monkey said:

Someone already said it but I view each gun as as package. For each gun I own I have to buy the accessories that go with it and after a while that gets to be expensive and (IMO) wasteful (Why am I spending 800$ on 6 different holsters if I'm only carrying 1gun?)

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Yep. It makes me long for the days when I had good vision and could get by with a tube magazine lever gun. The most I'd do to a gun like that is put a sling on it and buy ammo.

Hit that point last century. I pretty much lost my whole gun collection in a divorce mid nineties. And you know what, I really did not miss it. Call it an epiphany. I bought a pump shotgun and a Glock as soon as I put some money together because being unarmed is unacceptable. Not saying I have not bought guns since then because I've bought several, but every one had a reason, and it wasn't that I wanted one. There is not a gun I own that I'd miss more than if I lost a hammer. Quit drinking about the same time.

I'm pretty well settled into what I already have, and am content not to chase any more.
At least, that's the plan!
I never know when a passing fancy will strike.

I will admit that I'm largely oblivious as to the new makes and models. I do not keep up to date on new designs or blingy things.
Most "gun guys" I end up talking to think that's kind of odd.

I did not own a gun until I was 59 years old , that being 7 years ago. I did my best to catch up , though, As of 1 year ago I had 22 handguns and 7 long guns. Then I backed off the throttle. My current rule for myself is that if there is a piece I really want I must "make room" for it. I went from NEVER sell a gun to giving consideration to each piece - why do I have it , would I really miss it if were gone , that sort of thing, Very liberating , once I got past the inertia. In the last year I have sold 3 and acquired 2. Feels good. Also , I am shifting my focus on getting a few of the favorites detailed the want I want them. That is very rewarding , and it gives me an excuse to keep prowling the online sources for grips and such. I always enjoy a good Gunbroker auction but now for lower $$$ outlay , no FFL needed , for grips , magazines and such.

That and --- SHOOT MORE!

I suppose I'm just about there. I now have a gun for each role that I use them in. Now that the bases are covered, I don't get the "gotta have it now" urge. That being said, i would like to upgrade my carry piece, just haven't found the right one. My tcp still works fine, fits perfect...but the finish is pretty worn, and it's had one trip back to Taurus. But that's probably the only new purchase on the horizon. And eventually I would like to find an M1a scout at a reasonable price. So a carry gun and an M1a should do. Unless I can find an 870 in 16 gauge, then I could probably let my other 2 16's go, so carry gun, m1a and 16ga 870. And maybe a 45 with more capacity than my 1911....you know what, forget what I said....still have the bug

I'm at a "thinning the herd" point now. Need to find time to shoot more so I can let the ones go which I find don't appeal to me as much after a range trip or two.

Should sell the historical stuff off as it really just sits around but they seem to appreciate so I'll let them sit longer now I guess.

Tried to get excited about things from the SHOT show this year but just didn't. I like hammer fired metal guns and those are getting harder and harder to find unless you're a 1911 guy, which I like but am not that into.

I really don’t have a “need” for anything else. My guns, while fairly nice by most standards, are primarily tools. I still have guns that I want to own like a Mannlicher Schoenauer or a nice double. But the truth is it would probably just sit in my safe with a couple other collected pieces. I may add a few more guns in my next 35 years. But if I don’t, I’m fine with it. I’m very content with what I have.

When I go to the Wanamaker every year I see so many guns that I think are cooler than ice cold. But I think about what they might do better than what I have, what I could do with the money it would take to own them, and then I walk away.

But I’ll admit, 2 days ago I just about bought a new Marlin 1894 in 357 for $399. That took some serious self restraint not to do that.

My modest collection is not growing at this point. I do still buy on occasion, but I’ve sold more than I bought in recent months. All the bases are covered, and then some. I do have my eye on the new Ruger PCC and the Henry Single Shot, but I have also identified the next couple to put on the block. So I’d say I’m more of a horse trader than an accumulator now. Still have a few years before retirement, and hope after that to have more time to shoot what I have.