Gun Ownership Rules?

Mmmmm, I have what I call the "Walmart Ammo" rule. If a gun is chambered in a caliber you can't get at Walmart, I try to avoid it.

My collection pretty much complies with the rule, the only exceptions being my Krag (which I reload for) and my Arisaka (which ain't a shooter).

I also have a rule against keeping habitual jammers if they still malfunction after reasonable efforts to get them to run. I try not to obsess about accuracy, as most of my guns are 40-100 years old (minute of enemy is good enough for me), but reliability is a must- at least 95% with factory ammo.

Ive had quite a few really nice autos go down the road because I simply didn't trust them: a factory nickel M1908 Colt, an Interarms/Ranger PPK/S, and a Norinco UZI, among others. Those were some heartbreakers, but that's my firmest firearm rule.

Oh, and yes, all my guns are shooters (except the Jap), but there are a few I simply haven't gotten around to yet!

Picher

One rule I have always had when selling a gun to a family member or friend: always get the Right of First Refusal if the other party decides to sell the gun. It has worked out nicely over the years on a number of gun deals.

NIGHTLORD40K

Mmmmm, I have what I call the "Walmart Ammo" rule. If a gun is chambered in a caliber you can't get at Walmart, I try to avoid it. My collection pretty much complies with the rule, the only exceptions being my Krag (which I reload for) and my Arisaka (which ain't a shooter).

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I would have to agree with you on the Krag ammo only because it's tough to find any even at a well stocked gun shop. The other exception to the rule for me would be .38 Super ammo. Won't ever find it at WalMart but not a problem at the local gun shows or online.

Rule 1: I have a walk-in gun vault but not enough money to buy enough guns to match what the vault cost. (The vault was part of the original construction of the house).

Rule 2: Shooting tiny groups at paper targets gets boring. A rifle that is not accurate provides entertainment trying to find the right bullet and powder combination. Every serious gunny should have a inaccurate rifle. My least rifle is a surplus Mosin Nagant 91/30. My cast lead bullets tumble at 100 yards. I have not never seriously reloaded for it yet. I am saving it for when I retire.

Rule 3:Judging from some of the gun designs that have been or are being made the designers are married to ugly women.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Mmmmm, I have what I call the "Walmart Ammo" rule. If a gun is chambered in a caliber you can't get at Walmart, I try to avoid it.

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Love it
So when are you getting a 50 BMG?

There’s a Walmart near Charlottesville that carry’s 50 BMG ammo. I was surprised to see it. That said each store has different stock so an amended version may be to make the rule relative to what the stores near you carry.

I've never thought about it, but I tend to follow those 3 rules myself. The only firearm I own that I can't get ammo at Walmart for is a 10mm pistol. But in a pinch I can shoot 40 S&W through it, so in an emergency I can get everything at Walmart. I've owned some oddball stuff in the past. I've had 280, 300 WSM, 35 Whelen, and 338-06. The only good thing that came of owning those is that it forced me to start reloading. I've since sold all of them, but still hand load for more common rounds.

I really liked the 280 and 300 WSM, but ultimately decided I had too many rifles and they didn't offer enough advantage to justify keeping them. I owned other rifles with more history and aesthetic appeal. I came to the conclusion that with modern bullets my old 30-06 was actually a step up and a better cartridge than 35 Whelen or 338-06.

I'm having way to much fun with rifles for which I can't buy off-the-shelf ammo anywhere! Specifically, a couple of .243 AI's and a .260 AI (in process). I guess technically they can be fed off-the-shelf .243 Win and .260 Rem factory ammo, but that isn't as fun.

Totally agree with the rule: If you're not going to shoot it, sell or trade it.

Picher said:

My first rule is: Never buy a gun safe that costs more than the guns you intend to protect.

Second Rule: Only accurate rifles are interesting. If it don't shoot straight, get it outtah my sight!

Third rule: Never own a gun that you're not gonna shoot. Guns were made to be shot! It's like marrying a beautiful woman and never sleeping with her.

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I want to chime in from the collectors' side of the gun world. Most of my guns, I don't intend to shoot. Their accuracy, therefore, is a moot point. As for gun safes, eventually a collection outgrows any reasonable number of safes. Instead, my whole house is a fortress.

"Rules" like these are by no means universal. Each gun owner concocts his own rules.

New rule adopted in the last 8 or 9 yrs.... never sell a gun. That may change as the collection grows, but I've regretted everything I've 'lost' so far.

Most common guns don't fetch such a high price anyway, and I've always bought high sold low... glad I'm not a stock broker!!

milemaker13 said:

New rule adopted in the last 8 or 9 yrs.... never sell a gun. That may change as the collection grows, but I've regretted everything I've 'lost' so far.

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Meh, I've sold only two in my life. One, a Taurus PT-111 Millennium, I DO NOT regret one iota. I don't even remember what attracted it to me, it was so disappointing. The other, an AMT Govt. I sorta regret, only because now I have the time to make that annoying jammomatic work flawlessly, and it would be fun to do that. I didn't regret it at the time, because I sold it in favor of a Colt Mark IV, one of my favorites to this day. But I have a Ruger Redhawk .44 Magnum and a H&K USP Compact in .45 ACP that I simply don't shoot anymore, but I have not put them up for sale. At least not yet.

Can't really argue with that logic. I can't say that I've had anything so unreliable (from a range toy standpoint) to consider getting rid of.
Maybe two- my new marlin 1894css... came with all kinds of Monday morning type issues.... back to factory 3 times IIRC. Finally a good shooter, wouldn't get rid of it now... but it certainly crossed my mind then.
And a marlin 88 .22LR rifle I " bought for my wife" last Christmas.. finicky old thing. But I like it a lot, runs (mostly) fine in my hands but always jams for others.. to fix this issue I'm considering buying another .22 plinker (or two- see m60 vs 10/22 thread) .

Edit- "finicky old thing" refers to the rifle, not the wife!!!!

NIGHTLORD40K writes:

Mmmmm, I have what I call the "Walmart Ammo" rule. If a gun is chambered in a caliber you can't get at Walmart, I try to avoid it.

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Good thing I don't follow this rule! I'd have to give up my twentee-toos...

I've added a rule to my own list in the last few years, and that is not to buy any gun that could not likely be turned back into at least 80+ percent of what I spent on it within a year if I needed the money instead.

Hokie_PhD said:

So when are you getting a 50

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Can't say I remember ever seeing .50BMG at our local WallyWorld, I'm sure its a regional/seasonal thing. There was a time, maybe 20 years ago, when .300 Savage and 6.5 Swede were regulars on the shelf, but no longer, sadly. Ive passed on many fine Savage 99s and Mauser's just because the ammo is getting scarce. Fortunately I have one of each in .308 now.

jmr40 said:

The only firearm I own that I can't get ammo at Walmart for is a 10mm

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10mm is pretty common at the Walmart around here again, after taking a decade or so off. I'm seeing .32 ACP again too! Yay!

Dude come on. That could be said about almost anything. I want a lot of things I can't or won't afford. Yes, prices go up but that's a free market ya know. If people selling collectables didn't charge so much...
Sorry, but I get more upset about the ladies buying garbage for dollars on the penny at these new hipster craft fairs... rusty bucket allegedly found in a barn? $125. Seems fair...

If you just want a shooter, there's plenty to pick from. But if you want something that you think is nice, you'll pay more and treat it like a prized possession. I spent a few bucks more for my old m94... but I really love holding and shooting it.

Picher said:

Second Rule: Only accurate rifles are interesting. If it don't shoot straight, get it outtah my sight!

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Your definition of "accurate" might be different than my mine. In fact, it probably is.

milemaker13 said:

New rule adopted in the last 8 or 9 yrs.... never sell a gun. That may change as the collection grows, but I've regretted everything I've 'lost' so far.

Most common guns don't fetch such a high price anyway, and I've always bought high sold low... glad I'm not a stock broker!!

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I've gone the other way and purged a number of guns I simply dislike or never shoot. Got most of them for deals and won't miss them or cry at some lost value.

Need the space in the safes and the $$ for new guns I'll actually shoot, like yet another 1911

If I can't shoot it, I won't buy it.

I don't sell, I buy.

With certain firearms if you inherit it from me it stays in the family.

For my kids, if I gave you a firearm, it stays in the family. I will buy it back from you for what I paid and hold it for you until you wish to buy it back or I die and you get it back.

If you shoot with me, you will show me you know what to do or I will train you before we go to the range.