Poll....to shoot, or not to shoot

To shoot or not to shoot

  • Carry and use??

    Votes: 71 47.7%

  • Find a display box for show??

    Votes: 78 52.3%
  • Total voters
    149
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franconialocal

franconialocal

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New Hampshire
Recently I bought a BEAUTIFUL Beretta 92 F/S 9mm. from a former Army friend of mine who was issued a M-9 in the service.

The one I bought from him (for $500.00) is a "Operation Enduring Freedom M-9 U.S. Army Edition" commemorative unit (One of only 2,500). It's all gold-leaf lettered....very, very nice....flawless.

My friend told me he only put three rounds down the pipe, and judging by my field stripping and inspection/cleaning I can't believe it's even had ONE down the pipe....this gun is immaculate....not a single scratch on it (SORRY!! No pic's yet).

So...here's the poll

1. Use, shoot, and proudly carry this gun as the fine sidearm it was meant to be?? OR
2. Promptly find it's way into a nice red felt display case never to be touched, admired "from afar" to be held as the nice show piece that it could be??

I'm very sided on this issue and I need YOUR help deciding!! I own several other sidearms so it's not like I "need" to use it. I think the decision would be clear if it was TRULY brand new (not 3 rds. down range) but now that it's been shot?? Just thinking out loud really......thoughts???
 
I voted for the display box. You said you already have plenty of pistols for carry and use. Personally, I'd display it. Besides, I already much prefer to shoot my 1911 over the Berretta 92FS I have.
 
. Use, shoot, and proudly carry this gun as the fine sidearm it was meant to be?? OR
Click to expand...

It wasn't "meant" for that. It was built to be a gun, yes. But then the lettering and engraving was done for a collector to preserve it. That's what it was "meant" for. limited edition and collector edition guns are always meant to for collecting - you can always buy a pedestrian model to wear out shooting and carrying.

Since he's already shot it, why not just put a mag or two through it once, detail it and clean it, then display it? It's not like it's going to be dramatically different than any of the tons of 92s out there, and it's NOT "unfired."

Scratch your itch, then display it. Best of both worlds!
 
What real good is any gun if you cant shoot it or hit what you are shooting at. I would rather have a $50 gun that I can hit somthing with than a $5,000 gun I cant hit anything with. If you want to collet art that you cant use collet paintings or somthing else. I love a well engraved weapon as much as anyone else however a used weapon has stoires and memories that go with it.
 
If you've already got pistols that fit the bill, put this one in a nice display case on your desk with a loaded mag displayed right next to it :)

Don't shoot it unless it's an emergency, but I think that a limited edition like that should be a safe queen and only shot very sparingly.
 
I'm not into "Commemoratives", it's just a cheesy way of getting more money out of you. The idea behind them is that instead of buying one handgun, you buy 2; one to shoot and one to "ooh" and "ahhh".

Buy it, shoot it, keep it in a rough holster so you wear off that graffiti faster.
 
My Dad had a Remington Rand 1911 unfired in the original issue box. When I was 16 I asked if I could shoot it. After shooting it he told me that it was the first time it had been fired. I asked him why he let me shoot it and he said guns are made to shoot and I am glad you had fun. I still have the gun and the box. I am 51 now and I am thinking now that I may shoot it again. In sixty five years it has about 200 rounds thru it. But I think of that day with Dad every time I look at it.
 
Carry it? Not a chance. What happens when some LEO stops you and decides that he will confiscate your weapon? Gone.
 
i don't have any "display" guns, but i think if i was in your shoes and had plenty of other guns that could fill the same role, i would probably not shoot it.

i don't need to fire a gun to appreciate its value, but i also haven't had the funds to buy a gun i won't fire.
 
I voted to shoot it. I might say differently if you said you bought it specifically for its "collector" value, but thats not what my impression was. (And if you bought it for its monetary value, why would you put it on the wall, and not in a safe?) I personally feel that guns are meant to be shot, and I won't ever own a gun I don't shoot. I might not shoot it that much, but it will get shot.

So if you didn't buy it specifically because it might have collector value, and its not a sentimental gun, but just "cool" why would you not shoot it?
 
Take a real good picture of it. Frame it and admire the picture.

Sell the gun and get one you will shoot!!:evil:
 
franconialocal said:
Recently I bought a BEAUTIFUL Beretta 92 F/S 9mm. from a former Army friend of mine who was issued a M-9 in the service.

The one I bought from him (for $500.00) is a "Operation Enduring Freedom M-9 U.S. Army Edition" commemorative unit (One of only 2,500). It's all gold-leaf lettered....very, very nice....flawless.
pic'QUOTE]


Even "TRULY brand new" guns have been fired. At least 2 rds at factory. It is a limited edition gun with custom markings. (were you involved in "Operation Enduring Freedom"? If not someone who was may decide they want one and be willing to pay $$$$ for a LNIB with only 3 rds thru it.
I have no idea how gold leaf lettering would hold up to shooting/carrying. so I would say gently clean/oil/store it till you find a presentation case. IF you want a M9 to shoot I would think you could sell this and get enough for a standard M9 with extra mags/ammo.
Click to expand...
 
I voted what I would do if it were mine. I understand and agree with keeping it in a case and not firing it, but if it were mine I would in a moment of weakness take it out and shoot it, then put it back in the case. :uhoh:

I know I'll get some flak for this, but it is what I would end up doing with the firearm. A helluva buy, by the way. :cool:
 
Shoot it - it's a marketing gimmick. It's a standard M9 type gun in every respect except for they printed some sappy thing on the side to make you go "oh oh, can't shoot it". The next commemorative special off the assembly line behind yours was for the Podunk Iowa 4H Club.

IOW, there's nothing special about this gun. There were only 2500 made? Yes, of course, with the Enduring Freedom stamp/engraving/whatever. Then there's the several million other ones just like it that don't say Enduring Freedom.

It would be special if your pal had been awarded that as a result of his service. Or if it was banged out in a shop in Kabul and he liberated it. But as is? It's an expensive M9 and they're hoping you'll buy two. Like somebody else said, one to shoot, one to drool.

At the end of the day, it's your gun. You decided. But I'd shoot the heck out of it.
 
Did you get the box and paper work? If not it's just a shooter.Collectors have little interest in modern guns without the box.

If you did it's either a safe queen or trade goods in my opinion. I don't keep what I can't shoot.
 
Put it up for display. Though I agree with danbrew, it ain't that special. My great-great uncle's 1903 that he fought the Japanese with in the Philippines, on the other hand, has some historical value.

If you want to put up some kind of display or something related to OIF it would fit in nicely.
 
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