Do you buy handguns in anticipation of old age?

Do you buy handguns in anticipation of old age?

  • Yes

    Votes: 29 26.1%

  • I don't yet but I plan to. I like current and classic guns and want to have some for the future.

    Votes: 5 4.5%

  • I don't yet, but I plan to, and want to wait to see what technology comes to the market.

    Votes: 7 6.3%

  • No, my gun buying habits will change when the need presents itself.

    Votes: 66 59.5%

  • No, since I might die at anytime, I see no point in spending money on something I may never need.

    Votes: 12 10.8%
  • Total voters
    111
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Sure, I think about this. My hedge so to speak is to have both semi autos 9 mm and 45 plus a couple of revolvers in 38/357. I practice shooting with either hand because sometimes my trigger finger joints sort of lock up kind of like a leg cramp. Never know when it is going to do it. My eyesight never was that good and at 70, it is not improving but the funny thing is the shorter sight radius seems to work better for me at self defense ranges. I don't mind the recoil, yet, so it is mainly the trigger pull that I think about.
 
Man, what a depressing thread!

However, it made me think. Fortunately I already have guns that I could use should infirmity set in, so I guess that I don't need to do anything different.
 
It wasn't meant to be depressing. It's a simple acknowledgement that the body changes with old age. Different people age differently based on their health and habits. My dad for example is 70 and in pretty poor health because he eats like crap and isn't active. Several other people I know who are 70+ are still out in the woods hiking for fun and keeping up with people half their age just fine.

Over the last six years of my life I've lost 5 family members, 2 coworkers, and I found out yesterday that a gun nut family friend, a guy I've known as long as I've been alive, is in the hospital and unlikely to live much longer.

Dealing with mortality has been flooded into my life heavily and I am trying to approach it practically. I try to stay active and will continue to do so for as long as I can. But since firearms are my passion, along with a few other things like hiking and biking, I want to be able to shoot for as long as my faculties allow it.

So maybe that's a better context to frame this thread in. Does anyone buy guns to continue shooting for as long as possible, with the idea that a changing body over time may make certain guns and cartridges unpleasant or impractical?

Think of it as preserving a passion, not dealing with decrepitude.

For example, I don't really care about shooting rimfires and I no longer own a 22lr. However it might be a favorable thing if I make it to 80 or 90 years old. Maybe I should pick up a S&W 617 now in anticipation of enjoying it later.
 
I've definitely thought of purchasing lower recoil handguns and rifles for my use in the next 20 years (I'm currently 52).

Truthfully, I already own some low recoil guns and I could get by with the harder recoiling manually operated firearms by reloading softer shooting ammo. Or just using wadcutters in .38 special revolvers.

I mostly look at "old age" firearms as a thought experiment and a way to make a different wishlist. But, I'm thinking I'll move away from double action auto loaders and into single action autoloaders at some point.
 
Deus Machina said:
I don't have the money to invest in anything but the occasional stock.

Besides, as I've said before: I drink, I enjoy my cigars and bacon, my hobbies include heavy machinery, and I'm licensed to carry a weapon while riding a motorcycle in Florida. I don't expect to live that long.
Click to expand...

Lol. In my early 20s I thought I'd be dead by 30. Now I'm 52 and realize I'm likely to suffer through a few decades longer, just because so many in my family are counting on me. :D
 
460Shooter said:
Dealing with mortality has been flooded into my life heavily and I am trying to approach it practically.
Click to expand...
Tell me about it. The Vet will be coming today so that we can say goodbye to our 14 year old dog suffering with bone cancer and my wife just had a kidney transplant the beginning of the month.

Fortunately my Dad, who turned 85 last month, is still active and really likes it when we take my Garand and M1 Carbine to the range. He qualified expert with both in 1950 when he began his military career.
 
I'm in my 60's. I've shot more than my fair share of big magnums in the past, and I'm over it. However, I just load them down to the point where I could shoot them all day. Don't give up on the big heavy guns. They'll keep your strength up.

About as hot as I go now is full house .357 in a Blackhawk, which is just more noise and flash than anything else. Mostly mid-range .38's and .45ACP target loads. I find a larger .380 a bunch of fun.
 
One of the reasons 327 is so appealing is that it offers loads for any tolerance of recoil. Combined with the trigger on the LCR, which feels a lot easier to pull than its measured weight would suggest, is what convinced me to grab a few. Works great for now, and should offer options if recoil tolerance becomes a concern.

This gun/cartridge combo should be way more popular than it is. I'd definitely recommend it over a lightweight 38 for new shooters and older folks that can't tolerate the snappy recoil of snub nose revolvers.
 
Well, I'm 68, purchased my first .44 mag about 4 years ago (Ruger SRH). Bought another .44 mag a year ago (Ruger SBH). I don't recall that age slowed down Elmer Keith. Don't plan on it slowing me down much either. But should that day come, I still have my .357s, .38s, .45 acps, 9mms, .32s (revolvers-mag and long), .22s and cap guns. Should have all my bases covered.
 
Nope. Love my 44s. That said, I shoot more mid range but stout handloads 1000-1200 fps now than full house max loads. Mainly for economics. Though it's not unusual to blast through 50-100 hot loads in one sitting to reminder me how much fun they can be! ;)
 
I’m gonna turn 72 in about a month. In some ways, I’m stronger now than I was 30-40 years ago, since I’m retired and can hit the gym three times a week. I haven’t noticed any decrease in strength or recoil tolerance at all as I’ve gotten older.

I went hog hunting earlier this month with a Desert Eagle .44 mag and shot a flat-out running hog. The shot went right where I wanted it to, breaking the hog’s neck.

I shoot in a pistol league every week and haven’t scored anything less than 100 with my .45 1911.

So, no. If you get in shape and stay in shape, there’s no reason to give up any of your guns. Illness or injury might slow you down, but age by itself shouldn’t be a factor.
 
460Shooter said:
For example, I don't really care about shooting rimfires and I no longer own a 22lr. However it might be a favorable thing if I make it to 80 or 90 years old. Maybe I should pick up a S&W 617 now in anticipation of enjoying it later.
Click to expand...

That is one approach. Another approach is to do what you enjoy now and deal with changes if or when they occur in the future.
 
The only reason I've bought more guns as I got older is because I have the money now whereas before, I didn't.

It's silly to do that and I know it. But they have been a good investment.
 
I've had a few "old man guns". Beretta 21A and currently a Ruger LCR 22. The Beretta was lost in a break in several years ago.
The mindset that I have is a weapon that I can use with one hand incapacitated. So not needing to rack a slide or controls that can't be used by either hand factor in.
 
About 2 years ago I started looking for lower recoil loads for 9mm so I can shoot like I am used to without increased wear and tear on my body. Over the years I have broken my back and neck, collar bone, 8 ribs, both hands, feet, busted up my knees and shoulders and elbows working too much and too hard. I have & had tendinitis multiple times and places, carpal tunnel both hands, and in the last 2 years coronary artery disease and copd. Diabetes is taking out my eyes and feet as well. 2 years ago I got 6 stents in my heart and next month I go for open heart and several bypasses.

I’m still shooting when I feel up to it, but not as much as I want to. My glocks have light triggers, and both Range Officers(9mm) are easy to shoot. I enjoy my S&W 67 with wadcutters tremendously. As long as I am able I will be shooting every chance I feel up to it. And I’m only 46.
 
I won't need to buy anything new. I think a revolver with a hammer (whether a DA or SA revolver) is the easiest type to operate if you have hand function problems. Since I already like revolvers for other reasons I have some and am good to go. If at some point I can't manage the recoil of a light .38 load there's the .22LR.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
My mom died at age 66-congestive heart failure. My dad died at age 69-congestive heart failure. His dad died at age 67-congestive heart failure. I'm currently 44. I'm not making any plans past age 50. Anything I ever wanted to do or to own I'm trying to do now.
Click to expand...

My father died of congestive heart failure. He was 92.
 
Hi...
I have bought a few in anticipation of my looming retirement.
A used Blackhawk in .41Mag, a Cimarron SAA clone in .45Colt and another in .44Spl.
Not down buying yet... probably won't quit until I die.
Always find something new I need.
 
cp1969 said:
The only reason I've bought more guns as I got older is because I have the money now whereas before, I didn't.

It's silly to do that and I know it. But they have been a good investment.
Click to expand...

I'm just realizing this myself. I'm 44, and this is the first time in my life that I'm not living paycheck to paycheck. Last week, someone got my debit card number and cleaned out my checking account ($1200). Five years ago, it would have been devastating; now, I just went into my savings for a week while my bank processed the paper work to return my money. No big deal. Getting old has its perks.

To that end, I just bought myself a Ruger Redhawk...for $900. The most, by far, that I have ever spent on a single gun in my entire life.

The one thing I would disagree with you on is the notion that guns have been a good investment. Guns are never an investment. Even if you sell for what you paid, inflation takes a bite out of your return. I never see money spent on shooting or hunting as anything other than a frivolous, albeit enjoyable, expenditure of disposable income.

Edit: I said guns are never an investment. I would have to relent here in regards to a lot of old Winchesters and the Colt snake guns. But even on the latter, I'm waiting for that market to crash.
 
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