Times Change, So have I. Selling stuff to fund other things.

I have many, many firearms, most much more expensive but this is the one I'll never get rid of, my model 29:

I went mostly the other way. I started shooting DA revolvers a few decades ago. I lived most of my life in a no-issue CCW state, so I didn't have much interest in carry guns. After a while I added some modern single-actions (Blackhawk and Single-Six) and a Winchester 92 in 357 magnum and that's what I shot: 38 Special, 357 Magnum and 22LR.

As retirement approached, I knew I was going to be in a shall-issue state, so I got a Glock 19, Glock 26, CZ P01, Walther PPK/S and a bunch of holsters. I couldn't carry yet, but I was sure ready! When I actually got my license, I quickly realized I didn't want to carry a full-size gun, or even a so-called "compact". I eventually settled on a Glock 42 (my "big" gun) and a Kahr CW380 (my "little" gun).

At the same time my eyes stopped working with target sights at longer ranges. I didn't want to start putting scopes and red dots on a bunch of guns, so I sold everything except 4 Glocks, the Kahr, the Blackhawk and a Buckmark.

I'm a better shot at close range than I've ever been before because I only have a few guns to learn and stay proficient with (the 4 Glocks are basically the same gun and the Kahr shoots like a DA revolver). I shoot the Blackhawk and the Buckmark at close range with iron sights (30 feet) as a concession to my vision.

Who else has had the idea of remaking your gun collection...based upon changing ideas/desires?

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I have been just going through this this last week. I am retired, the wife is ALMOST there in a few years and we are contemplating a move. I could easily get down to 1 shotgun gauge (28), 1 rifle (7-08), 1 .22 air rifle, and 2-3 copies of the same 9mm handgun

Orion8472

I also like the look and feel of steel, wood, and color case hardening but lately I have been doing it with black powder revolvers like a Pietta Remington New Model Navy and a Pietta Colt Model 1860. This way I can enjoy these older revolvers but not break the bank in terms of having to sell anything off to finance my new interests.

Besides I could never sell my CZ P01, Colt AR15, Ruger 10/22, or Colt Mustang; I still enjoy shooting all of them and I have too much history (along with many great memories), with them to ever have a sell off just to replace them with something new or different.

I'm debating a few things. Before I knew better I purchased bottom of the barrel firearms except my handguns and while they do what I need them to do for the most part I always see something better and I think about trading. I have a 22 that shoots terrible IMO so looking to upgrade. I have a s&w 642 that I thought was cool when I got it for $250 but now it wont ignite primers all the time (possible week spring) Its not really accurate and well if I had my choice I would have a m&p shield instead. I always had a soft spot for revolvers and the price I couldn't pass up but I'm kind of over it now.

I have 2 shotguns I haven't touched in about 2yrs because I quit pheasant and rabbit hunting. I was invited to rabbit hunt with dogs this year and glad I had the O/U but I would rather have a short little semi auto instead. Again O/U shotgun for $250 I couldn't pass it up. My 12ga hasn't been out of the safe for 2yrs. I have a slug barrel I don't care to use but I hang onto it for some odd reason. I have an h&r single shot rifle that seldom gets used but again, heck of a deal.

I'm currently thinking. Sell the H&R cause I could get more for it than I paid. Sell the slug barrel or give to a buddy who could use it. Sell the O/U. I could probably get a hair over what I paid for it. Sell the 642 and get a shield but again very soft spot for revolvers, especially s&w. Oh and I would also like a 1911 rock island or springfield. Sell the current 22lr and get something that actually shoots worth a darn.

But as I think about it the thoughts fade and me being the cheapo I am ill probably put a trigger in the 22, keep the slug barrel cause who knows one of my 3 deer guns might have an issue, give the barrel to a buddy. Keep the h&r cause its a "backup" and fun and I can loan it to people hunting with me, keep the 642 and have s&w fix it. Keep the o/u incase I decide to rabbit hunt again. Who the heck am I kidding I'm keeping them all and probably end up with the others I want that will eventually collect dust like the rest! Oh and did I mention I have 2 identical 223rem rifles.

Hello, my name is Ohihunter2014 and I am a firearms hoarder!!

Old revolvers are baaaaad news. ESPECIALLY case hardened ones. They are awful. Everytime I see one I get this feeling...and if I am at the gun store and pick one up...it's just awful .It causes involuntary reactions.

BEWARE!

Revolver sickness is real. It can happen to anyone,and can be completely uncontrollable. The sickness can lay dormant for years completely undetected.however, once the sympotms occur it's too late. Other such as myself have got it at an early age. But ,don't worry. Symptoms do subside for short periods ,but random flare ups are still common. There is no cure , but fortunately their are good folks who can help you through it. Including many on this very forum

I’m going back in time slowly but surely. Always been a revolver guy, getting tired of hand ejectors though...

I'm selling lots of stuff. Moving in a few years and clearing out what I don't shoot. Lots of shotguns sold in the past two years. I have zero interest in shooting clays anymore and I quit hunting about 10 years ago. I'm going to keep a few rifles and pistols for range outings and SD. I don't need or want a safe full of firearms anymore. When I started this process I had about 25 firearms. I'm now down to about a dozen. I'm going to sell a few more so the safe has plenty of room now.

Revolvers and bolt rifles were my first love and they seem to be the ones I can't sell. I guess it's a regression.

I have the spectrum in my safe - 1873, Sharps, 1911 .... Model 70, AR 15, etc - I like all of it - the wood, the steel, the composite, lead, copper, ..... I plan on keeping this “stuff” until the honor guard presents the colors to my wife - she is then in charge if it and can do as she pleases. Until that time I plan to enjoy it - it is all good stuff, great toys to play with and pass the time.

I agree with most here. For my carry Gun, plastic and dull steel; yes, a Glock 42. For the pleasure of shooting, I am slowly rebuilding my Black Powder collection. I expect that a few more bolt action rifles will work their way in, Blue Steel and Wood; however, most of my recent stuff has been reloading so I can shoot more of what I have, and more Black Powder.

Just be sure before you sell......

@bannockburn. One thousand times. Yes.

I may change my mind if grow up. But I doubt it. Let my son and daughter sell them. I've got my value out of them by then.

Orion8472 said:

I have been a semi-auto type of guy for a long time now, but I've gotten really bored with such types. I'm wanting to go a new direction.....mainly 1873 revolvers and lever action rifle in 38/357. I'm wanting a birdshead 4 3/4" barrel and a standard grip 5.5", as well as the 1873 lever action rifle.

What I am willing to get rid of won't be missed and will help fund these items. I have a CZ SP-01 Custom, CZ P-07, Custom Ruger 10/22 TD, a converted Saiga and ammo, an FI Industries Model D 380acp,.....maybe even my AR-15 and ammo.

There's something almost magical about the look and feel of steel, wood, color case hardening,....

Who else has had the idea of remaking your gun collection...based upon changing ideas/desires?

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I'd keep the CZ75 SP01. Metal framed hammer fired pistols that aren't 1911s seem to be a dying breed. You may want that piece of handgun history again in 5, 10, or 20 years.

IMO, of course.

I did this very thing, except no selling, last year. Purchased a SAA and Henry Big Boy steel. Both in 357 magnum. Set up a Pro1000 for 38spl and started loading’em up in 1000 round batches. My whole family enjoyed shooting them as much or more than me. My daughter-in-law especially liked the rifle. The lite recoiling 38’s really appealed to her as a new shooter. We would set up 11, max tube capacity, steel targets and she would drop all 11 every time. She would only stop to let the barrel cool.

The lady’s and younger ones liked the 38’s as they were lite recoiling and easy to shoot. Plinking with more than a 22lr added an extra charm to shooting. As the summer wore on I ended up doing a lot of reloading, setting targets back up, picking up brass, and a lot less shooting. What’s not to like about a SAA, a lever action, blued steel, beautiful wood, an ammo can full of ammo, steel targets, and a sunny Saturday?

It was funny observation seeing everyone waiting their turn on the SAA and Henry lever action while the AR’s and semi-auto pistols sat on the bench being ignored.

It sounds like the O.P. is interested in getting started in Cowboy Action Shooting. A word of caution is interest in CAS in waning as the Baby Boomers are dying off so reselling the guns down the road may be difficult. Be careful about how much you pay for them.

With that said I love single action revolvers and have two Uberti 73 carbines. I want to add another 357 Magnum Single Action revolver probably the Ruger New Vaquero and a couple of blackpowder revolvers.

My shooting interests have changed a lot over the years but I am keeping the guns that I have not shot in a long time or have no particular interest in for several reasons;

The first is because six months after I sell a gun I find a use for it and wish I had it back.

The second reason is economic. The prices for guns in general (particularly high quality old S&W's, Colts, etc.) are going up over time meaning I kick myself in rear for selling to cheap and having to pay too much to replace it.

The third reason for not selling in 2018 is the market is too unstable. We have been enjoying a great honeymoon with lower gun prices since President Trump took office. This will change very rapidly for the worse if the Democrats win the House and especially if they also manage to win the Senate in November. There is payback coming to gun owners for supporting Trump and it is going to be vicious. There will be a full scale Danic with guns and ammo totally disappearing from the shelves again. The guns you are considering selling will greatly increase in value. Your AR alone will probably sell for $2,000.00. You will make a big profit selling the high capacity magazines separately.

This one of reasons why credit cards are handy. Buy what you want now at current low prices on plastic. If the political winds favor the Democrats and Liberals you will plenty of money to pay the credit card off since there will not be any guns and ammo to buy.

On the other hand if the Republicans keep control of Congress then you can still sell your guns and pay off the credit card.

Part of life is change. Interests, priorities, needs and the means to acquire change. Sometimes technology and recent innovations motivate change. Sometimes, like with revolvers and levers, nostalgia plays a part. I grew up with levers in the house. Was the time when the Winnie '94 or something similar, was in every deer hunters repertoire. About the same time, "The Rifleman" and "Wanted, Dead or Alive" were popular on Television and everyone my age wanted the toy versions of the featured firearms in those shows for Christmas. My first deer rifle was my Grand-pappy's .32 special. One of two guns he bought when he came home from France and WWI. He passed it on to me when he became too old to hunt, along with the other gun he bought with it......A Fox Model B SxS in 16ga. I still shoot both regularly. The "B" is still my go to Pheasant gun. Nuttin' goes more nicely with revolvers and levers than a SxS.

Just sayin'......

Like bannockburn, I too have moved into black powder guns - about $1400 worth over the past 4 years.
Previous to that I too considered moving into 357mag SAA clones and expensive 357 Lever Actions. I have 1 of each in budget guns.

However now after shooting the BP guns with BP and conversion cylinders in 45 Colt... I'm craving more 45 Colt guns. A Ruger Redhawk 45 Colt & or S&W 25 - 45 Colt is calling my name.
A 45-70 is also calling to me.

I still have a bunch of semi-auto's rifles and pistols that I have no intention of selling. I rotate CCW's between a Glock 19, FN Hi Power, and Ruger LC9S Pro.
Find I feel lacking if I don't have at least 1 AR15 in the safe.

I do have a few guns that will get traded or sold eventually = a Win M70 - 300 Win Mag, a Savage 270 and a S&W Shield.

Only being 35, I was a bolt gun guy for a long time. Always thought levers were dumb. Accuracy didn’t compare and they just seemed like old people guns. About the age of 25 I got a lever gun given to me. A JM 1895 in 45-70. And I haven’t looked back. I still use my bolt guns for coyotes and occasionally a deer. But leverguns are where it’s at for me. BUT.......last year I got a Pedersoli Sharps in 45-70. Lord help me. Im in love.

I do it occasionally. I sold a wonderful late 1800's double barrel shotgun to fund the purchase of a new camera. I never shot the gun, but I shoot the camera almost every day.

I had a bunch of WWII guns at one time too, but after a while the "cool factor" of owning unique historical pieces wore off. I sold them to others who would appreciate their virtues more than I.

Like SharpDog, guns can come and go, but they'll put me in the grave with my Model 29 in my hand. I just like it that much.

Orion8472 said:

I do have a few that I'll not part with...but some I have no vested interest in these days. Some things are MUCH more important to me [which the OP has laid out].

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You ARE the OP. It's late, am I missing something?

I grew up shooting revolvers, and lever guns. I like the steel and wood. I like custom grips. I like custom leather.


Then along came my CCP, and the slimmer more easily carried autos got my attention.
I do think some of them are dull and unattractive, despite their undeniable usefulness.
I think some are made from recycled diapers and melted Hefty bags.