Reduce, refine, and make a decision.
- Thread starter Zaydok Allen
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JR24
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It's been a long journey finding just what I like and realizing what works best for me. There are bound to be superfluous things squired along the way.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I sold a Ruger No.1 RSI in .243 a couple of months ago. It was neither cheap nor ugly. It was not my only .243 and it had become a safe queen. Might as well get it into the hands of someone who will appreciate it.
The No.1 RSI in 7x57 Mauser, on the other hand, will stay with me a while longer.
The No.1 RSI in 7x57 Mauser, on the other hand, will stay with me a while longer.
huntsman
Member
that’s why I limit myself to 1 gun safe and a gunroom that’s 26x20’ fill it up and either I quit accumulating or I rotate by replacement.
Trunk Monkey
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I've mentioned this before numerous times but I guess it was 7 years ago I sold everything and started over.
Between us my wife and I own less than 10 guns total. And half of what we do own are 9mm Glocks.
It has simplified my life. Maybe not in a huge way because we're only talking about my guns but that's at least one area of my life that I don't have fret over how many magazines or which kind of ammunition I should buy or what gun do I carry today?
For the last year-and-a-half it's been a Glock 26 everyday.
Between us my wife and I own less than 10 guns total. And half of what we do own are 9mm Glocks.
It has simplified my life. Maybe not in a huge way because we're only talking about my guns but that's at least one area of my life that I don't have fret over how many magazines or which kind of ammunition I should buy or what gun do I carry today?
For the last year-and-a-half it's been a Glock 26 everyday.
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Zaydok Allen
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Well the Ruger No 1 I'm going to trade is beautiful, and was really expensive since they weren't making them in 460 magnum at the time. Unfortunately it's not gotten any use.
And the HK45 was bought back when they were going for $1000 new. The reduced pricing has now ruined the value. Thanks HK. I think it's a good looking gun, but it's not for everyone.
This is really more about purging unused guns and trading them for something that will get used rather than hanging on to stuff that isn't working for me anymore, or isn't getting any use for another reason.
I've only ever bought one gun because it was inexpensive. And I shuffled that one off a long time ago.
I'm thinking I've got a 357 magnum that's getting traded away also.
WestTexShooter
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Here is my problem.
I want to find, for me, the perfect gun. I guess most of us do.
But i have not been able to do so. If i could i would rid myself of all but multiple versions of my select One.
The ending of the movie "War Games" comes to mind.
I want to find, for me, the perfect gun. I guess most of us do.
But i have not been able to do so. If i could i would rid myself of all but multiple versions of my select One.
The ending of the movie "War Games" comes to mind.
CopperFouling
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CopperFouling
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In response to the original question, I've tried to keep my firearm collection somewhat limited. My time (and funds) are limited, and I'd rather practice with a single handgun or shoot clays with the same shotgun when I go to the range. I clean less and gain more proficiency from focusing on that firearm.
Case in point, I've been practicing timed drills with a P30 LEM for the past year or so. The LEM takes a lot of practice to shoot well, but I like other aspects of it, so I have shot it again and again and again. I'm much faster with it than I was a year ago, and I am sure that I am better with it than I would be if I had split time between that and, say, a CZ 75 or Glock 19 or <insert something else here>.
Case in point, I've been practicing timed drills with a P30 LEM for the past year or so. The LEM takes a lot of practice to shoot well, but I like other aspects of it, so I have shot it again and again and again. I'm much faster with it than I was a year ago, and I am sure that I am better with it than I would be if I had split time between that and, say, a CZ 75 or Glock 19 or <insert something else here>.
CopperFouling
Member
I think that's a bit unfair. Trial and error is one way people learn what they prefer, and unfortunately, there aren't always opportunities to try before buying in the firearms world.
Now, if you're talking about people who impulse buy firearms because they are cheap, then, yes, I agree.
Old Dog
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I'm down to 16 SIG pistols, so I'm trying ...
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Zaydok Allen
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Well I offer pretty decent trade deals to my LGS, and they are good enough to me that when they think I’m lower than I should be, they tell me. I get a friendly hello and ”How’s that such’n such gun working for you?!?” when I walk in.Store? Why don't you offer it for sale here first?
They are really good folks and one of the few locally owned LGSs around any more in my area. They are competing with a Cabela’s, a Scheels, a Running’s Fleet Farm, like ten pawn shops, and a few other vendors. So I try to buy and sell there as much as possible.
I buy most of my reloading equipment from them too.
skeeterfogger
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Do understand. Tools are same issue. I collected so many over 40 years that just had a purpose for when I retired. Retirement came and 3 half yard dumpsters later most was gone. Age and youthful thoughts usually don't mix. I'll never be doing all those things I thought I would.
Firearms can end same. I've slowly collected since I was 16. Quite a few I inherited. All have their place and situation of use. Some just in military caliber just because ammo in bulk easy to get and I can shoot more.
BPs have a more historic quality about them. Plus even at my age still hold my interest for the aged technology and how really remarkable the trail of invention that brought them up. There are those I prefer to shoot and those that sit idle longer but of them I can part with none where of some modern ones I have thinned but still very few. Some were deals so good I can't justify selling just because it was such a great deal. Sometimes I feel concerned as to what will happen to them when I pass but in the end what does it matter, I'll never know anyway. It's best to use your time to enjoy what you have with the time you have with your favorites than worry about later.
Firearms can end same. I've slowly collected since I was 16. Quite a few I inherited. All have their place and situation of use. Some just in military caliber just because ammo in bulk easy to get and I can shoot more.
BPs have a more historic quality about them. Plus even at my age still hold my interest for the aged technology and how really remarkable the trail of invention that brought them up. There are those I prefer to shoot and those that sit idle longer but of them I can part with none where of some modern ones I have thinned but still very few. Some were deals so good I can't justify selling just because it was such a great deal. Sometimes I feel concerned as to what will happen to them when I pass but in the end what does it matter, I'll never know anyway. It's best to use your time to enjoy what you have with the time you have with your favorites than worry about later.
Trey Veston
Member
I have a few guns I don't need/shoot and could stand to get rid of. But, I hate the thought of losing money on them. A S&W M&P40c I paid $399 for a few years ago and shot very little is now worth maybe $275 used. It doesn't cost me anything to leave it sitting on the shelf. I tell myself I'm not losing any money until I sell them. And you never know what the market is going to do if/when a Democrat gets back in the White House in five years.
I guess you could say I limit my inventory. My collection has always stayed pretty small. Budget is always an issue when buying (funny how that whole "wife and kid" thing does that), so if I want something new, I often need to trade something else off to make the purchase. I'm at a point where all of my "needs" are covered, though I've considered some shuffling & horse-trading to get them covered by pistols that I might like a little better. As far as my "wants" go, most of them are covered, too, but there are a small handful of things I might yet pick up.
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
I am currently selling and/or trading what I don't shoot for what I will shoot.
Daveboone
Member
like many of us, over the years I have accumulated a lot of firearms through purchase, gifts, inheritance, etc. As time goes on, time to shoot them, room to store them and redundancy grew concerns for the need for a lot of them. The defining point was when I wanted to go on a couple hunts and wouldn't be able to raise the cash without selling some.
I had redundant handguns in the same caliber, which I never had a chance to shoot. generally speaking, few of my guns I hung on to for 'investment' purposes. lets face it...in this day and age it is more difficult than ever to get a fair price for them and to conveniently sell.
Firearms originally purchased with a reason, no longer have the reason and don't plan doing now. Duplication (three Winchester 94s?} Seven shotguns when I haven't small game hunted in twenty years? The lovely little Ruger mk 2 target pistol I thought I would shoot in competition but never did?
ultimately I sold off about 17 rifles, pistols and shotguns through a local auction house, which optimized my take, and I do not miss any.
Several firearms never met the expectations of what I wanted, like a Savage 99E. Great classic gun, but horrendous trigger, didn't hold the groups I expected and the headspace needed correcting, as well as being just plain heavy for what I wanted.
more recently, I had always wanted but never justified a Colt 1911 .45 acp. Selling a few more dust collectors very nicely paid for it, reducsing the number again by thinning less desirable and less or never used fireamrs for a more quality piece that will hold value better. I still have a significant number with some redundancy, and some that are just plain fun and cool and that's ok, I have my eye open for a few others, but also have room for trade.
I had redundant handguns in the same caliber, which I never had a chance to shoot. generally speaking, few of my guns I hung on to for 'investment' purposes. lets face it...in this day and age it is more difficult than ever to get a fair price for them and to conveniently sell.
Firearms originally purchased with a reason, no longer have the reason and don't plan doing now. Duplication (three Winchester 94s?} Seven shotguns when I haven't small game hunted in twenty years? The lovely little Ruger mk 2 target pistol I thought I would shoot in competition but never did?
ultimately I sold off about 17 rifles, pistols and shotguns through a local auction house, which optimized my take, and I do not miss any.
Several firearms never met the expectations of what I wanted, like a Savage 99E. Great classic gun, but horrendous trigger, didn't hold the groups I expected and the headspace needed correcting, as well as being just plain heavy for what I wanted.
more recently, I had always wanted but never justified a Colt 1911 .45 acp. Selling a few more dust collectors very nicely paid for it, reducsing the number again by thinning less desirable and less or never used fireamrs for a more quality piece that will hold value better. I still have a significant number with some redundancy, and some that are just plain fun and cool and that's ok, I have my eye open for a few others, but also have room for trade.
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redneck2
Member
Yep. He who dies with the most toys leaves a hell of a mess for their heirs.
My mom passed last April 23rd, nearly a year ago. The attorney handling the estate said it was the single best example of having affairs in order he’d ever seen. Everything was laid out in detail. After a year we’re still working on it.
Armored farmer
Member
26x 20ft is a big safe, lol.
One old school gun cabinet, and one long gun safe upstairs. Wall safe with three handguns downstairs. Safe in the mancave in the shed.
Sadly, and much to mrs farmer's aggravation, there is a pile of shotguns in their cases, in the corner of our upstairs hallway.
Its shameful.
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Zaydok Allen
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Sorry for your loss. And yes, even when things are in order, it takes time.
I’m hoping to go another 40 years in a home I own, and then down size to the point that when I die, my nephew and niece can walk in to an apartment, read a letter I left for him and his sister, have a reasonable division of valuable items, and be done with my affairs in 4 months flat.
I want them to sit at the kitchen table with a dozen or fewer guns, of reasonably nice quality and value, and make a fast decision on what to keep and what to ditch.
Seems in regards to guns, that means population management is in order.
huntsman
Member
^ I commend you on your plan, having to deal with crap left by heirs can be a real burden especially if it’s of little value. At some point I plan to convert my treasures to silver coins so at least they’ll have assets and not hassle.
NapalmMan67
Member
Condolences. My mother passed in 2009 and I'm still helping my father reduce the collection she and he had amassed in 45 years of marriage together.
I'm an only child, so no one to fight with over who gets what- I basically got the whole shebang to deal with. So, I've told my (only child) son multiple times over the last several years, I don't want him having to deal with what I have been with all my parents stuff.
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Ignition Override
Member
Yes- decluttered a bit, and even stopped reloading because it was to lower costs of .303 and .308 ammo, and 'single-stage reloading' was very tedious.
After you realize that 1) it was a miracle that you were in town, drove to a hospital, only to find than a "very instant bad flu" was a heart attack (100% blocked Widowmaker artery), and that 2) a rural 50 mph highway luckily had a level shoulder when a car Remained in your lane (at night) coming around a curve....on an unfamiliar highway, 9 months after the heart attack.
….just shoot guns which are fun, at targets which are fun. Gun fashions might then mean nothing-if they ever did. That's one of the reasons I traded my only 16" AR for another imported AK clone (AMD-65).
After you realize that 1) it was a miracle that you were in town, drove to a hospital, only to find than a "very instant bad flu" was a heart attack (100% blocked Widowmaker artery), and that 2) a rural 50 mph highway luckily had a level shoulder when a car Remained in your lane (at night) coming around a curve....on an unfamiliar highway, 9 months after the heart attack.
….just shoot guns which are fun, at targets which are fun. Gun fashions might then mean nothing-if they ever did. That's one of the reasons I traded my only 16" AR for another imported AK clone (AMD-65).
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skeeterfogger
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George P
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My RSI in 243 is one gun I regret getting rid of; with its compact US Burris fixed 6X scope, it was deadly
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