To Shoot or Not to Shoot

Shoot it! The pleasure of shooting a rifle like that will stay with you for days after every range session. It isn't perfect, or unfired? Then go for it!

Since it seems the gun has been fired some, but has been well cared for . . . I'd do the same.

^^^ Couldn't have said it better myself

Why is there a question?

Guns are tools that should be used. I didn't say abused. If its nice like keep it nice and enjoy it also.

Oh, for heavens sakes, shoot the dang thing, it's what it's intended for and doesn't detract from its value.

My 1941 bnz says "hi"

View attachment 974205

100 million K98 rifles were produced in total, 14 million of the WWII version alone.

So, not exactly a rare rifle. Enjoy shooting your gun!

Nice example of the laminated stock!!

Shoot it definitely! Take care of it definitely!

clanhanson said:

My concern is that since it's such a nice example, would it behoove oneself to keep it safely locked away, only to fondle every so often or to go and enjoy it (with a replacement stock to avoid damage to the original)? Decisions, decisions...

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WisBorn said:

Guns are tools that should be used. I didn't say abused. If its nice like keep it nice and enjoy it also.

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Welcome to THR, clanhanson.
As WisBorn said, "Gun are tools that should be used. I didn't say abused." I usually "unload" (pun intended) guns I don't use. I have no "use" (another pun) for guns that are only "safely locked away, only to fondle every so often."
Not that I don't have a few guns I don't use anymore. Examples are my first .22 rifle (62 years old now) and my first big game rifle (57 years old now). But I don't figure I'm being hypocritical by hanging onto those guns because guns like that have sentimental value to me. I can't go to a gun store, or a gun show, or anywhere else and buy a gun that has "sentimental value" to me, no matter how old, or how good of shape it's in.

Hopefully it's not from the guy who was polishing and varnishing old stuff to make it look like new, thus destroying any collector value.

Was it Mitchell's Mausers?

Shoot it.
Doc's 4th role of life
Go sliding into the hole sideways, all used up and worn out screaming, " it was a he'll of a ride"

Nice old guns deserve to be shot. If a really nice one, can be just a range toy. Hunting poses more risk of dings and dents ( maybe more than storing in a gunsafe....." Safe dings" are a thing.

Unfired stuff can be more of an investment.
But i hear of folks a couple down from the original purchaser making such claims. Kinda hard to prove.

Guy i know did buy an FAL new, and its never been fired. Its proly a 4k plus rifle....and once it goes bang its proly a grand cheaper.

So.....unless unfired can be validated......anything else is at least a range toy.

Enjoy shooting your rifle

Shoot

It

Life's too short...take it out and shoot it!

Enjoy what you've got while you can!

Now what was the question again?

Did you buy it for yourself, or for the next owner? Because that would determine who gets to shoot it.

Never heard guys wondering if they should keep their hands off their new girlfriend, so she remains tight for her next boyfriend...

Shoot it.

Why do I keep shooting? Why should you shoot?

Why does a dog lick his b*lls? Because he can.

The only difference between my nice all matching and nearly all matching Mausers, and my "beaters", is that the nice ones are not fed surplus/corrosive ammo. Shoot, clean, enjoy.

clanhanson said:

I exclusively shoot corrosive in most of my milsurps and never had any issue except when I forgot my Mosin in the pickup after shooting for three weeks (oops). I rinse the barrel and bolt face with water-diluted ballistol (moose milk) and call it good after a few patches. No windex, boiling water, etc. for me.

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My aptitude for forgetting is the reason the nice ones don't get corrosive.

clanhanson said:

I picked up a 1944 DOU k98 Mauser from an auction recently which is all original/matching (including bolt) except for the floor plate. Minor patina/wear but 90-95% bluing remains, and stock is in great shape and has its original finish. Original sight hood and cleaning rod also. I think I overpaid but I couldn't let it go. My concern is that since it's such a nice example, would it behoove oneself to keep it safely locked away, only to fondle every so often or to go and enjoy it (with a replacement stock to avoid damage to the original)? Decisions, decisions...

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I fully understand the curator mentality of wanting to preserve a outstanding and or otherwise historical firearm it's not like they make them anymore, I have about five firearms I bought planning to shoot then made a decision not to (so far) as they were in unissued condition or close to (true unissued mint not the misused term of a refurbished like new unissued). I know some say a gun is a tool but then again it is a piece of craftsmanship and history also.

Is why the few that I have as a safe queen I got shooter grades of them also eventually. However using the Enfield in the wrap as example that came over in the 90's, there are those that say taking it out of the wrap and shooting it decreases sale value and that may be true but here are examples on gunbroker of them , one in the wrap has a tag of $1700.00 with no bidders and 4 days to go, and one taken out of the wrap that has bids so far at $1250.00 with 3 days to go. I have one that I have put maybe 100 rounds through I think it's fair to say that if I put it on gunbroker I might get close to $1000. So putting a few rounds through it and enjoying it some may decrease the value but not that much considering because at the end of the day even "newish" Enfields with low round count aren't that common either.
In wrap Enfield
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/890238865

Unwrapped Enfield
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/889004150