The last gun

I think about it.
I have some of my Dads (and his dads, and step-dads) "last things".
and I enjoy knowing what they are, and who's they were.

Que sera sera

I’m always hoping every one of them is my last one I buy. I will then know I am content with guns and move on to more important things….

I bought a Glock 26 in June of 2018. I didn't know it that day but shortly thereafter I was looking at a P365 (The latest greatest) and decided I was done chasing Unicorns.

I haven't even considered a gun since.

You'll know which gun I bought last after you uncurl my dead fingers from it.

According to my wife. I've had approximately 100 last ones..

SundownRider: I'm glad you're not in ChitCongo.

Despite being in really good health for age 66, some questions come to me.

How long will good vision last, allowing some of us to use iron sights? I've Never Owned, or Had a scope on a gun. My brother had to allow an eye cataract to exist for a while before finaly getting surgery.

But there could be a fairly sudden permanent physical condition (or accident) which make shooting too uncomfortable to continue.

How long to keep most of the stored ammo? Nobody in my family shoots the Main Two Chamberings (ammo) I have stored in large quantities.

Last Gun… I hope I have so many guns I forget

I"M 75. Have I bought my last gun? Will I know when I buy my last gun? Do I plan on buying a last gun? NO.
Right now I need to buy more. 357. 40cal., 380 +. When I buy those I Will think of more. And more. I'll just keep going. If I ever get to my last. I'll never know it.

How about your last ammo purchase. Shooting through Dad’s ammo was a memorable journey. Sad when it was all gone.

Ed4032 said:

How about your last ammo purchase. Shooting through Dad’s ammo was a memorable journey. Sad when it was all gone.

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funny, I have most of my Dad's old ammo. I think about shooting some of it sometimes, but - it just means more to me that it was his, so - I'll probably just save it. It isn't much in the grander scheme of things, but - I should just use it up, but I know I probably wont.

I think with most things in life we do not know it’s “the last.”

Example: last time I went out and played a certain sport was 2019. Did I enjoy myself? Absolutely. Did I have plans to do it again? Sure, in a few days to a few weeks, just like always. But life got in the way, the seasons changed, Covid happened, my wife and I had another kid, etc etc. The other day I was thinking “I should sell my gear because it’s been years.” I certainly didn’t have any momentous feeling that “this may be the last time I ever do this.”

film495 said:

funny, I have most of my Dad's old ammo. I think about shooting some of it sometimes, but - it just means more to me that it was his, so - I'll probably just save it. It isn't much in the grander scheme of things, but - I should just use it up, but I know I probably wont.

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Shoot some on his birthday.

See my sig.

This may be a longie:

I think that after we "hit the wall" we all start to look at our own mortality.....when that is happens at different times for different people. Me at 57 hit the wall and went right through it about 10-12 years ago. I know you are thinking....WHAT in his 40's? Yup that was the first back surgery.....I was really not shooting that much, I enjoyed gunz sure, but not my main focus. I owned my own little airplane, Piper PA-28 bug smasher, traveled around the country racing sports cars, and generally living a grand life. After the surgery I got back into the car, and needed two people to get me out, I weigh ~150 at the time. I also rode bikes.....A LOT. Kept the race car, having over $80k in a car that is "worth" about $10k on a good day is just too hard a pill to swallow. Sold the little airplane, the meds I was on was a no no to fly. Sold all but one bike, the first new bike I ever bought. And was in a real funk. Depression is a very real thing and "get happy" is something that makes you want to pound the person who said it skull in. I drifted back to gunz played a few games, but that was real hard on me. At the start I did things like PPC with a 22, just to play the game. Actually started a new class doing that....they did not score me with the center fire guys, but the club knew I just needed to do SOMETHING.

Fast forward to today, and 5 surgeries and several "procedures" later I am not doing TOO bad. I ride the bike again, I still can't fly with the meds, but ok. And racing is really out. It took a while to work up to centerfire and it does take a toll on me pretty quick. But I have fun with load development (got into reloading, it is not physical at all) and found the joys of shooting off a good rest. I think I will be shooting as long as I can ride (don't walk back to the shooting area on my property, too hard most days) back to the back. One of my friends from highschool days is a facebook person, tells me people in our class are starting to die off. Guys around me, all my age, one has cancer the other heart issues, both real active guys in the past....slowing down....part of age.

The shooting thing I hope to enjoy for a few years to come, I am not sure if it will hit me like the surgery thing did out of the blue, or it will be an ease into it and just stop wanting to do it.

On another board that is a little more open to off topics I posted up a thread "making someone shoot".

It went into the father in law, an ole' country boy that at one time hunted about everything that walked or flew, not a "gun" guy just a guy that shot stuff to eat. How to get him to shoot at a birthday thing we had at my house with my kid and his wife to be. We setup the clay tosser, put a bunch of shotguns from 12 to 20 in the bed of the truck, and he just came up while the kids are shooting and wanted to shoot his brothers shotgun (an auto 5 16 I think I have talked about here)

At the end of the day I am told by the wife that everyone had a great time and we need to do this once a month.....so him 5x bypass, has not lost his love of shooting or the ability.

I hope I am there as well.

Obviously, each person’s situation is specific and at least somewhat unique.

In my case … without going into detail it would be reasonable to state that health management has become quite challenging over the course of the last year or so. I went from being a “low maintenance “ , fit and active 69 year old to being very dependent on health care providers. This type of development tends to change one’s perspective on many things pertaining to the present and future.
Shortly before the health went south I had undertaken the pursuit of a major bucket list item , obtaining and rebuilding a hot rod.
Failing health = income reduction , as I was still working and funding the silly money pit. Reality says no more work.
I determined that the completion of the hot rod was key to my psychological well being , so ….. where does the money come from?
Retirement fund? No ; I am not that frivolous.
The safe containing dozens of firearms that have not seen daylight in years? In a hot seller’s market?
Yes.
So , I can still shoot in whatever discipline I choose , the safe is roomier , the rod is funded.
Have I bought my last gun? Quite possibly. I am tapped out-and at the same time, quite happy with my toy situation.

Comes a time…..

I may have bought my Last Gun. Not because I am old, although I am 77, but because I don't see anything on the market that looks like it will improve my results, and because I read entirely too many posts on the internet about faulty guns. It seems to me that "good customer service" often amounts to a willingness to deliver a defective product and the ability to make you think they are doing you a favor by fixing it.

Ignition Override said:

How long with good vision last, allowing some of us to use iron sights? I've Never Owned, or Had a scope on a gun. My brother had to allow an eye cataract to exist for a while before finaly getting surgery.

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I shoot mostly IDPA and USPSA, slow though I may be, and am clinging to my iron sighted pistols in the face of a wave of "carry optics."
I have been out of rifle shooting for a while, but my last event there was BPCR shot with iron sights.

SundownRider said:

My grandfather’s birthday would have been a couple weeks ago. (He’d have looked great for 110!)
He had some rifles and a shotgun which I inherited, and hope to pass on someday.
But it got me thinking about when he stopped shooting. Did he know when he bought his last gun? Is it something that just happens, or do we, at some level, know it has happened? I did a great Sell-Off last year and wonder now, have I bought my last? Do I know it?
Anyone else ever think about it?

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Sometimes we know and sometimes we don't. Whatever will be will be. A good friend of mine and shooting buddy was in his 40s when he suffered a massive coronary. He was an only child, parents deceased and an attorney less a will. Ross and I had a thing going with a S&W Model 29. We sold that gun back and forth for a few years, each time $350.00 and fortunately I had it last and he just bought a nice over/under skeet gun. Pretty sure he had no idea it would be the last gun he would buy. My sister's husband, a great guy and shooting buddy developed non Hodgkins lymphoma. He knew the last gun he bought was going to be the last gun he would ever buy. I recently bought a few guns and at 72 in decent health I would like to believe the last guns I bought will not be the last guns I ever buy. Que sera sera or whatever will be will be, the future is not ours to see.

Ron

Jim Watson said:

I may have bought my Last Gun. Not because I am old, although I am 77, but because I don't see anything on the market that looks like it will improve my results, and because I read entirely too many posts on the internet about faulty guns. It seems to me that "good customer service" often amounts to a willingness to deliver a defective product and the ability to make you think they are doing you a favor by fixing it.



I shoot mostly IDPA and USPSA, slow though I may be, and am clinging to my iron sighted pistols in the face of a wave of "carry optics."
I have been out of rifle shooting for a while, but my last event there was BPCR shot with iron sights.

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I hear you on that customer service thing. I looked here for a long time before starting an account. I really want to start the long range game, I think that would be the only thing I am looking at that might improve results, but that is really not why I want to do that, it just seems like it would be fun to do, and some of the games you don't have to move around too much.....getting up off the ground is a bit rough.

I have thought for years on buying a Ruger 77/357 just seems like it would be fun. I enjoy the hell out of my lever rifle in that same flavor, and think a little bolt gun would be fun. Would it really bring anything to the table, no not really....but I am still working for a few more years so I can afford the toys for now. But I hear you on the customer service....really fear not getting "a good one".

Still fairly healthy at 78. Just had cataract surgery on both eyes. But ok otherwise. Debating how long I can deer hunt. Maybe I just need to count my blessings.

I think about it. I'm in my mid 60s and have started the process of downsizing. I'm in no rush but I'd like to halve my number by the time I retire in a couple of years. Have I bought my last gun? Probably not. Knowing myself as I do, I'll likely be swayed by a "good deal" or feel like assembling another Remage, but my plan is to give or sell a couple before any new addition.

My FIL was a hunter and not a collector; he had a pretty stable collection of working guns for the many years I knew him. He sold a few as he slowed down, and he designated that I receive his long cherished Remington 700 ADL in 7mm Mag. But he bought a Taurus Judge a couple of years before he died, mainly because he thought it was "neat." To my knowledge, that was his last gun.

I think I may have bought my last gun. All of them were used when I got them. Four of them were worn out or missing parts. I rebarreled five rifles and made one rifle from raw materials. So, I could end up repairing or making anther one, but can't see buying another, well maybe a centerfire revolver.

earlthegoat2, your post is very perceptive and an important recognition.

I had those thoughts two years ago, when I ripped the tendons out of my shoulder, lifting things I have lifted my whole life. At 60 years old, the doc decided to let it mend on its own, and the long rehab was started. I decided there and then, that it was time for me to start shooting with both hands, as I was way to fond, of my BFR revolvers, and if it hurts on that side, use the other hand. That was then and now, I can shoot either handed, with both pistol, or rifle, and I have probably 75% of my bad shoulder back, but I sure can predict the weather alot better, as aches and pains, that are alot more noticeable. I have noticed that I don't get that 303 Lee Enfield out as much, from the safe... mental note, need to get a butt limb saver, to cover up all that brass on the end of that stock. The shoulder is better, but not that good. LOL Keep shooting and buying, as one day, it will all change. My dad would always say,"time waits for no one". So true.

stonebuster said:

Shoot some on his birthday.

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you know I gotta say, that's just too perfect and I can't believe I never thought of that

WiTom said:

I had those thoughts two years ago, when I ripped the tendons out of my shoulder, lifting things I have lifted my whole life. At 60 years old, the doc decided to let it mend on its own, and the long rehab was started. I decided there and then, that it was time for me to start shooting with both hands, as I was way to fond, of my BFR revolvers, and if it hurts on that side, use the other hand. That was then and now, I can shoot either handed, with both pistol, or rifle, and I have probably 75% of my bad shoulder back, but I sure can predict the weather alot better, as aches and pains, that are alot more noticeable. I have noticed that I don't get that 303 Lee Enfield out as much, from the safe... mental note, need to get a butt limb saver, to cover up all that brass on the end of that stock. The shoulder is better, but not that good. LOL Keep shooting and buying, as one day, it will all change. My dad would always say,"time waits for no one". So true.

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Thanks to the army my son suffered a torn shoulder tendon and the same "let it heal on it's own" treatment. It put him out of the army and now, years later, he is getting ready to have surgery to pull it back to where it belongs and reattach it because his arm finally became almost unusable. It should have been done when it happened. Now the VA gets to pay for it.