“Minimalist” Principles for Guns and Ammo

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I’m not selling but not buying either, my needs are being met so I’m satisfied.

.380 and 9mm get the bulk of my CC time, one gun in each caliber and two in .40 for variety.
 
AJC1 said:
I downsize on the front end. I moved 8 times in 23 years of service and I just don't get or collect what I don't need. Prevents the later heartache. Not being able to mover arisols is a major ptia. Getting rid of a new can of chain wax or can of plexus
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I think this is the only "minimalist" post on this thread. Hahaha! I'm a firm believer in simplifying, but dang, I sure have accumulated a lot more revolvers than the missus and I actually use. Only a few calibers, though--I prefer stacking deep, I guess.
 
I started thinning stuff out the first year that I retired. A buddy and I got a table at a local gun show and sold a bunch of stuff. Guns, die sets, brass, knives, belt buckles, ect.

We're fixing to do it again next month. I offered the boys any of that stuff and took the sale money and bought a few things that I want worse.

As for loading ammo, I load less hunting ammo than I do revolver ammo and less revolver ammo than 9mm, 40 S&W, and 223.
 
.308 Norma said:
:rofl:
I paid attention to something I actually did see on TV about 10 years back. Some woman was explaining how to eliminate the clutter in your kitchen junk drawer. She said to just dump everything in your junk drawer in a cardboard box, and write the date on the box.
Then, for the following year, every time you use something in the box, put it back in the junk drawer after you use it. At the end of the year, throw or give away everything left in the box.
The problem is, try as I might, I just can't see how I can apply that advice to a single one of my gun safes or gun cabinets. I admit I'm a bit of a hoarder - maybe not a "crazy hoarder person like you see on TV," but I have hoarder tendencies for sure. It's probably because I'm an offspring of depression era parents. ;)
At any rate, now that I'm well into my seventh decade, I do think about downsizing a bit - not just guns, but power tools and such too. The problem is, I'm not just a bit of a hoarder, I'm a bit of a procrastinator as well. And I can't blame THAT on my depression era parents, darn it! :p
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I grew up in rural New England and we were as frugal as they came. Nothing wasted, tools and gear kept in top condition. I can’t tell you how many cast iron skillets and heavy steel pots my grandmother had, or how many jars of assorted hardware, boards, pipe, etc. my grandfather kept in the cellar.

They were no guns but fishing gear, gardening was for dinner and canning. We saved everything. But what a chore cleaning up when my grandparents passed.
 
Buzznrose said:
I grew up in rural New England and we were as frugal as they came. Nothing wasted, tools and gear kept in top condition. I can’t tell you how many cast iron skillets and heavy steel pots my grandmother had, or how many jars of assorted hardware, boards, pipe, etc. my grandfather kept in the cellar.

They were no guns but fishing gear, gardening was for dinner and canning. We saved everything. But what a chore cleaning up when my grandparents passed.
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Cleaning out my grandpa's garage he had a full kiln and about 2 tons of ceramic molds. That generation threw away nothing.
 
no, but I haven't been at it that long. eventually, the hobby aspect of it changes and I expect in 10 years I'll probably want to be doing things differently. that being said, the chances of me adding any more cartrdiges to what I already shoot is very low. possible, but low.
 
AJC1 said:
I downsize on the front end. I moved 8 times in 23 years of service and I just don't get or collect what I don't need. Prevents the later heartache. Not being able to mover arisols is a major ptia. Getting rid of a new can of chain wax or can of plexus
Click to expand...

We kinda did the same. 9 duty stations over 28 years, some short and some longer. But I wasn’t much into guns through my career. Guns were for hunting and a bit of plinking, and some stayed packed away for years at a time.

But we did thin out some other stuff in our world, but never knowing where we were going to land made us keep more crap than needed. Military retirement and stability caused changes….and I reengaged in the casual shooting sports with vigor. That began 12 years ago. Two years ago, I brought reloading back into my life. Another accumulation of needed and unneeded stuff. LOL!

Today, I am simply trying to make a vector check…am I on the right path regarding guns and ammo? Is there a smarter way?

Lots of good answers from this forum. Thank you all!
 
I have refined and/or consolidate my collection to 4 calibers.

Like many of you my guns spend more time in my safe than anywhere else. I always marvel at someone who shows off a 14 gun collection of favorite lever action rifles. I mean, that's OK but it represents a lot of investment NOT being used. Then when we pass on our kids sell them for a dime on a dollar.

The problem is getting to the best essential rifle type, features, and then caliber.

Everyone needs a:
1. Big game rifle
2. Target/varmint /small game rifle
3. CC handgun/home defense weapon
4. shot gun
5. A .22 of some kind.

And if you can combined #s 1 & 2 to some kind of mutually acceptable caliber, all the better.

Exceptions being true of you collect cowboys guns, or Viet Nam era weapons, or like a particular brand or caliber, and etc.
 
Buzznrose said:
We kinda did the same. 9 duty stations over 28 years, some short and some longer. But I wasn’t much into guns through my career. Guns were for hunting and a bit of plinking, and some stayed packed away for years at a time.

But we did thin out some other stuff in our world, but never knowing where we were going to land made us keep more crap than needed. Military retirement and stability caused changes….and I reengaged in the casual shooting sports with vigor. That began 12 years ago. Two years ago, I brought reloading back into my life. Another accumulation of needed and unneeded stuff. LOL!

Today, I am simply trying to make a vector check…am I on the right path regarding guns and ammo? Is there a smarter way?

Lots of good answers from this forum. Thank you all!
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I didn't reload while in, my dad did me some and I shot a lot of 22. I had one pistol and two rifles that entire time, and when overseas they lived at my dad's. I've only grown 1 pistol and 2 rifles since. Honestly I don't buy more I rotate stock from dad's collection.
 
I think this is age related. At some point you take a look around and start taking stock of what you don't want left around if there are no interested heirs. What I actually took to the range on a regular basis factored in.

I've sold off 5 guns in the last 2 years or so. Not that many left at this point, but may cull a little more as geezerhood progresses.
 
My extra handguns and a few redundant centerfire rifles were sold.

True minimalism? Having only guns with no scopes or other accessories, including tactical gear..
I've never owned a scope or light etc (handgun Or rifle), and only bought two muzzle brakes for my many rifles in the past.

A friend has a professionally-reblued, Non-"sporterized ( ;) ) " Czech Mauser with beautifully-stained wood, and resembles a type of 'scout rifle', with a B Square (no drill) mount for a scope.
He won't even Discuss :confused: the possibility of whether he might sell it in the future. That wonderful specimen would be way beyond minimalism but I Don't Care.
 
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Hokkmike said:
Everyone needs a:
1. Big game rifle
2. Target/varmint /small game rifle
Click to expand...

No, I don't.
I killed a couple deer with rifle, couple with muzzleloader, over two dozen with a bow, and one with a 10mm pistol. That said...
Use to live on 20 wooded acres in KY; before we moved, I quit hunting, I was just done with it, lost my desire.
I sold all bolt action rifles, bows, muzzleloaders, including the 22 mag bolt action I used to dispatch chicken killing varmints. (Wife had pet chickens).

I now live a short walk to the beach and have to go to a indoor range to shoot; I knew that was part of it before I moved here to my 1/5 acre lot.
No desire to hunt, I don't need a big game rifle nor a small game rifle. (I hate to think how hot it would be sitting in a ground blind in FL and the bugs would be bad)
I do have a AR15 (boys killed a deer with it) but it is a safe queen, not been shot in several years.
 
I'm not to the point of downsizing yet, but I can see it from here.
My parents went through that stage a few years ago. Guess what they did with a bunch of their unnecessary things? Thats right! .......my house!
The old family pendulum wall clock, the paintings, the books, the pictures....etc...and yes, some guns.
 
I sold about half of my guns at auction a few months ago and am planning another downsize. I'm 77 with health issues and don't want my wife to deal with disposing of firearms after I'm gone. My son has all the ones he and my grandson want. I will keep a few simply for sentimental reasons, my Ruger Single Six and my 1960 Winchester Model 70 even though I will never go hunting again and haven't shot the Ruger in years.

I will keep some favorite handguns, defensive shotguns, .22 rifle, .17 HMR for ground squirrels on my property. My issue is thousands of rounds of handloads. Auction place doesn't want them. Too many for local PD to take.
 
Can’t see myself ever getting to the minimalist point however I did and am continuing to downsize since retiring. I lived and raised our family in the same house for over 30 years, it’s amazing how much “stuff” one accumulates. When we moved to what was our second home we gave away a ton of redundant household items and filled two dumpsters. I think one more 40 yarder will do it lol. I told myself that I would start to give away or sell the guns I no longer shoot, starting with shotguns, and to date have given one to a family member so yeah I’m dragging my heels a bit. Perhaps this thread will motivate me to get down to the three or four that in all likelihood I’ll shoot once a year…
 
allisd17 said:
I haven't sold a gun in a couple of years. There's not a rifle or handgun I own that I don't load for and shoot, although I don't shoot the most valuable ones very often. I am in my retirement house and there's no reason to downsize.
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Only reason to down size is consideration of heirs. My family knows the relative value of my arms. I shudder to consider an heir would sell the lot or several guns for a lump sum and get about 40 to 50 cents on the dollar.
If no heirs, figure how to sell it all prior to death and leave the cash to your favorite charity.
 
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