Going retro?

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Carl Levitian

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Anyone ever go backwards with guns?

I did a huge downsize of my life a few years back, and gave a lot of my guns to my kids, grandkids, nephew and niece. I just was not interested in them anymore. I still loved to shoot, but not with the guns I gave away. I went backwards.

Now the only guns I own and shoot a lot, would look at home in a Tom Sellech western or a Humphrey Bogart film noir. Of the six handguns I kept, five of them are revolvers. Of the three rifles I kept, two are lever actions, and one a single shot. I had the modern ones with the high cap magazines, but one day I looked around at all the stuff I had accumulated, and said to myself "What the heck am I doing with all this crap?"

Now, both the better half and I have less and simpler, but we're shooting more and enjoying it more. I may not be able to shoot in a military match, but I can sure do the cowboy action shoot.

Anyone else here get burned out on the lastest whiz bangs?

Carl.
 
I have a feeling that I will get their one day..lol I figure outside of my SAIGA AK, I will never need another machine like that.

I grew up with lever action Winchester 94 BSA edition, and a Browning model 71 348 lever action. I'm trying to re-acquire those, and a S&W model 60 or 67 revolver.

Aside from the guns that I inherit , I plan on maybe just getting a Mosin, a Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe and upgrading my Mossberg 500.

I spend too much time daydreaming about guns and hunting. It keeps me up at night. Its a sort of mania, that I need to come to terms with... I think.

See, I used to be that way about guitars.. I used to own 13 guitars.. most were in the over $2k class. Now I'm down to one, and with school barely play....
 
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I started the first 30 years of my handgun shooting contributing to the "customized" handgun scene. Many improvements to various were made, and some not so needed changes, too. All in all, I found that most guns will shoot just fine as-is, with just the possibility of internal smoothing, trigger jobs, reliabilty tune-ups, etc. Too many modifications just lowers the value of a gun, and a well rounded shooter learns to shoot whatever finds its way into his hand. Nowadays, most of my guns are stock, with many dating back to pre-WWII. And like you, I am enjoying it more. Perhaps it is the challenge of trying to shoot better with a stock or vintage gun than others do with tricked out modern stuff.
 
I was out of shooting, reloading, and hunting for 25 years so all of my guns are at least that old. So what's the first gun I buy after I get back to shooting? A Hamden HS Victor made in 1975. The next was a 1911, a 100 year old design. The kids can keep the fantastic plastic.
 
Like many, I traded firearms up, down, and sideways during my early years. I also had to sell certain weapons to keep Cheerios on the table.

Today, I have a mental shopping list for recapturing the weapons of my youth (including those I actually owned and those I couldn't afford back in the day).

Uncle Sugar keeping me well-heeled with military toys cured my itch for pursuing the latest plastic-ware, NFW, etc.

My Glock is merely an implement. My Python is personal self-actualization sculpted in metal.
 
I just turned 31 and I find my tastes vary widely. I look to my AK and Glock for HD, but my fun guns are more milsurp bolt actions and I can't wait to geta Nagant revolver and a Webley.

My carry gun is also a revolver.

I think part of my milsurp kick is the lower cost, as well as the history and character behind it.
 
I have considered a nice Winchester 30-30, for another slow fire carbine with a fun to reload round. :)
My pistols are modern design, but my most modern rifle was designed in 1958.
 
I have only ever maintained a small collection myself. I've been into shooting for about 15 years but I've never owned more than 6-8 guns at once. Right now I've got a 1911, three different 9mm pistols, a .22 revolver and two .22 rifles (one single-shot lever gun and a Marlin boltgun). I am limited to a 25-yard indoor range, so centerfire rifles and shotguns seem a bit silly for me right now, though someday I hope to add one of each. There are a few other handguns I'd like to own (a CCO, an M&P45, and a Ruger 22/45 come to mind) and I think slowly I'll acquire them.

But to the OP's topic, I've never had a desire for a collection numbering in the dozens. I've got too many other hobbies to spend money on...
 
Never considered it. Bought my first gun (S&W Mdl 27) in1960. Still have it and every other one I’ve ever bought. Even if I am running out of storage space.
 
I'm young yet, but I really don't see me getting rid of any guns until I die. I even have a Jennings and a couple High Point pistols I bought early on I wont get rid of. Talk about a hybrid sickness of pack rat and gun nut. :D
 
northark147:
You have to meet one to understand that you aren't one. One of the sweetest old gentlemen I've ever met was one, to get into his house you had to walk sideways down the halls due to all the 'useful' stuff he had collected over the years. I found out because he needed a hand to get three safes in to store all the old clunker guns that he had collected along the way.
 
Ive only ever had a small collection too at any given time. Small as in, less than 10 at any given time.

There is no room for repitition or BS marketing hype in my collection. I hardly ever buy into new calibers. The newest I have ever had is a 17 HMR. Dont have it anymore because it was repetitve with the 22 despite what most will say. Lately I have gotten into a little caliber consolidation. I only have revolvers for handguns and only have 38 Special for a cartridge.

If I need a rifle my No 4 Mk 1 or 10/22 will do it fine. I am looking to upgrade (or downgrade?) the Enfield to......another Enfield. This time a 1917 Enfield.
 
Somewhat, though I haven't traded in any of my more modern guns for those of a more vintage era. What I have been doing is looking at new guns of older designs. For example: a Beretta Stampede and a Rossi Model 92 large loop carbine, both in .45LC. Always wanted a Single Action Army revolver and a lever action rifle; now I have both.
 
There was a time when I had to "scale back"; I even eliminated my 1836 Colt Navy (replica in nickel plate) :banghead:.
Now, I am am slowly scaling up.....as the budget allows & there is space in the safe ;) .
 
Carl, sooner or later we come to understand that it's quality not quantity that counts. As understanding that leads one to a much simpler and happy life I'm pleased that you are in that point in your life.
 
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