Ever Thin Out Firearms Collection?

About every 5 years. Usually, I try to get down to common calibers to save on ammo. Just downsized to only .357 mag .22, 12 GA...went from 19 guns to 7

I recently cut my collection back by 25 firearms to let other people use and appreciate the ones I had gathering dust and to reduce the number of calibers I have to stock. I also did it to upgrade the quality of what I kept in my collection.

Don't worry though, I still have more than I sold...

Alsoplustoo - the average of a 125% profit didn't bother me much.

Ever Thin Out Firearms Collection?

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Been there. Done that.
Sold two 12 gauge riot guns and bought three pre-64 Model 70's
Felt much thinner

Yep. A few year ago I got rid of several very good guns that I didn't shoot and bought a few that I do shoot. I don't deer hunt so why did I need 2 .30-06s, a 7mm mag, 3 .243s, a 6.5X55, 2 .308s, etc. These were Winchesters, Weatherbys,CZs, Rugers,etc but they just didn't get shot.

I got 9 that's close to my all time high and there's nothing I want to part with and really nothing I need to add.

Yes, it's part of the process for me. I can't rent or borrow most guns I'm interested in - classics, rarities, antiques, higher end stuff - so buying is the only way to experience them first hand. Most stay, but some get sold if I find I don't like them. Also, I will upgrade stuff, so if I get too many duplicates i will sell some. At the end of the day, our collection is growing, not shrinking though. Just trimming the fat so to speak.

No. Standing right now at more than a dozen and less than a hundred with several interesting antiques as well as historical military arms.

yeah... sure... I've sold a 4" Kimber 1911 (didn't care for the way it recoiled) and a HK45 (got a Glock 21 instead)

I went through my collection within the last year and most things that hadn't seen any range time in over a year went to friends first, then on the market for sale/trade. Not only did I consolidate the number of firearms I had, which helps me to stay proficient with everything I own and simplify reloading, but I ended up with a lot higher quality pieces in the process.

Sell one to buy one is my general rule.

Except for some guns that I inherited, everyone that I bought had a purpose for either now or the near future.

For example: The safari I planned to take in Africa is not going to happen, barring a lottery win, so the Weatherby .378 and .300 Magnums are of no use for where I’ll be hunting.

The Winchester Model 97 for cowboy action shooting has yet to fire it’s first shot at Black Bart or Rattlesnake Smith.

I can sing the same tune for about twenty other guns, so with many guns bringing premium prices it just might be a good time to thin the herd.

Only once, when I broke my leg a couple years ago, was feeling low and thought my shootin' days were over ... NEVER GONNA' MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN! Replaced everything I unloaded ... cost me more, but then I also upgraded!

Sell guns? Yer bordering on blasphemy there, buddy.....

Hello friends and neighbors // I call it trading up.

Thin the [strike]collection[/strike] accumulation just because it was too large?
NO!
But I do periodically try to consolidate by caliber and action type.

Rather than selling guns, I should really focus on not buying guns that don't 'fit' with what I have or what I need.

ive done this to a point. ive had ust about every caliber handgun out there at one time or another.........

now i usually stick to .32acp, 9mm, .45acp, 10mm, .22lr, .38spl, .357mag, .44spl.

Apart from my late fathers shotgun I only started buying firearms in the last 2 years.
There are still many things I want to buy but I can't see myself ever selling anything to buy something else.
I would hate to be those people who sold guns only to regret it later on.
I'm sure that there are a few former Colt Python owners out there that wish they hadn't sold theirs.

Dynasty said:

I was wondering if any members realized their firearms collection was too large and decided to thin out their collection? I own eight firearms now and want to add a few more. However, since I shoot only a few times per month, I wonder if the guns I buy will just be safe queens. Was there ever a point when you looked at your firearms and realized you weren't shooting them and they were just collecting dust? If so, did you sell some and only keep the guns you actually shoot?

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NOPE.......... And I have some that I have not shot in years.

I used to buy 3 recoil springs per gun, but now buy 3 guns per gun.

I do. It's educational to learn the operation and characteristics of various firerams and then trade them in for differenr models.

NOPE! I've been collecting for over 50 years, sold 1 firearm in my lifetime and never gave any away. See no reason to. Collection is way past the first 3 digits. Many of them get shot seldom only a few have never been shot, by me at least.

Yes.

I've gotten rid of my revolvers that didn't meet my high standards, i.e., those that didn't have great lock-up, good timing or weren't really accurate.

I've gotten rid of my autoloaders that I didn't find particularly ergonomic, weren't particularly accurate or reliable or just plain didn't interest me.

I've gotten rid of those guns that I never found the urge to admire because they didn't have those classic looks; I've sold off or traded those guns that never seemed to need to go to the range ...

I've kept a couple because of sentimental attachment (i.e., first gun I ever shot with my wife or kids, etc.) but ...

I've decided to stick with only .38/.357/9mm/.45ACP in handguns (screw the .380, don't see the need for .22, .25, .32 or even 10mm or .44) and in long guns, I'm down to .30-06, .223/5.56mm and 12-gauge. Oh, yeah, there's always the .30-30 lever gun!

Don't do .22 and life is too short to own or carry ugly guns.

Other than two guns, I have every one I've ever bought or been given and still have my very first BB gun from 1976. I have two safes full and need a third. Then, again, I am OCD person and "collect" everything I like. At one time I had 47 guitars and basses and I currently have 12 motorcycles. I have a difficult time getting rid of anything. :banghead:

I am trying to do that now but nobody is buying bolt action surplus rifles.