The conundrum I can't get past.

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WestKentucky

WestKentucky

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I have a love for revolvers, heavily, deeply rooted in the 357/38spl but I also have a fondness for 44 magnum/spl. I don't favor one over the other, and am considering parting ways with one or the other. My current shooter arms in 357 are a 15" emf buntline and a Taurus 66. My current shooter arms in 44 are a Taurus m44 6" and a super 16 contender pistol. I reload for both, have loads worked up for both, and components stacked for both to make another thousand rds give or take. The reason I consider liquidating one or the other would be to grow the collection of shooter guns (I also own guns I would not shoot to preserve value and condition) to include a rifle in the caliber and a vaquero in the caliber. I have no need to get rid of a caliber so a third option is to "hold pat" with what I have. I would have trouble parting with any of the arms as they are all good shooters and have some sentimental value. So what do I do?
 
I can’t say what YOU should do. But personally, I don’t have or want a gun that I can’t or won’t shoot. So, if it were me, I’d sell the non-shooters and buy shooters. But, that’s just me.
 
If financial considerations are not an issue (that is you don't have to sell some in order to get something new), I would hold pat and save up to get the other guns you want.
 
I have sold/traded many guns to get something new. Most of us cannot keep them all. A few I regret, but most I do not.
 
I never regret the guns I've sold, only the ones I didn't buy. There was always a reason I sold the one I did. My guns have to earn their extended stay in my safe.
 
It comes down to what you can afford, how speculative your leap towards a new gun is, and how difficult it would be to go back if you find out you were wrong.

Personally, I won't sell a gun I like to fund a gun I want, because want is not the same as will like, need, or even "can use," and frankly I have a hard time finding the guns I like.

If it was a Glock I would sell it in a second and not look back. There are millions of identical Glocks and everyone wants to sell them so it will be no trouble to get another. But a 15" EMF buntline? I have never actually seen one in person and a quick scan of their web page only shows a 12" version. To me that seems like it would be in the "if you like it don't sell it," category, though not quite to the extent that an out of production model would be.

The
 
If you have a gun that you like and that shoots well, don't part with it unless you have to. I think this is very sound advice.

Guns that you don't like, or that don't perform well, are another issue entirely.
 
Guns come and go around here like the seasons.

Nothing special about a shooter in any caliber.

Many people will be consolidating soon if they haven't already. The price and availability of components will be a factor. I'm down to 1 revolver, 1 pistol and 1 rifle caliber. In your situation 44 would be better. It's easier to find a lever rifle (assumption) in 44 than a 357. Also I would prefer a 44 revolver but that's just me.
 
I often find myself with the same problem. I own lots of guns I will never shoot for the same reason and try to limit the ones I shoot. I try not to get myself past about five or six shooters. One of the reasons I do this is I enjoy guns as investments and do not want to get too much into shooters. So when it comes to selling guns I will never part from the bulk of my collection. I enjoy owning them. But I will buy and sell the shooters. I will never regret selling any of those. But I would never get over parting with the others.

That being said I dont blame you getting rid of one of your revolvers for a rifle.
 
I'd get rid of the Buntline and the Contender and get a carbine in .357/.44 or both. The Buntline and Contender are basically carbines without a shoulder stock and neither would be as much fun or as accurate to shoot as a lever carbine in a handgun caliber.
 
The more I think about this the more stuck I am on 357. I can buy barrels for the contender and have LOTS of fun with it. The buntline was a grail gun but I want a nicer one. The Taurus 44 was made in the period where they were mimicking the python and hand fitting every part...and it shows. So of the pile, the 66 may have to go to fund a couple more barrels for the TC, one of which will be 357 max.
 
I have sold guns and never missed them and sold guns that I still kick myself for selling . If you can think on it for a year or so then flip a coin .. I almost sold a Colt Trooper a few years back So glad the guy never showed up .
 
If you truly want to consolidate calibers, that would be a sound reason for getting rid of a few. Just wait it out for a while, at least a month or two. If you're waffling about it in your head, don't sell. If you're committed to it, go ahead.
 
With the word "or" comes possible regret. One can always make more money. "And" is a much better word. No regret there . "Both" is excellent as well .
 
Unless you're really hard up for cash, I say "don't sell." Set one or the other cartridges aside for a spell. If that spell turns into a year or more, then you might consider getting out of that cartridge altogether.

Like you, I reload and shoot both .357 and .44 mag. I enjoy the versatility of both cartridges, and have handguns and long guns in each. But I don't think I would willingly give up one or the other. Having both really extends the power range. So I say pick one and work with it. If you don't miss the other after a good while, only then consider getting out of it.
 
In your situation, if I had to sell something to get something, I would sell the 44s & get a pistol & rifle in 45 Colt
 
I would not get rid of your guns! Sounds like you are second guessing it anyway. If you sell one or the other, it will only lead to heartache down the road. Trust me, been there done that!

All you need to do is set goals for yourself. Make a "gun fund" and put some money in there every paycheck. Enjoy the neat guns you have in the meantime, and soon enough you will have enough money from the gun fund to get a new gun! And you won't have to worry about any regrets from selling one of your guns you already have.
 
I usually buy the new gun first then think about selling the old gun " to pay for it"

Sometimes it works that way sometimes it doesn't.
 
Hold on to what you like to own, and enjoy shooting.

The want for a new gun is a passing thing. Today you'll want this, tomorrow that. The fondness for the one you already have becomes regret when you don't have it anymore.
 
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