Anyone Ever Think "What A Waste"?

[Mr.Blue]

Don't get me wrong, I love firearms. Sometimes I look at all my guns and think it was a waste of money. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in.

I look at all the handguns that I have and think that I only need one 9mm for carry, one for Action Pistol shooting, and a .45acp for home protection. I barely shoot the other guns. It would be different if they were collector's guns, but they aren't.

As far as long guns go, I only need an O/U for sporting clays, a home defense pump, a AR home defense, and one target rifle.

I was shooting my .300 win mag yesterday at the range and started to think that it was pure folly to shoot at paper and waste $2-$3/round.

I know I could reload. I know that I have the right to get what I want. I just think the money would be better spent going to St. Jude's for kids with cancer. I give to them anyway, but why not more? This is MY dilemma, not a commentary on anyone else's gun purchases!!!!

I sold my 2008 BMW M3 last year, as I over analyzed the utility of such a car. I miss the car, but not the $1000 I had to drop every 8,000 miles for new rear tires. I guess I am becoming less materialistic as I get older. I actually felt guilty driving an expensive foreign car in this economy.

Does anyone else question the utility/morality/insanity/intelligence of dumping thousands and thousands into their collection?

I actually think I was obsessed. I'm talking dropping $20k/year on guns (not collector's guns either).
For the record, I am no angel. I can be a real S.O.B sometimes. That said, I have a good conscience. I am also not suggesting that anyone is wrong for having a collection. People work hard for what they have and deserve to enjoy life. These thoughts that I have written pertain to me. This is what I'm thinking about my OWN situation.

 

[00]

Does anyone else question the utility/morality/insanity/intelligence of dumping thousands and thousands into their collection?

Are you part of the local Occupy-city demonstration?

If you have to question thyself every time you spend on guns, there's some deeper psychological and/or financial problems going on.

If you can afford, do what you like, no need to justify to anyone because you earned that dollar.

If you can't afford and spend yourself into a world of hurt, no one to blame but the guy in the mirror.

 

[jerkface11]

Does anyone else question the utility/morality/insanity/intelligence of dumping thousands and thousands into their collection?

Money was made to spend.

 

[Mr.Blue]

@00 - Who are you, Frasier Crane? There is nothing psychologically wrong. I am a conservative Republican and fiscal conservative who has worked on "Wall Street" (capital markets) for 15 years. I have lived and seen excesses and don't apologize for it. I am no socialist or hippie do gooder.

I am questioning my own decisions, no one else's. I am only checking to see if anyone feels the same as me.

I'm 39, so maybe I'm going through a mid-life crisis.

 

[dogrunner]

Well, you could translate that 'what a waste' point of view to looking at empty beer bottles or cancelled alimony checks...........the guns HOLD value.

 

[chhodge69]

I'd rather have guns and no money than money and no guns.

 

[CraigC]

Does anyone else question the utility/morality/insanity/intelligence of dumping thousands and thousands into their collection?

No but I have to wonder if you really needed to spend that much on tires! Were they run-flats?

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Nope, I've never had that problem.
However, it is a free country and you have the right to spend your money any way you please. If you want to spend less on guns and give more to charity, that's certainly your perrogative, and is commendable. The beauty of it is, there is no right or wrong. You do whatever snaps your cap.

 

[DAP90]

I was shooting my .300 win mag yesterday at the range and started to think that it was pure folly to shoot at paper and waste $2-$3/round.

This is why I no longer own any center-fire rifles.

There are worse things to waste money on though. Many hobbies are expensive. I don’t know about you but I need mine to stay sane.

 

[Mr.Blue]

Quote:
No but I have to wonder if you really needed to spend that much on tires! Were they run-flats?

No run flats on M3s. Michellin PS2s. It was really closer to $920 for the set installed. The problem was the 414hp to the rear wheels and soft Performance tires. My 3rd straight M3. Great cars, but buying tires pissed me off.

 

[spyder1911]

Why not give back through shooting?

I'm sure local clubs or Boy Scout would love to have a new Merit Badge instructor for shotgun and rifle shooting.

You still get to have guns but your not simply "wasting" money but continuing a sport.

 

[Doug S]

Yes, I have thought this, and do think this. We get caught up in buying, and justifying. I've gotten away from that to a large degree, but I'm still guilty of it to some extent. That's my opinion, and I'm sure many others differ. To each their own.

 

[Sport45]

I'd rather have guns and no money than money and no guns.

Not me. If I had to sell the guns to feed the family they'd be on the auction block in a hurry.

I like having my guns, but I own most of them purely for my personal entertainment.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I never feel guilty about buying a firearm. Sometimes they disappoint me (either with themselves, or service from the shope) but I never really think of them as a waste of money. On cars? I've wasted soooooo darned much money on them that if I were in the right mind, I would never have done so. But you live you learn, but I don't regret the firearm purchases.

 

[Mr.Blue]

Guns and cars, my two vices!

 

[RNB65]

All I'm thinking about it what my next firearms purchase is going to be. I've got it narrowed down to 3 choices.
-

 

[j2crows]

At 66, rifles are my only vice. That's what's great about America...You can buy all the guns you want...Or not.

 

[Gordon_Freeman]

I agree about the car. I would much rather have nice guns than a nice vehicle any day. Cars go down in value so much that it is crazy.

 

[sixgunner455]

20K a year on guns? I wish!

No, I probably wouldn't spend that much on guns, but if I did, I'd have some nice ones, and a better collection of them than I do.

Reloading does make sense, but at some income levels, only to specialize loads for particular rifles. Practice pistol ammo doesn't cost enough to justify reloading for some. It does for me, but that's me.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Mr Blue, I am in agreement whith your thoughts. I have more than I need and sometimes lament what feels like money that's been wasted. Don't get me wrong, they are good fireams the excess ones but I think I could/should have spent the money elsewhere. I don't loose sleep over it but it does cross my minf from time to time. I suppose its a good problem to have.

 

[wlewisiii]

For me it's a waste if you buy something that really isn't something you can use that takes away money from the things you can use. I try to be pragmatic in my choices. I hunt and I also want defensive tools. I do not want collectors items and I despise safe queens. If I can not take it in the field tomorrow, I do not want it. I recently had a nice Colt 357 for cheap. I sold it fast at the same price I got it because it was a collectors piece not a EDC. That is a NIB 642 paid for with the proceeds from the Colt.

By the same token, if I have the money when I find one, I'll pay what a Parker VH costs because it will be worth it when I go chasing birds with it. That, to me, would be worth every penny.

Your milage will vary.

 

[joel.favre]

Coming at this from a different point of view:
Yes, I have felt that I have wasted money on guns. Not because the guns were for any reason bad guns, or because I felt that the money would have been better off financing a different endeavour. I felt that I have wasted money on guns because I looked into my safe and saw rifles, shotguns and pistols that had not been picked up, shot, cleaned, or even thought about for months if not years. I was at one time collecting guns simply to collect them. There was no rhyme or reason to it, I would go out to the gun shop and buy a *insert firearm here* simply because I could afford it at the time and I didn't have one. Or maybe I did have one, and just wanted a second. I would regularly peruse gun ads and whatever good deal came up, I bought just because it was a good deal.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having many guns, heck, there is nothing wrong with having nothing but guns if that is what floats your boat! I have simply found that for me the best way to keep myself (and the wife) happy is to cut back, sell off the guns I don't shoot, and don't see a purpose in having, and use that money to finance one or two really nice guns that I have been lusting after for years but could never afford.
So that may not answer the question you were asking, but it is something I have grappled with and I came out of it with a solution that works just perfectly for me.

 

[Ignition Override]

Mr. Blue: Your questions about your concerns appear to be sincere. I have five Enfields (not true collector guns) and several others, but never equated ownership to what the money could accomplish.

We live near Memphis TN and giving a little money to St. Judes Childrens' Research Hospital (near here) might help lots of sick children.
Le Bonheur is also a worthy recipient.

Anyway, for people with a very healthy income (or not), money spent on ammo, guns and an extra $50 (four pizzas) to childrens' medical research is still better than money spent only on living costs and hobbies.
Car license plates (our two cars) which send a little cash to SJ instead of a self-centered vanity plate etc?

I can't watch the S.J's commercials without changing the channel, or going back to the kitchen. The outlook can be too grim for so many kids.
Pardon my frankness, just drank some beer at "Z's" in downtown Grand Rapids, MI.

 

[doc2rn]

When I am in a period of transition, like I am now, I often find myself thinking the same thing. I have some outstanding shooters and pieces of workmanship that have no equal. I concentrated on shooters not collectors pieces, and I am completely happy with the ones I have. Two of them need better glass but other than that, I am content.

Now for another Harley and an Olds 442 or Judge!

 

[Kiln]

Hell if I had back just all of the .40 Smith ammo I shot last year I'd have...

*Does math*

Over $1100 in my hand. If I added up all of the ammo I shot since I turned 18 (22 now) and bought my first gun I could probably easily buy a nice used car. Do I regret it? No, I enjoy shooting and if it costs a little bit then that is alright. Better than spending my cash on drugs.