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Buy more guns or improve the ones I have?

V

vanfunk

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Joined
Jan 9, 2003
Messages
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The widening gyre
Hi All:

So I’ve spent the last couple of years re-amassing a large collection of firearms. I say re-amassing because 20 years ago, I had a broad collection but ended up selling off most of it when life got “busy.” I’ve bought back copies of many guns I used to own and love, and frankly I am pretty happy with what I have (again!). With that said, there’s always the allure of the shiny new penny and I just love “new gun day” as much as anyone.

But now that I have three safes full of pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns, I am thinking about pausing my purchasing and perhaps refining my collection with ancillaries. Examples: my LWRC REPR .308 is underglassed right now for the range it’s capable of. Instead of buying another gun, how ‘bout splurging on a Leupold Mark 4 or 5 (or equivalent) for it? I love my HK P30L and thought about getting another (probably LEM) but maybe I should make this one better with an optic cut from Wright Armory. Maybe my Glocks need Johnny Glock triggers? Get where I am coming from?

I guess what I am trying to ask the collective is whether I should continue to purchase new guns and expand the collection, or satisfy myself that I have lots of nice things that I could make “nicer?”

Thanks for sharing your insight!
 
I have very few guns that are still exactly like they came from the factory. Pretty much every one has a worked/slicked up action, an improved trigger (mostly worked, but a few aftermarkets), scopes or other sighting device that I like, some sort of accurizing if feasible, etc. If I didn't have two sons that I expect to pass along some nice "curated" guns to, I'd probably reduce my quantity to about one-third of the current count, and just keep my top favorites that I most enjoy shooting.
 
I’m in the “make better” stage of life, but only what I “think is needed”, not the “makes it look cool” part. I’ve shot everything I own enough to know which guns I really want to keep and will actually shoot, the rest have been sold off. I thought I needed more, one of everything, but I realized if I don’t shoot them or they don't serve a purpose, they are just things. Now I know what I need, front strap checkered, Chen magazine well, grips that actually fit my hand on revolvers, gold bead front sights and plain black U shaped rear sights. These plus a few more improvements makes shooting much more enjoyable for me and cleans up a too full safe of guns that just sit around. I have enough good quality magazines and reloading components to last me quite a while into the future.
 
Buy more guns or improve the ones you have? What problem are you trying to resolve, where to spend your paycheck? Seriously, if you are to the point of asking people where to spend money on your own collection that none of us have seen in order to satiate your needs (and we don't know you, personally), then is sounds like buying for buying sake. There is nothing wrong with that if you have the money to spend, but what you are asking should be more reflective on how you feel about the situation than how we feel about it.

I will say this. If the collection is for investment value, then buying expensive chotskies like Leupold scopes isn't going to improve your collection's value over time as scopes tend to get dated and lose their value faster than the firearms, unless, of course, it is a period/piece-specific to a given rifle and then mating the pair may cumulatively increase the value overall as a set, but otherwise, not a good investment.

If you need a scope because your shooting needs have changed, then by all means, buy the scope, but that isn't a need you have expressed.
 
BTDT. I'm largely between "improvement" projects now, but I seem to be a sucker for them. For example, I bought a Remington 700 action two years ago that led me down a fairly deep rabbit hole.

Rem700Chassis.jpg

I've fallen into a lot of gun project pitfalls over the years.

Marteenies&Ammo.jpg K31Custom.jpg LEJungled02.jpg NickleSuper.jpg RemingtonNo4Relined.jpg RemingtonRBCarbine.jpg Savage99.jpg TCEncore44.jpg Winchester1906NS.jpg

Some were just minor repairs, glass bedding or replacement of a damaged stock. Some were almost invisible, like the new barrel liner on my No.4 Rolling Block. And some were elaborate makeovers. Most ended favorably, but I've gradually moved away from this sort of thing due to a lack of skilled gunsmithing talent in my area, and a general desire to buy better condition and just leave in original condition.

A few years ago I sold off several project guns that weren't moving forward. My recent "new" (mostly old stuff) purchases have been either fine as-is or just in need of something fairly simple like grips or optics.
 
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Personally i have never understood the collectors mentality. I want good guns that have a specific job to do, and that get shot regularly.

From the sound of it you have way more guns than I would care to.

Generally I try to get to the range every month, twice if I'm able. I will Generally take 2 to 3 guns with me, 1 of which is my primary defensive rifle/pistol. If i can't get through my collection in a year, i have too many guns. A gun i am not familiar with due to lack of training time is a waste imho and my money would be better spent on a better version of what I have, improved accessories, ammo, or training.

Not saying you shouldn't have your collection, im not knocking it, just don't understand it, and its not for me. If I had money to spend it would be on new glass, more ammo, and gas to get to the range
 
I'm doing the improve/upgrade phase now.

By count I'm up to 68 guns now. I suppose I could get a few more, but I'd rather channel the discretionary money into the "experience" category like hunting trips. Must be an old guy thing.

IF I do spend more than my normal allowance for reloading supplies, it will probably be on some range improvements, more steel and some dirt work on a new berm or two.
 
I'm kind of in the same boat. I am moving toward shooting more, getting some training (I have plateaued shooting on my own), and really only thinking about/buying things that I find especially neat, rare, or fit a specific need. I have really tried to find a gun to buy and just haven't been that enthralled by the most recent offerings.

Having said that, my son just finished his first year at Montana State and wanted to go shopping as a congrats. They have very cool store in Bozeman and we ended up getting a Daniel Defense PCC. I need another 9mm rifle like a hole in the head, and I realize this one does not have all the hotness of a delay roller PCCs, but he really likes it and it was fun shopping together so there you have it we have a new gun! Things like that happen.

I do see myself culling a few in the safe to become more proficient with the ones that stay.
 
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I think you should make your guns the best that they can be and you afford and buy new that can’t get off of your mind .
 
i have lots of shooters.........Now I'm in the improvement stage.........Swarovski or Meopta glass for all my scope use.....High $$$ binoculars.........Suppressors for some of my rifles and pistols..........LOTS of ammo & reloading supplies on hand..........Night Vision scopes on a couple of rifles............Just fun stuff ya know
I already have my own private shooting range and skeet field............I have been Blessed!
 
It depends. It always depends. Everybody needs a few nice ones. Whether it's high end brands, engraving, fancy finishes, fancy woods, whatever blows your skirt up. I've done that. Now I'm kinda in the cheap fun, "let's try something weird" phase. Don't care about bragging rights (what's that?), competition, obsessing about tiny groups, clinging to stuff or taking things too seriously.



R Reed said:
.......i have too many guns.
Click to expand...
What means this??? :rofl:
 
I’m going to shoot what I have for now. But I know I’ll add a few eventually. 50 Desert Eagle, Contender Set, Another X frame S&W, Tech 9, Micro Uzi, Draco, All the Hi-Points. that’s all really. Unless a SMOKING deal comes my way, U’m pretty much done buying too

I do have future plans on transferable Full Auto in the distant future
 
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