greed or complusion or ?

[76shuvlinoff]

I saw a comment on another thread that got me thinking. I won't quote it here but the just of it was over the years the writer had found himself purchasing many guns he later discovered he didn't use. I find myself headed down that road myself.

I am not a collector and what I have does not place a burden on my family financially. It has raised an eyebrow or two. I do not have a large collection (I realize this is subjective) but it is growing. I do not hunt, I just enjoy firearms of all types and punching paper, and there's the HD/SD aspect too.

As far as sidearms go it seems I have most calibers covered because for some reason I had to at least try them. The real problem is after I get one I am loath to sell or trade it. I have several firearms, both long and short, that would work fine for HD. I can run them all but I got to thinking last night. This may seem unrealistic to you all here but just suppose in the moment of truth I actually hesitated on which to grab?

Does anyone else find "cleaning house" impossible?

Maybe I'm just bored, winter is coming...


- Mark

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I have a lot of guns at my home also but they all stay locked up in my gun safe. The only one that stays out is my daily carry gun, at the end of the day it goes on my night stand beside where I sleep.

It's the one I will go for everytime for any reason.

You should have one gun that you feel that way about, a working gun that you trust, that you shoot really well with, and are very comfortable with.

If the time for need ever comes for me, I want no hesitation in having to think about what pistol I just grabbed, not even for a split second.

 

[Reloadron]

In most cases I would see it more as a matter of compulsion than greed. I tend personally to buy guns that I plan to shoot and enjoy. This may be a result of shooting such a gun at the range that was someone Else's gun or a result of having an interest in a specific gun and having done some homework. There are also occasions where word of mouth leads to an exceptional deal. Like if a pristine M1 Garand comes along for $400. Even though I don't need another Garand the price beckons buy me.

Compulsive buyers can get interesting at a gun show. Yesterday I went to a 1,000 table gun show with my wife in tow and a pocket full of cash. I had a few things in mind I was looking for and found none. I left with a $20 tin of popcorn to support the boy scouts because I view anyone who does not buy their overpriced popcorn as evil anti-American socialist and I bought a Marine Corps nice wood eagle, globe and anchor because my wife liked it, liked the guy selling them and figured I "needed" it. Spent $30 on that. That was it! There was 1,000 tables of guns, ammo, accessories and I bought popcorn and a wooden USMC plaque. Had I seen a match grade AR 15 upper or a minty S&W Model 27 I would have bought it if the price was right, or maybe a nice Colt Series 70 Government Model but never saw anything that tripped my trigger.

I don't buy a gun simply to buy it and have it. Yes, the gun safe has guns I don't shoot as much as I once did but they all get shot and I enjoy them all. I guess everyone has their reasons for buying whatever they buy, beats me.

Ron

 

[floorit76]

I am not an old man by any measure, but in my younger days I bought any gun that I came accross, that I could afford. I ended up with a pile of guns that I didn't use, in various calibers. One day it occuredto me that there were guns that I wanted, but didn't have. And guns I had, but didn't want. It's not a far leap from there to sell a few, and buy a few. My new strategy is to buy diferent guns in common calibers, giving me the ability to have diferent shooting experiences, while only needing a few diferent caliber bullets on hand. Such as a 700 sps in 223 and an AR. Interchangable magazines are also a plus for some of my guns.

 

[scaatylobo]

Yes

I am an addict and my name is Steven [ helloe Steven ].

I have been addicted to shooting and collecting firearms for many decades.

I have a "few" that I dont get to use very often [ decades ? ] and they sit cleaned in the safe.

But they dont cost me anything AND they do not deprive me and mine from anything.

So one of these days I will sell them off [ except for a few ] and them I will take that money and ------ buy a few more .

 

[tarosean]

I buy, sell, buy, sell, until I find the "ones". I sold off most of my rifles when I took up archery, things change as time goes on...

 

[Malamute]

I've cleaned house a couple times. I had stuff I didnt use, and there were a few things I'd like to have, so sold off a fair number. I dont regret much of anythug I've sold, only a few (like Colt SAA's and Smith 27's and original Winchester 86's). Its a matter of being able to afford what your current interest is, and dealing with the pile you have. When I thinned the pile, it lifted a source of worry about keeping them safe. I have a few things I dont use much, and am OK with that. I see a couple of them as functional art that I can appreciate and enjoy, if not on a daily basis, or entirely practical.

If keeping something around that I dont have much practical use for, self loaders have seemed to lose out over guns I simply find nice looking, like the late Winchester 92 high grade.

 

[critter]

We are all in a similar fix. If it is a hobby that you enjoy and can afford what you buy, it's nobody's business. Enjoy at will.

I enjoy heck out of my hunting guns.

I enjoy some for paper punching.

I have some I use for CCW and enjoy shooting them to keep them 'limbered up' and keep me current with them.

I have some that I enjoy just looking at and fondling and never shoot-such as a Colt SAA Bisley in 32-20 (original and 'papered').

SO WHAT! If it is 'good to me' , so be it. I do not have any 'regrets' nor do I feel guilt.

Join the rest of us and enjoy!

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I think I am in the same boat as you, I buy guns that interest me and my interests have changed as I age but I do not sell any as new interests pop up as I occasionally like to shoot those from an earlier interest. Besides, I figure enriching my heirs with the opportunity to own firearns that their dad, grandpa, or uncle had would be a nice legacy. I figure that when the time comes before I assume room temperature I will let them choose at least one firearm for a keepsake.

 

[rodensouth]

Nice engraving on that Winchester Malamute! 10 point after a doe, very fitting for that lever. I'd have to be pretty hungry to let one like that go.

OP, I'm just beginning to trade/sell some of mine that don't see as much use, and it is quite enjoyable in its own way. I've got 2 safes that are medium and small sized, and once they got stuffed, I had to break down and sell some to get the ones I think will suite me better. It was tough until I had the first replacement in my lap at home. Now I look at the least used ones and wonder what I could turn them into.

 

[Malamute]

....It was tough until I had the first replacement in my lap at home. Now I look at the least used ones and wonder what I could turn them into.

That's how I look at it. All those fine used guns had to belong to somebody, I'm just one of those people. I don't feel like I have to own every single gun made, or one of every single gun, or even every single thing I like. I'm generally happiest when it's more managable from several aspects. I'd far rather have less numbers and better quality in general. If that takes selling 2, 3 or 4 lesser quality, less used guns, I have no problem with it. It ends up being clutter and concern to me to have very many that I dont use much, both of which I dislike very much.

 

[tomrkba]

It's really not that big of a deal. I go back and forth all the time. I sell one, buy something else, and end up buying the first one again. Gun prices are not going down and buying the same gun over and over gets expensive!

Just stick them in the safe until it's time to use them again.

I found it's also useful to have a set of "core" guns that I never sell. These guns cover all my shooting needs and their calibers are nothing fancy: 22 LR, 38 Special, 9x19mm, 45 ACP, 5.56x45mm, 12 gauge and 308 Winchester. I shoot 22 LR, 5.56x45mm and 9mm far more than I shoot anything else. I do try to take one of the other calibers to the range at least once a month. Figure out what works for you, put your favorites in the pool and occasionally play around with all the others. If you really don't care about all the others, then trade them off for whatever you fancy at the time--just don't touch the "core" guns.

 

[larryh1108]

I have also started to sell 2 or 3 and buy a nicer one. As I get closer to retirement, I realize that there are those I grab each time I go to the range and there are those that never seem to get picked up. I've decided to sell those to get something I've always wanted but didn't have the money for. Some say never sell a gun, period. I say if you sell a gun and buy a gun you didn't really get rid of anything... you just upgraded. I am in the upgrading stage of my life.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Thanks for the replies.
As far as not knowing which one to grab that was a bit facetious but that "what if" has crossed my mind, sort of like all the other what-ifs that keep us aware. I don't have children at home to worry about these days so I keep several long and short arms at the ready. If grandchildren ever come into the picture I will need to turn back the clock to a more secure methods.

I think my sequence of events goes from reading or hearing about a caliber, investigating it, then needing to try it myself (you can't just take people's word on things ya know ). Of course I need to find the proper method for sending that caliber down range.... ok that was fun... then another caliber catches my eye.. repeat.

My concern is I have no desire to peddle any off, not even my rescued Taurus 82 beater. It works, why on earth would I get rid of it? That logic is going to be my undoing.

Thanks again.
Mark

 

[tubeshooter]

I'm in a similar boat. Getting my CCW has caused my collection to grow at a much quicker pace than it used to.

Add in the "don't get rid of it if it works fine" mindset, and soon you find yourself having storage issues.

A vendor who always seems to have some cool deal when I visit doesn't help.


It's food for thought - but there are worse problems you could have.


The only thing that bothers me is not living in the country where I could really enjoy shooting more often*. I will try to change that at some point in my life, while I still have decent vision and overall general health.





* not really a fan of gun ranges

 

[gspn]

You like them and your purchases are within your means...who cares what anyone else thinks? It's your money and your life...if you enjoy it then more power to you.

 

[justice06rr]

Its probably mostly compulsion in general for people to buy guns they don't need. If you have the extra $ lying around then its your choice to buy them or not. As long as your wife isn't giving you a hard time or your family is well fed, its no big deal.

IMHO it is better to buy more ammo instead for a few of your firearms, instead of buying way too many firearms with hardly any ammo for most of them.

 

[bannockburn]

Once I find a gun that's reliable, accurate, and great in it's particular role (plinking, target shooting, hunting, HD, CCW, etc.), then I hang onto it and never think of selling it. Over the years I have sold off a few guns when I no longer had a use for them or when I needed the money to pay for school or to buy a house.

 

[1911 guy]

For several years I was in the "Gun of the Month Club". Amassed quite a collection. Some common and a dime a dozen, some relatively rare and on the more expensive side. Only one of those was truly a "collector" piece and I bought and sold it in less than a year having never shot it. It was a Remington 20ga engraved with TCB and provenance papers. Paid for my wedding.

Now that I have a family, my collection is somewhat smaller. Probably a little over a dozen rifles and shotguns. I have considered paring it down to "bare minimum" just for cleaning sake. I just have a hard time deciding what is a luxury and what is really needed. Then I sometimes consider that building up a collection for my kids can't be a bad thing...

 

[JustinJ]

Unless my collection is preventing other people from owning firearms I can't hardly see how it would be considered greed.

 

[Dain Bramage]

You like them and your purchases are within your means...who cares what anyone else thinks? It's your money and your life...if you enjoy it then more power to you.

Exactly, and bears repeating.

Did you rob orphans and widows to buy them? Is your family on the street? Do you have a twirlable mustache?

If not, I'm not sure where greed comes into it. Have balance in your life. Enjoy, give, love, get, and be happy.

 

[Dain Bramage]

JustinJ beat me by five minutes, on a similar theme. I don't believe in the zero-sum game of life some people go by. Like if you buy a nice Browning BLR, then some guy in India won't have one.

I like to think there's a nice Ishapore Enfield somewhere for that guy in India. Ying and Yang.

 

[mdauben]

Does anyone else find "cleaning house" impossible?

You sound a lot like me, to tell the truth. I certainly have more guns already than I really need for any legitimate purpose (hunting, target shooting, self defence). That does not keep me from wanting another gun, or make me dispose of any that I have already, though.

Personally, I consider myself a gun "accumulator" rather than a collector. I don't buy certain specific guns based on their monetary value (ex. Colt DA Revolvers) or their historical significance (Winchester lever actions), in fact I tend to avoid such guns. I just buy what interests me, whether its an used Marlin .30-30 or the latest polymer gun from Austria.

 

[chris in va]

I worked with a guy that would buy a gun every week, then sell another at the same time. He must've had dozens.

After ten years of shooting handguns, my collection is condensed to three and a 22. That's all I want.

 

[12131]

I saw a comment on another thread that got me thinking. I won't quote it here but the just of it was over the years the writer had found himself purchasing many guns he later discovered he didn't use. I find myself headed down that road myself.

I am not a collector and what I have does not place a burden on my family financially. It has raised an eyebrow or two. I do not have a large collection (I realize this is subjective) but it is growing. I do not hunt, I just enjoy firearms of all types and punching paper, and there's the HD/SD aspect too.

As far as sidearms go it seems I have most calibers covered because for some reason I had to at least try them. The real problem is after I get one I am loath to sell or trade it. I have several firearms, both long and short, that would work fine for HD. I can run them all but I got to thinking last night. This may seem unrealistic to you all here but just suppose in the moment of truth I actually hesitated on which to grab?

Does anyone else find "cleaning house" impossible?

Maybe I'm just bored, winter is coming...


- Mark

You answered your own question, with that last sentence.

Seriously, nothing wrong with getting stuff that you get enjoyment out of, as long as you don't put financial burden on your family (which you also already mentioned).