New Guns Never Fired?

[AUTIGER04]

Maybe Im just Young and Dumb. But, Why would anybody buy a mass production gun of any kind and not fire it? I know a fellow at work that has a Ruger GP 100 New in Box never fired. He has had it for 10+ yrs. Another buddy has a Winchester rifle NIB never fired. He has had it for 10+ yrs. Your everyday Winchester rifle. No collectables. Just everyday gunshop guns.

 

[Chairman Meow]

Just to look at them I guess...

I think some people buy guns thinking that they are safe just because it is there and don't realize that they have to spend hours and hours shooting different loads and arguing about bullet designs and stopping power before they can realistically stop an intruder....

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Currently have 7 -----oopps 8----unfired guns---spending more time making money than shooting----that situation will change a bit now that hunting season is upon us.

The gun store is closer than the range

 

[444]

You might have got a super good deal on it that you didn't want to pass up.
You might have bought it as a backup/spare.
You might have just not got around to it.
It might have been a gift that you really didn't want.

There are lots of reasons. I have a number of standard production guns that I have never fired. I have a new in box Springfield M1 that I got for about half retail price from a guy hurting for money. I wasn't going to let a deal like that get away, but I have never got around to shooting it.
I have a Ruger Redhawk in .357 that I have never fired. They are somewhat rare and the price was right. I already have another one along with maybe a dozen or so other guns in that caliber.
I have a Raven .25 auto that I bought just because it was dirt cheap. I had bought a Raven as my first gun on my 21st birthday because that was all I could afford. I bought this one just because I thought I ought to own a copy of the first handgun I ever bought with my own money. I have a Colt 1911 that I bought as a back up and plan to send it away for some custom work that I have never shot. I have a Browning Hi-Power that was simply beautiful that I have never shot-if I want to shoot a Hi-Power I have two more.
I have others with various stories. I also have a fair number of guns that I haven't shot for years.

Not to be elitest, but once you have a certain number of guns already, the wild desire to go out and fire a new one isn't as strong as it would be if you only owned one or two. Especially if the new one is similar to ones you already own. I find myself in this situation on payday if I worked a crazy amount of overtime and see what I think is a great deal and have a lot of cash in my pocket.

 

[No4Mk1]

One more reason....

I have 3 versions of one particular firearm. One is in superb condition and I rarely shoot it so as to preserve its value, one is my shooter, and the other I got so cheap that I bought it for parts for the first two. The parts gun has never been fired and likely never will be.

Just one more reason.....

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

I use to be bad about this myself. Come home with a NIB
weapon, and let it lay around the house for months (not any
years) unfired; or until my friend and fellow THR member
Capbuster motivated me into trying it out! I guess
thats a sign of owning too many guns; or only shooting your
favorites on range day?

But, I'm getting better. My latest acqusition, a 6" Smith &
Wesson 686-5 purchased NIB in April of 2001 has made
absolutely only 2 range appearances; with the last one
being a couple of weeks ago. It will be going to the range
the first Saturday in November, to test the newly installed
WOLFF spring kit.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[hksw]

Got quite a few guns unfired. But, then again, I also have more than one of those that are unfired and I use the second ones.

Like Ala Dan, I use to have a few that were unfired (just one sample) for years until I figured, why? If I died the next day, I'd never get to know how the guns felt and performed under use. But I do still like the NIB condition of things so now if I like something enough, I'll get at least two and use one.

 

[10-Ring]

I know 2 guys w/ NIB-itis. One guy has a 10 y/o unshot fully dressed AR, a couple of wheelguns & an unfired 1911 in his safe. He likes guns, buys them on sale or gets them in trade but apparently has little time to enjoy them :banghead: The other bought a Springfield M1A1 National Match, a HK USP 45, a Benelli M1 and a custom 1911 that he says will never be fired He's looking at them as 'investments'
Me, I shoot ALL my guns. If I have one that sees little use, it becomes trade bait

 

[PlayTheAces]

I know I've got a Para P13 I bought new maybe 6-7 years ago that I haven't shot, maybe 1-2 others as well. I have a GP100 I've fired exactly once, and I believe I bought that one before the P13.

It's not really a matter of my thinking "I'm keeping this one NIB". It's just that I have other choices, and tend to grab favorites when heading to the range. If I'm planning to shoot .45 ACP, I usually take the Colt 70 or 625. Nothing against the P13, I just get more worked up thinking about shooting some of the others.

The sensible thing would be to sell the Para and all the others I don't shoot. Just hate to sell guns................

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've got a Uberti 1851 Colt Navy revolver wall hanger I've never shot, but can't imagine not shooting the rest: they're just too much fun.

 

[Rich357]

Sometimes you get something because you are concerned about laws changing. You want to "bank it" should you want or need it later. However, it may not be a piece you really enjoy shooting.

Or, sometimes your interests change. I bought a couple of rifles and at the time I was really interested in them. However, it took more than 6 months to get some parts for them (like a scope mount). It was extremely frustrating trying to get the parts, being told they would be in and then not have them show up for a very long time. At that point I didn't even want to think about these rifles. I was back enjoying handgun shooting.

I'm sure at some point I will take these rifles out and really enjoy them.

Rich

 

[444]

Rich, you bring up another point that effects me. I love all types of shooting. Usually in the winter, I concentrate on handguns. In the fall, I switch to rifles. I might get on a trap shooting kick, I might get on an IDPA kick. I might be training for a class. While that is going on, the rest of the guns stay in the safe. So...... I might have something new that I bought just before I got interested in something else and it sits there.

 

[citizen]

Ever buy a book ya never got around to readin'???

Same deal.

 

[Moparmike]

I have 2 guns at the moment, one that I have fired 5rds thru and one that I have fired 3rds thru. I plan to rectify that soon though.

Not uncommon.

 

[mete]

I met a fellow from england who inherited a 200 year old gun that had never been fired. He fired it !!

 

[AUTIGER04]

Citizen. To answer your question. Nope.

Seems silly to me, to pay all of that money for a gun, then let it sit there and do nothing. Strange World.......

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

I try not to go more than 2 weeks between buying and firing. The temptation kills me.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Ever since "My man" Friday has left and there's no one to clean my guns for me...

When there's so many guns to choose from, it's tough to select from among your "children" who shall go to the range.

For more on the "my man" Friday, check out Jsaceldo's thread in the General Discussion Forum about buying ammo at Wally World.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Yeah, guilty as charged.

Hate to admit it, but I have a couple of "safe queens," guns never fired . . . .

About the only limited issue Winchesters ever issued that interested me personally was the Texas Ranger Commerative, issued in the early 1970s. It was the first one that didn't seem tinny and cheap, after the 1964-era degradation of Winchester quality. Dense, dark, oil finish, walnut stock with the old "square comb" design, plain post front sight, old style markings, dark blue. Production truly limited to 5,000 units, sold only in Texas (or through Texas wholesalers.) Dedicated to the legendary organization.

I bought two of these rifles and put 'em up, unfired. My general plan is that I have one for each son.

I have a couple more pieces that I felt I had to "rescue" from every day use by unappreciative others. Four-inch RB model 12 and a four-inch Colt Official Police, both NIB, both from late 1960s.

One of the new production Winchester 1895s in .30-06. I agreed to buy it sight unseen, not knowing it was the "High Grade" model. "Twas unfired, and I can't bring myself to shoot it. I'll swap it off one of these days, or sell it to get my money back . . . .

I'm not a collector - - I'm a shooter. It bothers me to have these nice firearms I can't shoot! I'd probably be happier if they were all in about 95% condition. I'd be shooting them. But they're all out of production now, and so my quandry.

Best,
Johnny

 

[AUTIGER04]

I can understand "Limited Editions" or "Collectors" pieces. But Wally World and everyday gun shop guns? Heck, I try to wear mine out.

 

[Kevinch]

I have a "spare" milsurp NIB Bulgarian Makarov that I have never fired, & a Russian milsurp that while not NIB I haven't fired. I also have a Russian commercial Makarov I put 5 rounds through & then put away. That was about 4 or 5 years ago.

I've only put 5 rounds through my Bushmaster that I bought last year.

I've bought guns in the past that have waited almost a year before I took them out to shoot. Sometimes, a purchase has been made simply because I was in the right place at the right time to get the right price.

It's not so much that I want to save them, but I don't get out to shoot as much as I'd like to, & when I do I usually take my carry guns to get practice with them.

 

[Majic]

What maybe normal and everyday for you could be something else for another person. I know of people who collect all the different versions of a particular model. One in particular have a nice collection of the common S&W model 10, everyone NIB. All different versions and barrel lengths. Then there is another who collects Colt Troopers. There are all different kinds of collectors and we all don't think you have to shoot everything that is made. I personally don't understand anyone trying to wear a firearm out, but we each paid our money and do as we want.

 

[Sisco]

A co-worker has a pair of Springfield 1911's he's never shot. He just bought a Valtro, says he's going to shoot it but I'm betting no.
Another guy has a Colt AR15, bought two of them back when the AR's were released for civilian use. One of them has had a mag or two through it, the others never been out of the box.
I'd like to have one of the William Ruger / NRA Mark II's but only if I could shoot it. Having something I couldn't play with would drive me nuts.

 

[AUTIGER04]

"Wearing mine out"s just a figure of speach. I mean Im not going to let my gun just sit there.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

I hate to admit, that yes, I have a few 'safe queens'... guns I bought and just never had the heart to shoot.

The NIB 629 dash nothing 4" with the wood presentation box... *sigh* the Italian made Beretta 92 stainless, unfired in the box... not a big fan of 9mm but it was a great deal...

But I'll never sell any of them. Who knows what great great great grandchild of mine might need that NIB S&W Model 19 in the future... the nice thing is that quality firearms don't have an expiration date on them.