"Now it just stays in the safe..." Why?

[Jim NE]

Hey Jim... How much ya' want for your SR9c with the crappy trigger? I promise it WON'T sit in a safe unused.

See, I'm showing that I'm like the people I claim I don't understand.

The trigger isn't really crappy. Just wasn't what I was expecting. I've only had it a couple months. I'm afraid I'll regret selling it if my preferences change. I never really disliked the gun, as with Joed and his rebarreled Remington. I just need to shoot it first.

 

[T Bran]

I also keep a couple rifles in the safe that are mechanically fine but just not my cup of tea. I use them as loaners for folks that want to try hunting but dont have the appropriate caliber or only own pistols. These are guns that can get a ding or scratch without any tears from me. I've even gifted a couple to folks who really cant afford to buy a hunting rifle. The last being a Ruger .44 MAG carbine which is a great little brush gun that I really didnt use.
There are many reasons to have a few in the back of the safe.
T

 

[jrdolall]

Man I want a .44 Ruger carbine. I used to hunt with one when I was in college and I loved it. It belonged to a friend that died a few years back and it disappeared.

 

[Wes Mantooth]

safe queens

I've got a few that I just don't shoot. Most of them are heirlooms that I don't want top put mileage on. Some others have a little value such as my WWII carbine and '98 30-40 Krag.

And frankly I just don't get to the range much. No reason in my mind to piss away money on ammo for no reason, just to make noise and put holes in paper.

One of these days I'm gonna do a little trading and upgrade on my firearms.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

As someone who is primarily a collector most of my firearms are safe queens, the champion being my M1898 Krag I purchased in 1972. With milsurps, I buy for the history, in the case of some, my Lebel, my M1907/15, my M1895 Mannlichers ammunition is hard to come by, with most of the others, they are collectibles first and foremost. My Mauser M1910 in 32 ACP, my CZ-27, my Ortgies in 25 ACP haven't been shot in years, come to think of it I haven't put a round through my AMT Hardballer in years, but whenever I handle it I have fond memories of all the IPSC matches I competed in-and often won.
I know people who collect vintage radios-it might be fun if you could tune in 1935 but for them the pleasure is in having it, making it work, turning it on and watching the tubes glow.
IMHO no different than a painting on the wall or a coin or stamp collection.
I have done Rev War reenacting for some years, also did and will do again Civil War reenacting, fired
my P1853 live once, my Charleville and Pennsylania Rifle never. Don't really feel deprived.

 

[Twiki357]

I fall into your category of: "Maybe you just have an aversion to getting rid of guns." With the exception of two Model 36's taken in a burglary, I still have every firearm I ever bought. Even the mid 50's vintage 22 bolt action my Dad bought me that's missing the feed tube.

The only one I have that rarely gets fired is a Kel-Tec P-11. It's not all that accurate and the frame grinds my knuckle raw after about 50 rounds. But, I won't say it's a safe queen. It's to good a fit between the seat and center counsel of my truck.

 

[wlewisiii]

A gun only "stays in the safe" till the next gun show. I have no interest in safe queens.

 

[Jim NE]

The only one I have that rarely gets fired is a Kel-Tec P-11. It's not all that accurate and the frame grinds my knuckle raw after about 50 rounds.

Twiki, is it flashing (polymer molding excess) that's causing that? My P-11 had excess flashing on the trigger that made my trigger finger sore after only a couple dozen pulls. I trimed it off with a razor blade and smoothed it with sandpaper and it felt great after that. Amazing that polymer is so strong, yet can be cut and sanded so easily.

BTW, everyone, I'm not really talking about safe queens (though I certainly don't mind hearing about them.) I was talking more about guns that you really just don't care for anymore. I get the impression most people like their safe queens.

I actually wouldn't mind having a safe queen. I'm thinking a mint condition early '50's .38/44...for $125 (with box and papers, of course!!)

 

[jsimmons]

Exactly. 1911's and stuff.

There's no such thing as a 1911 that can't be saved. My RIA FS Tactical shot crappy groups (9-inches at 7 yards). Some folks would call it a day and stick it in the safe, I suppose, but not me. The barrel actally moved around in the bushing with the slide in the forward position. Changed the barrel, bushing and trigger, and now it's 3-inches at 25 yards (and ragged hole bullseyes at 7 yards). The pistol is an absolute joy to shoot now.