I am trying to declutter all aspects of my life at home and at work. A lot of my possessions that I have accumulated over the years just feel burdensome. I mean if it's sitting in a box for 20 years, and I take it out and look at it and have no real pleasant memory associated with it, why do I still have it?
That brings me to my shooting habits. I recently looked around at my guns, reloading equipment, and supplies of magazines and holsters. I used to always feel variety was the spice of life, but now I feel like I've thrown a lot of conflicting spices all into the same pot, and the ensuing meal is coming out mediocre. I also feel like the sauce pan has turned into a cauldron.
I've got DA/SA revolvers, DA/SA semiautos, DAO semiautos, striker fired guns, SAO semiautos, and mixed in are decocker only guns, guns with safeties, and some with only passive safety mechanisms.
That's kind of a lot of different guns to shoot, and I am starting to feel a little like I'm a jack of all trades, but a master of nothing.
I've also been buying some nicer guns the last two years or so, as in nonstandard offerings, and honestly I feel like some of the older guns I used to care about and really enjoy having just lost their luster, and I have better tools to accomplish the same ends.
Yesterday I went to the range and put 100 rounds through my XDs-45, 150 rounds through my HK 45, and 175 rounds through my Dan Wesson Classic Commander.
I've been toying with ditching the XDs-45 for over a year now, but yesterday really solidified that I DON'T want to get rid of it. It serves a solid purpose as a hiking and biking beater gun, and I still shoot it accurately and quickly enough to fend off an attacker. So if I'll used it, it stays, and in that role, if it gets beat to crap, I don't care. It's a common, dime a dozen polymer gun, and not worth very much.
My Dan Wesson was a pleasure to shoot, and that's really all there is to it. I tried a couple magazines of Gold Dots and HSTs also to ensure function, and it didn't disappoint. I did have one feed hiccup on a reloaded round. So I'll keep an eye on it.
The HK45 though...…………. It shoots softer than a 1911 with the same ammo, but here's the thing. Last time I shot it I was riding the safety a little too hard, and I decocked it in a string of fire.
I've just been shooting too many SAO guns lately and I went into that grip right away. So yesterday I made a conscious effort to keep my thumb off the safety lever. I guess at this point, I kind of feel like if it takes that much thought, maybe this isn't a gun I need to keep around any more. It should be instinctive. And yet again I ended up with a blister on my trigger finger due to the trigger trough. I know I could sand it down, but I'd rather not, as the previously mentioned issue just has me sort of realizing this is no longer a gun I need around. I've thought about converting it to LEM, but why? After delving into a CZ Shadow 2 last year, I find I greatly prefer CZ's and I'm more interested in a CZ 97B in the future. I can also get 8=1 rounds in my Dan Wesson, and use that as a HD gun if need be.
I've got a Ruger No 1 in S&W 460 Magnum also that I'm wondering why I own. I haven't shot it in a few years as I really don't have a lot of use for rifles. And honestly it's not much fun to shoot due to the recoil.
I only own 18 handguns I believe and 4 rifles, but I sometimes think about the vast collections some people have, and I realize I think I'm better off with fewer nice handguns that I really like and shoot often, and not gobs of guns. I don't need a safe full of plastic I need a small safe with the guns I actually shoot. I need a few guns I shoot well, not three different ones on the range at all times. I guess I'd like to focus on accessories also, like nice leather holsters for the ones I really want to keep.
Are you downsizing and trading things in at all? Do you try to limit your inventory? Is refining your collection something you are doing?
) that just need to go on a table at a garage sale and then in the trash if not sold.............
