To trade or not: That is the question

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

bratch

Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2004
Messages
4,064
Location
OKC
I have a standing philosophy of: A gun has a lifetime contract with me.

That being said I'm wavering in my strength. About 7 or 8 years ago I bought a Remington 7400 in 30-06. It has nice checkered wood but the foregrips have a weird crack running down one side. Since I have owned this gun I have shot less than 20 rounds through it.

My current thoughts are semis for military rifles and bolts/levers for the rest. The little Handi Rifles are also kind of interesting me.

I am half temtped to try to trade off the Remington and pick up a new bolt gun in something.

What do you guys think? Stay strong and hold on or get rid of a gun that doesn't do much for me?

What are these things running now adays? I don't need money bad enough to give it away.
 
I say hold on to any gun. I don't know why, but I think that at some point down the line I'd come to regret getting rid of ANY gun once I've owned it.

...which is why I'm 18, just got my FID, and in need of another gun cabinet already. 8 rifles in one day isn't excessive! :uhoh:
 
I am not sure why so many have this philosophy with rifles. But many do. I did for awhile. But found I had too many to stay innately comfortable with it in my hand. As in how the trigger felt, how it fit me, how it loaded etc. etc.

And it began bothering me. Why keep something I rarely used. Often I had found a better rifle later. So why keep a lesser, and less used rifle just on principle? Partly a matter like many things, of learning more about a tool (or other hobby item) than when I started. So why keep the early less enlightened choices?

Sure some are heirlooms. That is a good reason. There are other reasons maybe. But just a general lifetime contract with all and any rifles no longer makes sense to me. I guess the final thing was I realized I could sell off many lesser used rifles, and obtain extremely useful superior examples. Less quantity, more quality. So I have a handful of very nice rifles. All of which get used regularly. I am happier than ever. Some of these likely will be with me forever. But if something else comes along that clearly is better, maybe not. And eventually I may simply become so comfortable I couldn't imagine trading off some of these. But you can't get that feeling I don't think if you own 50 rifles.

Again, I don't know why many have this idea about guns, but not cars, or computers, or most other items. It certainly isn't because of rarity. More good bolt actions are available now than ever before in history I would say.

Now nothing moral or ethical about it, just a choice. Some trade and trade never settling on any type rifle. That is just as poor an approach to me. But to me, just makes sense to have nice one's you use and like. Not be burdened out of some sense of obligation.

It is simply your choice. Not like you broke some agreement with another person by selling a rifle.
 
Personally I would trade it. That said it's generally a loss of money in a trade unless you can find someone really wanting what you have. A sale of yours and then purchase what you wish makes more sense since what you have is already paid for. List in the classifieds and get what you want for a Christmas present to yourself. :)
 
I'm with Steve. If you want something new, trade it.

I don't own safe queens, every weapon I own gets shot. Less than 20 rounds in 7/8 years ought to tell ya something.
 
Trade what ya don't use....

I don't own safe queens, every weapon I own gets shot. Less than 20 rounds in 7/8 years ought to tell ya something.
Click to expand...
Couldn't have said it better.
 
It makes little sense to keep a gun you are not shooting when you could get something you will use. I frequently trade guns in pursuit of a new shooting adventure. It is very educational. I can speak about many different types and brands because I've owned and shot them. Also, if you keep a used gun in good condition you rarely lose money on them.

Say goodbye to the old and hello to something new.
 
Does the gun have a certain history or sentimental value to you?

Somebody on this forum has a Trapdoor Springfield, and one of the bullets recovered at Little Big Horn was forensically matched to that very rifle. Trade it like a set of new jumper cables? I think not. :scrutiny:

I have a wildcat rifle I built that hit a golf ball, cold bore, at 500 meters during a sniper competition. It also showed it's stripes very well at 1000 yard competitions. Now the rifle gets fired maybe once a year these days. It'll be honorably put in the pine box with me when I take my dirt nap, my spouse and stepsons understand that directive quite well.

If there was more room in that pine box, my WWII-era 1903A4 sniper would be placed in there, too. For now, it's a question of whether I leave it to the aforementioned stepsons, or 4V50 Gary. ;)
 
No attachments to it.

I've been browsing gunbroker and the FS ads here and the market doesn't look real promising. I may post it up and see what happens though.

Thanks guys
 
Sorry - I posted a reply I elected to remove. In the time that it took me to write my post, you'd already posted with your intention to try to sell it.
 
I think he sent that apples to oranges comparison...

Towards my direction. ;)

BTW, I do trade off guns that mean little or nothing to me. I have a certain Yugo SKS with East German "Rain" camo furniture that's going up on the for sale block soon.
 
Busted

Yeah. :eek:

It just seemed a bit hyperbolic to compare a historically-significant Trapdoor or a custom long-range rifle to a store-bought standard ol' Remington 7400 in 30-06. It's not as if there isn't about 17 gazillion 7400's out there as it is, or as if I can't buy a new one at WallyWorld for less than $300....
 
I just had this problem. If its something you have been wanting that you are trading off a gun that has little value to you, do it. I just did, and with very little regret on my part. I got a rifle I had been wanting for years now, and got rid of one that had little sentimental or monetary value to me.

Didn't lose any money on the trade, either.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top