too many guns?

[rdhood]

Dont you feel a little silly that you didnt pick one handgun, shotgun and rifle that you really liked and spent the money on ammo?

No. In pistol, I wouldn't want to only shoot .22lr.... or .45ACP. To be fair, though, I now have .22lr, 9mm, .40S&W, and .45 ACP. To be fair, though, I just picked up the 1911 .45ACP , and I have been thinking of getting ride of the .40S&W. I figure I could sell all of my .40S&W stuff and get a Delton AR15 upper kit to go on my bare lower receiver.

As far as rifle... why would I only want to shoot .22lr? Or, why would I only pick ONE milsurp rifle when there were so many and so cheap? Like pistol, 3 or 4 calibers of something you can reload yourself is perfectly acceptable and not at all "silly".


P.S. why does anyone have any kind of hobby or pastime? Stamps, coins, golf equipment, flower gardens, guns, you name it. Who are you to judge what is "silly"? Who is ANYONE to judge someone else's hobby as long as it does not preempt someone else's life, liberty or property?

 

[Devilfrog]

I am almost up to 30 firearms in my collection, which range from WWI / WWII surplus to modern rifles & pistols. I enjoy working on them, shooting them and even cleaning them.

I keep my collection to certain calibers and I reload so it keeps my ammo supply at a good level. Only exception is my C&R collection which I bought up plenty of surplus ammo for awhile ago.

Having served in the infantry and my current job I have had lots of training and get more at every opportunity (which I write off at tax time).

So I personally don't feel "silly" at all.

 

[dom1104]

ok whoa whoa whoa.


First off, what I said was "silly" was people buying guns on top of guns and no ammo or training. And finding out that all that time they could have bought ammo they now have none and no way to get it.

I specifically said that collecting firearms is something different.


Dont want to upset people.

Collect whatever you want.

What I think is silly is thinking empty guns will do anything to protect you or your family.

What I found out is, people who have been around guns have both. guns AND ammo. Its just my stupid buddies that only have the empty guns. And yes we are all newbies.

Really sorry for upsetting people.

 

[CWL]

You aren't upsetting me, you are just getting our answers. It does get asked a lot and typically it is a veiled question by gun-grabbers.

Your approach is wrong because you are trying to fit all of us into your life, lifestyle, location, experiences and income.

 

[jad0110]

I've got 13 guns. The ones I rely on for serious purposes, as well as the 22s, get shot the most. The rest I bought for the heck of it, so they are basically safe queens.

 

[jnyork]

I have quite a few. I have been buying for almost 60 years now. I have seldom sold one. I just like HAVING them. Anything wrong with that?

 

[pith43]

Being an American means not having to justify how many guns or how much ammo you buy.

At least it aught to be.

 

[Deanimator]

Dont you feel a little silly that you didnt pick one handgun, shotgun and rifle that you really liked and spent the money on ammo?

If you spend money on ammo, don't you feel a little silly that you didn't spend the money on reloading gear and supplies?

I couldn't compete with ONE handgun, much less one rifle. NRA Conventional Pistol requires a minimum of two pistols, a .22 and a .45. I don't know anybody who makes an IWB holster for an M1911 with a slide mounted Ultra-Dot either, so that rules out CCW.

To paraphrase Harrison Ford in "Apocalypse Now", your argument is... unsound.

 

[federalfarmer]

I just bought 2 more guns....my only pause was that it added 2 new calibers to my collection. (from a high roader)
My ammo needs are being worked on and will be every payday.
There are 3 more guns I believe are needs, and several dozen wants!

 

[cjw3cma]

Because YOU have been raised to be a CONSUMER. To consume as much of everything offered to you in print / audio / visual ways. There are some who collect guns and I wish I had that "defect" but many just fall into the "I gotta have one of those" mindset brought on by the media and by our government. Not being a Bush Basher but I remember the former President stating that Americans should go to the Mall when asked about the average citizens' involvement with the war efforts (paraphrased as I remember it so please don't jump down my case if I got a word or two out of context here).

America drives the world - we are CONSUMERS of more than we need.

 

[Carl]

I have future guns in mind that I'd like to buy. Mostly classic Winchester long guns and Milsurps. Winchesters more for the collector's aspect. So far I have a model 94, model 12, soon model 97 and will soon be looking for a model 86 in .45-70. The handguns I have in mind are mostly milsurp and 19th century American guns. (peacemaker, other bp revolvers, etc...

 

[noskilz]

Who cares if its "silly" or not. I had a neighbor that collected bowling balls, he had hundreds! God Bless Him.

They are not bad investments either, many people see them as a safer option to stocks or etf's

Quiet, HGUNHNTR, or your gonna start "panic buying" on bowling balls!

 

[CWL]

To paraphrase Harrison Ford in "Apocalypse Now", your argument is... unsound.

Harrison Ford was in "Apocalypse Now"?

 

[toivo]

I don't have 30+ firearms. At last count, I have 21, between rifles, shotguns, and handguns. This is more than I technically "need." I compete (casually) in four disciplines. If that defined my "need," I would need eight guns: a main gun and a backup gun for each discipline. If you add self-defense to the "need" criteria, that would add two: a carry gun and a home gun. So... I really only "need" ten guns.

But then there's plinking and fun shooting. I have quite a few rimfire rifles that fit this profile. I like to a take a lever action, a pump, a bolt action, and a semi-auto to the range and just mix it up. Is this a "need"? Maybe not, but it's definitely an important part of my recreational use of firearms. I could probably be content with only two plinkers: one for me and one for non-gun-owning friends. There would be some hard choices to make. That brings it to 12 "needed" guns.

I also have a couple of milsurps that I rarely shoot, but which have a historical and emotional appeal for me. It would be hard for me to part with them. That brings the grand total to 14. So I guess I have seven guns too many.

I must admit that there are some other guns that I rarely shoot. I have contemplated selling them, but I usually change my mind in the time it takes to get the gun out of the safe to take the auction photos. There's something that appeals to me about each and every one of them, or I wouldn't have bought them in the first place.

If my economic situation went south really badly, I could thin the herd. I know which guns I would definitely keep. But fortunately I haven't had to do that yet, and I hope I never will.

 

[Acera]

Which of the following can you answer "Yes" to:

A) Can you have enough money??

B) Can you whiskey be aged too long??

C) Too many younger women??

D) Too many guns??

E) NONE OF THE ABOVE.

 

[DammitBoy]

ok whoa whoa whoa.

First off, what I said was "silly" was people buying guns on top of guns and no ammo or training. And finding out that all that time they could have bought ammo they now have none and no way to get it.

That's not what you said. This is what you said;

Those of you who have 30+ guns in a huge safe and 100 magazines and basically are sitting on a giant arsenal...

Stop using words you don't understand - Arsenal: 1 a: an establishment for the manufacture or storage of arms and military equipment. I have a collection.

Dont you feel a little silly that you didnt pick one handgun, shotgun and rifle that you really liked and spent the money on ammo?

What a silly assumption on your part. I have craploads of ammo.

I know a LOT of people that go hog wild spending 1000s on guns, and then only keep two boxes of ammo. "because its too expensive"

You keep company with foolish people. It's affecting your ability to think.

I just wonder how many people are in that boat.

"Guns guns guns I need more guns!" and not a penny spent on training or ammo.

I bet...alot. especially training.

So you bet alot of us are as foolish as your social peers? I think your assumptions are foolish.

My wife has over eighty pairs of shoes. Her collection is not a shoe store, it's her clothing.

I shoot multiple weapons every week. I have plenty of ammo for my hobby.

 

[Macmac]

I have guns and ammo for all but one enough... That one gun is a mauser in 6.5x54 MS and hard to come by ammo for, and that ammo tends to be a bit pricey.

I got that gun for a song, and since have been offered some good money for it. I think I will hang on to it.

I have many other guns I got for a song too, like my Remington Rand of later WW-2 vintage and it went up as well as my Riger pre bible black powder ROA, not to mention my Bear Cat..

Now my Cd dropped out the 401 k is dead, and the bank will give me 1% on savings.. Guns are like gold, but they can gather in food, and defend me and mine..

it just might be a buck for a 22 long rifle round if things keep going like they are... No such thing as too many guns or too much ammo even if your a blind man...

 

[tex929rr]

Hmm. We own 33 handguns and 13 long guns. I actually just sold a handgun for the first time in years.

But we also own 7 cars and 4 motorcycles.

 

[dbarile]

I don't think I need to justify my actions to any one.

As far as I know a safe full of empty guns isn't a crime. A safe full of ammo and no guns isn't a crime around here either. I know some ammo collectors I'll ask them if they feel silly.

Really sorry for upsetting people.

I'm not upset. Are you? People are reacting to your question.

Never stick your fingers in a shark tank unless you are prepared to lose a few.

Never ask a question if you don't want an answer. (Learned that being married)

I respectfully suggest you talk directly to your 'friends' if that is who you are talking about.

 

[rodregier]

Comparison of purchased firearms to an IRA as an investment is valid only if you plan to sell them before you pass on

I've tried to ensure that I have adequate stocks of ammunition for any of the firearms I posses, as opposed to just a couple of boxes. Some of that would be reloading components, as most of the non-.22LR metallic cartridges I shoot is reloaded these days.

The worst ones I hear about for ammunition holdings are the guys who just use a rifle in deer hunting season, and don't practice at all. They look at 20 rounds as several years ammunition stocks.

 

[Black07GT]

I am sure that we (all with 25 plus) have had this conversation more than once. The only one that really bothers me is why so many of one caliber. I have 4 30-06 rifles in my collection 2 are BAR's one is a 68 model that was passed down from my Grandpa the other was purchased for my other Grandpa. I am constantly asked why I don't sell one my response is why would I sell one. I can remember each of them when I take their guns out be it to the range or hunting. I am self employed so guns are my 401k. While everyone elses retirement has tanked I think mine is doing quite well. Also when you start buying guns you buy what you can afford. As you get more you start to buy better quality. Currently 3k is the starting point of anything I am looking at. So it just means saving a little more before any purchase. Also looking at that second safe to store goodies in.

 

[SquirrelNuts]

Having too many guns is like saying you have too much money or are too handsome.

 

[Shung]

this is my main problem.. as soon as I get enough money, I buy a gun.. now I have 30+ of them, but Im always out of ammo...

it sucks..

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

One rifle, one pistol, one shotgun? Which alternate universe are you posting your comments in? THIS is a gun enthusiast board! Be pro gun! Besides, even if you find the perfect handgun, rifle, and shotgun, don't you need at least two of each, just for back up, for one is in for repair, or to lend out. I HAVE to have two handguns just because I have two hands! The more the merrier. Variety is the spice, etc, etc. Double up on the ammo, too. You never know when an un-gunfriendly president will bring on short supply/demand (isn't the current ammo/primer/gun shortage enough to convince you to put what you like and need away?).

 

[Huddog]

I used to tell my much better half that guns were investments, which they are but that is not the reason I buy guns. I buy them because I enjoy them. I enjoy shooting them, I enjoy the history of them, I enjoy just having and holding them. I have plenty of ammo for my uses. IF you are happy with a .22 a 9 a 12 and a bolt gun more power to you. Most of all I own more guns because this is America and I can.