Too many guns

Status
Not open for further replies.
I don't see the question as being too many guns but more like do I have enough time to shoot the ones I have. As I get older (and wiser?), I begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak...that is retirement. While I will have more free time to enjoy going shooting and reloading, I know being on a fixed income means less discretionary spending so fewer new guns in the future.

I look around at what I currently have and I'm quite pleased and satisfied with my collection. Don't have any immediate needs or wants though if the Hearing Protection Act ever comes to pass I know what my next gun and accompanying sound suppressor will be!
 
Last edited:
I am not to the point of having two of anything other than 1911's. Seems like there is always one more I need for various reasons. As for my wife, she came home a couple weeks ago with a Marlin 45-70 lever action. She is maybe as bad as I am which can be a big issue. Currently I am saving for a 30-40 Krag to round out my collection. View media item 1256 Note, my wife just reminded me that the Carbine is not mine.
 
I'm both happy and very proud of my collection, I know there's way more than I need but my bills are paid.

Very nice Dodgeman414. I may need to go back a little further and find a trapdoor.
 
Dodgeman414

Outstanding collection! Looks very much like my brother's collection. He wanted to have the U.S. Army rifles from the turn of the last century to the present. In addition to the ones you have pictured (minus the Springfield Model 1861 and Model 1873), he has a Model 1898 Krag, an M1A, a Colt AR15 A2, and a semi-auto version of the BAR, along with all of the magazines, web gear, bayonets, and accessories that came with them.
 
I've had way to many for years, just because I could.
In an awkward situation with a few as I have more ammo for some than the guns are worth.
Add to that loading components, etc..

And I can't sell the guns because nobody wants to buy that much ammo.

Been selling a few lately. Don't need them and no where to put them.
 
Cooldill said:
It's not about if you have too many guns, it's if you have enough safes!
Click to expand...
True, but I can buy more safes. Then I'd have to buy a bigger house to put them in. Then, if my house payments weren't too large, I could buy more guns. Then I could buy more safes. Then ....
It's a vicious circle. I guess I could look at it like the old saying; "He who dies with the most toys wins.":D
 
Deanimator

Bfh_auto said: ↑
Is there a point where you tell yourself you have too many guns?​
No.

But I have reached the point where I've said I don't have enough safes.
Click to expand...

Well said! Truer words were never spoken!
 
Bfh_auto said:
Is there a point where you tell yourself you have too many guns?
Click to expand...

As always it's a personal decision.

I decided I had too many guns when I found that I couldn't afford to keep them all stocked with ammunition and I couldn't afford a minimal number of magazines per gun.

I sold off everything and ended up with 3 9mm handguns and 2 rifles. I have an adequate amount of magazines and ammunition (of course more is always better) for each of them and can concentrate on really stocking up on accessories for the self defense guns
 
˜”*°•.˜”*°• Too many guns? Nah. I've got plenty of room in the safe.

I moved most of my NAA collection, my cheap .25's and some New In Box revolvers that I won't be firing, out to the ballistic laboratory. In a Job Box.

The ARs all fit neatly into an armor's rack I bolted to the wall of my ballistic laboratory.

That made plenty of room in my safe. •°*”˜.•°*”˜
 
Trunk Monkey said:
As always it's a personal decision.

I decided I had too many guns when I found that I couldn't afford to keep them all stocked with ammunition and I couldn't afford a minimal number of magazines per gun.

I sold off everything and ended up with 3 9mm handguns and 2 rifles. I have an adequate amount of magazines and ammunition (of course more is always better) for each of them and can concentrate on really stocking up on accessories for the self defense guns
Click to expand...
My wife wants me to build a gunshop with a/c because it overflowed my gun room.
 
In the 1980's I had a small accumulation of nice guns. S&W's like my Lew Horton M686 and other M686's, M19's, M66's, etc. Colts, like my Peacemaker, custom Commander, custom M1911 series 70, Early Detective Special, etc. (Small bunch of misc. antiques.)
Winchesters, Rugers, AMT's, High Standard Victor, and so on. Good solid guns of good quality.

Then came disability, job loss, I had to file for divorce to get read of a bad marriage, etc. With 2 children left to raise and only disability pay for an income all the guns went away except for a 19" barreled Mossberg 20ga M500. (filled my needs for several years)

My children are long since raised, but I am in no condition to hunt, nor do I have a range to shoot on. I have no need to buy a bunch of guns. However with that all said, I still end up buying one from time to time. Just gave 4 away last month to family. I have mostly settled for buying an occasional old S&W revolver that needs repair so that I have something to do, and that fills my wants as well. The only thing in my life that has never gone away is my interest and enjoyment in firearms. (and pain, but that's not interesting)
 
FN in MT said:
I know half a dozen collectors who each own HUNDREDS of the various brands/styles that interest them. One guy is probably pushing 600 in his collection. They are all STILL buying.

Know another guy who has bought a gun he thought he wanted...Then gets home and finds he ALREADY has one or TWO of that model. THAT is IMHO when one has too many.

My biggest over indulgence is owning TWO of certain models ,that I really like. Giving me a shooter and a spare. An EASY mental sell or rationalization if the model is discontinued...Why I have a pair of Smith M-696's , M-19's/66's, K-22's/K-38's.

Though as I am hitting seven decades on the big blue marble....I am starting to get rid of a few here and there each year. Freeing up space in the safes with the ones I REALLY don't use, and never will use anymore. Not hunting like I used to, so how many BG rifles do I need? Really one or two would do it. Don't need nine.

LR varmint guns the same way.....I built a mess of them over the years and now only use a few...could get rid of a half dozen, easily.
Click to expand...


I am exactly the same way. I always have 2 of a gun I plan on keeping and using a lot.
 
I usually have 2 (or more) of the ones I really like----and I'm not actively seeking anything else but wouldn't rule out another purchase if something interesting came along. Right now I have plenty---not really a small collection but not so many that its out of control.

Most of my income is going to real estate--vehicles and stocks these days.
 
I went on a binge over the last year to sell off a good number that I just wasn't shooting. I also picked up a few new ones. I seem be at a steady state at the moment.......
 
Too many? Maybe not but I'm fairly satisfied with what I have now.

Since 1972, I have only sold/traded two guns an early Ruger .22 SA pistol with the 7" barrel and a Marlin Golden 39A with the half-cock safety. I regret the rifle more than the pistol as I could shoot Shorts, Longs, & LR MIXED in the tube magazine.

The only firearm that I MIGHT get is the Keltec CMR-30 .22 Mag rifle.

What I have now are 2 12 gauge shotties, 6 rifles, and 7 handguns, although one is "retired" due to mechanical problems. That should be expected as the gun is 100-110 years old. Of those 7, including the retired one, 4 were inherited.
 
Last edited:
tark said:
VERY nice collection, Dodgeman414. I'm guessing the M-1 is a WW II Springfield?
Click to expand...
The M1 was or mostly is a 1944 Springfield. I had to replace the 3 million s/n receiver because it had scope lugs welded on it before my dad got it. I still have the original receiver I just won't shoot it now. Although, my dad put several thousand rounds through it before his death with no problems. It's been in the family since the late 50's.
 
I've got several guns that will be sold off to ease the over crowding in the safe as my interests have changed and they just aren't being used. The funds will be going to get some quality optics and a few other accessories as well to better enjoy those guns I do use. Plus there are two new guns in layaway that I think I'll get a lot more use and enjoyment out of and will be a better use of my always limited resources. Guns aren't like pets where I feel I've assumed a lifetime obligation just because I once gave it a home.
 
Last edited:
I have kind of reached that point. Unless it is something new to my collection I'm passing on pieces I would have snapped up 10-15 yrs. ago. So far haven't bought a single firearm this year, rare for me.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
too many guns?
2 3
Replies
52
Views
2K
Lex Luthier
L
W
  • Locked
Such a thing as too many guns?
2 3
Replies
66
Views
2K
Stevie-Ray
Stevie-Ray
P
  • Locked
  • Poll
How many firearms is too many?
2 3
Replies
57
Views
2K
4thHorseman
4
H
  • Locked
How many is too many to carry at one time?
2 3
Replies
52
Views
2K
Pilgrim
P
D
  • Locked
too many guns?
2 3
Replies
74
Views
2K
tbrowning87
T
Back
Top