Upgrading/replacing firearms over time

[John Joseph]

Been there, done that.
Upgrading ----you've got to decide why you're upgrading first. What benefit do you hope to gain and is it worth the expense and effort?
I don't put any faith in advertising copy and reviews, especially because most reviews are advertising copy,

 

[CapnMac]

I guess I'm at a bit of a loss over "upgrade."
If I have a 1943 Smith-Corona 03A3, there's not much to upgrade to.
Ditto a 1934 Sistema colt with Hartford roll stamp in Royal Blue.
Even my Ruger American in .243--I looked at Savage and CZ first, but the price on the Ruger was right.
When I buy, it's based on what's there and for how much.

Just what are the firearm equivalents of leather seats and fancy rims?

 

[twarr1]

I've bought a lot and sold a few, but never considered it upgrading. In total the collection just grows over time. Probably my biggest regret was selling a "Year of Our Liberty' '76 Ruger Blackhawk.
Reloading equipment, on the other hand, I upgrade all the time. I find as the various aging pains get more intense I like power equipment more and more. Maybe if I hang around long enough I'll have a SCAMP line; put materials in one end, retrieve ammunition from the other end.

 

[Reloadron]

Upgrading/replacing firearms over time

Really not much to upgrade unless we consider adding pieces and parts to for example a 1911 gun to improve it or a grip change to make a gun more comfortable in our hand. A good quality gun will and should last a lifetime of normal use. Normal use being maybe 5,000 rounds a year and even heavy use a well made gun should last a lifetime. Over the years I have parted with a few I didn't really care for but replaced those with guns I liked better. I still shoot a Remington Model 510P I got in 1958 as a first gun. A well made quality gun should not need replaced, possibly improved upon but not replaced.

Just My Take
Ron

 

[Riomouse911]

I vacillate between buying upper tier guns and budget guns depending on my want at the time. I haven’t had to sell a gun to finance anything for a while, so “upgrading” in the classic sense hasn’t been happening.

No .22 WMR bolt gun in the quiver? Ruger American Rimfire filled the bill. I added a Boyd’s laminated stock so it looks as good as it shoots.

A nice .22 LR is now on the docket? My CZ 455 Lux was a good bit more than many other rimfire bolt rifles run. I’m really glad I bought this one.

I didn’t have a 12 ga OU, and I wasn’t sure I really wanted one, but I saw a $300 deal on a budget-grade Stoeger Condor so I bought one. If I like it, I have a low cost gun to wander the pheasant field with. If not, I’m not out too much when I sell it.

I’ve bought numerous really nice 40 and 50 year old S&W revolvers over the past few years. While they certainly don’t have the price tag of a vintage Python or an older Korth, they’re still running very close to 1K apiece when the sale price, tax, shipping, dealer fees and Federal/State DOJ fees are all added into the cost.

I guess it just sort of “happens if it happens” when I’m looking about.

Stay safe.

 

[LeftyRed]

No real way to “upgrade” a Glock. It’s been my pistol or choose for over 25 years. Not saying it’s the best, just do not see the need to switch over to something that does the exact same thing and then have to get holsters, springs, magazines, and gear for it. Might sell off some models I don’t shoot and have RMRs on all the ones I’m keeping. At this moment, that’s 26s and 17s. Well and my pair of 42s that keep hanging around.

Now my j frames, they were the upgrades. Got rid of LCRs, Charters, and Taurus snubbies and pocket pistols and went straight j frame. Easier to pick what flavor of j frame I want and put it in any holster I have for them. In the kennel and barn, the 351c goes. Heading to Cincinnati, one 642 in my pocket and another in my shoulder holster. Easy peasy.

Need to get my 22lr pistols “upgraded”. Ashamed to say that I only have the TX22 with a Vortex on it. It’s not going anywhere, but need a few more. Always wanted a SW 41, but doubt I get one. A Mark IV with a Holosun would work for me. And might just get a G44, if they come out with the MOS version.

Just lost my thrill for collecting any more. Still like looking, just don’t want to touch. LOL

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I have a lot of guns. At one point I had just over 400 because, I don’t tent to sell guns that I buy. It was getting a little hard to keep up with so many guns so I sold off a few and now have the number down to a more manageable 375.
When it comes to military surplus guns, I have bought better condition guns to upgrade what I already had.
When it comes to SD, HD, range toys and hunting guns, I buy what I like or can afford. I have a few fancy ones, but they fall into the range toy category.

 

[film495]

I've only been at this a few years, and one of my first purchases was an old CZ-70 and it is chambered for .32ACP ... If I carry it I just consider it an easy size to drop in a coat pocket with a spare magazine. I've been looking at the sub compacts to possibly replace it with a new model, but - looking at Smith and Wesson and the Ruger Max9, the loaded weight is about the same, and the spare magazine would be bigger and heavier. So, the idea being to switch to a modern firearm, but the size and weight is almost the exact same, and I'm not sure I'd shoot 9mm very will in a sub compact, so - I keep trying to modernizing, but then in the grander scheme of things, I'd just have a firearm that is about the same size and weight, that I don't shoot as well, but I'd have more round to play spray and pray ... so, I keep sticking with something designed in the 1940s that I shoot pretty well, firing a cartridge many consider obsolete. I thought the wieght would be a more significant gain compared to an all steel CZ, but it isn't there when you add back in the heavier ammo.

 

[Roknstevo]

I've been accumulating guns since Ike was President so most of what I own would generally be called obsolete by what I see around today. But what I carry is almost always at least a half century old and most often over a century old.

I do own a few, very few guns that were made this century but even there most would be considered basic entry level I imagine. I do own some polymer frame guns but I don't think any of them are striker fired. I like striker fired guns as well as hammer fired but all my striker fired guns are pretty old. My newest striker fired handgun was also made the year Ike won the election over Adlai Stevenson. The one I am carrying today was most likely made in 1919.

But that is relevant to your question. It has been upgraded, the original barrel was worn down to the point it was mostly a smooth bore so a new barrel was added fairly recently and of course the firing pin and recoil springs have been changed several times.

Almost all of my handguns have been upgraded, wear parts replaced, often new grips or grip panels, so reblued, one of the newer plastic ones has a new frame jess for fun.

I LIKE IKE! Remember him well. One of the best, in my humble opinion.....both as a general and prez...

 

[jar]

Just recently found a "Win with Willkie" mechanical pencil.

Now that is really a random shot!

 

[Thomasss]

Don't have to worry about it. Got three kids that love to shoot and hunt. It would be a hoot to watch how they divi them up when I' gone. Will it be by value or by what they like to shoot????

 

[WestKentucky]

I have quit “upgrading”. I have lost too many good guns by letting “better” be the enemy of “good”. Perfect example is the one that haunts me the most. I had a Taurus 609 6” blued .357 mag that was incredible. I loved it, and being it was a lowly Taurus and everybody knows a Ruger or S&W is far better I chose to trade my Taurus in for a GP100. The Taurus was in need of repair so I basically gave it away. The GP100 by all accounts should be a better gun. The one I got had a severely chattered barrel and would shoot groups the size of a bowling ball at 25 yards. Took it back to the shop and showed them the issue. The shop owner swapped it for another new in box Ruger identical to the one I had bought… including the factory trash barrel, and when I refused that gun the shop owner refunded the money for the GP. He did me right, but I have never replaced that incredible Taurus. Many .357s have passed through my collection, but not a single one comes close to what that Taurus did.

So, when I have had my fun with a gun I put it in the safe and if it doesn’t come out to play for a while then it might be traded off in a couple years for the next thing I want. If I know that I want to upgrade something very similar, I will buy the replacement before I turn loose of the item being replaced, with few exceptions. I still need a good DA 357 and there’s not one made today that I would accept short of a Cobra or Python, and I’m not putting that kind of money out for one. I will keep looking for an identical Taurus to replace what I lost the day I took the stupid pill.

 

[Bazoo]

I've been buying, selling, and trading for twenty years. I only have about 8-10 firearms at a given time. I don't want more than I can handle. I've owned more than 100, and have figured out what I like.

I've owned a small number of, but never cared for cheap guns. Taurus, RIA, hi point, keltec. Some of them functioned, some didn't. Fit and finish generally is lacking.

I like Ruger, marlin, winchester, smith&wesson, glock, Springfield armory, Remington. Medium, user grade.

I don't normally buy a cheap gun and then upgrade; start with a heritage and upgrade to a Ruger single six. I started with a single six.

I customize all my guns. Be it changing grips or adding swivel studs. Or nothin, if it needs nothin.

 

[Rubone]

I tend to hang on to everything, so if I find a nicer example of something I want the old one usually stays around for posterity. I don't even consider the value since once it is paid for it never costs me a cent to keep it. I am also a big fan of basic usable guns, so I could care less about such items as NIB unfired stuff. If it isn't a shooter I am not interested, others can have those.
I find the "need" to sell one so I can afford another interesting. I've been a working class stiff all my life, but learned many years ago that stressing over something is not helpful, and usually within a few months the cost of what you were stressing over is a vague memory. Firearms for the most part are cheap in the grand scheme of things, why torture yourself with cost and value and just enjoy them for what they are.

 

[American_Fusilier]

I buy what I can with plans to upgrade later with certain guns. Like my revolver, I have an EAA Vindicator that will someday be replaced by a Ruger GP100. I generally know at the time I buy a gun if I will sell it someday or keep it forever. About a third of my guns are in the "upgrade someday" category.

But for now I just shoot and have fun with whatever I have

 

[Uffdaphil]

All my AR15s are top quality, but when I realized I had a couple of near identical guns I upgraded one with a fluted Ranier Ultramatch barrel and higher power optic. Now debating changing out the extra 14.5” 5.56 to 6mm ARC.

 

[Archie]

I have two categories of firearms. 'Collections' and 'using' arms.
The collections are subject to trading up to improve the collection. I will trade (and perhaps add a bit of money) to get a better sample of a certain arm. But that doesn't mean I will divest myself of a M1917 rifle for a modern AR-15. I have an old Colt Police Positive Special. I doubt if I'll find a better one and it's not going to be traded for a Glock.

My using guns comprise self-defense arms and those suitable for hunting. (Of which I have too many similar function rifles.) The defensive arms I like and cannot reasonably replace them. Some of them could be considered semi collectable. For instance, one is a Smith & Wesson 2nd Model .44 Hand Ejector. Made on the same "N" frame as the 1917 revolvers, it is in .44 Special. By the way, this is the revolver with which the late Elmer Keith developed the .44 Magnum. I use a 250 gain flat meplat bullet and a conservative dose of Power Pistol powder to develop roughly 700 to 800 fps. Quite suitable. The everyday sidearm I carry is a Colt (lightweight) Commander in .45 ACP. Both work well and I can handle them. I'm not replacing either one; not much of replacements.

I say this at the age of seventy-one. I'll likely die before I wear either of them to non-functionality.
Speaking of that, I have worn out a gun. I still have it, retired, so to speak. It is a S&W Model 13. The top strap of the frame stretched and the cylinder has way too much end play. I have no idea how many rounds I shot to do this, but it was a lot. I replaced it (in use) with a S&W 581. I suppose that qualifies as an 'upgrade'.

 

[tark]

I guess I'm at a bit of a loss over "upgrade."

"upgrade" to a collector means going from, say, a 90% gun to a 95% gun.

 

[Golfanaticshooter]

I didn't grow up rich and we're not rich now, but I learned a long time ago inexpensive is USUALLY cheap (1984 Dodge Omni GLH). I have a few guns and they are made by:
Browning
Colt
CZ
Marlin
Remington (all older except the 700 in my avatar)
Ruger
Smith & Wesson
Winchester
None of these are bank breakers but none are "cheap." I am retiring in a little over 2 years and my gift to myself will be a Rigby London Best in 30-06. I know, but I'm paying for it. It will not be the last gun I buy but certainly the most expensive. I've worked since I was 13, PT through schooling and and many hours a week ever since. My wonderful wife has even signed off as it involves a trip to London. By the way, younglings listen here, it's possible because I'll have almost a year's income for my last check and it will be expendable. Mostly unused sick time. @CapnMac asked what's the equivalent of leather seats and fancy rims? It's grade 8 walnut and my kids names gold inlayed somewhere on the rifle. I guess I want to upgrade.

 

[sparkyv]

If I no longer shoot them, I send them down the road. So the trend is to be rid of several good but lower quality firearms that no longer hold my interest, and by default, the overall quality of my firearms accumulation has gone up. And also, I've been on a revolver resurgence as of late, so that has influenced my sell-offs. I have had no regerts.

 

[kimberkid]

38 years ago when I married my wife I promised to keep her. I've kept that promise. I make no promise when I buy a gun. There are a handful with family history and some with sentimental value that will be passed down to the next generation. But everything else is for sale at the right price.

I'm 63, bought my 1st gun at 16 with money I earned cutting grass during summers @ $3 per yard. During my 20's, 30's and 40's I was a prolific gun buyer/seller/trader. I've lost count, but have owned several hundred guns over the years. Never more than about 50 at any given time. Never had any high end guns, but there aren't many mid to lower priced guns I haven't owned at one time or another. Probably at least 75%-80% of the guns I've ever owned were bought used. Over 50% in my safe right now were used. I've not spent nearly as much out of pocket as you'd think.

Things have changed, but back then it was pretty easy and simple to sell/trade/swap guns. I discovered that if I bought used guns and watched the price I paid I could easily sell or trade it later if I didn't like it and recover most, if not all of my money. And it wasn't unusual to make a small profit occasionally. Especially if I kept it a few years. I literally bought many guns that I felt I probably wouldn't like simply to try them. Knowing I could easily get my money back if I didn't. I discovered that I was wrong several times and actually became quite fond of some of those. Glock for example.

I'm not sure my strategy would work today. I'm hesitant to sell or buy FTF anymore. I'd rather pay more, and get less when selling and go through a FFL to let them assume the liability of a gun getting in the wrong hands.

Once I got into my 50's I'd already tried just about everything and had made up my mind what worked best for me. I started selling off those that didn't get used and used the money to upgrade to better optics, adding high end aftermarket stocks, and in some cases better firearms. I also gave my kids several guns. I didn't see any point in them having to wait till I die to enjoy them.

During the height of the Pandemic when gun shops couldn't get guns I sold 10 guns for $6000 to a local gun store. I had about $2500 in them and made a nice profit, and he had some guns on his shelves.

Your entire story sounds nearly identical to mine … and I’m 64, so we’re even the same age … however I haven’t sold anything to dealers due to the plandemic …

 

[mnrivrat]

I would guess most would say I down graded over the last couple decades rather than upgraded. I used to buy brand name guns. My revolvers were S&W , Colt, or Ruger. My Auto's were Colt , Hi-Standard Victor, Ruger . My shotguns were Remington, with one higher end Italian made O/U that I can't recall the name of right now.
Pretty much solid good guns, but nothing much high end. K and L frame S&W's. 1911 Colts. Winchester and Marlin lever guns. My Bolt actions were mostly custom made by me using 1903 actions. Had a Ruger Bolt in 200 Win Mag, and of course a stainless 10-22.
As my shooting tapered off and those guns started drawing more money I sold off a few, and the rest got sold in my Divorce time period. I bout a 20 gauge Mossberg with a cut down barrel for $75 at a gun show, and that was all I had while raising my daughters.
when I started buying back a few guns I bough Taurus, Kel-Tec , a Rossi 720 to replace handguns, a Standard used Model1100 20 gauge Remington. A Metro-Arms 1911 was cheap, but surprisingly well made and as accurate if not more so than the Colts I owned. So, downgraded, but still well armed.

 

[tuckerdog1]

When younger, I'd buy the best I could afford. That was middle of the road, average guns. When I wanted something new, I'd often have to sell or trade something. Those days are behind me now. I still have several of those middle of the road guns, because they are good guns. I don't need to trade or sell them any longer, so they are all keepers. Told my wife a couple years back I was going to start buying higher quality guns & she was good with that. I still have trouble making myself spend money where I see a diminishing return per dollar spent. I'd rather buy two STI or Dan Wesson 1911s over one Nighthawk ( although I'd like a Nighthawk ).

 

[Bartojc]

Hmmm I've never thought that much about it. I always tell my shooting buddies "I just have a bunch of junk and hand me downs" and they all get a laugh. I've always bought something that would do a job reliably for the job I needed doing. I go for the best for the money I have to spend. If it is unrealistic to get said tool for what I have to spend I don't compromise on what is important. Which for me mostly is reliability. I don't have near the stable or collections that a lot of you do. I don't sell much to "upgrade" I do have my eyes on a couple "prettier" gund that I would like before I get too old to enjoy them. Not sure I would sell anything. They would be net-new.

-Jeff