What is a "shooter"?

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Danny540

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
16
What is a "shooter"?
Have only posted once before; just inherited some older pieces.
What constitutes a "shooter" or collectors item, etc. Is it condition only or fact of active use? I just want to judge what I have.
Anyone know any reputable gunsmiths in the Chicago area? (not in Cook C.)
Thanks.
 
if shooting it won't hurt the value (i.e. it's already used, etc)
or if the value is low enough (relative to your wealth) that you consider the gun a disposable tool
then there's really not reason not to shoot it
 
A "shooter" is a gun you shoot. Most gun collectors do not as a general rule shoot the guns in their collection. They shoot the "shooters". Beyond the obvious, these firearms are as taliv referenced above. So what you shoot depends on your wealth, the number of firearms you own, and how you feel about the guns you own in general in terms of future value. A collector gun may be a common gun or it may be extremely rare. In both cases, you are viewing it as something beyond taking to the range and running some ammuntion through it.
 
A shooter to me is a reliable and reasonably accurate gun. It will probably have handling and wear marks, and isn't considered to be particularly collectable or valuable.
 
just inherited some older pieces.
Click to expand...

whats been said above and....

it is mechanically sound.

some older guns have characteristics which may make them
unsound to shoot:
break tops, those made from 'soft' metal or having virtually indiscernible cracks are just a few possibilities.
 
I think you could post the list of what they are and people here would tell you what you would need to check with a gunsmith. Old double barrel shotguns are an issue, even without damascus steel, because the solders come undone. Some antique lever guns, the aforementioned break tops, some 03 springfields, etc. But it could be you are asking about a model 14 S&W or a 30 year old remington shotgun, we don't know.
 
My 12-shot 6mm pin fire revolver is not a shooter. I bought it anyway, because the price was right, and I always wanted to own an assault revolver.

It looks like something a villain would point at Sherlock Holmes.

It is missing the ejector rod. One of these days I will fabricate the missing parts to make it look whole.
 
A good example is my Colt New Service in .45 Colt. This gun had been reblued when I got it -- and most of the markings were buffed out. Definitely not a collector's item.

It had a front sight about as thick as a razor blade and a rear notch to match. It shot about 18" low and nearly a foot to the right. But it grouped well.

So I said, "What the hey?" and soldered on a 1/8" thick slab of steel for a front sight and opened up the rear notch to the left until it was wide enough to show a slice of light on either side of that new front sight -- and it shot dead on.

Since then, I've shot a whole bunch of my handloads in it.
 
Thanks for the replies

I figured "shooter" was a gun that was not really a collectible, as one would not then shoot it.

I got:
Astra pistol
long barrel luger with lots of attachments
long barrel S&W .22
very old looking lefever double barrel 12 gauge
remington .22 (some kind of pull back bolt)
and a BB gun with a scope

I think all are circa 50's or obviously before.

Many thanks for thoughtful replies.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top