When is it time to sell that firearm?

[CajunBass]

I've never had any really serious regrets over any gun I've sold or traded for whatever reason. For the most part I either got something I wanted more, or spent the money on something else I wanted more. For example I quit shooting and hunting for years and got into tournament bass fishing. I sold a bunch of guns and used the money to buy fishing tackle and stuff from my boat. I caught a lot of fish during those years. And had a LOT more fun.

I've built my "gun collection" back up over the last few years to the point where I wonder "why do have this one?" So I might start weeding some out before too long. For example I've got a couple of Yugo SKS's I can't think of any real reason to have. I never shoot them. I'm too old to play "Red Dawn." So why not either sell them or trade them for something else? I don't know really. I guess I haven't seen anything I want bad enough.

 

[leadcounsel]

Guns generally appreciate and are not getting any easier to get. I only sell a gun if I'm immediately going to replace it with something that I otherwise wouldn't buy, or I trade for another gun. I especially don't sell guns that don't if they don't have a paper trail associated with them. It's only getting harder to get 'em. Now, balance that with making a nice profit in times where prices are unusually high. If I had something that was in abnormal high demand, I would consider selling.

 

[memphisjim]

after you shoot up its ammo

 

[JustinL]

So long as it has no sentimental value or I do not care for it I will sell it.

 

[Confederate]

Never sell a gun, period. You'll ALWAYS regret it. People never learn this, they just have to find out for themselves. Someone's going to read this advice and ignore it, then they're going to wish like hell they'd never sold the gun.

 

[crunch14]

Well I hope you sell a gun when I'm ready to buy. Other than that don't bother, you'll just regret it.

 

[tinygnat219]

I say sell it if you have lost interest in it.

 

[CajunBass]

Never sell a gun, period. You'll ALWAYS regret it. People never learn this, they just have to find out for themselves. Someone's going to read this advice and ignore it, then they're going to wish like hell they'd never sold the gun.

I hear this all the time, I've probably even said it, but really, why not? I've probably sold and traded more guns in my life than average, and I can't say there is but one I'm really sorry I did, and even that one I've never lost any sleep over. They make them all day long, and there is always another one out there.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

My interests run in cycles. I may get into revolver shooting pretty heavily for a year or two and then back off, shoot muzzleloaders, go fishing, try beekeeping, etc. After a few years or a decade, I'll be back to revolvers. It's great to pick up where you left off with a gun that's an old friend.

Consequently, the only guns I sell are ones I don't like. My 6" GP100 comes to mind. No regrets there. Guns that I kind of like but don't really have a need for, like my old Mini-30, always cause major regrets when sold.
Bob

 

[mgmorden]

For me personally, unless it has problems, then I generally don't sell a gun. As a rule if it works well then once I buy, then it stays with me till I die.

Guns that I have sold: an old Remington 1903-A3 Sporter. Wouldn't stabilize bullets - they were keyholing at 50 yards. The gun was an old, old custom job that my parents bought from a pawn shop. Looking back I think it MAY have been rebored to something bigger (.338 A-Square or .35 Whelen maybe) but never caliber stamped, so shooting .30-06 certainly wouldn't stabilize. I do however wish I'd kept it just to rebarrel now.

I've also sold a Norweigan Krag Jorgensen as well. I had never shot it, but I wanted a handguard for the thing and just never could locate the guard + hardware, so after I had it for a while I just sold it off. Ended up turning a 20% profit on it after having it for about 18 months, so it wasn't too bad an investment. No regrets selling that one.

Third gun I sold was an M96 Swede Mauser sporter. For whatever reason it just wouldn't shoot, and I dumped a LOT of money into the thing trying to make it do so. New scope, new scope mounts, new trigger, neck sizing die for the reloading setup, etc. Nothing I tried would get the groups under 3-4" at 100 yards. Eventually I got tired of working with it and sold it. Don't regret that one either, and though I will most certainly get another 6.5x55, it'll likely be on a large ring Mauser action - I don't like the small rings for handloading.

Other than that I've got 2 more problem guns - one CZ-712 shotgun that tends to snap on my sometimes (doesn't always return to completely full battery so the hammer coming down closes it but that takes away too much inertia from the hammer which causes a light strike), and then a 1911 that has always been a jam-o-matic (though surprisingly accurate). I think the days are numbered on both of them.

But as I said, if a gun works well, once it comes in it don't leave my possession again.