Why get a gun if you won't shoot it?

[bushmaster1313]

I do not have any use for buying guns I will not shoot.

In particular, I stay away from any collectable gun that commands a premium because it is "unshot" "mint" or "NIB".

Can anyone explain why people buy mint guns that they will not shoot?

 

[LoganDub8388]

Many buy certain guns that are strictly collectors items. They don't buy them to shoot as most of these types of weapons lose value if shot a lot. Its kinda like first edition comicbooks or what not...you wouldn't ever take the wrapper off

 

[jakeiscrazy]

I couldn't agree more with the OP.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Well, see, there was a gun, and I kinda wanted it, cause it is the next generation of one I already got, didn't expect to win the lot, so ...

If anybody wants a FN 1922, nazi marked, made mid 41' 90%+, I have one for sale.

 

[leadcounsel]

Not so much mint or unfired, but I buy guns that I've still never shot. The reason are current affordability, uncertainty of availability (cheaply or at all) in the future, and economic investment (as I see them not going down in price in the future).

The guns I buy are practical and common, generally.

 

[ThePacifist]

Im not a collector, so I would never buy a gun unless I intended to use it.

 

[22-rimfire]

Bushmaster, your screen name hints at your interests. I can not see buying a black rifle and not shooting it unless you are saving it for some future event and have others to shoot. .... or simply can't afford to shoot the rifle...

As far as collecting guns, to each his own. Nothing wrong with buying guns to collect if that is your interest. It's no different than any other hobby. If you regularly buy guns year after year, try shooting them all. By default, some never get shot.

 

[ldyates]

Same reason people by: Old cars, stamps, coins, baseball cards, comic books etc...

It is a hobby.

I buy/sell guns because because it is "non spousable" income. I have liquidity to buy other toys without causing a fight.

 

[Sunray]

Why collect stamps, coins, plates, baseball cards or anything else? Why be a benchrest shooter? A milsurp shooter? An NRA shooter of any kind? An IPSC or any shooting game shooter? 'Because I want to', is the answer.
Pure collectors preserve history. If you don't want collector grade firearms, that's ok too. However, you should support pure collectors. The people who don't think you should be allowed to own firearms, think the same thing about collections. No privately owned firearms, of any kind, period.

 

[nwilliams]

I've always considered myself a shooter and not a collector so when I buy guns I intend use them.

However I can completely understand people choosing not to shoot guns that are rare and collectible.

If I owned a gun that was incredibly rare and collectible then I would keep it in the safe and not use it. Remember that some guns can be considered investments and worth keeping as pristine as possible. People collect rare coins and don't spend them, people collect rare cars and don't drive them, people collect rare art and don't display it, so why can't people collect rare guns and not shoot them?

IMO if someone buys a gun and chooses not to shoot it then they probably didn't buy that gun for the purpose of shooting it. In most cases if someone can afford a gun that is too valuable to shoot then they can easily afford to purchase a gun that they can shoot. If someone inherits a collectible gun and chooses not to shoot it then they are wise and I give them credit for recognizing that they own a rare gun that should be kept pristine.

 

[CajunBass]

I don't consider myself a collector, but I've got a few guns I've never fired, and a lot more that I've seldom fired. Note I didn't say they've never been fired. I got them used so I don't know if they have or not before I got them.

So why have them? I don't know. I'm past the point where I "need" a particular gun. I've got carry guns, I've got a squirrel gun, a deer rifle, a shotgun that I use for hunting...Those are guns I can say I "need." All the rest, I got because I wanted them. That doessn't necessarly mean I need to shoot them a lot to enjoy them.

I'm not saying I'll never grab them up and shoot them, I've just never bothered.

 

[EddieNFL]

Can anyone explain why people buy mint guns that they will not shoot?

My wife has china, silver, crystal, towels, pillows, bed covers, yada, yada, yada, that may not be used.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // I agree..... mostly

I was of the same mind set until I found a deal on a NIB breakdown riot shotgun, 1968-1971 and never assembled.

I think short barreled shotguns especially with riot on the barrel should at least retain their value.
I already have 3 other short barreled shotguns that are shooters and 2 get a frequent workout, the other was a 1958 local LEOs from JCP. I do shoot it but do not keep it loaded, so do not consider it a go to gun.

Price is usually the motivator for any purchase these days. I already have the firearms I consider necessary tools. I like to buy used so I'm glad many folks purchase firearms they shoot very little.

Now in truth if I had the funds some folks do I'd have a Ferguson Breechloading Rifle in my lap right now and a Sharps Schuetzen Rifle (one of 70)waiting to be cleaned. Knowing me I'd probably end up shoting them anyway as they most likely have been fired.

 

[BridgeTooFar]

Over the years, I've inherited or been given several guns that I'll never shoot or sell (unless times got unimaginably desperate). All guns I've bought are shooters.

 

[Opoche]

I can understand it. I collect tons of strange things (stamps, old firearms, miniatures). I hope that somewhere in the world someone has a brand shiny new (insert any firearm you can think of here) and is holding for 50 years down the road when you may not be able to find them anymore. Collectors often don't have a solid reason for collecting many of the things they collect. No problem with that, it is just another hobby.
That said, I do shoot all of the firearms I own, even my WW1 era rifles.

 

[deadin]

I have "collectors" and I have "shooters". Example: I currently have around 15 .22 pistols, but only shoot one of them. When I go to the range I don't go just to make noise (I know they will go "bang"), I go to hone my skills. Why should I waste my time shooting a gun that won't perform up to my regular shooter? Same with my other guns, I practice with my carry gun, hunting rifle, any gun I have a reason to shoot other than "just shooting it".
(I will admit that I have shot most of my guns just to see if they function, but that's only maybe 10 rounds. Then they never get shot again.)
I do have a number that are old and valuable and I won't take the chance of any damage that would lower their value.

 

[hso]

Collectors often want NIB/Unfired/Unissued condition items because they're the least common item out there. Rare=desirable.

 

[wishin]

I've had guns that I never fired - two of them were stolen as virgins.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Because such weapons are a link to history. If you were to obtain Audie Murphy's .45 or Alvin York's Springfield rifle would you risk use slowly but surely hastening the day they would be inoperable?

My Dad has a Colt Walker revolver hanging above two cavalry swords on his wall. I'm told the last time the weapon was fired was in the 1930's or 1940's. Family tradition says that his 2nd great Grandfather carried it in a saddle holster during the war between the states circa 1862-64. Should Dad decide to sell I would pay any amount he asked for it and while it is in working condition I would never shoot it.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I like classic shootable 12 gauge riot guns and trap guns that will not go down in value if I shoot it.

I do understand keeping a classic gun pristine.

I just cannot get enough enjoyment out of a gun I do not shoot or handle to make it orth my while.

Here are some of "my classics"

 

[natman]

I don't understand why anyone would buy a NIB older gun and then want to shoot it, when they could buy the same gun in excellent condition for a lot less money and no one would care if they shot it.

 

[Aw4g63]

Can anyone explain why people buy mint guns that they will not shoot?

The same reason that a restaurant has a menu or a radio has stations or a TV has channels. Not everyone gets enjoyment from the same thing. It may be hard to understand since you seem to have trouble understanding even the concept but there are a lot of very valuable guns out there that have no reason to be fired.

Then you can also take into account financials that allow people to own more than just common guns. Kind of like how Jay Leno has 100's of cars. Because he can afford to.

 

[jmorris]

Can anyone explain why people buy mint guns that they will not shoot?

I could if you can explane why my wife has soap I can't use.

 

[GRIZ22]

The only gun I have I never shot is a restricted edition engraved S&W commemerative. Shooting it would only seriously reduce the value.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I don't currently own any that I won't shoot, but I'm not saying I wouldn't.
I love history and the old west. If I were financially able, I would buy old Winchesters and first generation Colts that would never be shot, as well as other makers from the time period. Saw a first generation nickle SAA on Pawn Stars the other day that was in excellent condition. They got it for $2k. I was drooling.
That's the only kind of stuff I would buy with the intention of never shooting it.