Do you hang onto firearms or let them go?

[rookie7]

Just looking for other shooters/hunters perspective here. I have my own opinions on this. Some folks have the mantra - never sell a gun.

However, for argument sake - if you're not a collector - why have firearms in your safe that you don't shoot and/or don't want?

We all go thru stages of interest and use, and most things move in cycles.

Are you hanging onto heirlooms? Gifts? Or do you sell it if you don't shoot it?

I know shooters/hunters that say they can't afford semi-custom or custom rifles with nice optics, but then they'll have 10 to 15 $500 rifles with $200 scopes. Why not move all of those to afford one or three really nice rifles with good optics.

Just curious to how other shooters and hunters view the question.

Thank you

 

[...]

i hang onto stuff until it doesnt interest me any longer.....then i usually sell it.....there are a few guns i have sentimental value attached to........but most of my guns are tools/ toys.

im fortunate enough that i dont really NEED to sell any of my guns........but if im not shooting it, i might as well move it and clear room in my safe.

but if i ever decide to drop the money on a high end Sabatti or Merkel double rifle.....then yeah, ide probably have to move some stock to lessen the sting of the purchase.

 

[Dewey7271]

I hang on. Too much or too many but there it is.
The ones I don't shoot I modify, barrels, stock, etc. until they turn into something that interests me.
Some I build just because.
The inherited ones I keep clean and shoot rarely but the memories are good.
i tend to splurge on rifles and optics to get what I want.

 

[QuickNDirty]

I hang onto most of my stuff, though I'll occasionally let some things go to folks I introduce to hunting and shooting and all of that, who express a genuine interest in it. Usually at a pretty good discount, too.

I also introduce a ton of newbies to the shooting sports. I've got a bit of everything in my stash to give folks a good idea of what they like and don't like.

 

[Tucker301]

I don't collect, but I do find myself amassing. I have several that should be for sale.

 

[rookie7]

I'm a bit of a pack rat. I have the philosophy that I may "need" "it" somewhere down the road.

There is good and bad in that.

I have several lever actions. Not my flavor anymore. I look at those and think I could have a nice custom sitting there with decent glass.

I have a few I will never sell like a 1983 Marlin 39A I bought with money I had saved as a kid.

 

[Bradu]

I have a few I would like to sell to get something else but the market sucks so I will keep them.

 

[WaltHer]

I like keeping things fresh. Happy to sell things to buy new things that I want more. I'm not attached to any of them by more than dollar signs. Reminds me of that oldy-but-goody:

Hot girl gets approached by dirty old man in the bar. "I'll pay you a 100 grand to go up stairs and have sex" he says. She kicks it around and finally says ok. They go to his room, he gets naked and hands her a $20. "What kind of girl do you think I am?" she asks. "We've already established that, now we're just haggling over the price" he tells her.

 

[K-tech]

I know shooters/hunters that say they can't afford semi-custom or custom rifles with nice optics, but then they'll have 10 to 15 $500 rifles with $200 scopes. Why not move all of those to afford one or three really nice rifles with good optics.

Thank you

Interesting topic you bring up but I think short answer is people overall aren't that practically minded. People want specialized guns, they want sentimental guns, they want variety, heck some people just like thrill of buying something new. I guess if we were faced with life and death situations everyday those things would take a back seat to practicality but that the beauty of the country we live in

 

[WATERWALKER]

I generally keep rifles & pistols. That being said, I did trade a rifle two years ago for another rifle that filled a critical hole in my safe. I've gotten rid of a few shotguns over the years that I wish I would've kept. One for the simple fact that it was the first gun I ever bought w/ my own money (Ithaca 37 Featherlight, 20 GA) & a Boito side-by-side 12. The Boito was a solid gun. I never had any issues w/ it & I used it to kill a bunch of birds & bunnies. I miss that gun a lot. I got rid of the others for a reason.

 

[waveslayer]

I hung on and woke up one day and said why?... I had a M1A1, always wanted one. Then I figured out that I never use it. I sold it and bought an MDR. Still waiting for the MDR. I don't miss it. Some guns I will never sell though.

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

 

[Temper]

Unless a gun is a gift or inherited, they are replaceable. You could always buy something better for cheaper down the road. I used to have about 40 firearms, now I'm down to about 6 and I'm not even missing them. Would rather have a couple very high quality(custom) firearms than a bunch of just nice production(boring) guns, most of which won't get shot on any kind of regular basis. I only want maybe 2 more guns before the rest of my gun funds go to ammo and gear.

 

[308pirate]

I move them.

I keep my collection down to what I mostly use, except in one area: S&W revolvers. I have one that I never carry and hardly every shoot, in excellent condition but I'm not going to move it yet. Value's not high enough in the market.

I've moved even a CMP M1 because I got bored with it. Guns have no sentimental value to me.

 

[rookie7]

Interesting topic you bring up but I think short answer is people overall aren't that practically minded. People want specialized guns, they want sentimental guns, they want variety, heck some people just like thrill of buying something new. I guess if we were faced with life and death situations everyday those things would take a back seat to practicality but that the beauty of the country we live in

When talking about the general public I believe you are 100% correct.

 

[rookie7]

Unless a gun is a gift or inherited, they are replaceable. You could always buy something better for cheaper down the road. I used to have about 40 firearms, now I'm down to about 6 and I'm not even missing them. Would rather have a couple very high quality(custom) firearms than a bunch of just nice production(boring) guns, most of which won't get shot on any kind of regular basis. I only want maybe 2 more guns before the rest of my gun funds go to ammo and gear.

i like your line of thought, and I’m trying to get there.

I feel the world has tried to condition us to put value on stuff purchased. Which is ok in moderation.

Memories and and experiences are what we should cherish IMO. If you are a collector it’s a different mindset.

I had a student years ago when he turned 11 he asked for people to NOT buy him a gift but to bring a toy to donate to Toys for Tots and just to come to his party and have a good time.

I was very impressed by that and his mother said it was his idea.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Stuff I was given or inherited, I keep. Other stuff I use until something better comes along. I keep no safe queens, an everything is but a tool to me.

 

[Nik H]

I never sold anything but now the safe is bursting. I have stuff I haven't touched in 25 years. My wife keeps on telling me that all you seem to shoot is your AI and your Anschutz so why do you need everything else? Lately, there are things I want to buy but I always feel self conscious even though I am the sole money maker. I only purchased high end guns throughout my life so they are easy to sell. I have finally decided to sell a couple of things to raise money to buy a new scope for my AI and my Annie.

This being said, there are things I will never part with. I have kept the Colt Pythons that my father gave me for nostalgia. My custom Colts made by Swenson and Frank Pachmayr from my younger days of IPSC tournaments. Most of my HK pistols. That stuff is all worth a fortune compared to the original cost. Firearms over the years have appreciated amazingly well

 

[supercorndogs]

I sell it. My safe was full, not even close now. I am sure when I inherit some of my father and grandfathers old guns. They will not go up for sale though.

 

[rookie7]

I never sold anything but now the safe is bursting. I have stuff I haven't touched in 25 years. My wife keeps on telling me that all you seem to shoot is your AI and your Anschutz so why do you need everything else? Lately, there are things I want to buy but I always feel self conscious even though I am the sole money maker. I only purchased high end guns throughout my life so they are easy to sell. I have finally decided to sell a couple of things to raise money to buy a new scope for my AI and my Annie.

This being said, there are things I will never part with. I have kept the Colt Pythons that my father gave me for nostalgia. My custom Colts made by Swenson and Frank Pachmayr from my younger days of IPSC tournaments. Most of my HK pistols. That stuff is all worth a fortune compared to the original cost. Firearms over the years have appreciated amazingly well

Keeping Colt Pythons is a no brainer IMO.

I think it depends on the firearm if it is going to appreciate much or at all. A run of the mill shotgun or rifle isn’t going to go up enough to be an investment.

The high end stuff you are talking about is understandable.

 

[2ndamendfan]

I have only ever sold 1 and i hated it. I have expanded my "holding cell" a couple of times just to keep everything.

I can tell you almost everything about everyone. Most are nothing special but they all have a story to me. Like the rockriver 308 and .223 I ordered the day after Obama won his first election.

Multiple AR's and no 2 are exactly a like.

I am fortunate on many levels that i can do it that way. Wife is not a bitch, i don't spend money that should go to other things.

I hate dealing with people when selling stuff. I also don't want my stuff getting into the hands of the wrong people.

A friend of mine had a glock for sale online. A guy contacted him and said he would pay 3x the price if he didn't ask any questions. That shit would raise the hair on the back of my neck.

PS. He took it, and got $1200 for a glock, I don't know which model and I don't think it really matters

 

[fdkay]

I have only ever gotten rid of one gun.
I gave my son in law a dandy Taurus .32 magnum that I had bought at a gun show when stationed in Virginia.
It was a beautiful, 4 inch barrel with a deep blue finish.
I have stuff that I have never shot or haven't shot in 15+ years.
I have a sporterized 30-40 Krag that my dad had bought for me to replace a stolen one that I have never shot (I've had it for at least 10 years)
I also have a MAS 36 that I never shot. The outside of the gun looks very good, the bore is a mess. I thought it interesting when I bought it and intended to use it as a wall hanger. It was fairly unique in that is is equipped with the grenade launcher.
It's probably been 8 or 9 years since I last shot my Smith Model 657.
That's just a couple of examples.

 

[mi223]

I am of the tool/toy mindset. I have a beautiful 870 wingmaster from my uncle that is here to stay. But beyond that my guns are tools. If they do not have a "job" they go to fund other things.

Now that i just said that i dont see myself selling any pistols. Unless to fund a pistol i want more. The way i see it you can never have to many pistols laying around...

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Clearlight]

Only rifle I'm really attached to is my Mk4 Enfield , 42 year . It had a
visit to France not long after it was made in Longbranch , returned home
to Canada then made its way here to Aus . It still has its original barrel ,
and deserves my respect . Customs are nice , mine all shoot great but
they just don't feel the same to operate .

 

[Steel+Killer]

I have sold plenty of items to justify the purchase of something newer, better, shinier. I recently sold a AGOG that was just sitting in the safe collecting dust. When it lost it's cool neat novelty factor I realized all I had was a over prized fixed power scope with very poor eye relief so I used that money to buy a Gen-2 PST.

 

[jrassy]

I only sold a couple to close friends or relatives with the option I will buy it back if they ever get the need to sell it. I do spend time with each gun I have tweaking it or trying to add something useful depending on what type or what I'm doing with it. I don't have any safe queens. I am a member of a very nice private gun range that has every option as far as shooting goes.

 

[powdahound76]

I don't collect, but I do find myself amassing. I have several that should be for sale.

Tucker,
One you sell should be that 20g LC smith you killed your turkey with last year..... and sold to me.....!!!
Old SxS's, 1911's, and pre-64s are what I would hold onto. The rest are tools.
As I have become more certain about what my preferences are I buy less and sell less. Now I just need more time to use and save better to upgrade glass.

 

[Srgt. Hulka]

I still have every gun I've ever owned, except one. The first gun I ever bought with my own money was a stainless Ruger Blackhawk. I bought (My Mom bought it for me) when I was 17. It was stolen from me three weeks before my wedding when my house was burglarized 25 years ago. I was given guns when I was a kid. I received some as Christmas presents. I've inherited guns, and I've bought guns. One thing I've never done is sold a gun. Maybe one day, but not anytime soon.

 

[Tucker301]

Tucker,
One you sell should be that 20g LC smith you killed your turkey with last year..... and sold to me.....!!!
Old SxS's, 1911's, and pre-64s are what I would hold onto. The rest are tools.
As I have become more certain about what my preferences are I buy less and sell less. Now I just need more time to use and save better to upgrade glass.

16 ga. Everything I own is for sale every day. That twice barrel will be 100 in April 2020. If you want the party to be at your house the ball is in your court.

 

[Dougie308]

"Let them go"? I don't understand.

 

[powdahound76]

Oh damn....

 

[texastonk]

I mostly don't sell once I have bought. Unless I don't like the gun. Sold an AR and a few pistols and one shotgun. Several family guns that will never get sold. Don't buy as often as Id like either.

 

[steve123]

A friend of mine bitches that he's only got a 10-22 that he doesn't like but wants a nice 22 bolt rifle and complains about how much they cost. In the last month he's bought 3 crappy 22's lol, well one is a nice old Winchester pump so I can't fault him for that one. Drives me nuts, lol. The money he spent would have got him into a nice precision 22 bolt rifle. Next time I see him he'll be griping again.

He wanted a nice 22 cal PCP air rifle so what does he do, he buys a another 17cal because it was on sale. Another $100 and he could have had the one he wanted.

I'm the type of person looking to upgrade over time. It took the buying and selling of 3 various 22's which were all cool rifles, (bought used so I came out ahead compared to what I bought them for and got to experience them in the meantime) until I reached my end goal which IMO can't be improved upon(love that rifle) so it would be an emergency if I sold it.

Actually I've reached many goals the last 10 years doing the same thing.

Heirlooms will go onto the kids.