I'm going to take a little different angle on my response. I think most people would benefit from owning an heirloom gun. A gun that one of your ancestors owned and used. I'm fortunate to have my grandfather's Iver Johnson break-top. He carried it from Minnesota to Montana when he homesteaded there. It's not worth much monetarily, but it's worth a fortune to me. I have Dad's Model 70, his Model 94, Mom's Huntsman and the cheapo 25 ACP she carried in her purse. None of these are worth a bundle but they speak to my heritage. There's something very personal about my ancestors' firearms that means a great deal to me.

It's true that many people don't have this sort of opportunity. But, if you get hold of a family heirloom hang onto it! They're hand-held history.