If you ever bought a gun on an impulse, thinking it was going to be a great purchase, and then it turned out you didn't really like the trigger, grips, sights, or something else about the gun? Nothing mechanically wrong with the gun, it was just not something you really liked after you had a chance to own it and shoot it for a while?

Anybody besides me ever do this, and if so, what did you do? Put it in the back of the safe? Keep it or sell it? How much effort would you put into trying to learn to like it before you put it up for adoption?

Pass it on.

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You do what you are.

Trade of sell it. I like trading guns.

When I was younger I would trade or sell guns in the blink of an eye. Then after letting a few get away that I wish I still had, I got a lot more stingy with letting them go. That being said if you have no love for the gun then there is no point in keeping it. Unless it has some metal money value and would fetch a much more attractive price closer to election time.

There was a time many years back when it was legal to do so here in the PRC where I would buy with intent to resell. Made some good dough, not earth shaking, but worth the effort.

Since those days, I bought two disappointing examples that I sold/traded.

The problem with both was their lack of reliability. One was a 1911 that would FTRB every 80 rounds with my cast loads. Shot ball just fine, but I don't use it. I loaded up a couple hundred ball and they went through slicker 'N snot, but to be part of my armory, you have to shoot cast. So I sold it without any second thoughts or regrets - and full disclosure.

The other was a 2.5" 686. Refused to fire one cylinder every so often. I would have repaired it with a new firing pin/hammer spring, but for the all too short ejector rod. Can't abide by a short ejector rod. So I traded it off with a friend for a custom 629-2 with an original 3" LH barrel. Didn't regret that in the least. Full disclosure here as well.

Now I have a 3" 65-5 and I can finally use the special Hogue wood grips I got for the 686. It's everything I was hoping the 686 would be - and more.

If I do not like the gun after the first range report it finds a new home.

If I don't like it, I sell it.


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James

Cars, guns, tools, spouses, shoes and restaurants: If you don't like it, why is it here?

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Term limits!

Back in the early 80s, following in the advice of Skeeter Skelton, I bought a 6 1/2 inch 24-3. I tried to love it. I really did. But it mostly just sat in the safe. In the 20 or so years I owned it I shot maybe 500 rounds through it. Swapped it off for a 22, 45, 1950, whatever that 4" N frame 45 ACP is. Happy with the trade. Be happier if it didn't have the lock, but still, quite happy. In the two or three years I've had it I've probably put a thousand rounds though it. I like it MUCH more than the 44.

Still - occasionally I think that, instead of getting rid of it, I shoulda had the barrel lopped to 5". I bet I'da liked a 5" 44 Special. Uh huh.

Oh well.

Seems like just about everything I get rid of, I wish I still had it, even if I didn't really like it that much to begin with.

So I mostly just keep 'em.

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I always take precautions

Sell them. I bought an S&W M-59 in 1979, sold it in 1981, didn't like that aluminum frame.

I've bought a few pistols that after a short time had to find new homes especially if they didn't shoot well or malfunctioned a lot. Haven't had many revolvers that I didn't keep even if they weren't my favorites.

I used to just accumulate guns. Some I rarely shot. Then I got somewhat smarter. I had a M19-5 4" that I bought about 14 years ago for a really good price. I rarely shot it, and the fact it was not Pinned and Recessed just bugged me. A year or so ago I really wanted a Kahr, so I traded it and a bit of cash for a Kahr PM40. For some reason I didn't like that either, and I couldn't shoot it very well. So when I saw a 4" M28-2 at the local store, I traded the Kahr and a small amount of cash, and now I have two 4" M28-2s. This one has non-original Target stocks, so I like it less than the one I have with Magnas. HMMMMMM. Wonder what I could trade it for?
I'll get back to 'ya on that.
Jim

Sell it and use the $ to finance another toy. I've done this on more than a few occasions. I'll see something shiny that catches my eye and the price is right and it goes home with me. After I've had a chance to shoot it, its not as shiny as I thought it was. So up for sale it goes and I use the $ for something newer/shinier.

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Tim, USAF Ret.

I would say try and work with it if possibile, you know change the grips and sights or other parts until I get it on to what exactly I want it to be to suit me.

as I just did that with the glock .40 a few weeks ago by putting on a new pachmayr slip on grip on it and it filled in the finger groves so it actually fit my hand and shot well.

and I'm going to try that with the beretta 85 next. Namely getting a pachmayr slip on grip to cover up the front checkering thats biting into my hand as thats what was bothering me about it, not the alloy construction of the frame as I first thought.

and then put a rear target sight on it to get the thing rigged up for recreational shooting at 25 yards as the damn thing really doesnt fit that well in the pocket to begin with, unlike the model 49 so it might as well be a range only gun, but with the stock rear sight its shooting low so I kind of need to rectify that by changing the sight.


however if the thing is unreliabile or I feel its junk and it couldnt be modded to suit my tastes or sooth my complaints about it I would get rid of it like the interarms PPK that felt like if you rubbed it wrong it would tear your skin appart.

Basically if its not something thats a complete and utter failure of a gun I would try and see if I could just work with it as its much easier to order in a set of grips or sights than it is to get rid of it and get another gun to fill its place.

sell/trade em. I've had a few HKs that I have TRIED and tried to love. I liked the look of them, liked the quality of them, even liked the feel in my hand....then got to shooting. I figured with the same grip angle, it would shoot like my 1911s...if that wasn't farther from the truth for me. I just could not warm up to how they shot in my hands. I shoot the x all day long with my 1911s, but these just did not and no matter what adjustments I made, it seemed futile.

I also traded for a treatment I did not like that I thought I would at first. traded away a beautiful CCO that had scallops on the front strap and msh. I learned that the only thing for me will be checkering. I have to have checkering on my 1911s yet that's just me...but I was not going to use the gun with the scallops. I gladly put it towards what I wanted in something else, and more 1911s will always be in my future. The gun was perfect otherwise, the checkering style was a deal breaker. I will keep my vintage Colt Combat Commander in its factory form and refrain from any mods or checkering to keep it as it left at the factory (more of an investment IMO that gets shot once in a while and is an exception to my normal rule)...all my other 1911s have the stuff I want and need and all my guns are shooters - I'm not a big safe queen kinda guy.

Got rid of a gun because of caliber. Loved the gun, but hated the caliber in it. It wasn't for me and while I sort of regret getting rid of that gun, it is now replaced in a caliber I want.

There may always be that one you wish didn't get away, and it may not even be the gun, but more a result of circumstance or a current situation that makes it go, but I see nothing wrong with upgrading, side-grading, trading or selling a tool that is just not going to get used, or is disliked after the fact of getting it. I'm just glad the market is fairly strong, and we can pick and choose as we please, make model or caliber.

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God Bless Our Troops.

Sir, if I can't like 'em within a few range trips, away they go. I have neither the space nor the finances to keep guns I don't like.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

I do have a revolver wich is a mess. That is a Adler Jeager Bisley model.

It is still in my collection for its type of safety feature and the fact that it is a very bad made revolver. Every collection has to have one.
This is the one.

Attached Images

Bisley.jpg (5.0 KB, 35 views)

Yup. FEG/Mauser P90DA. After it's second trip to the 'smith I put it on consignment. I bought it for it's looks, and it shoots "OK" but well... didn't much care for it and I had bought a SIG nine so...

Problem was when I went down to do the paperwork the LGS had an unissued Polish M44 Mosin Nagant for just about what I would get for the pistol, soooo....

Only time I will sell a gun at a loss is when "the thrill is gone." Usually turns out OK though since I get the next "thrill" shortly thereafter. Try getting that past the wife with women. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

If I don't want it any more it goes out on the table at the next gunshow. Got a couple that are going out for the first time: a Norinco Tokarev with box (if I can find the box) and a Benelli shotgun, originally bought as a riot gun but I also bought a sporting barrel and wood stock and forend so I could have both. I never shoot it so why hang onto it?

Howeve I've also had seller's remorse several times, and I try to really make a decision about selling that I will be happy with in the future.

if after the first range trip i am not loving the gun or i just plain get bored which usually happens then away the gun gun goes. the fun is in the searching for what you want.

If I don't develop a like for a gun it becomes trading stock. Too many others out there to waste my time........

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Even older, even crankier....

Speaking for my self, I have bought many guns I did not really have a use for, care about or want. The reason for buying was price and condition. Several of these guns are in a safe right now, still not fired.

One day there will be someone that wants such a gun worse than I and they can buy it.

SELL-------and learn what the old man tried to teach you growing up----learn to keep your zipper up.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

Ditto.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

After some thoughtful consideration, verse impulse, sell 'em and reinvest in something new (or old). There is never a 'bad' gun, thus it's easy to rationalize keeping it...but if you don't shoot it and it just sits, get rid of it, purchase something you will use and enjoy

Got rid of 2 at the last Market Hall show. A Diamondback .38 snub, and a 2.5" Model 66-6. Didn't like either one. Sold the Colt and traded the 66 for another S&W.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Been there and done that many times. On the plus side I got to try just about any gun I've ever wanted. The downside was having to then find someone else who wanted to experience the pride of ownership of a gun I didn't want, usually at a slight monetary loss. Haven't missed any of the ones I sent down the road and I love the ones I've kept.

I've only sold 1 gun - a .44 Mag Desert Eagle. I thought it was cool, bought it, then the coolness wore off. Way too large a grip, too heavy, no lead bullets, only functions with full power ammo.

I have a couple EBRs that I don't shoot, but I haven't convinced myself to sell them either. I keep telling myself they would be hard to replace and I may want them someday.

I agree with what you said, but I have to tell you, that is one cute pup on your avatar!

I bought a 4566TSW as I really love my 5906, but soon found out it wasn't the 45 equivalent of my 5906-different grip angle, shape. Tried 3 sets of different grips, and after a few range session I still could not get it to group. Sold it and bought a S&W 1911, couldn't be happier with the choice--and don't regret selling the 4566TSW, even thought it functioned flawlessly.

I just keep accumulating. Can't seem to part with anything.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

I have been into gun collecting for 34 years and just started selling a few guns that I never use anymore. So far I sold a M37, a Colt Huntsman, a "Coach" Shotgun for CAS and a Browning Hi - Power. All were in like new condition and had no problems, but I just never used them. I took the money from those guns and purchased a NIB Series 70 Colt Gold Cup made in 1974. That gun I use every week! So if you are not using a particular gun and have no real expectations to do so in the near future, sell it, move on and use that money to buy something you will use.

Chief38

I have what I call the trade list, don't need to sell them, but do not light my fire. I'm happy to keep them in the safe, but if the right price or (even better) trade comes along, they can find a better home.

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always trust your cape...

Cut your losses.

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