Thinking about dramatically scaling back ...

[mc5aw]

Just thinking at this point, but the recent madness has got me giving serious consideration to really sizing back on the firearms collection. I've already gotten out of the AR business, and divested myself of two .45ACP handguns, so .223 and 45ACP are out of the caliber equation. That leaves .38 Sp and 9mm as the primary handgun rounds, with the big handgun option in .44. Long guns are all 7.62x39 (except for a Swiss K-31), with some .22 plinkers in the mix, and 12 gauge for the scattergun. It's tough to pick and choose, but I'm not married to any of the long guns; ideally a couple J frames, a couple .44s, a shotgun, and a .44 or .45LC lever gun (still looking) would round out things well. I don't know ... it just seems like there's too much stuff to keep track of these days in the safe. I'm not complaining by any means, as I consider myself extremely fortunate to have what I do ... but I've gotten to the point in life where streamlining things has been a goal. Did it with the house, did it with the truck, did it with other things. Firearms might be next. Having collected and enjoyed firearms for so long, it's difficult to consider letting so many go, but if I check out tomorrow, I can't take 'em with me.

I remember back in September of 2011 when the flood waters came, and bugging out was recommended (we missed the evacuation before the roads washed out, so we ended up staying), I was literally loading up a canoe to get across the yard to the vehicle on high ground. The gun collection would have surely been sunk, and I only had room for a couple revolvers and a long gun, with as much ammo as I could grab. Not an envious position to be in. Luck was shining down on us however, and we didn't lose our home ... just 7' of water in the basement, and whatever down there was ruined. A small price to pay for the house being spared. So it was then that I really began to consider whether having more than I could bug out with was practical, or even worthwhile any longer.

My collection has consistently been geared toward defense and target/sport, not hunting. As always, thoughts, insights, opinions, and experiences are welcome.

BTW ... No circling buzzards please. I'm not having a fire sale just yet. I promise though, you fellers will be the first ones to know.

[quneur]

I would start by evaluating what your wife and you want to do. Travel? Outdoors stuff more?

[blujax01]

If you have a mind to sell, now's the time. I seriously doubt that prices will ever be higher.

[CajunBass]

I know what you mean. I found myself asking that same question last year, and I made the decision to get rid of most of what I had. I didn't have as extensive a collection as a lot of people had, but I had more than just a few. But I asked myself why I had them if I didn't shoot them, or even look at them. They just gathered dust in the safe.

I culled mine down to just a few that my wife and I shoot at least fairly regularly. Funny thing is I found it was just as much fun to sell them to someone else who would enjoy them as it was to buy them myself. I'm debating whittling what's left down even more to tell you the truth.

I can't say I've really missed them. I didn't have any emotional attachment to them. They were just "things."

[Combat]

Lately I have been kind of feeling the same way. An example being, what would I rather have-10 guns worth $500.00 all together or one really good one worth $500.00.

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

I suppose it's an inevitable rite of passage and like you fellows, I've done much the same. At least three other friends are doing likewise. You can't take it with you when you check out, after all. The nice aspect is that others will have the opportunity to enjoy our treasures just as we first did. I'm hanging on to some while I'm still healthy and if I croak unexpectedly, what remains won't be missed by me anyway. Narrowing down the selections to dispose of is pretty simple for me, no more duplicates was my starting point. Accessories I rarely or never used. Still more to go.....Somebody on the forum said recently, "you spend the first half of your life acquiring things and the second half, trying to get rid of them".

Cheers;
Lefty

[CGhelofxr]

Me not knowing all your circumstances (Family- children, grandchildren / Future plans, ect) If you do have plans on thinning the herd would any of your firearms be a possible gift to children or grandchildren. If your intention is to sell and not pass them on with the madness right now it would only benefit you to sell.

[brucev]

When my daughters were in college I had to be wise in how I spent money on guns/ammo. I came to the conclusion that I didn't really want to own a lot of firearms that I never actually enjoyed handling, shooting, etc. So... I sold off the high end stuff that I'd accumulated. Happily the profits off those sales were useful to pay for things that meant something to the family... down payment on a car for my wife, a couple of semesters of college for the girls, pay off credit card.

Nowadays I still have a few firearms that are surplus to my needs. In the future I will probably let some of them go. But I'm not fire selling anything. And the proceeds I will use for my wife and children. It is a lot of fun to take a gun that I've owned and enjoyed for years, but which I no longer particularly need, and sell it to someone who will appreciate it... and use the money to do things for my family.

As well... because life happens, I have talked with my wife about what to do with my guns and ammo if I die unexpectedly. There are some of my firearms that I want to be given to family members. I also want ammunition to be given to these family members. As to the rest, I want her to know what she's doing when she offers it for sale. In 30 years of pastoral ministry I've seen far to many instances in which survivors of a deceased family member made sad mistakes in the selling of items. Sometimes it was because of an individual acting in bad faith. Most of the time it has been the consequence of a lack of planning and preparation on the part of the deceased. JMHO. Sincerely. brucev.

[don5]

I have a neighbor that has "helped out" some raffle winners and a mutual workmate's widow by adding to his gun collection on the cheap. I know he will make my wife some offers on my collection. My wife has stated that after I die she is going to have a yard sale and sell them all for $20 each. There is only one thing standing in her way. My expertly taught, by me, son who knows exactly what I have and how much it is worth. He knows that he is supposed to get all guns and tools after I die. The collection includes AR's, Colt 1911s, New Gold Cup (slide has never been slid back), and several high powered rifles including a Browning Bar Safari.I have faith that he will get it all- including my 45 acre piece of ground that we shoot on, and hunt on.

[fat tom]

I posed this same question recently. I'm still wrestling with my decision to sell off my guns. So far,I've sold about a dozen,mostly in response to WTB ads here on the forum. Apparently,everyone has been happy with the results. Everyone except me,that is. It ain't easy.
f.t.

[Badquaker]

I have pared down on the pistol calibers I keep. I sold my 9mm and 40s&w. All I have left is. 45acp, 357mag, and 44mag. I don't keep much 44 on hand, but I try to keep a good supply of the others.

[revho]

Kids, nieces/nephews, family, close friends? I know my son is probably getting all mine some day.

Hopefully that is a long time off....

[M29since14]

Originally Posted by mc5aw

My collection has consistently been geared toward defense and target/sport, not hunting. As always, thoughts, insights, opinions, and experiences are welcome...

(Insights) My Dad was a VERY practical man. He always told me a man needed a .22 and a shotgun, and that was about it. He had a couple other firearms, which I am sure in his mind were extravagances. Altogether they wouldn't have begun to keep up with what I had when he told me that at maybe half his age.

(Experiences) He had a way of making me feel a bit silly for having so many guns and being fond of always having them lying around. Silly, but not "bad." I remember hearing him tell one of his friends he thought I was something of a frustrated modern-day Dillinger. They both laughed, but I think all of his friends understood me and my enthusiasm.

Anyway, it's true. As a practical matter, here in the midwest, a man certainly doesn't need very many guns. It seems like he might need fewer now than then. Sport shooting seems to be in decline. Maybe it really isn't and just seems so. I don't know.

(Thoughts and Opinions) In spite of all that, I am not inclined to sell much right now, possibly because I do not have to for the money, but more likely because I still like the stuff, and I still enjoy the memories associated with them. Almost all of the people (and dogs ) connected to those memories were older and they are gone now. Yes, I do connect memories of dogs to guns. Maybe others do too? If the gun is gone, there is nothing left to cause that memory to resurface.

As Brucev mentioned, yes, it is nice to share the enthusiasm when we do sell a gun to someone who really wants it.

Some day, most of them will have to go. But not just yet.

[jaykellogg]

I recently acquired three rifles form a man 101 years old. I heard over two years ago he was selling and I spoke with him then, but he said he didn't have any guns for sale. He didn't offer to show me what he had at the time. I bought all the sporting arms. and as far as I know he still had three benchrest rifles. About two weeks ago he fell and broke his hip and died in 5 days. His wife is about 90 and has zero interest and each he and his wife have a daughter. These women don't want the guns.

I battled cancer for the last year and a half. If I don't survive, I have two children. One won't want any and the other would probably keep some and liquidate the rest. I do have an Excel file giving information about each gun and my "guess" as to what it is worth.

It was fun buying my guns, but they are just things. In some cases it can be a burden to turn them into cash. I have a friend who has a lot of watches and he wants to sell. He is not too computer savy, but I believe eBay would be his best bet. It is only fun to sell them if you are able to get good value out of them and if you thing the buyer will appreciate them as much as you did. Selling to a dealer (especially at a deep discount) is no fun at all.

[Ivan the Butcher]

One idea you might think about is the hobby aspect of shooting. I like cowboy action shooting (but any sport could be substituted). The required guns for that sport are: 2- single action handguns of 32 caliber or larger, 1- shotgun, any gauge 20 or larger that is an 1897 pump, a lever action shot gun, or a SxS without ejectors. And lastly a lever action rifle, in pistol caliber. These 4 guns can do almost anything short of long range and big game. So throw in a J-frame for CCW, a 22rf for small game and a 30-06 or 45-70 to cover anything else. This all will pack in one large Pelican case (with wheels). There are a lot of shooting sports that require fewer firearms, and a many of these overlap (e.g. Sporting Clays, skeet, and hunting; or self defense and IDPA). This is a do as I say, not as I do thing. I'm still at the point wear I have more than I could carry in a emergency, but like you I'm thinking of cutting back. Ivan

[LazyKB]

This thread is kind of a downer. Maybe too relative at my age.

"Almost all of the people (and dogs ) connected to those memories were older and they are gone now. Yes, I do connect memories of dogs to guns. Maybe others do too?"

I do. I have Roxy's (English setter) L.C. Smith 20 ga Ideal grade that we used to fill at least one pick up truck with grouse, quail, woodcock, wood ducks, and an occasional rabbit. I also have Margo's (golden retriever) 870 that brought home the ducks and doves. I have this rifle that killed that whatever and that one that killed that thing over the fireplace. Can't let those guns go.

I also do the excel spreadsheet complete with pictures and am bringing my sun up to speed on the inventory. Also the heirloom, my GF's .22, my GGF's .36 cal muzzleloader squirrel gun. Time to pass them on?

[M29since14]

Originally Posted by LazyKB

...Time to pass them on?

Thanks for your post and thus the assurance I am not the only gun-dog linker.

As for the passing on thing, as a very kind vet once told me about putting a dog to sleep, "Don't worry. You will know when it is time. When it comes, don't doubt yourself - and don't look back and wonder if you waited too long. You did the best you could."

[Xfuzz]

Always been an aggressive buyer and seller.
Had my own small shop after my retirement.
Closed it to travel more...still own the building and live
there most of the year.

Have really cut down all the firearms. Have a good stand of
pre 82 Smiths and a few Colts. Some long guns for plinkin and huntin.
Boatload of grips/stocks, vintage leather, ammo and accessories to sale.
I will do that at local shows from time to time.

We have really scaled back on "stuff" and even several properties.
I'm pleased with that.
Guns I keep will have designated new caregivers someday.

[A10]

I'm 57 years old (and figure I have about 68 good years left) but I must say this thread gives me good reason to reassess what has been accumulated and where they will go. My absolute must haves can be counted on one hand (.22 rifle, .38 and .44 revolver, .30 cal rifle, and a 12 guage) so I guess everything else is gravy. I have two grandsons who love to shoot and a granddaughter who knows how but is only interested in self defence (that's great too!!), and they will get whatever I have when I go. Might have a few great and great-great grandkids by that time!

[beemerphile]

I am getting down to only what I shoot. The "lookers" are all going on to other collectors. We don't really "own" anything in this world, we just are just caretakers and stewards of it for a while. I enjoyed them for a while and expect that others will as well.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Eccl. 3:1

[perrazi]

this is sort of strange. i had already decided to attend the tulsa show and put up 30-40 handguns that no longer interest me like they did. will keep the favorites and move the rest over the next 6-9 months.

[sipowicz]

I've been feeling the same way lately...I'm sure out of all my revolvers, my Ruger SP101 will be the first to go when I start selling...

[arjay]

I've been paring down most things in my life the last few years,but the collection grew by one this month.

[PA Reb]

WOW, this thread has me wondering where I'm going to get the cash I need when y'all start to sell !

[rwsmith]

I'd be glad to have your 'scaled back' collection. Wish I had that problem, too many guns.

[mc5aw]

Don't worry Reb, as a fellow Pennsylvanian I won't charge you any state tax.

[amazingflapjack]

Mc5aw-"and a .44 or .45LC lever gun (still looking) would round out things well."
I am doing the same thing, and I had gotten a beautiful Win 92 in 44 mag, and that crescent butt plate tore me up, and I was surprised that the thing kicked like it did! I shot the same ammo (hand loads) out of it that I use in my revolvers, and wow! I now have a m-94 ae in 357 mag, and it is the Goldilocks choice. It has a red dot in the scout rifle position, and is an all around winner IMHO. Good success in your choices. Flapjack.

[quneur]

There's always $100 Walmart gift certificates for a working gun and $50 for a non-working one.

[A10]

Originally Posted by quneur

There's always $100 Walmart gift certificates for a working gun and $50 for a non-working one.

Ummmm........no.