So who is gonna shoot the safe queens?

[Grimjaws]

Well this pandemic has put me over the fence in shooting my pristine model 19-5 - it is 99% no bluing loss and perfect lock up. Why sit on something that I can enjoy versus it just going to someone else.

When the ranges open back up I'm taking my one and only safe queen and shooting like a 100 rounds that day.

Who else has decided to break out the safe queens and shoot them when this is over

 

[muddocktor]

I had bought one safe queen several years ago and kept it virgin for 2+ years, then got to thinking about it and shot it. Since then, I've bought a few other pristine model 27-2's that were ANIB and have shot them too. I just decided I wasn't a safe queen keeper even before the virus.

 

[Camster]

Being reminded of our own mortality and fragility, months of normalcy deducted from our life, should make us want to maximize whatever time we have left.
The next guy isn't going to be kneeling over your grave, saying "Thanks for keeping that gun so nice and not trying it out".
More likely, he'll be patting himself on the back, saying, "Wow,what a steal I got at that estate sale."

 

[tops]

You are trying really hard to get me to shoot my 6 1/2 in. class A engraved 29-2 and you just might do it. Larry

 

[Camster]

You are trying really hard to get me to shoot my 6 1/2 in. class A engraved 29-2 and you just might do it. Larry

Eye candy AND shooting fun. What a notion, eh?

 

[KSDrifter]

I've never had a gun I haven't abused in one way or another. Same with knives save for one. The only safe queen thing I really have is precious metals. I pull it out of my safe every half year or so a stack it or whatever. Considering it's performance, I think I should sell it and buy a gun. That Smith would fondle better than cold soap shaped metals.

 

[misswired]

Never had a safe Queen!!!

Lana Brooke - I can't even ...

 

[KalamazooKid]

More than a few times I've repeated on this forum that I feel strongly that if shot "sparingly" (a few cylinders at a time) and cleaned lovingly, that these old revolvers get BETTER with age.

I'm following that protocol with these revolvers and admire them more every time I shoot them. And btw, I was the first to shoot these outside of factory test fire .....

M48-4 vintage 1978 ....

38 Military and Police vintage 1953 .....

K38 with 5" barrel vintage 1957 .....

K22 vintage 1952 .....

 

[old bear]

I've never owned a Safe Queen, nor do I want to. I have, over the years, owned some Very high condition revolvers. I felt that some were to nice to shoot much or carry as intended by the factory. After enjoying owning these for a short time I started selling them off. I now have a some nice condition handguns that get used as intended and I don't have to be over worried about them.

 

[ColbyBruce]

The only guns I ever had that were unfired outside of the factory were some Winchester 320 and 490 .22 rifles. I had used versions to shoot, and the 490 guns were unreliable so I never bothered to shoot the NIB examples. I sold them all in 2014.

 

[Amp]

My definition is different.
My safe queen does not get carried and definitely gets pampered but all of them come out to play sometime.

 

[Hair Trigger]

No queens in my safe. I load up my M19-3 with snake shot when I go out and work around the wood pile this time of year. I take out my Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless and try to use up the JHP's that it doesn't like to feed. I shoot skeet with my 1950 Fox 20 Gauge SxS. If I take one of my 1911's to the range, I take all three. The M-1A gets a minimum of 100 rounds when it goes to the range. I try to start grass fires at the range with the 91/30. No gun in my safe is safe.....from me.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

The safe queens are easy enough. One or more go along just about every range trip, just so I can enjoy them and stay current.

The true vintage and antique pieces live in a safe deposit box at the bank. They are lucky to get out once per year for a trip to the range, a good cleaning, and some fond handling. I also update the photo inventory to provide proof (if ever needed, insurance claim, etc) that the Colt 1851 London Navy, Colt 1860 Army, Remington New Army (1858 patent), and a few others remain fully functional, not just old wall hangers.

Hanging around the house a lot the past few weeks. Time on my hands. Maybe I'll cast up a few bullets for the old Sharps .45 Express, or load up a couple of boxes of .45-90 for the 1886 Winchester, maybe tinker around with an early .50-70 Springfield Trap Door rifle.

Idle hands are the devil's playthings. Might as well do something fun and productive.

 

[Czechvar]

Funny you should mention Safe Queens. I bought this P220 a year ago, and it's still unfired. Even tried to sell it a few times because I didn't want another Caliber, but was unwilling to take a loss on it. Not as handsome as a fine revolver, but I do like my Sigs.

Today UPS delivered the first rounds this one will see...as soon as the Governor lets us open our Ranges. Underwood 10mm 200 XTP.

 

[RobertJ.]

Funny this thread came up today...

I don't have any "safe queens", but this Colt DS from 1933 was as close as I've gotten. I bought it five or six years ago, and had never shot it, until today. We had summer-like weather today, and there was no way I was staying in the house. I have a spot out in the woods on an old logging road that I've used as my range for about fourteen years now, and as usual, I was the only person there.

It shot as expected. The bottom group was Hornady Frontier 158 gr. LRN, and was fired at ten yards. The top group was Federal 158 gr. LSWHP, fired at seven yards, offhand, single-action.

Cool little gun!

 

[Rastoff]

My local range is out doors and open. So, the only thing stopping me is the cold and rain.

All my guns have been fired plenty except one. I bought an NRA edition Ruger Mark II from a friend. He got it at an NRA dinner and never fired it. I bought it from him and for one reason or another, have never fired it.

Meh, it's not really anything special. I might take it out, but I have other guns. If being unfired is important to someone, I'll gladly sell it to them. For me though, unfired doesn't really mean anything.

 

[BC38]

I've only owned a couple of safe queens.
Moved 'em on down the road to collectors quite a while back.
Every gun I own is a shooter.
BUT, if I had any safe queens, I'd sell them rather than shoot them - to buy more shooters.

 

[BigBoy99]

I've been selling my collection and all my "safe queens" have moved on to new and different safes! Just the well used ones left.

 

[rubiranch]

I sold all of mine but one.
I doubt I'll ever shoot it.

 

[OLDSTER]

I'm guilty. I secretly took my mint "Model of 1953 Early Chiefs Special" with India Sambar Stag grips out of the safe and shot a few rounds. Cleaned her up good when I got home and gently returned her to the safe. First time in probably 10 years.