I never buy a gun that I don’t shoot.

[lowriderfxr]

Love to hear this from people. Or , how does it shoot? I shoot every gun I have , that's what they are made for. Well my response to that is I've bought many guns that I never have and never will, shoot. And as far as what it was made for , good thing you're not a stamp collector. It would be a shame to take that 1847 Benjamin Franklin stamp and use it for 5 cents worth of postage.

 

[mchom]

I completely agree. I have a few I will likely never shoot.

 

[Sevens]

I have a response that I suspect PEEVES off folks, but I feel it's the truth. Every time they profess that it was built to be shot, I offer that this is not correct. I believe if it was made for the commercial market (not LE and not for a government/military contract) then that gun was built for one purpose only, it was built for the select and very specific purpose of being sold.

It occurs to me that those who profess at full volume that they won't own any gun they won't shoot, or "no safe queens blah blah blah", just seems like they are going through life attached to some bold axiom that they created for themselves.

This is certainly all well and good. I just don't subscribe to their axiom.

I have plenty of guns that I quite specifically choose to not shoot. Even some guns that have been shot by previous owners, but not shot be me.

And I have varying reasons of why I elect to not shoot them and also why I did indeed choose to buy them. These make fantastic sense to me.

I think it's excellent when folks do exactly what they wish to do. I find it vomit-worthy when they seem to snark at anyone who doesn't do it their way. And gun forums are --LOADED-- with these folks.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I have several handguns that are safe queens, chief among them my 1942-vintage Victory model. I bought it from a Forum member some years ago, and when I got it and looked at it, it appeared to me to be unfired. I decided to keep it in that condition, and I make no apologies for doing so...

 

[Onomea]

I agree. Telling other people what to do with their stuff seems like a non-starter to me.

 

[Sevens]

I also admit that I'm DEEP in to this hobby and lifestyle that many of us share. There's times when I find something I like and I will then set off on a quest to buy a similar one in lesser condition, and then I shoot that one.

I had a nice 39-2 before I ever found a 39 no-dash that I wanted to buy. The no-dash is not perfectly mint condition, but it's gorgeous and close. It was likely made in 1963 or 1964. Meanwhile, I own two other 39-2 pistols, a 59, a pair of 3906's and a 639.

I really enjoy all of these but I cannot come up with a great reason to shoot that beautiful old 39 no dash. So I have never shot it. All of the other ones I just listed have been shot by me and will again.

 

[pantannojack]

I agree. Telling other people what to do with their stuff seems like a non-starter to me.

Have you ever tried ordering someone else's dog around?

 

[ZGrand]

If I considered myself a "collector" and owned the quantity of handguns some of you have, I would love to have some pristine unfired examples. But I didn't become seriously interested in shooting sports until my late 60's, and the chances of me accumulating a large collection at this stage are pretty slim. So I instead went for a good cross section of models, platforms, and calibers. And I shoot them all - including two previously unfired vintage revolvers I bought from forum members. I only wish I had started sooner.

 

[Puller]

"I will never own a gun I won't shoot" is the same as saying "I'll never be able to afford a collectible firearm."

 

[oink]

I could afford some collectable firearms, within reason. I'm just not willing to spend that much money on a gun I won't shoot, so I don't. I like to shoot. So I want to shoot what I have. If I was wealthy enough some fine engraved antique would be nice, especially one with historical significance. But then again, I'm not willing to spend that much on a gun I couldn't or shouldn't shoot. You guys go ahead at have at it. I don't mind. I'll shoot what I have. I wonder who gets the most enjoyment out of a gun.

 

[quikdraw67]

The majority of what I own is unfired.

Most of the unfired guns I own are collectible.

There are some that are not that collectible but are still unfired, but only because I haven't had the opportunity to shoot them.

 

[LVSteve]

I expect much of my milsurp rifle collection will never be shot by me. Range time, lack of suitable ammo, and (in one case) irreplaceable wood will relegate many a gun to safe queen duty. I have pistols I acquired around the time COVID started that I still haven't fired. Our only range trip this year focused on my wife's re-qualifying.

 

[glenwolde]

"I will never own a gun I won't shoot" is the same as saying "I'll never be able to afford a collectible firearm."

That's not true. I can afford any damn thing I want, but I do not choose to buy firearms that I won't shoot.

It's as simple as not seeing the value in it. I see no point in buying an expensive gun just to fondle it once in a while. I will shoot it. The choice for me is X at $1,500 that shoots just as well as Y at $5,000. Maybe better. As a shooter history and rarity have little monetary value to me.

Which is not to say that history and rarity is not interesting.

 

[pharmer]

I have never bought a gun with the intention to never shoot it. But I do have several that have never been fired by me and are in their factory boxes. Maybe 10%? Joe
S&W's:
64-4 NY-1

Nothing special .38 special 10-11

Just no reason never shot 5906

 

[Maddog 521]

I used to say that!

 

[Rustyt1953]

I think it's excellent when folks do exactly what they wish to do. I find it vomit-worthy when they seem to snark at anyone who doesn't do it their way. And gun forums are --LOADED-- with these folks.

Hear! Hear!

PS: Your PM box is full. Please clear out some PMs from your inbox as I am trying to send you a love letter.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Interesting topic. I don't own any that are unshot but I wouldn't say no to an opportunity to get one if it fit my fancy. My problem is people in the city don't like gunshots, at least my part of town. I've been wanting to sell and move to the country where I can set up a nice little range. I'm lucky to get out once a month. At 66 getting a safe queen is unlikely but I like looking at some pictures of them. I think if you have even a new pure 15-3 there's no reason to shoot it since we all have more than one.38 special revolvers.

 

[djohns6]

"I will never own a gun I won't shoot" is the same as saying "I'll never be able to afford a collectible firearm."

WRONG . It could also mean I have no use for a gun that I will never shoot . I'm not going to spend my money on a gun that gets wiped down a couple of times a year and put back in the safe . Not all of us are collectors .

 

[TJm15.38]

There literally is nothing in my safe that has not been fired. I had a couple that I was holding out on; a Model 10-5 and 31-1 that were unfired until last year. I just said "**** it; I'm not living forever so I'm shooting everything I have."

 

[Xfuzz]

Turned but unfired....