Yeah, everything gets shot. Beyond that, pretty much, everything not only gets shot but gets used. I admit to having a few rifles I just haven't gotten around to shooting, but I will. The price of rifle ammo doesn't help.
Shoot that safe queen! You know you want to!
- Thread starter Model29-26.5
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I used to take the approach of “It’s a gun … shoot it!” However, when I acquire something that is 1) quite rare, and 2) appears to be a virgin, it probably becomes a safe queen - not a shooter. If I get the urge to shoot a .22 LR, .38 Special, 9mm, .45 ACP or Colt, or a 357/.44 Magnum, I have at least 1 “shooter” for whatever cartridge it is.
I did take my 1916 Third Model Perfected single shot target pistol to the range within the last month. I was a little nervous before pulling the trigger on the first shot, but that gun is a hoot to shoot.
Chip
I did take my 1916 Third Model Perfected single shot target pistol to the range within the last month. I was a little nervous before pulling the trigger on the first shot, but that gun is a hoot to shoot.
Chip
My Safe Queen is an M1 Garand . I haven't fired it in 3 or 4 years . I finally came to the decision to let it go . If I were to leave it to one of my sons or grandsons it would probably collect dust . None of them would appreciate it for what it is . I listed it for sale in a local gun forum . FTF and only if I get my price .
My father served in Occupied Germany right after WW2...He desperately wanted an M1 Garand, and finally bought one in early 1968 from a rack of about 40 rifles at a place called "H&H Surplus" in Baltimore. I was a baby at the time, and less than a month later, ML King was killed and RFK shortly after. The GCA was passed later that year and over the counter gun sales went extinct as known prior to that.
Fast forward to now...My dad died in the 1990's, my mom died a few years ago and the rifle hasn't been fired since 1979...Two cartridge belts of original ammo, bayonet, his military photo albums, dog tags, 4th infantry division Ike jacket uniform and much more...The best I can tell, its an all unmolested 1945 SA rifle...I still have the sales receipt for $136.
I have never shot it myself and I don't have the inclination to now...I am just not a fan of Garands. The wife and I have no kids, so no one to leave it to...I am going to take a notion in the next few weeks to take some quality pics and move it on. It really means nothing to me other than the value of the rifle itself.
The ultimate safe queen for a new owner.
RMFnLA
Member
hdfinder47
Member
I have a few like an original 3" Python that I don't shoot b/c I don't want to chance damaging it with an overloaded round. Now, I've only seen 5 guns damaged/destroyed in over 60 years of enjoying the sport so I feel there is small chance of that happening, but that's just me.
GypsmJim
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The age old story was about a middle aged man that was an aficionado of many things.
He had a split window couple that he bought new in the day and had it transported to his house on a trailer. 3 miles on the odometer.
Then he found a Registered Magnum that had been unfired. He put it in his safe.
Then, he met a beautiful girl that had never been married, and he married her.
A few months later he died of a massive coronary.
Two years later his widow met a nice young man her own age. They married.
A week after they married she gave him the Vette and he did doughnuts n his way to the range, where he put a couple boxes of .357 thru that venerable firearm.
That evening it was not reported what they did together.
Moral of the story - they don't put trailer hitches on Hearses. If you don't enjoy your collection, somebody else will.
He had a split window couple that he bought new in the day and had it transported to his house on a trailer. 3 miles on the odometer.
Then he found a Registered Magnum that had been unfired. He put it in his safe.
Then, he met a beautiful girl that had never been married, and he married her.
A few months later he died of a massive coronary.
Two years later his widow met a nice young man her own age. They married.
A week after they married she gave him the Vette and he did doughnuts n his way to the range, where he put a couple boxes of .357 thru that venerable firearm.
That evening it was not reported what they did together.
Moral of the story - they don't put trailer hitches on Hearses. If you don't enjoy your collection, somebody else will.
I have guns I love to shoot. I have guns I love to carry. I have guns I love to periodically take out ponder their history. I have guns that I would never have purchased for myself, but I keep them because they belonged to a human being I loved.
I enjoy and appreciate all of them.
I enjoy and appreciate all of them.
I've got more shooters than I will ever be able to shoot, so there is no harm having those high condition guns laying around looking pretty. Someone can shoot them after I'm dead, if they have the time.
jsfricks
Member
I have 3 pistols that I will never shoot. All 3 are all original WW1 & WW2 guns. One is a 1918 Remington UMC where only 21,676 were made and orders came after the war to destroy what was left of them since parts didn’t exchange perfectly with the Colt 1911. These go from mid 4 figures to the low 5 figures.The next one is a 1916 DMC German Luger all matching in high condition from my wife’s uncle who bought it at a pawn shop as a kid (with dads help) in Braselton,Ga. I promised him it wouldn’t leave the family. The last one is an Ithaca 1911A1 from 1943 in all original condition. If any of these gets a broken part from firing the value drops significantly. But I enjoy them as is, wiping them down and keeping them waxed.
kbm6893
Member
Actually, it’s right about the same size as yours. I buy and sell so often that I have to check the list sometimes. But I have 7 other K frame .38’s, an L frame .357, 3 Ruger Service Six guns, and GP100. That’s 12 revolvers that do the same thing as the 15-2. Also a couple of J frames.
So when I feel the need to touch off some rounds out of a revolver, I have other choices, so the 15-2 gets left alone to take out and admire. The other ones get shot.
I have a 1913 .38, and a 1923 .44. They are in great condition. I just don't want to clean them after I shoot them. Cleaned and waxed both after purchase.
I’m in this camp. It’s not that something is unfired it’s that it’s too valuable to keep and probably not shoot much. Of course unfired guns are more valuable. I’ve passed on guns to others which I found too valuable to keep and shoot. The ones I keep though I shoot.
Great discussion! There is no right or wrong here. I have a long time friend who will shoot anything he has unconditionally but he has several Patek Phillipe watches in his drawer that have been there for many years because he does not want to scratch them, so go figure.
Doc Watson
Member
Skeeter is the reason I own 6 44 specials and am always on the lookout for more!
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press-1-for-english
Member
I only buy used firearms so all of my pistols, revolvers, and rifles are shot. I grew up shooting used and mil-surp firearms that my father owned. I don't ever recall him buying a brand new firearm, so I guess it's genetic.
My collection is pretty small compared to many others here. But I have bought three 50+ year old examples that were advertised as never fired. The first thing I did was take them to the range. I believe things should be used for their intended purpose.
max503
Member
I have no regrets about making these safe queens talk. No way I'll sell them. Doesn't make sense to not shoot them, if you think about it. That's a 19 and an 18 in case you are wondering. While the 18 has a turn line, the 19 was near mint before I got my paws on it. I love that heavy barrel. I'm going to use it on deer next year. 
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