To shoot or not.

[Alpo]

In '99 I bought a Ruger 50th Anniversary. Bought it for an investment. It was going to make my retirement comfortable. In '09 it had increased in value maybe 10 bucks. Didn't look like I was gonna get rich off it, so I gave it to my daughter.

This is my 4-year-old granddaughter shooting it (click on it, it's a movie).



That grin is worth more than that gun will ever be. Shoot it.

 

[bk43]

They are your guns and you should do whatever pleases you. You should ignore the "no safe queens here I shoots all mine" crowd and also their counterparts on the other side. I own both safe queens and shooters and have never felt the need to apologize for either. They're my guns to do with as I see fit. I would advise you to do the same.

Bob

 

[PMRet]

I would shoot the guns though and take really good care of them, so your son can shoot them too when he gets them passed on.Cheers!

What he said...

 

[stantheman86]

I hope someday I have grandkids that will respect me enough to ask the same questions......."should I shoot Grandpa's old guns?" Except they will all have already been fired.

My Dad has a 6" 586 he bought new in 1989 and it was the first "real" gun I ever fired when I was younger, we used to go to the indoor and outdoor range together and shoot it. He hasn't fired it in years, it lives under his bed as a HD gun, but some day we will shoot it again. Someday if I have a son I will shoot it with him, and I like to think many many years from now it will still be in the family as "great grandpa's old S&W". It's one of the few guns I would run through flames to save......

I see too many people run out to gun shops and hock their grandfathers handguns and rifles after the man is barely in the ground....one of the reasons I try every day to enjoy my guns as shooters is because when my time comes, none of them will have done anyone any good sitting new unfired in a gun safe....I respect the fact that you will be keeping these guns in the family.

 

[rrder]

Wow! I just got home from work and didn't expect to have three pages of replies! Just to add a little the 28 belonged to my dad's dad and the 60 belonged to my mom's dad. I will be able to share the memories of both of my grandfathers with my son. Thank you all for the great comments and advice.

 

[rrder]

In '99 I bought a Ruger 50th Anniversary. Bought it for an investment. It was going to make my retirement comfortable. In '09 it had increased in value maybe 10 bucks. Didn't look like I was gonna get rich off it, so I gave it to my daughter.

This is my 4-year-old granddaughter shooting it (click on it, it's a movie).



That grin is worth more than that gun will ever be. Shoot it.

Priceless!

 

[stantheman86]

Unless you have something VERY rare or desirable and it's in mint or NIB condition, none of us is gonna get rich from gun sales........unless you sell a LOT of guns, like maybe you socked away 30 mint Lugers in the 60's when they were cheap and are selling them now.

I read about too many people who are banking on a NIB Registered Magnum to put a kid through college in 15 years and I think they are going to be slightly dissapointed.

 

[ladder13]

They are your guns and you should do whatever pleases you. You should ignore the "no safe queens here I shoots all mine" crowd and also their counterparts on the other side. I own both safe queens and shooters and have never felt the need to apologize for either. They're my guns to do with as I see fit. I would advise you to do the same.

Bob

Well said, couldn't agree more.

 

[wawiag]

I have never understood guys who buy things like cars, guns, furniture etc. and never touch them....what joy is in ownership? if you can't use it?....I suppose though if we never had these obsessive compulsives we would not be able to see perfectly preserved past relics. I would shoot the guns though and take really good care of them, so your son can shoot them too when he gets them passed on.Cheers!

Yeah, I finally went ahead and cut some limes up for gin & tonics with my Randall Made #1. Have not cut any meat with it yet but I'm working up to it. Maybe an eggplant next.........

I agree with you. All my guns are shooters. I picked up an "S" prefix model 27-2 5" that was unfired without box about 10 years ago. Paid $325 and I've shot it a fair amount. It still looks lightly used. Can hit the 6" gong at 100 yds more oft than not with it. I say shoot em!!!

 

[ken158]

You'll never pay off the house with a gun investment and they made plenty of them - shoot them and enjoy.

 

[old bear]

what joy is in ownership? if you can't use it?....

Great advice. Both the M-28 & M-60 were meant to be used so use them.

 

[MoPoPo]

I would definately shoot the 28 every now and again and qualify with the model 60 as an off duty piece.

 

[Decker]

This is my 4-year-old granddaughter shooting it (click on it, it's a movie).

That grin is worth more than that gun will ever be. Shoot it.

Increased value of a Commemorative Ruger .22.... $10.

Cost of a day at a firing range.... $15.

A 4-year old, learning at that young age to keep the weapon pointed downrange while she turns her head around to give the camera a big beaming smile... priceless.

 

[Alpo]

Increased value of a Commemorative Ruger .22.... $10.

Cost of a day at a firing range.... $15.

A 4-year old, learning at that young age to keep the weapon pointed downrange while she turns her head around to give the camera a big beaming smile... priceless.

Thanks. Gotta start 'em young. 14 months, with her big sister's birthday present.

 

[tom turner]

Shoot 'em! I can tell you from personal experience that it's great to be able to shoot something special like your grandfather's guns.

Forty-five years ago my dad brought home an 1873 Winchester that he bought from a friend. The gun was already 65 years old, used but still in very nice shape, so he never shot it. Thirty years later he gave it to me, and I kept it unfired for another 15 years. Just last month I finally took the now 110-year-old rifle, plus my 80-year-old father, a brother, sister, and a couple nephews to the range, and we all finally got a chance to shoot that old classic. It was a blast--not only to shoot a gun that we'd had in our family for so long, but also to share the experience with three generations. That's a memory worth far more than any monetary value that might be lost by shooting a "collector's item".

So I say shoot them, and take the family along to shoot them with you! You won't regret it.

I hope you got some great photos of that special event! Keep a copy with the Winchester when you pass it down next time . . . and maybe have another generation take photos of that event to pass down too!

Powerful, powerful memories. How awesome!!!