The ongoing thread, "What would your family do with your collection after you die?" made me wonder how common it is for folks in general to upgrade the overall quality/expense of their firearms as they get older, and presumably have more expendable income and overall "tastes." My first gun was a stock Beretta 96 (in 40S&W) that I got in 1992 when I was a VA ANG officer, in case I ever got deployed long-term. I shot it quite a bit until getting married, in fact, 24 years ago TODAY (6/22/97) and having kids. Then, very rarely until my "rebirth" into shooting in 2011.
I bought a lot of firearms from 2011 to 2015, and they were all middle-of-the road in terms of quality and features. In 2021, most have been sold and upgraded (e.g., Sig Nightmare Carry in 45 to a Dan Wesson Guardian in 45 ACP). That's the trend, with time: I've pretty much upgraded and replaced most of my firearms. Those I keep get upgraded sights, triggers, grips, recoil springs, mag release, etc. And I get very good (but not super high-end) optics.
So I'd describe my firearm collection as "upper middle class." I suspect this is pretty normal progression. But, do some folks stick with basic firearms their entire lives? Do folks keep all firearms no matter what, including their most entry-level, earliest guns? Is it common for well-off, established owners to buy "basic" guns to go next to their super high-end ones? Please share your story, and you can keep it general and vague as to actual numbers and specifics (I did).
I bought a lot of firearms from 2011 to 2015, and they were all middle-of-the road in terms of quality and features. In 2021, most have been sold and upgraded (e.g., Sig Nightmare Carry in 45 to a Dan Wesson Guardian in 45 ACP). That's the trend, with time: I've pretty much upgraded and replaced most of my firearms. Those I keep get upgraded sights, triggers, grips, recoil springs, mag release, etc. And I get very good (but not super high-end) optics.
So I'd describe my firearm collection as "upper middle class." I suspect this is pretty normal progression. But, do some folks stick with basic firearms their entire lives? Do folks keep all firearms no matter what, including their most entry-level, earliest guns? Is it common for well-off, established owners to buy "basic" guns to go next to their super high-end ones? Please share your story, and you can keep it general and vague as to actual numbers and specifics (I did).