How Do You Justify, In Your Mind, Large Gun Collections?

[TIMC]

I have no need to justify to myself any new additions to my collection which is already insane by most news media standards. If I want it; it needs to come home with me where it will be loved and taken care of.
I do have to justify it with the wife and that has become increasingly more difficult the larger my collection grows. I think it is just because I have more love to give then she does.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Temperance in all things

I disagree, one should not practice temperance in standing up for what is right, working to make your neighborhood a better place, helping others and loving your family and your country. These, among other things cry out for excess beyond all understanding. Perhaps even beyond life itself.

When you consider adopting temperance in all things, please consider that our independence was not won by temperent men. It was won by men with a vision for the future than they would not mollify, would not compromise and would not allow to die.

 

[22-rimfire]

Guns that were bought for shooting slowly became more valuable or became unused as they were replaced by something else. I started selling off stuff I didn't use or likely would use. However, guns were purchased to fill a particular need. I didn't need five 1911's

Then I thought I would develop a central focus to my interest and collecting started in earnest. I researched the history of certain fireams and learned. Some things that were still in good shape were parked and things that weren't were used as trading material. The new purpose defined the focus of the "need" for new acquisitions and I freed myself from my past where each gun was bought for a specific purpose.

I set goals and slowly tried to meet my goals and objectives. Time passes and now, I don't have the dominating drive. I'm back to buying guns to shoot. The collector stuff remains or much of it does, but one day I'll sell them and keep the shooters. Then I'll pare down the shooters to a reasonable number and my efforts have run full circle.

I think this is the way it ought to be. I don't do the same things I did when I was 25. In 20 years, I won't do the same things I do now.

 

[F-Body Demon]

The same way people justify large car collections. I just like firearms.

 

[oldbear]

I have finally reached the point in life; age, oblations, and money, where I don’t have to justify myself to anyone. Now the aforementioned in no way means I can be a rude jerk and not always try and treat folks the right way. My collection of handguns is currently five (5) and has been for sometime now. I’m still on a part time hunt for the following: S&W M-27 31/2”, S&W M-27 5”, S&W N frame belly gun. So if I find any of those at a fair price, I will add to my small collection with out any justification.

Now my ammo expenditures may have gotten out of line in the last 18 or so months. Do I really need a minimum of 1,000 rounds of .357 ammo in the house at all times?

 

[rscalzo]

Where does it say I have to shoot them to enjoy them?

We had a physician who lived in our town who had a rather large collection. Many just the standard run of the mill handguns. Nothing of a true collector's item. He bought them and hung them on a display frame in his house. Never shot them for the most part.

When he died, I helped a family member go through the collection of hundreds giving him an idea of the values. Most were ten years of more old and brand new.

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

Temperance in all things

I like James Hilton's take on this better.

From his novel Lost Horizon:

We practice moderation here, moderation in all things - including, if you'll pardon the paradox, the virtue of moderation itself.

- Chang

KR

 

[dougw47]

Gun Collections

In the 70's and 80's, knocking down close to 6 figures...I had one bedroom converted to a gun safe. Lost count at 300 firearms...who cares? I had a friend that had over a thousand and many machine guns...we had fun.

Now I am retired it seems, I have given some to my kids and grand kids, sold most of the remainder. Through it all I have had an understanding wife, a real blessing.

Now, I collect a few mil-surps, have a few hand weapons, and more hunting rifles than I will ever need. Oh, and 4 shotguns. So what? They bring me pleasure, I shoot them all from time to time, and the family does not suffer. I don't need any more, but when I see one I like...or find a ridiculous bargain, I pick it up. That is all the justification one needs.

 

[wally]

I enjoy my guns a whole lot more than I enjoy the money invested in CDs and Savings Bonds and they've appreciated a good bit more the past three or four years too, while the stocks have gone significantly backwards

I plan to partially fund my retirement slowly selling off my gun collection while doing a little traveling to various gun shows.

Besides, any self-respecting Texan should be able to outfit a reasonably sized Banana Republic

 

[toycruiser71]

I have two very distinct and different reasons for quantity and ownership. I have been shooting since I was about 9 and love it. I was a police officer for about 15 years and had an entire arsenal at my fingertips, so my personal collection was pretty nil. I retired more than a few years ago due to injuries, and found myself pretty thin on my personal arms. I kicked myself....hard....for having sold some of the guns I had owned. I have slowly started building up my own collection again for these reasons: 1) I am very nervous about the state of affairs I see our beloved country in and am a staunch supporter of an Americans' right to bear arms, no matter how many they want. I believe you have to be prepared for the day the shtf. I have a small collection, bolt action scoped .308 hunting rifle, .357 mag lever action, high cap 12 ga shotgun, 9mm pistol and the ever important .22 semi-auto. Sadly, I live in California where you can't have hi cap mags for most guns. These will be go to guns, for the just in case scenario. I do plan to supplement this list with a tactical rifle, AR or AK platform. I also have lots of ammo.

The second reason is simple. I love to go shooting. I love to do tactical shoots, distance shoots, whatever. It is fun. At somepoint, I would like to do some 3 gun competitions. Still working on that. I want more rifles and I want more pistols. Very simple. I want them. But, I have to be realistic, as I live on a budget. My wife is very supportive, as she puts it, "I will not stop you from expressing your 2nd Amendment rights". I love my wife. However, I have to be fiscally responsible. My worst nightmare would be a credit card with a $5000 spending limit.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Its my money, I'll spend it anyway I want.

I don't need to justify a gun collection any more than a Ferrari or big boat.


I earn it, I spend it, you don't like it...well thats just tough. Last I heard we live in a free capitalist country.

 

[Phydeaux642]

I earn it, I spend it, you don't like it...well thats just tough. Last I heard we live in a free capitalist country.

Once again, I don't care how many firearms you have. The question was how do you justify them for yourself? Hey, if the reason is nothing more than conspicuous consumption, that's fine by me.

I kind of thought I would get more answers like "because they are beautiful pieces of functional art and they fascinate me" instead of "hey, kiss my behind, I'll do what I want".

 

[Guillermo]

"hey, kiss my behind, I'll do what I want".

sorry

I will try to do better.

How about this?

"they are well designed, efficient works of art that I enjoy. And if you don't like it kiss my behind"


Better?

 

[Justin Holder]

Well, who doesn't like variety?

Only using one gun would be like eating the same food every day.

It can be done, but why would you want to?

 

[Hawthorne2k]

I try to balance getting enough guns that I can practice the sport I love and protect my wife and kids with the fact that we're paying down our debts and trying to provide them with a semi-hopeful future.

I have enough (or will have enough) guns to shoot in the disciplines I enjoy, (IPSC, 3 Gun, Clays) by the end of this year. Between what I have and what I'm getting, I'll have enough to have a pistol and a long gun quickly accessible no matter where I am and I'll have enough to deal with any opportunity from 1 to 800 yards.

That'll be good enough.

 

[kimberkid]

For me, let's just say I have more than ten and waaayyyy less than 1500. I've come to point, though, where I am conflicted. I now have more guns than I will shoot regularly, if at all, but I'm always looking.

This sounds exactly like me ... some of my guns haven't been shot in over 2 years, but the aren't safe queens either ... and I really hate it when someone brings up a favorite gun scenario ... or a "if you could have only 1 gun (or two or three)" ... it makes my brain hurt

So, how do you justify the next purchase when you know that you have enough guns to cover all of the shooting scenarios for your particular shooting lifestyle, i.e., hunting, plinking, carrying, etc.?

I don't try and justify it to myself, if I want it thats good enough for me.

If my wife asks I simply turn it around and ask how her 401K is doing.

I will add that on many occasions I've sold guns to buy other guns or other toys ... the most I ever sold to fund a single toy was 30 guns to raise about $30,000 to buy a sports car ... although the car is now worth less than the guns would have been, I really enjoy the car as does my wife and daughter ... that time is more precious, thus a better investment!

Another time, when we were looking at houses ... we found one we both really liked but it was wayyyy more than we could afford. We made a one-shot offer on it anyway; 60K under the asking price ... my wife said that was the absolute top. They came back with a counter-offer 2K higher than our offer ... I told the wife I would sell a gun or two and make it up. She said OK ...

 

[Hatterasguy]

I kind of thought I would get more answers like "because they are beautiful pieces of functional art and they fascinate me" instead of "hey, kiss my behind, I'll do what I want".

Oh in that case because they are cool. Because I can now own all the guns I played with as a kid in video games and wanted to own one day.

 

[rogertc1]

A WARM AND FUZZIE FEELING.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have been trying to justify a certain new purchase. I can't justify it. So, I'm going to just buy it. I'm way past the ... I need this shotgun to hunt rabbits and pheasant....

 

[Guillermo]

what is with all of the price tags in that picture?

{post 144}

 

[huntsman]

Well, who doesn't like variety?

Only using one gun would be like eating the same food every day.

It can be done, but why would you want to?

Eating the same food everyday or only owning one gun ain't bad, after all I've lived with the same woman for thirty years.

 

[HOWARD J]

When the oldest graduated from Howe Military I had 46 Weapons.
I have sold off a number since then & picked up a number.
I enjoy reloading ----so I need a different gun for a different cal.
Enuf said....................

 

[Guillermo]

after all I've lived with the same woman for thirty years.

and she has lived with the same man.

maybe it is time for separate vacations and while on yours you can pick up a new...


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gun

 

[Phydeaux642]

sorry

I will try to do better.

How about this?

"they are well designed, efficient works of art that I enjoy. And if you don't like it kiss my behind"


Better?

Much.

 

[Rshooter]

I only have to justify the purchase to my wife.