How many have more guns than they can use and why?

[MachIVshooter]

My first thought when I read this was... you have a long way to go.

That depends. If he doesn't desire to own more than what he has, then he's set.

I have a friend who never owns more than 4 or 5 handguns at a time, no rifles and I think one shotgun. He probably puts 3-4 times as many rounds down range as I do, and he's very proficient with those few guns. But then, he shoots competetively. He doesn't hunt or plink.

The flipside is that while he can outshoot me with those handguns (and most likely many of mine), the few times he ventured with me to shoot praire dogs, his numbers were pitiful. He used his dad's .22-250 and one of mine, an absolute tack driver of a .223. But he really struggled to make hits over 100 yards. He also hasn't faired well with tactical carbines. He's just not a rifle shooter.

So different strokes for different folks. I like to collect, and I like to shoot lots of different guns. There are a few that I use a lot, but most of them only go out once in a while. I just like variety. I'd get really bored if I only had a handful.

 

[ny32182]

If I only owned guns I was shooting frequently I'd only own one at a time, and that just isn't fun for anybody.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Pop over to the Mosin Nagant section on gunboards and look at the 'picture' threads
Iremember the gun room I saw in the back ground of one of the major collectors
it was his 'mosin' room (not saying he had more, BUT, we'll leave that an open question)

looked to be a larger basement room, double stacked racks, looked to be 3 or 4 deep, ALL THE WAY AROUND, assuming 4 deep, 3" spacing ( http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinRacks01.htm )
that's 16 guns a linear foot, around 3 visible walls

and his collections are no where near done...

 

[dirtengineer]

I only need one more...

 

[itchy1]

Because my wife has over 25 pairs of shoes and I'm still trying to make things "even".

 

[Esoxchaser]

I sold off a number of guns that I purchased in the late 70's and 80's. A lot of them were used when I bought them and were now considered very desirable because they were no longer in production. With the money I made from those sales I bought other guns that my kids can and do use.
What I can't get over is that a number of the guns I got used in the 80's for $75-200 were now going for $700-1100. That's a pretty darn good return on an investment.

 

[CajunBass]

I used to but got tired of it. I realized I wasn't cut out to be a "collector", so I sold a bunch of them off, traded a few, and whittled the "collection" down to less than a dozen for both my wife and I.

In my way of thinking, often challenged by many, if a gun sits on the rack (I don't have a safe) for more than a year why is it up there?

No offense, but I find there are generally three types of people who think this way:

Sorry, but that was exactly the standard I used then I startred selling mine off. If I couldn't remember the last time I shot it, and couldn't imagine when the next time I'd want to, it was gone. I don't consider myself to be any of the things you listed. I don't care how many you own, or why you own them, but I've come to the conclusion that I just can't justify having severa dozen hunks of metal that I never use.

No offense taken, but if that makes me a "fudd" in your eyes, so be it.

 

[Onward Allusion]

It's not the number of guns but more the lack of time to enjoy them. Any of them.

 

[Sniper66]

I have 2 friends who are collectors and the have 100s of guns. One guy has his displayed in museum quality display in a room with thick concrete walls and fireproof doors, The other has his tucked away in several gun safes and closets. Both enjoy their collections and mostly enjoy collecting, which involves lots of gun shows, auctions, and reading about guns. One guy's wife asked how much he could sell his collection for and he said,"I didn't buy them to sell; I bought them to have." It is pure joy for them to sort through their collections. I, on the other hand, think of myself as a shooter and never have enough time to shoot all of my guns. When I go prairie dog shooting, the biggest challenge is figuring out what equipment to take. I often take 5-6 rifles; each one shoots a little different. Having a large gun case full of different guns is pure joy to me. I'll be buying more!!

 

[22-rimfire]

"How" you enjoy firearms is the key. If accumulating a pile of Mosin's makes you feel good, then go for it. If that pile is a $100,000 collection of Colts, so be it. I relate that to having a pile of money in the bank. Security....

If it is shooting them, then go for that.

For me, it is a combination of things as well as a general resistance to selling anything. Sometimes, I would rather just throw the stuff away than sell it. It makes me feel better and worse at the same time.

Just remember, you can't take the guns with you when you die. Planning on the what to do with your firearms can be part of estate planning. I am slowly warming to the idea of just selling stuff and moving forward like CajunBass with what I actually shoot (even occasionally) as being the accumulation and eliminating any thought of a "collection".

 

[marv]

I have way more guns than I need but not near as many as I want. I don't call myself a collector More like an accumulator.

 

[303tom]

Yes I do, a BUNCH..............Why ? Because I collect Firearms !

 

[Reloadron]

How many have more guns than they can use and why?

I guess I do because on a good day I can only use two and that assumes a handgun in each hand. Try as I might I can't use more than two.

Like many I have guns that I just do not shoot as much as I once did but I retain them. Why? Likely because the few guns I have parted with left me looking to replace them. I only buy specific guns I like or have a future plan to modify. Not that a few odd ones have not crept in.

Ron

 

[Double Vision]

I'm happy to see that I'm not the only one who has more firearms than I can use on a regular basis.

There are a handful of favorites that get used regularly. Others are just waiting their turn.

I'm glad to be an American with the option of having them, and not using them.

 

[SaxonPig]

I only needed one gun- my personal defense handgun, until Nov. 6 when it occurred to me that I also need to keep one battle rifle on hand. All the others hang around for no other reason than I enjoy owning them.

I understand thinking that only the absolutely necessary material goods should be possessed, but I do not subscribe to that philosophy. The country where I grew up allowed a person to acquire material goods as his budget allowed. Of course, that country no longer exists and someday soon we may be limited by federal thugs to only the bare necessities. Until they are able to enforce their will upon me, which means my magazine ran dry, I will spend my money as I please (what pittance is left after taxes, that is) and own as many guns as I want (until the Homeland Brown Shirts show up to take them away).

 

[Roadking Rider]

Guns, What guns? I'm just hear because I like the company of you fine folks.

 

[Trent]

Hell I own several firearms I've never even shot.

Some guns I have are shooters. And get shot, a lot. Those few guns are part of the lineup that are always in condition 1 at home or work.

Some guns I have are old war relics. They get shot rarely, and usually as a group. (annual WWII bolt action range day on the 4th of July!)

Some guns I bought just to see what makes them "tick."

Some guns I bought because I got a hell of a deal on them, and couldn't pass them up, even though they weren't really something I wanted. I have an H&K SL-8 I picked up for $1,000 even, used, and I've never fired it. But it was a great deal. These guns fall in to the "investment" side of things. Someday I want to retire. And that one gun may add another acre to my spread, hopefully.

Then there's the hand-me-downs. Father's shotgun is still used annually goose and turkey hunting. Great-great-great-grandfather's shotgun sits on display.

The black powder cap & ball gun that my father shot himself with doesn't get fired, but is on display as a reminder. It sat in evidence so long, his blood deeply etched the barrel. But his initials are still carved in to the trigger guard.

Each gun serves a purpose - not all are intended to be shot.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

I have always been lucky when it comes to acquiring guns because of my line of work. A few times over the years I have come across people who have become "prohibited" for one reason or another and they have sold me their guns for rock bottom prices. I interact with a lot of people, and throughout conversations I have come across people who have relatives that pass away and they want to sell their guns. It also doesn't hurt that my wife comes from a family of VERY active shooters and LEO's, so she always encourages me to buy more! I guess at the end of the day my guns and reloading are my favorite hobbies.

 

[JTHunter]

Purchased (and shot) guns:
Ruger 10/22
Ruger Convertible .22 LR/Mag revolver
Marlin .22LR bolt action
Marlin .22 Mag bolt action
Mossberg 12 ga. pump
Astra Constable .380
Norinco Natl. Match (milled receiver, longer, thicker barrel) AK in 7.62x39
These above were all purchased new.

Stevens SxS 12 ga.
Rem. 700 BDL in .243
Ruger GP100 .357
These three were "new-to-me".

Inherited guns:
Colt revolver in .32-20 (nice shooter but EXPENSIVE)
Colt "Jr." in .25 ACP (NIB until I got it! )
Colt .32 ACP ~80 y.o., not very accurate either
Colt .38 revolver ~90 y.o., no longer a shooter - timing is off but I have shot it not knowing this! Fortunately, it didn't blow up in my hands!

My mother has a SP101 in .38 Sp. and a Marlin Glenfield/Mod. 60 (?? SA w/tube mag.) .22LR that I might inherit IF I outlive her.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Sorry, but that was exactly the standard I used then I startred selling mine off. If I couldn't remember the last time I shot it, and couldn't imagine when the next time I'd want to, it was gone. I don't consider myself to be any of the things you listed. I don't care how many you own, or why you own them, but I've come to the conclusion that I just can't justify having severa dozen hunks of metal that I never use.

That's why I said generally, not absolutely. Of course there are exceptions. I've just found those to be the three prevailing mentalities of people who say they "don't see a reason to own more guns than you can use".

 

[guyfromohio]

I've regretted selling nearly every gun that I've sold.

 

[beatledog7]

I have way more horrible boating accidents than I need...

 

[Dr.Rob]

I try and shoot them all. Haven't done any black powder in a long while though. Should rectify that.

 

[horsemen61]

I am still building my collection

 

[W.E.G.]

I've been accumulating this stuff for four decades.

The reason why I still have excess is because it is TEN TIMES HARDER to get rid of a gun properly than it is to acquire it.

I am in the process of paring it down significantly.
Going to get it down to just those pieces that have utility, or special sentimental value.
My family can go pound sand as far as getting some sort of posthumous windfall from my gun "collection."
If I do this right, they get to fight over only who gets the heavily-worn Model 10 when my time comes.

I can think of only two guns I regret parting with.
Not because those guns had any real utility, but because I felt in retrospect that the person to whom I provided them was a person unworthy of them.
One I managed to get back. It will go in its time - but only to a suitable person.
The other got away completely.

Guns are cheap.
Time is fantastically expensive.

I am avowed that no accumulation of stuff will be a ball and chain for the rest of my life.