If you were to rework your collection, what would you change?

[chaim]

Here is the situation in a nutshell: For a variety of reasons I've been thinking about scaling back my gun collection (I'm in an apartment and don't have the room, I rarely get to the range much anymore so only a few of my guns are regularly shot, owning 17 handguns but only semi-regularly shooting 4-6 of them is a lot of money to have tied up in guns that I rarely shoot, while I don't need the money it would be nice to have the money available for other things, etc.).

However, while some guns are obvious additions to my "sell" list, others have been more difficult. Such as, cutting to one full-size 9mm, I've owned my CZ 75B for some time and I have over 10K rounds through it so I am more accurate with it, but my SIG 226 is a better, more reliable gun, so I have trouble deciding which gun.

So, I have decided that everything is on the table. I am starting from scratch, most (if not all) of my guns will be sold, and replaced by what I would have bought to start with if I knew then what I knew now (and if I had the money). I figure if I'm selling off (most of) my 17 handguns, and only buying/keeping 4-7 of them, I should have the money for whatever I want (within reason).

Here are my thoughts:

Long guns: I'm not selling my rifles. None of them make sense to sell. I only have 5 rifles and one shotgun. The shotgun may or may not go (probably to be replaced by another shotgun, or by a .357mag lever rifle for home defense).


Handguns:

.22: I'm undecided. I don't shoot that much so the savings of shooting .22lr doesn't really matter that much. Still, it is nice to have on longer range trips and when breaking in new or infrequent shooters. If I have a .22lr I will be keeping my Ruger MkII.

Pocket gun: My NAA Guardian is/will be gone. If I keep my S&W 442, it is lightweight and uncomfortable to shoot so I'll almost have to keep my steel Taurus 85CH as a trainer (which defeats the purpose of cutting back). If I was buying from scratch I'd probably buy a Kahr PM9 for this purpose, so the snubs are probably gone in favor of a Kahr.

CCW gun: I live in MD. If I get the Kahr (or keep the 442) I don't really need another CCW gun as I'll have a good CCW gun for when I'm visiting a state where I can carry. I can always buy another good CCW pistol later should MD law change or I move to a shall-issue state.

1911: I'm a 1911 guy, so one of my guns (at least) needs to be a 1911. I'm leaning towards selling the Charles Daly and getting a Springfield Loaded (maybe a "base" model Les Baer or Wilson Combat). I do like my S&W 1911SC quite a bit though so I may keep that as well (maybe as the CCW gun).

Full-sized 9mm: I'm torn. Do I really need a 9mm? I like the caliber, and it is "enough", but I like .45ACP better. For cheap practice I can keep my .22lr, I do reload .38spl/.357mag, and I can always start chasing brass and reload .45ACP. Also, I plan to have the Kahr PM9 which is a 9mm (though it is a small, pocketable, CCW pistol). But 9mm is a good step up from .22lr when training new shooters. If I go with a 9mm service pistol it will probably be a Browning/FN High Power, with a Taurus PT92 a distant second.

.357mag: This is pretty much the only caliber that wasn't on the table. I will be keeping my S&W 65LS (a 3" K-frame .357mag, there aren't many handguns I consider more desirable).

Big-bore revolver: I'm selling my S&W 57. I love .41mag, but reloading supplies aren't always available, when I don't have anything loaded commercial ammo is expensive and hard to find. I've already bought a S&W 625 Mountain Gun in .45LC for this purpose.

Black Powder: At least for now, my black powder revolvers are probably gone (I like them, but almost never shoot them).

So, at the high end (if I keep the S&W 1911SC, Ruger MkII, and have a full-sized 9mm) I'll have 7, on the low end if I don't keep any of them I'll have 4 and most likely I'll be somewhere in between. That will make my handgun collection a nice 1911, a Kahr PM9, a S&W 65LS, a S&W 625 Mountain Gun (.45LC), and possibly a Ruger MkII, a S&W 1911 SC and a Browning/FN HP (out of the "possibly" guns, the 1911SC is most likely to be dropped).

While my collection will be much smaller, it will be higher quality, and I will semi-regularly shoot everything I own (I will no longer have any guns I rarely shoot).

So, if you would be to do it again, what would you do? Would you buy the same guns? Would you buy fewer but nicer guns? Would you buy similar, but different guns?

 

[PotatoJudge]

Yep, fewer but nicer guns and more geared toward revolvers, which I shoot much better and much prefer reloading for.

For your collection, I'd say keep the .22 (and definitely buy the ultimate cliploader- you'll shoot it more), the 442, 1911SC, the LS, and the 625.

 

[chaim]

I thought about keeping the S&W 1911SC as my 1911, but it is a lightweight (scandium) Commander sized pistol. It almost seems a crime to me to have a 1911 but not the classic, full-sized, steel-framed 1911. So, I'll possibly keep the 1911SC as an "extra" (for CCW use when out of state and should MD change its laws or I move), but I will be getting a nice mid to high end 1911 (either a Springfield Loaded, full-sized S&W, or a low end Wilson or Les Baer). The 442 is less likely (I can't shoot more than about 15 rounds comfortably), though I've though about keeping it instead of buying the PM9 and reloading some low recoil .38s for practice.

 

[rino451]

Less tacticool crap (acog, eotech, chest rig, drop leg,etc.) and more/better firearms. Add a nice hunting rifle, nice carry pistol, autoloading shotgun, and lots of ammo for all.

 

[Just Jim]

Buy your guns to your lifestyle. If you are a hunter then hunting guns. A target shooter then target guns. If you are a wannabe then wannabe guns (Cowboy etc).

It's the life you choose and what guns will be the most fun.

jj

 

[TAB]

I would only change a few things...

I don't buy guns becuase other people think they are cool, I buy guns that intrest ME.

 

[Rmart30]

For me a 22 pistol and rifle are a must have. They enable LOTS of fun shooting for little money and are great for introducing someone of any age to guns.
Of my collection the one thing I would change if i could start over is I would NOT buy a gun that wasnt stainless, rifle or pistol.

 

[scythefwd]

I have been thinking of doing the same thing myself. Go for it and tell us how it turns out.

 

[chaim]

Hmm, if I do keep the S&W 1911SC to have a primary carry pistol when visiting carry states, I have to consider one other option (I did say everything is on the table).

I love .40S&W for carry, I love SIG. I would love to have a SIG 229 SAS or 239 SAS. The only question, if I did that instead of the 1911SC would it make more sense to keep the 229 I already have? But then we are getting away from "everything on the table" because if I was buying the 229 now, and I didn't take price too much into account, I'd get the 239 SAS or 229 SAS in .40S&W. Another possible problem with that direction, as of now my plan has me phasing out .40S&W when I sell the two I have (I like the caliber, but I have .45ACP and 9mm on my list, one of my reasons for doing this is space issues, it would be nice to have one less caliber to stock) and going with one of these would have me keeping .40S&W and having 3 auto calibers to stock and find room for. Maybe go a similar route but continue the caliber cutting and get the 220 SAS (or are the 229 SAS and 239 SAS now available in 9mm)?

Of course, with the thin 1911 and BHP there is no reason for occasional carry (I don't spend that much time where I can carry) that I couldn't just carry a full-sized 1911 or the BHP, and there will be the Kahr (or 442). Ah, decisions, decisions.

 

[Hk91-762mm]

IF YOU SELL ANY GUNS ------YOULLL BE SORRRRRYYYYY!!!!
better move to a house you own and better you keep everything you can get your hands on -!!
I still have the 69Z/28 my parents bought me new in 69 cost $3900. today $30,000. -90,000. My dad took a colt 2nd mdl dragoon as settlement for a debt $15.00 today it worth $6000-16000.
Never sell anything MOVE to larger quarters !
Now if I only could find those boxes of marvel comic books I had as a kid ,,

 

[TIMC]

My collection has been taking a turn lately. I have traded, sold or bought several in the last few months. I am in a target rifle mode right now, I have added a remington VLS in 22-250, A savage mod 11 BGTH in .223 and just ordered a Stag Arms mod 6 Super Varminter in .223. I sold off some guns that have not seen daylight in several years for some that I will play or hunt with with, my collection is taking a turn for the practical instead of sollectables.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Fewer guns but more expensive guns.

 

[22-rimfire]

I'd sell off all the 9mm's and the 40 S&W and keep one 45 ACP of your choice. Keep either the Model 57 and the 45LC. Keep at least one 22 handgun, but dump the NAA. Keep the 442 and 357 revolvers. Dump the black powder handguns. By my count that is five handguns total.

If you hunt with a handgun, I'd keep the M57 and dump the 625.

 

[vzenmn]

I would of bought 10 cases each of 223, 7.62x39, and .308 back when they were 7 to 12 cents a round.

 

[machinisttx]

If I were you, I'd ditch the .45 Colt Mountain Gun and keep the M57. Factory .45 Colt ammo ain't cheap, and the truly potent stuff isn't going to be safe to shoot in the 625.

You're far better off using the money from the sale of the 625 to lay in a good supply of reloading components for the M57.

 

[TCB in TN]

I would have more handguns, and more ammo!

 

[EricShelton]

My Ruger Mk.III Hunter is a very nice gun. Very pretty, accurate, etc.

But I still regret selling my Mk.II years ago. Less legalese stamped on the side, simpler (i.e. no magazine safety or chamber indicator)... I'd keep it, or get a Single-Six.

 

[goon]

If I were to start over today I'd definitely skip a lot of the guns I had in the past.

I'm all for selling guns if you think that's what you have to do. I've sold a lot of them.
A couple things though -

- Keep a few good working ones around while you are doing this. Nothing like selling a good gun and using the money on one that turns out to be a peice of garbage.
- If there is something that you particularly like in your collection but you don't feel that you need it, maybe you should keep it anyway. I don't regret selling all of the guns I've sold, but I do regret selling some of them, in particular, the really good ones I had.
I miss a SIG P-225, a S&W M-60, a Winchester 94/22 Legacy, a Marlin 336, and one very nice M-39.

 

[Soybomb]

I've been trimming my collection down too because while a lot of the guns are really neat pieces, I don't get much joy out of just having a collection. They're sitting in the safe waiting to be stolen or burned in a fire. They're not getting shot because there's only so much time available. They don't get displayed like art because they're in the safe in a gun sock so why keep them? I'd rather put a few more dollars in the pieces I do shoot.

You might consider trying some target wadcutters in your 442, they make practice with it much more enjoyable.

Personally I think I like the idea of:
1.) inherited guns
2.) .22 pistol
3.) .22 rifle
4.) mid-large handgun
5.) subcompact handgun
6.) pocket handgun
7.) main rifle

Maybe a shotgun for fun, and an allowance of 1-2 handguns and rifles as collectable or fun items. I might even ditch one of the main handguns. A dozen guns still seems like far more than enough. I kind of feel like I wound up with more than I needed because I didn't know for sure what I wanted or liked as a new shooter yet.

 

[Moonclip]

I've thought of doing the same thing, I own over 100 handguns, many of them quality but do I really need say 3-4 basic 1911 patterns such as Colt 1991a1's and a Norinco? Better to sell them and buy 1 Les Baer or Wilson?

Also if I was you keep a shotgun, one 12ga with 2 barrels and one being able to have interchangeable chokes is a very useful and versatile gun. And one .22lr is almost a must.

The S&W mod 65 is a good gun but I'd never own it as my only .357mag unless I hardly ever shot it or only with .38spl's mainly,they are a little on the fragile side.

 

[chaim]

IF YOU SELL ANY GUNS ------YOULLL BE SORRRRRYYYYY!!!!
better move to a house you own and better you keep everything you can get your hands on

Ah, I've sold guns before, some of which I don't miss at all, others I may miss at times but it isn't that big a deal. Plus, all of my guns are easily replaced. The only semi-collectable handguns would be the S&W 19 with P&R barrel and the S&W 57 (first year of manufacture), I'm not a collector, and in the end if I replaced them I'd probably be happier with a shooter than a collector piece anyway.

As for the house, I'd be buying one if I could afford it (not for the guns, because I'd rather have a house than an apartment). I'm a teacher so I don't make a ton of money. I'm probably 2-5 years away from buying a house (some of the proceeds of the sale may go in a downpayment fund, at least those proceeds that don't go to ammo).

I were you, I'd ditch the .45 Colt Mountain Gun and keep the M57

I intentionally bought the 625 to replace the 57. The 57 is in too nice shape for me to have the heart to use it much for what I bought it for (a "just in case" gun when camping). If it was new I'd have no problem putting wear on it but it is in almost new condition and more than half a decade older than me. The 625 with the much lower pressure .45LC is also more suitable for home defense and I intend to make it my primary HD piece (along with the 1911). Before I bought it I was in the market for a .45LC for HD and another .41mag for camping, then decided to cut back (so only the .45LC).

I would have more handguns, and more ammo!

Yup, prices are going to keep going up. I'll probably use some of the money that is leftover ($1-3K depending upon exactly what I get for them and how high end I go on the 1911) and stock up on .45ACP and .45LC.

Keep a few good working ones around while you are doing this

Oh yes, I do plan to do it a little at a time. Anyway, at least one or two are sticking around anyway (the S&W 625MG is new but should be OK, the S&W 65LS has been with me for over 7 years, if I keep the S&W 1911SC it has proven itself by now).

You might consider trying some target wadcutters in your 442

I thought about downloading an easy practice round for the 442 (I reload .38spl). However, I think if I can only have one I'd rather have the Kahr. My best friend has one and it is great. I've wanted a Kahr (but never got around to it) since I first started shooting (about a year after Kahr came out). Before I decided to scale back, I was going to buy a Kahr PM9 and have both. So, I do like my 442, but I think it will probably go for the Kahr (if I don't like the Kahr, new 442s and 642s are relatively inexpensive and plentiful and I can easily replace it).

 

[chaim]

I kind of feel like I wound up with more than I needed because I didn't know for sure what I wanted or liked as a new shooter yet.

I know how you feel. Sometimes I was experimenting. Other times, I wanted a gun in a particular category but didn't have the money for the better guns in the category (how I ended up with my Bersa, decent gun but big for a .380). In other cases, my tastes either changed, or a gun (while good) wasn't as good as I thought (my CZ is decent, but with some issues, once I got a SIG it was over for the CZ).

Also if I was you keep a shotgun, one 12ga with 2 barrels and one being able to have interchangeable chokes is a very useful and versatile gun.

The shotgun is 100% for home defense. I have a Benelli Nova 18.5" with rifle sights. I actually don't like it very much. If I replace it I'll may get a Mossberg 500 (used selling price of the Benelli and new purchase price of the Mossy will probably be a wash and not worth it). More likely I'll get a .357mag or .44mag lever rifle and load it with specials (good home defense carbine, and I absolutely love shooting lever guns, however my .45LC Win 94 isn't suitable for HD because it isn't quite reliable enough).

The S&W mod 65 is a good gun but I'd never own it as my only .357mag unless I hardly ever shot it or only with .38spl's mainly,they are a little on the fragile side.

I'm not sure they are as fragile as people think. Avoid the full house 125gr magnums which put a lot of stress on the forcing cone and I think the later ones (mine is late 90s manufacture) are just fine. Anyway, if I do shoot it out, I can pretty easily find another .357mag to replace it (though another 3" K-frame won't be so easy).

 

[KiltedClaymore]

if your scaling back your collection, i'll gladly hold them for you until you realize you made a mistake and want them back.

 

[chaim]

OK guys, I know how I would rework my collection (smaller but higher quality collection).

I also want to know what you would do if you knew what you know now about guns but you were starting over. Would you buy fewer guns but higher end? Fewer guns and more reloading equipment? More guns but lower end? Hey, it can happen, when I started I'd rather have 2 decent guns in 2 different categories than one really nice gun in just one of those categories and maybe someone who went the other way wishes they tried more things.

Maybe you'd do a theme? More cowboy guns. More rifles and fewer handguns (or vice versa). More CCW guns, or revolvers, or...

 

[waterhouse]

Fewer guns . . . putting the money saved toward more ammo, suppressors, and gas money to get to the range.