That gun in the back of your safe, the one you never shoot

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I was looking around in my gun vault last night and found an old HI-STANDARD MOD B Military in probably 98% condition, I dusted it off and made sure the barrel was clear. I took a q-tip and dug around inside the gun and it had been cleaned probably sonically cleaned but I don't remember it at all. To many guns. Anyway I loaded her up and took a can of pumpkin from the pantry and threw it outside under the yard light and emptied a mag into it. No Failure's, shot great.
I believe in shooting my guns. As long as their safe to shoot.
 
Wait, people own guns and don't shoot them? Why?
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Because sometimes it's an interesting or antique gun that I hope just to pass down in working order. I've shot everything in my safe at least a time or two, but I often don't shoot the Garand, M1 carbine, or the Winchester 61, or even the single shot Marlin 100 that was my first rifle.
 
I'm ashamed to admit I have too many I haven't fired (37 at last count). Most of them I intend to shoot but just haven't gotten around to it. A couple of them I will not shoot as they are too rare to take a chance with. (An original Model 1875 Springfield Officers Model and a highly engraved S&W Model 1 1/2.) Several original muzzleloaders that have bad bores. (I know they will shoot... but why bother??)
The rest? I am more interested in their historical significance then in their shooting ability. (I'm more collector than shooter....)
 
I have a Krag with a horrible spotter stock I picked up at a gunshow a few years ago. The only reason I bought it was to complete my collection of 20th century US main battle rifles. Well, as close as possible: my M1A and AR15 are serving as stand-ins for a M14 and M16.

I don't even own a set of dies nor a singe round of ammo for it. It's the only gun I own that I've never fired or have no intention of ever firing.
 
KansasSasquatch said:
Wait, people own guns and don't shoot them? Why?

I shoot everything I own. I have a Colt Python and a Benelli SBE that both have sentimental meaning to me, but even they both get fired fairly often. The Python was inherited and could be considered collectible but it's probably an 80-85% condition gun. And the SBE was given to me to be a do-all shotgun, and it gets used as such. But I'd never sell either of them. Everything else I have is expendable.

Edit: I can understand owning truly collectible firearms and not firing them, but my definition of collectible probably differs heavily from many other people's definition.
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Your python is a shooter. I guess you should define "truly collectible firearm". Does it have to be a museum piece? In my experience, generally production guns that are in the 95%+ condition are considered potentially collectible. A Ruger GP-100 in that condition is not collectible (at this time). Of course a 1st Generation Colt Single Action would be considered collectible in nearly any functional condition. So, age and market interest are factors.

As far as the first statement about not shooting them.... As I said before, why would I shoot a $3000 Python when I can shoot a $1000 Trooper Mark III or S&W whatever in 357? The collectible ones are money in the bank, albeit not truly liquid resources. I am about to the point of selling off some things. Some I have not handled in 10 years. I'm in no hurry. Price will be market price. It is a big step for me and I have been postponing the inevitable.
 
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That would be a Japanese military rifle that I bought at an auction nearly 10 years ago. Ammunition is not readily available, accuracy is ridiculous and I don't like the safety on the device. I'd get rid of it but it isn't charging rent and I don't have to feed it so there is no harm in keeping it.
 
While I do some collecting, I do not own anything that I won't shoot. Part of the enjoyment, is shooting an interesting firearm or obsolete cartridge once in a while.

I do have some guns that I don't shoot except on rare occasions.

I do have some that I have not gotten around to shooting yet.
 
kozak6 said:
Mosin Nagant M91/30.

The bolt sticks so bad I just about need a mallet to work the action, and the stock has more cosmoline than should be physically possible. It's simply baffling how much cosmo is inside the wood.

I think I last fired it in 2006? It was miserable to shoot. In the heat of the day, the grease liquefies and exudes from the rifle. All I remember is how two handfuls of stock grease makes the action about twice as hard to work and makes me not want to touch any of my other guns.

I think I payed $65 or so back in the day. I feel like I got ripped off. I'll probably get $65 worth of wallhanging out of it someday.
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HA! Sums up my experience as well, although mine was an M44. Beautiful laminate stock, great looking rifle. But the bolt was miserable. I tried every trick on the 'net that offered up a solution to fix it. Nothing worked. I think it was the lacquer covered surplus ammo. Sold it for slightly more than I bought it for and made money on the cases of ammo I had for it (I got the ammo for like $.02 per round). Not worth the frustration for me. Haven't missed it at all.
 
JonB said:
HA! Sums up my experience as well, although mine was an M44. Beautiful laminate stock, great looking rifle. But the bolt was miserable. I tried every trick on the 'net that offered up a solution to fix it. Nothing worked. I think it was the lacquer covered surplus ammo. Sold it for slightly more than I bought it for and made money on the cases of ammo I had for it (I got the ammo for like $.02 per round). Not worth the frustration for me. Haven't missed it at all.
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Moat of the time the sticking bolt is old varnished cosomline in the locking lug recess and chamber. Only way I have found to get the gunk out is disassemble the rifle and soak the barrelled action in a bucket of mineral spirits for a day. Stand it on end so crud drips down. Scrub occasionally to break up blobs while soaking. You would be amazed at the difference.
 
I get it out now and then,but its not very user friendly. Its cool but work to shoot. If anyone is near Pinebelt in NJ fire me a pm ill meet you and you are welcome to try it! Its amazing most that try it shoot 23 or better.
 
.54 Hawken flinter. Shot it all the time 35 years ago when I lived a few miles from a black powder club that had monthly fun shoots.
 
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A pair of PAC FOX double barrels one is 16 GA the other 28 one well used the other a custom like new. And a weatherby lazermark v first year edition with factory mounted scope NIB. SAVING for a deserving grandchild or maybe even a greatgrandchild
 
22-rimfire said:
Would you shoot a $3000 gun when you have $500 guns that shoot just as well?
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Sure I would. Only if it were a one-off, no parts available, antique previously owned by someone very famous, would it never get used. But then, it would be worth a lot more than 3 grand. I have two AR's that share the same lower that are collectively worth $3000, and I shoot them more than any other long guns I own.
I actually shoot my cheaper guns less, mainly because I don't like them as much or they don't shoot as well. My Springfield 1911 and my S&W 19-3 get a whole lot of use, but my Gen 2 Glock 20 hardly ever sees action; just don't care for it much (not because of the caliber).

I suppose the one valuable gun that doesn't get shot as much is my Colt 1903 Hammerless. It has a fair amount of collector value, because it is in very good condition, is a blued wartime issue, but has more sentimental value because it was my stepdad's issued sidearm. I still take it out now and again and run a couple of magazines through it.
 
For me it's a S&W model 15. It was my uncle's police issue revolver when he belonged to our small town force back in the early 60s. It's in absolute pristine shape so I have to imagine that he never took it out of his holster. I shot it a couple times when he Willed it to me, but since it's been in the safe just looking great. I have other S&W revolvers that I shoot often so that one stays safe in the safe....
 
Nothing in the safes or numerous gun racks is there just to look pretty, all are available to shoot and of course some are shot more often than others. I do have a brace of cased nickel Colt SAA's that are unfired and engraved and waiting until my grand kids are responsible enough to receive them.
I kind of like AR's and along with my Colt's and other respected name AR's there are a couple of dozen AR's that I have built, each one different, but all fun to shoot.
Unless historical importance overrides everything I own is available for shooting.
 
Got a lot of those. I have a M44 Nagant, a Lee Enfield MK1 with wire wrapped hand guard, M42 Mossberg, Swedish Mauser, and the list goes on. Heck when you got a bunch you just can find time to shoot them all.
 
kozak6 said:
Mosin Nagant M91/30.

The bolt sticks so bad I just about need a mallet to work the action, and the stock has more cosmoline than should be physically possible. It's simply baffling how much cosmo is inside the wood.

I think I last fired it in 2006? It was miserable to shoot. In the heat of the day, the grease liquefies and exudes from the rifle. All I remember is how two handfuls of stock grease makes the action about twice as hard to work and makes me not want to touch any of my other guns.

I think I payed $65 or so back in the day. I feel like I got ripped off. I'll probably get $65 worth of wallhanging out of it someday.
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I mostly remedied the cosmoline in the stock by submerging it in a 5gallon paint bucket of boiling water for a few minutes. Others have talked about putting it in the back seat of a closed up car in the summer (where it gets 150-160 degrees) and take it out once a day and wipe it down. (Cover the seat. )
 
Oh, and my "never shoot" gun... My Dad in the last days of WW2 in Europe took a Walther PP off a German lieutenant. It had never been shot. My Dad never shot it...nor have I.
 
My father also brought back a P38. I saw it once when I was about 12. I was admonished never to touch it. I never did. We moved when I was 16. My father claimed the gun was stolen by the movers and that was that.

I have a North American Arms .380 Guardian that sits in the safe. It is heavy to carry and uncomfortable to shoot, so it sits.
 
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