Time to rebuild the collection...

[MacTech]

Over the past four years, I've had to slowly sell off most of my collection in order to get out of debt, how I got into the situation is mostly irrelavent to the forums, but let's just say it was a combination of unemployment/underemployment and the evils that are credit cards....

Before I got into financial dire straights, I had a nice collection of firearms, but now, I'm down to a very limited number...

The guns that survived the sell-off?

Rifles;
CZ-452 Ultralux .22LR
Marlin Model 25 (original 7 shot) my first rifle, a 16th b'day gift from my father, family heirloom

Shotguns;
Parker VH SxS with extractors and Vulcan steel barrel (2.5" chamber) and splinter fore-end, third generation family heirloom
H&R Topper Deluxe Classic 20 gauge single shot

Handguns;
Ruger NM Super Single Six w/ 6.5" barrel and both cylinders (Dad's old revolver, family heirloom)
CZ-75B 9mm

I also have my Ruger 10/22 at my LGS on 60 day hold, so I can buy it back (had to sell to keep the checking account solvent) so there is a 10/22 in the rifle category, it's just not paid off yet....

Now that I'm free of credit card debt, I can *SLOWLY* rebuild the collection once the checking account rebuilds above my safe level, I've destroyed the cards and won't get any more, and will make use of the 60 day paid hold program at the LGS for any additional additions to the collection, take it slow, no rush

The next categories to return to the collection? 12 gauge pump shotgun, and a Center fire rifle, most likely some variety of AR

I'm in no great rush now, so I'll be taking it slow and being responsible...

 

[Bullseye]

Congratulations on your responsible rebound. Hope you get all you want when you can afford it. You should feel quite good about yourself. It's a hard pill to swallow but I am happy for you.
There was a time when I was so wrapped up in the pursuit of happiness that I never stopped to enjoy how good it is at the moment. Lessons learned seem to come too late in life sometimes. Hope this one pays off for a long time.
One gun at a time

 

[z7]

Well done to you, debt is a form of slavery, there should also be no rush, AR prices are low and will remain low. i did see bass pro had Remington 870's on sale foe $270ish, so there are deals to be made as you nickle and dime your way to an arsenal.

 

[MacTech]

One factor that contributed to the financial hardship was my extreme susceptibility to my fellow enablers on firearms forums, although to be fair, I was just as guilty of enabling others as being enabled....

I'd see a cool new firearm in an online thread and think "cool, I need one of those" and purchase on impulse, or find a "good deal" in the LGS and purchase it for that reason, even if I didn't need it, or purchase as an "investment" because durable goods hold value better than useless paper currency....

I could rationalize with the best of them, thinking "meh, I'll pay it off later" as the bills and interest grew and grew....

About the only good things I could say about my "reckless acquisition" phase was it allowed me to try and trade a bunch of different firearm types, and help focus in on what I truly like....

And with my "form follows function" mindset and my new and improved stinginess, I won't feel the need for reckless, unfocused acquisition anymore, any new additions will serve a purpose I don't have at that point...

 

[CapnMac]

Having been through similar straits 2008-2011, I understand completely.

I've not seen anything super must-have in centerfire rifles of late. And, I have glass to spare. So, I mostly prowl the used rifle racks at the LGS, to see if anything interesting pops up. Managed to miss out on a nice 18" barrel .243 ('mountain rifle' I think) for waiting two days to the 15th for a next paycheck. Talked myself out of a decent deal on a Winchester .280, as .270 is so much easier to find in interesting loadings.

Now, I did celebrate a raise and a bonus last Christmas by shopping hard for a Colt 6920, and managed to find one new in the box for just under $900. Which is now a pretty ordinary price (in Texas). I've been looking hard at the Just Right carbines, as that's an interesting direcction in the AR platform.

The one that hurts the most is that I sold my all-Inland M-1 Carbine, and took a $100 loss doing so, only to find that I'll need more than twice what I paid for the Inland to get a war-baby.

I'm still on the look out for an M14/M1A, and a trip to Anniston is in my future.

 

[JSH1]

Congratulations on slaying your credit card debt. I was foolish in my youth and racked up 3 times my yearly salary in debt in my early 20's. It took 7 years to get it paid off after I woke up, made a plan, and executed that plan. My advice - stay on the rice and beans kick for a bit more and save up 6 months of expenses just in case. Then celebrate a buy a few toys.

In the meantime you have 7 firearms to enjoy.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

Im glad you are free from your debt!

The only "hole" I notice in your current collection is a centerfire rifle. What did you realize you like to shoot as you bought and sold so many guns?

Ive realized that I can get by with a good long-range rig, a tack-driving 22, and a carry gun. I dont shoot anything else, money is limited and when I have extra it always goes towards components for the long-range stuff I like to do out in the clear cuts.

 

[bannockburn]

Mac Tech

Good for you that you managed to finally overcome that burdensome debt and can start to have an opportunity to rebuild your collection. In your future purchases check and then recheck that it's something you really want or have a need for (no more New Gun of the Month Club), and that you have the funds in hand to pay for it.

 

[MacTech]

Im glad you are free from your debt!

The only "hole" I notice in your current collection is a centerfire rifle. What did you realize you like to shoot as you bought and sold so many guns?

Ive realized that I can get by with a good long-range rig, a tack-driving 22, and a carry gun. I dont shoot anything else, money is limited and when I have extra it always goes towards components for the long-range stuff I like to do out in the clear cuts.

Had a forum glitch, can't seem to post from my iPhone 6 running iOS 10.1.1, but my iPad 3 running iOS 9.3.5 works fine (posting this now)

Anyway, my rifle choices are;
A decent Marlin 336 pre-safety model, I'm a manual action guy
An AR of some sort, mainly because nannystaters hate it, and although it's safe-ish for a few years now, it's always under threat...

 

[berettaprofessor]

While I don't envy your prior situation, it must be freeing to be forced to organize your priorities and save only the nearest and dearest. I note that you saved several family heirlooms, a CZ452 (can't beat it), and a decent HD/CC gun (the CZ75). All good choices. I'd be more mobile if I was forced to do the same....clutter. Although I hesitate to call Berettas clutter.

 

[gbw]

Congratulations on accepting responsibility and fixing your problem - commendable.
First be sure your savings balance is adequate and growing.
Once that's done, I see older very good Ithaca M37 shotguns at good prices. Great guns. Good luck.

 

[zb338]

I really want a Colt super .38. Every day I procrastinate the damn price goes up.

Zeke

 

[rskent]

It seems like everyone I know has been sucked into the credit card debt, including me.

Working through it is a bitch. But once you get through it you will be better for it.

I save cash in my safe until I have enough pay for what I want. Then I use my cards to

Buy whatever it is. When the bill comes, I have the cash to pay it. The only way I would

let a card roll over is a medical emergency or something like that.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Congrats. For the past 8 years I had debt hanging over my head and just paid it off and I have sworn never again. If I had to rebuild, it would be just what I like to shoot. I'm glad to hear you kept the heirlooms.

I could easily get buy with just four or firearms myself
A Mossberg 500 with 28" barrel and 20" barrel. I shoot in a weekly trap league. Is my go to home defense weapon.
A 9 mm Glock 17 or 19 or similar models in 45 ACP.
Rifle - 30-30 lever action or 308 bolt or mini-30
A 22 rifle and probably Ruger 10-22 though just about any would do.

Of these four, just the pump shotgun is a must have. Can't CCW where I live.

 

[MagnumWill]

I totally feel you Mac, I'm in the same boat. The elections and Mrs. Clinton sure didn't help my decision making either. Don't get me wrong, when's i was spending money it was on darn good deals from Cope's and PSA, but the problem was they always had good deals. After my last purchase, the wife said I have to cull the herd, and rightfully so. We have a lot of house projects to do, we want to travel and a closet packed full of guns and hundreds of pounds of ammo isn't going to get us there. I have plans on selling a pistol, potentially a shotgun (we'll see, it's my 3-gun shotgun), 1.5 ARs and two other rifles as well, as well as a few odds and ends of AR accessories. It'll feel good to clean house, and have some semblance of reason about which guns I actually shoot, enjoy shooting and which ones need to go. it's hard when you've seen cycles of firearms come and go, and it's tempting to constantly not "miss the boat" (SKSs, Mosins, etc). but they're not going to give you happiness if everything else in your life suffers.

 

[ThatGuyHank]

For a 12 gauge I really like my Maverick 88, accepts almost every Mossberg 500 part (barrels included) and is very inexpensive; I picked up an 18" bbl model at a local Dick`s sporting goods for $170 on sale, I have no complaints. For a centerfire, particularly an AR, I like to just pick up parts as I find them on sale or for a really good price. It took me 7 months to put one together but I saved alot of money and it had everything I wanted on the gun with no leftovers to tempt me

 

[Kendal Black]

I'm currently in the divest and re-evaluate cycle myself. For years, I bought anything interesting. Then lean times came, and with them, the realization that there are really only a few types of guns I have any pressing use for. There are only a few upon which I am fully practiced, the ones I use. Shouldn't my personal collection be tailored around my favorite types? For example, in handguns there are two types I particularly like and there is, practically speaking, no need for me to own other types. But, over the years, several other types accumulated. They were cool somehow.

It helps me to think that each sale I make is spreading the joy: For each gun I part with, someone is going to be happy to have it and the FFL guy smiles every time too...

As to your questions: Mossberg is a solid value in pump shotguns, and my favorite sort. Can't go wrong with a Mossberg, not as smooth as Remington or some others but really reliable and has some nice features, like dual extractors and a shell lifter that keeps out of your way when you're loading.

I think the public over-bought in AR-15's during the previous administration and the used market is going to favor the buyer before long. I think you'll see name brands at moderate prices. Time is on your side.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Been there too----at one time I was down to a 10/22 and a pellet gun. Got rid of all the credit cards in 2007 and will never take another one---my debit Visa works fine for any purchases I might make----I get card offers all the time, which are quickly run through the shredder. The only things I will buy on credit now are vehicles and real estate.

I started getting back with tactical/most likely to be banned items and now have more Glocks and ARs than you can shake a stick at.

Next, I went with hunting guns and got a couple cheapie Walmart pump shotguns and a Ruger Hawkeye on clearance.

Lately have been getting 1911s and revolvers---upgrading my shotguns and looking into another bolt action rifle.

I'm 2 or 3 guns away from being done with acquiring anymore guns for a long, long time and concentrating my finances on other things.

 

[AZAndy]

I'm 2 or 3 guns away from being done with acquiring anymore guns for a long, long time and concentrating my finances on other things.

I've been saying I'm one away from done for about five years. Meanwhile, fifteen guns later...

 

[danez71]

I've been avoiding the overly niche stuff for years. 'Overly niche' is subjective, of course. But I prefer versatility over niche.

I'm more interested in guns that I have fun with and shoot more that I can also protect my house with, and get some food on the table if needed. More practice with fewer guns equals bether proficiency and more fun. (for me, imo)

I'm without a center fire rifle at the moment and don't really have a true immediate need for one either. But that's something I miss and want the versatility it offers. I'd like to get 1 (or maybe 2 ) of those.

That's about it for me for the foreseeable future. Everything else will most likely be a 1 for 1 net zero. (get rid of one and get another). For ex, I also want a 20ga to try. If I like it more than the 12ga I have, I could see dumping the 12ga unless it just doesn't make any sense to get rid of it.

I've long been of the mind set that for a lot of things, less is more. (less guns collecting dust and more use out the ones I have and more ammo).

 

[george burns]

When I met my wife to be, she had racked up 30 thousand in CC bills. That was 20 yrs ago, when 30 grand was half of a nice house in FL. I made a deal about a year after I moved in, I paid them off and got half the house before we got married. Did a quick claim deed. It worked out fine, but I just paid off 1/3 of that amount again, because I have to watch what she does, although nothing on there was frivilous, and last year the AC unit blew out completely and we got really stuck with no AC in the mid 90's. Sometimes you have to use the darn things, even if you don't want to, for emergencys. Luckily I got the Builder to split the cost because they installed it improperlly and blocked the air intake 2/3 of the way the air comes in.

 

[bikerdoc]

Medical bills, one irrsponible kid and taking custody of the grand kids destroyed our retirement income. A pristine old Marlin 1894 C - no cross bolt safety - was the first to go followed by some revolvers and 1911's

Hopefully we are done with the problems but I never be able to rgain what I once had.

 

[Kendal Black]

I never be able to rgain what I once had

I have been thinking about that. The one thing you never lose is knowledge. What I mean is this. I can pick up and run quite a variety of guns, ranging from the 'despicable pig' M60 to some high grade personal guns gone for medical bills or--like you--a bit of covering for someone else.

I don't need to own a museum collection to be effective when I shoot. A lot of what's gone by the board I only bought to see what it was like, or because I admire fine workmanship. That knowledge builds, and the conclusion is a bit curious. One gun is as good as another if your shots connect, "You are only outgunned if you miss," and the cool factor of owning something different degrades with that realization.

Perhaps an example will clarify what I mean. In my neighborhood there was an armed disturbance. I was not involved but I heard it. I looked out the window and then ducked back quickly. I did not reach for the high dollar and much extolled .45 then in my collection, but a battered old .357 revolver that has seen better days. I have asked why I did that.

 

[Fire_Moose]

"I have asked why I did that."

Well if the cops have to take it for evidence or whatever is rather them take my Kahr than my CZ....


I'm in a different boat, at age 30 I finally got a credit card and my gun collections seems to be growing.....

 

[Kendal Black]

"I have asked why I did that."

Well if the cops have to take it for evidence or whatever is rather them take my Kahr than my CZ....


I'm in a different boat, at age 30 I finally got a credit card and my gun collections seems to be growing.....

It's hard to say what convolutions the subconscious mind goes through on the spur of the moment. That could well have been a part of it. I have wondered if a big part of it was that I had more trigger time behind that gun and similar ones.

In any case, when suddenly arming myself I did not reach for the greatest thing in my collection, but something rather mundane and unremarkable.