Tinkering or leave things alone?

[illinoisburt]

All too often I find myself changing parts/optics/holsters/accessories on a somewhat cyclical basis. Maybe it's fall hunting season is around the corner so time to try out some new piece of kit from an advertisement, or the great THR enablers opened my eyes to something new I just had to try it out. Possibly what seemed perfect last year is now not quite exactly what I may have hoped for so time for a swap. I don't want to wander into the weeds of getting new guns or horse trading, mostly wondering if other folks have the tinkering itch?

 

[jak67429]

I don't own anything I haven't modified in some way.

 

[.38 Special]

I occasionally go through a period of "musical scopes" where every scope ends up on a different rifle. It's becoming more rare, though, as I find that most of them end up back where they started. Mostly, though, I just have everything the way I like it, and really don't fiddle much any more.

 

[Howland937]

I'll go with all the time, because I change some things on some things often. I also have some things where I haven't changed anything after I found what worked well for me.

 

[Nuclear]

Grips, sights and triggers are the items I tweak on most firearms. But usually only once.

 

[Bama59]

I've installed scopes on couple Ruger 10/22's only to remove them and put on peep sights . I change grips on revolvers and installed ambi controls on my AR

 

[MacAR]

I tinker with stuff all the time, especially in the "off season". Most of my guns have a few personal touches; some are cosmetic, others are functional. Regardless, I tend to make them my own and modify them to suit my needs accordingly. I used to be like others and play "musical scopes" as well, but I got tired of re-sighting rifles. Now, I pick a scope for a rifle and leave it be; it's only taken a dozen scopes to find 3 that suit my center-fires!

've installed scopes on couple Ruger 10/22's only to remove them and put on peep sights

Same here; I had two or three different scopes on my 10/22 International only to remove the lot and go back with a set of William's peeps. Best $35 I ever spent!

Mac

 

[Dibbs]

IMO, after you acquire a certain amount of firearms, you wind up becoming a bit of an armorer, unless you live next door to
a gunsmith.

 

[jmr40]

I'm always "improving" my gear either by upgrading or modification. As soon as I reach perfection someone moves the goal post.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I used to tinker with stuff.

now I leave most of it alone.

 

[Dale Alan]

I never leave anything alone , just switched out rails/rings/ scopes on three Remington 700s today .

 

[WrongHanded]

If I have a gun that's hasn't been modified or personalized in some way, it's because I'm still driving home with it from the gun store.

Don't mod and drive at the same time.

 

[Alte Schule]

After initial setup all options remain open. I buy or swap out optics, grips, lights when I get the itch. It's not something I do often but no set up is immune from a tweak or two.

 

[cc-hangfire]

Since firearms are both tools & a hobby, it is required that I spend money and tinker.
I didn’t know we were allowed to leave them “as-is”.

 

[Big_Al]

Only thing I've ever changed are sights/scopes. That's usually a one time deal. And grips, changed a few of those.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Since I am basically a collector I like to have my firearms as stock as possible, grips I will change.

 

[AK Hunter]

My pistols are just about the same as I bought them. A few rifles stay the same because they do what I want them to do.
But ARs are made to be changed, I swap things around all the time & it's not always for the better. I have to figure out a way of marking components so I know were they came from. LOL
ARs are the Erector set of guns. If any of you are old enough to remember those.

 

[PapaG]

Shotguns. Trap, skeet, dove, deer, duck, home, whatever. Have a box of stocks for 870 and 1100s. Factory, synthetic, vintage, new, thumbhole, p.g. Barrels, from 18 1/2" cylinder to 30" full, ribbed, plain. Right now the only stock gun is my 1975 TB but it actually has a Timney trigger and long forcing cone. Last count, for four 870s, nine barrels. Two 1100s, six barrels.

 

[Paul R Zartman]

I find something to change all the time, I've gotten real good at:
Bluing
Wood working and finshing
Mounting Scopes
Unmounted scopes
Changing springs
Finding lost springs
Buying lost springs not found
If I have Tinkered all my guns into perfection....I go buy another project gun

 

[MikeG]

I follow my Father's adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". I will use a firearm box stock for a time and will only add or change things if I see a definite need.
As opposed to the IT technique of fixing something until it is broke.

 

[film495]

outside of making something work correctly, or an initial set up, it is done unless some function changes ... have to much to do to tinker with set ups, and care not for the latest gadgets etc. If I want something to do, or to tinker - so to speak - I'll spend time reloading.

 

[bannockburn]

I tend to leave things pretty much the way they are with my guns, unless it's changing something out like grips or scopes or maybe a new barrel for a shotgun I have. As long as everything works okay, I'm good with it.

 

[Thomas Mayberry]

Not much for changes here. Except for changing grips to find the right one I usually leave things alone. An example is my 10/22. The Burris 3-9 compact that I put on it back in 1987 or so has never been removed from it. I'm from the "if it works, don't fix it" school of thought.

 

[Dale Alan]

If I have Tinkered all my guns into perfection....I go buy another project gun

That's me also , but now I keep enough parts to build a Remington 700 or two while I am gathering up stuff for the projects beyond that.

 

[DustyGmt]

Often I change things, and then put them back, then change it again. It's hard for me, I try to be practical, but if I see something I like and don't necessarily need, I may just try it anyway because I like the look of it or something...

The AR's are tough because there are so many configurations that appeal to me, but I don't have the income to set them all up exactly as I would if I was wealthy so I make compromises, tweaks and try not to maintain a certain threshold of quality. I don't have the best and most current, but you won't see any Chinese made laser/light combos from Amazon on any of my guns.....