Who buys guns and hangs onto them?

[OrangePwrx9]

I know I do. I've let a few go, but the vast majority are still here. I read of shooters swapping this for that or selling one very good gun to buy another and realise I can't do that.

It kind-of makes sense for handguns in NYS. They put you through so much to get them, that you don't want to ever let them go. The paperwork for getting rid of one is a bit daunting as well. That's probably why I'm still invested in a 35 Rem Contender that I once hunted deer with.

But I'm the same way with long guns, even muzzleloaders. Once they're here, they don't leave. I still have a trio of Rem 788s that I bought while in the military in the '60s. Also a Rem Wingmaster and a 721 I bought when I was in high school from my old boss. These guns aren't anything special (though the 788s are quite accurate) but I'd hate to see them go. The list goes on and on.

Now the long guns aren't any harder to sell in NYS than anywhere else and muzzleloaders don't require any kind of paperwork. Yet I keep them expecting, I guess, to circle back to the particular style of shooting a gun excels at or maybe it's a good gun that I haven't figured out yet (SP101?).

Anyone else afflicted with this malady? Would like to hear your insights.
Moderators: If this would be better somewhere else, please move.

 

[Autodidactic]

I know I do. I've let a few go, but the vast majority are still here. I read of shooters swapping this for that or selling one very good gun to buy another and realise I can't do that.

It kind-of makes sense for handguns in NYS. They put you through so much to get them, that you don't want to ever let them go. The paperwork for getting rid of one is a bit daunting as well. That's probably why I'm still invested in a 35 Rem Contender that I once hunted deer with.

But I'm the same way with long guns, even muzzleloaders. Once they're here, they don't leave. I still have a trio of Rem 788s that I bought while in the military in the '60s. Also a Rem Wingmaster and a 721 I bought when I was in high school from my old boss. These guns aren't anything special (though the 788s are quite accurate) but I'd hate to see them go. The list goes on and on.

Now the long guns aren't any harder to sell in NYS than anywhere else and muzzleloaders don't require any kind of paperwork. Yet I keep them expecting, I guess, to circle back to the particular style of shooting a gun excels at or maybe it's a good gun that I haven't figured out yet (SP101?).

Anyone else afflicted with this malady? Would like to hear your insights.
Moderators: If this would be better somewhere else, please move.

I generally have kept most but sold three, one of which I regret. A lot of the times we don’t get much money if we sell a used gun anyways. I do sell if something is junky or I really don't like it.

 

[tarosean]

I like to try the "latest and greatest" so I buy and sell quite a bit. Not every gun "fits" nor are they all good shooters. I am not storing junk till I die.

 

[DR505]

I have every gun I ever purchased with one exception, starting with a Remington Nylon 66 way back when. The only exception is an old single shot Marlin bolt .22 I bought from a friend for $30 and gave to my little brother. I don't buy junk.

 

[PzGren]

I hang on to guns that I like. I have bought and sold hundreds over the years and have enjoyed most but have only kept those that could convince me on the range, that they are worthy - or were an instant love affair ( or both).

 

[CapnMac]

Count me in the "keep'em" column.
Now, I'd had some that made me yawn; and they were traded for other firearms. So, the count did not change.
At least until 2008-12, when survival thinned the collection in a major way.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I have a hard time letting any go. The last ones i traded was 4 Hi-point pistols. They were not being used. I traded them towards my CZ 457. I got 100.00 ea for them. I paid 85.00 for them. So i did well there.

 

[ak257]

I tend to keep the overwhelming majority of mine, but there have been a few that I've parted with.....and now kick myself in the butt for doing so.

 

[stanley_white]

The search for perfection (or good enough) eventually enables us to keep instead of sell off, as we arrive at what works for us, based upon our capabilities, limitations, and preferences.

-Stan

 

[wiscoaster]

Well, it's not a "malady" it's just pragmatism. Unless you've owned a gun for a long time and it's some sort of collectible, you're going to lose money selling it, and if that's the case, you might as well keep it.

 

[Stefan A]

I just finished listing a gun for sale for the first time. I really don't want to sell it, but I don't need it. I have another gun that is not my favorite, but it's my only .40. I may trade that one day.

 

[JR24]

No, if I don’t like one or haven’t shot it in a year or so, it goes to fund something I will shoot.

Im a discerning buyer and seller though and largely have managed to keep pretty close to selling a gun for what I bought it for.

Last few, thanks to market changes and good deals buying, have been sold for a fair bit more than I paid.

 

[Rubone]

I buy what I like and generally keep it despite its warts and foibles. Some things I own just because they attract me whether they are practical or not. I don't collect as investments other than investing in my own enjoyment. I regret every firearm I have ever sold and especially those stolen from me. So if I use them or not I enjoy them and keep them. But I never buy junk guns and I have been blessed to have had many gifted to me.

 

[Rubone]

I just finished listing a gun for sale for the first time. I really don't want to sell it, but I don't need it. I have another gun that is not my favorite, but it's my only .40. I may trade that one day.

I personally really like .40s...But I ride 80 year old motorcycles too!

 

[Stefan A]

I personally really like .40s...

I don't mind that it's a .40. Just not that excited about the gun.

 

[Jimbo80]

I buy guns I like and never intend to sell them. Occasionally I buy guns that are too good a deal to pass on with the intent to flip or trade. I have most all of those too.

 

[bangswitch]

Most of what I own, I've accumulated in the last twelve years. I had just a half dozen rifles, shotguns and handguns total. I had sold two shotguns, two rifles and a handgun back in 2005; no real reason except that I hadn't been shooting very much, and a co-worker had been very interested in a S&W revolver I had. I'd owned it since 1978 and it was one I'd have preferred to keep, especially today, but I let them go. I regretted three of them immediately, and told myself I'd never sell another gun. I started getting more interested in shooting around 2010, and started picking up guns that interested me, plus I was reading about collectibles. So, my collection started growing, and I own about 30 firearms now. The only gun I've sold, after I told myself I wouldn't do it again, is a G20 I bought in 1992. I liked 10mm, but never warmed up to the Glock. When I sold it, I told myself I'd never buy another polymer-frame handgun. My handguns now are all JMB designed semiauto's, except for three Polymer guns I decided to keep, or revolvers. I'll not sell anything I presently own, but I may add to them.

 

[Tallball]

It has to function properly, fit my hands properly, I can shoot it accurately, etc. That means I probably like it and I will probably keep it.

I will only let it go if I somehow get hold of an extremely similar firearm that is obviously better.

For instance, I would be willing to trade my Gen X Glock towards a Gen Y Glock of the same model, if the Gen Y fit my hand better or had a better trigger or whatever. Why not?

On the other hand, I wouldn't trade my 357 Blackhawk, S&W Model 28, or Taurus Old Model 66, just because they're all 6" 357's. All three are special and good in their own ways.

 

[tubeshooter]

I tend to hold on to things, and like the OP I think at least some of it is rooted in how much of a pain it was to get a handgun in my state before concealed carry. Not impossible, but troublesome enough that I didn't make impulse buys.

Then you look at things like a simple .30-30 levergun or a 12 gauge pump that you never dreamed you would ever have a hard time securing 15 or 20 years ago, and here we are. Never know when something might become rare for whatever reason, and it can be hard to predict/see coming.

I know what I have is vetted and works. Although I'm not afraid to buy used, there's always a chance you are taking on someone else's old problem. Even NIB guns sometimes can have problems.


That being said, I do have a "bottom tier" of items that I might use for trade bait and that has come in handy a time or two...

 

[winfreeokra]

Have never sold any. There’s a couple that wouldn’t cause any heartbreak but they’re not in the way or hurting anything. If someone I knew wanted them then I would but no reason right now to actively pursue moving them along. I will probably send a M&Pc .40 down the road when I find its DA/SA replacement.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I have a core that I keep and wouldn't think of trading / selling. Some I've never shot.

I have others I've bought or traded for that are always available to sell or trade for again.

 

[Hikingman]

Some I purchased for investment to sell around retirement. They may be sold in a few years, according to plan.

 

[Jonesy814]

I have sold 3 or 4 guns, but I only sell a gun to help fund a better gun. A few years ago I sold a HiPoint 45 cap carbine and put the money towards a S&W 625.
I also traded a Buck mark and some cash for a S&W model 43 at a gunshow

 

[Pat Riot]

Generally, I hang onto my guns. The guns that are useful, fun, or that I just like. I have sold a few over the years and I have also given guns to family members. I have sold a few that I regret selling.

The one thing I do not do is impulse buy guns. Every gun that I have purchased that was a “Hey, I think this might be cool to own” purchase hasn’t worked out for me.

Another thing I do is research new guns that I want before buying snd if possible, test fire first. If I had done just a little research I wouldn’t have ended up with that piece of garbage Remington R51 that I bought “because it was designed in 1918 and it looks cool!”. Piece of crap!

Right now, I have all the guns I need, but not all that I want. No…no, I don’t have all the guns I need…scratch that.

 

[FL-NC]

In some cases. Now I have lots of guns that see little if any use.