Once you guys have been at it for 5 decades or more, get back to me. Need more money for guns? Sell the kids. 
. - dan
. - dan
Ballancing your gun collection against real life
- Thread starter Riflechair
- Start date
Since early days, old military guns were what caught my interest...I loved the Lee-Enfields, Garands, P-14 Enfields, FALs and the like...my first CF rifle was an M1 Carbine.
Now my interest has moderated quite a bit, although I'm loving my new Norinco shorty M14. After the LGR has finally had a stake driven through its heart, I plan to sell a bunch of my old safe queens and invest in a good varmint gun, and maybe a nice bolt-action .22. I've got a nice battery of hunting guns, and the few old warriors I keep will be enough.
It may not be true of everyone, but I find I have reached the age where having something for the sake of having it isn't really fun any more. If it doesn't fulfil a purpose, I'd rather not have it.
Now my interest has moderated quite a bit, although I'm loving my new Norinco shorty M14. After the LGR has finally had a stake driven through its heart, I plan to sell a bunch of my old safe queens and invest in a good varmint gun, and maybe a nice bolt-action .22. I've got a nice battery of hunting guns, and the few old warriors I keep will be enough.
It may not be true of everyone, but I find I have reached the age where having something for the sake of having it isn't really fun any more. If it doesn't fulfil a purpose, I'd rather not have it.
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Once you guys have been at it for 5 decades or more, get back to me. Need more money for guns? Sell the kids.
Maybe I should sell my son now while he is still cute and cuddly, I'm sure his value will decrease as soon as he starts talking back
Agreed. More in regards to reliability then any other.
Hence my becoming a Glock/M1A nutcase.....
They just will. That's why it's a lifelong hobby.
A 1911 was my choice when I started, now it's just what works and enables me to shoot better....which is what I REALLY wanted anyway.
I'm not there for a beauty pageant anymore, nor am I there to impress anyone with my SKILLS
Right around the corner. For me it's a revolver.
To be able to shoot with speed and accuracy up to my ability is my next thing.
After that it's skeet. Start competing and see what's what. Think I could be good at it.
After that, pistol competition with my Glock. Then, who knows. The only constant is that there will be a NEXT.
Same with all of us. I equate this sport with Golf (the love of my life).
Never ending, always involving, constantly changing and forever learning.
It's the chasing after perfection that you may never reach, but which pushes you to continue. If I could hit it perfectly every time I don't think I'd continue.
When we started our business I thought, if we could bill 1000 man hours/month that would be it. When we hit 1000, it became 3000, then 10000.....then it got boring and my interest was lost.
It's a healthy natural obsession. A thing that keeps you chasing till the day you die.
Without it, what's the point
I've gotten rid of a half dozen centerfires.
I now have a couple military guns (6.5x55, .303) and a few hunting rifles (.243, .257 Wby, .30-06, .300 WM), a pair of 12 gauge shotties (500 pump, Silver semi), and a pair of .22's (10/22, Cooey). Add a single pistol (1911) and I'm considering dumping more guns to replace them with more guns of higher quality. I find as I get older I have more of an appreciation for "better" stuff, including guns and scopes.
I don't need many guns and scopes, but I'd like to eventually pass on my collection to my own son and have him handle them with care and pride. I'll probably get rid of my Norinco and buy a Springer or Kimber and a Smith sixgun. I'll probably get rid of the military surplus and a few more centerfires and replace with a couple nice wood/blued and maybe a single beater stainless gun. Maybe eventually a CZ for a .22. Keep the shotguns as they are.
I now have a couple military guns (6.5x55, .303) and a few hunting rifles (.243, .257 Wby, .30-06, .300 WM), a pair of 12 gauge shotties (500 pump, Silver semi), and a pair of .22's (10/22, Cooey). Add a single pistol (1911) and I'm considering dumping more guns to replace them with more guns of higher quality. I find as I get older I have more of an appreciation for "better" stuff, including guns and scopes.
I don't need many guns and scopes, but I'd like to eventually pass on my collection to my own son and have him handle them with care and pride. I'll probably get rid of my Norinco and buy a Springer or Kimber and a Smith sixgun. I'll probably get rid of the military surplus and a few more centerfires and replace with a couple nice wood/blued and maybe a single beater stainless gun. Maybe eventually a CZ for a .22. Keep the shotguns as they are.
My collection has been evolving over time as well.
But my hunting practices have taken the biggest turn.
I have a two year old boy who keeps me busy.
This year my father passed away, and my mom is really needy now! I am so busy with her needs, its hard to find time to do anything.
Its hard to see!
Needless to say, my hunting is last priority.
Hopefully I will get more opporunity in the future.
My collection, has more small calibers now.
Arthritis in my shoulder governs that.
But my hunting practices have taken the biggest turn.
I have a two year old boy who keeps me busy.
This year my father passed away, and my mom is really needy now! I am so busy with her needs, its hard to find time to do anything.
Its hard to see!
Needless to say, my hunting is last priority.
Hopefully I will get more opporunity in the future.
My collection, has more small calibers now.
Arthritis in my shoulder governs that.
I still have my large heavy recoiling thumper rifles but I have found that I am enjoying hunting with T/C Contender single shot rifles far more as I get older.
This year I have hunted mostly with these rifles with either 308Bellm/375JDJ/45 Colt/45-70 barrels installed I am up to 10 barrels and 4 frames now these fill almost all of my big hunting needs now.
If I were to head into remote areas of BC I would grab my 300RUM or 375RUM in a heart beat though and leave the Contenders at home.
This year I have hunted mostly with these rifles with either 308Bellm/375JDJ/45 Colt/45-70 barrels installed I am up to 10 barrels and 4 frames now these fill almost all of my big hunting needs now.
If I were to head into remote areas of BC I would grab my 300RUM or 375RUM in a heart beat though and leave the Contenders at home.
i've found myself lucky in some ways and not in others , my wife and i have been together for 14 years were now 35 we have no children and at this point expect to have none our life is pretty good both have full time jobs and obviously have a lot of free time for things we like and want to do guns come and go through our house by both myself and my wife not umcommon to be buying selling or tradeing every couple of weeks, but at the end of it all who's there to get our guns when we're.
I occasionally think about selling most of my guns and spending the money on hunting, trouble is time is the limiting factor on my hunting so it wouldn't help.
Then I think I should do the same arms reduction and upgrade to a few highend pieces. That never seems to happen either.
Then I think I should do the same arms reduction and upgrade to a few highend pieces. That never seems to happen either.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
I've been thinking along simillar lines lately myself. There've actually been 'quite a few' acquisitions the last few years, especially rifles and handguns. My hunting has dropped off a little the last few years. For just me, my wife and a yellow dog, it doesn't take long to put enough game in the freezer to keep us satisfied for the year. In addition to hunting I still really enjoy owning, shooting and working up loads for a good variety of calibers. I hate to admit it but in the not too distant future, it'll be time to start downsizing the contents of the gun safe. There's still one more rifle I'd like to get but other than that, I think the acquiring has come to an end.
gunrunner100
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- NW Ontario
Sounds like you and I are of the same mindset Johnn. I have been offered the "Holy Grail" of my search, yet I'm almost afraid to buy it. What comes after? I can only hold it and shoot it, then I or my estate will have to let it go.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Sounds like you and I are of the same mindset Johnn. I have been offered the "Holy Grail" of my search, yet I'm almost afraid to buy it. What comes after? I can only hold it and shoot it, then I or my estate will have to let it go.
I know what you mean
. My favorite bolt action is the Schultz & Larsen and the 'Holy Grail' for me is the big three items of co-operation between Schultz & Larsen and Norma. The first two, the 7x61 S&H, and the 308 NM I have.
The last item of my 'quest' I spoke of earlier is a Schultz & Larsen in 358 NM. A while back I was offered and purchased a very nice Husqvarna model 1651 in that caliber
which will tide me over, at least until I find a Schultz.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
I had a plug in the buy & sell that I was looking for a Schultz in 358 NM. I had already turned down a couple offers on 358 NM by a couple of makers when this one was offered. I was going to turn this one down until I received a couple of pictures, then I weakened
.
In preperation for eventually getting a 358 NM, at a local gun show I lucked into seven boxes of 250gr Norma factory ammo and a set of dies. Since then I've picked up Norma unprimmed brass and a 'good' selection of bullets including 225gr Barnes TSX which is what I've settled on for hunting.
I've gone through the exact thing. I only want to own what I'm going to use and if I'm going to use it I want it to be exactly what I want. I'm on the hunt for a higher end bolt action .22 lr and a semi auto 20 gauge. I have liquidated alot of guns recently and aim to be down to 5 pieces that I use.
I have the money to buy guns, but time is my difficulty. I have guns that I have never fired. I shoot IPSC when I can (few times a year) and hunt (a few times a year), but my gun collection is so varied and diverse that I think I would classify myself as a collector that likes to shoot what he buys.
That being said, I have a large family and every parent knows that means delayed gratification. But we just bought a new Ski-Doo, so new guns will be a ways away.
That being said, I have a large family and every parent knows that means delayed gratification. But we just bought a new Ski-Doo, so new guns will be a ways away.
Balancing a gun collection against real life is a very interesting topic.
For me reality hit home when I quit working to have surgery and my income consisted of an Old Age Pension checque.
No way would that pay the bills and stretch far enough to feed my many toys.
Time to make some hard decisions and empty some gun safes.
Aside from the working guns / meat-getters, one still has to keep a couple "toys" though..... right ??
For me reality hit home when I quit working to have surgery and my income consisted of an Old Age Pension checque.
No way would that pay the bills and stretch far enough to feed my many toys.
Time to make some hard decisions and empty some gun safes.
Aside from the working guns / meat-getters, one still has to keep a couple "toys" though..... right ??
