Almost...gasp gasp...finished....

Glenfilthie

Glenfilthie

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How much ammo is enough ammo...?

I figured awhile back I would stock up on 22 and never bother with it again for a few years at least. I had a Ruger Single Six and a 10/22 and I practiced with them all the time - so I went out and bought 3 cases (CASES, not bricks - 15,000 rounds) - of Winchester Wildcats for practice. I figured if I was going to get ugly at a match I could always buy some serious target stuff.

That was 20 YEARS ago! I didn't realize how much ammo that actually was! In that time I have

- graduated from college and am well down a pleasant career
- raised a daughter and watched her move out
- bought and paid off my house
- expanded my gun collection to the point of silliness and pared it back to reasonable levels

I STILL have about 700 rounds left! And yeah, you can say what you want about Wildcats but they are good practice ammo! The gophers didn't like them and more than a few crows found them distasteful as well. I learned the tricks of the pistol trigger on it and gained skills that let me shoot the big ones like a pro.

The Rugers have pretty much been retired, I bought 'his' and 'hers' CZ's awhile back and they mostly sleep in the safe until the wife gets a hankerin' to do some shooting. I was pulling out my 308 the other day and saw them in their racks and thinking about all this and how a gun can serve as a milestone in your life. I realized with a shock that a growing number of my artifacts were getting old...and goddammitalltohell...I was now 'old'! How in blazes did THAT happen? Darwin must be getting sloppy! :)

I think I'll be taking a break this weekend and heading out with the wife and the dog for some serious plinking and maybe picnic with sammiches out in the woods... Maybe I will finish up more of that old stash of ammo too. Time for some new stuff...:)

See ya at the range next weekend boys.
 
Nice positive post. I'm currently stocking up on rimfire rounds as well (LR, WMR, and .17 hmr).altho I'm buying a bunch of different brand/types. haven't shot my cz 455 in about 8months to be honest but for some reason I feel the urge to stock up. Plus I'm just aching to buy a new gun (like the idea of the cz 512 in .22wmr, or maybe a thureon defence carbine in 45acp....) even tho I only have about 45 seconds of spare time on any given day lol. Anyhow, cheers.

Ps Glad life is working out for ya :) Mines on the right track so far aswell.
 
Great post. "Taking a break" for me would be NOT shooting and I do that sometimes. Less inclined to shoot 200-300 rounds a trip these days for some reason though (.22lr). I can do it so close to home at a family property but my in-laws are getting old..that won't last forever. When the time comes, it'll mean a range membership I'm sure and when I go, I'll make it count. Funny, too, as I grow older and look at my own collection. Some guns I thought I'd never part with start to look a little different. With the kind of year 2012 was, I think I'm starting to feel like too many possessions feels like a burden instead of a pleasure...as though I want to love every one use, and cast aside the dust collectors. You're right...maybe this is what "getting old" feels like...what the hell!!??! :)
 
riderrick said:
wondering how much difference there is between a reasonable and silly level of guns?
Click to expand...

For me Riderrick - that point came when I was heading out to the range and finding it a pain in the arse just to load the truck up with all the guns and ammo and crap.

When I started in this sport, a trip to the range meant a box of ammo, a rifle in the case with the ear muffs clamped to it and some targets.

Then I bought a stapler. Then another rifle. Then a pistol. Then another pistol. Rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat rinse and repeat! Then I got smart and bought one of those purpose-made range bags and thought I had her beat...and then I started buying again! Somehow I had to stuff all the ammo and the clips into that little bag and next thing ya know all the damn zippers broke and the damn thing weighed 35 lbs. And when I finally DID get to the range, I was there ALL day! Then I had to unload all that crap, clean it and put it away.

So I got smart again: I took good care of my guns and I figured that if I cleaned them once a month that was good enough. Then some in-laws passed on - and I inheritted another slug of guns. The family pleaded with me to take them and use them because it made them feel good to think their former owner's toys were being put to good use and were appreciated. Damn my soul to hell for saying it - but MORE goddamn iron in the safe. So I bought another safe. And another. Another relation passed and I got 4 more.

So think about this: I had damn near as many guns as Cabela's - and not nice new ones, I had quite a few old beaters that were boat anchors at best. I had more reloading die sets than P&D, more gun powder than Higgins, and more ammo than Canada Ammo!

I found myself wanting to go back to my youth when I could bungie a gun case to my motorcycle, ride out to the range and shoot my fill - and come home in time for chores and an afternoon with the BBQ and a beer. I wanted to go into my basement and be able to work in my shop without tripping over all the iron and accessories. Long story, short: I guess I got old!

It was time. You cannot imagine the emotional impact of it either. I sold a couple here on Gunnutz and gave a slug of them away to youngsters and friends to start out with. I am down to about a dozen now:

3 - .22's
2 - .45 ACP's
2 - 12 Bores
1 - .410
1 - 22 pistol
1 - 6.5x55
1 - .308
1- AR15

That's most of them...I think. Today I shoot the .308 and that's about it. Chit - I forgot my black powder guns!

1 - .44 cap n' ball
1- .54 Spaghetti Plains Rifle

Hmpffff. I guess the gun problem continues unabated! Anybody want to buy a slightly used CZ 550FS?

GAH! I am STILL out of contol...
 
You're not out of control until you have multiple belt-feds and design your cannon to fit in your car.

Oh wait....I'm there....

When a visit to the range involves multiple tripods and T&E sets, you're REALLY out of control.

:)

NS
 
To the OP, I share your sentiments. My eldest was married over the holidays, I turned 50 prior to that. I've given away 10 in the last year to local youth who are new to the sport.
I've found that we are just custodians of our firearms until we turn them over to the next in line.
 
Ya know what drove it home for me, Gunrunner?

When I was a kid I was up BEFORE the crack of dawn. I was just PUMPED to get out there and get at it. I rolled out of the fart sack, got the campfire going, I got eggs and bacon and coffee going for the old boys and when they rolled out at the crack of dawn they sat down to eat and chased me away to go hunt - and I felt kind of guilty running off to hunt while they got stuck with the chores. It was years before I realized that they didn't mind - and sometimes they didn't even go out once the dishes and camp chores were done - they sat around and drank coffee and talked of old times, cracked a beer as soon as legally possible...and had the time of their lives. When I rolled in shortly after dark they would always be lightly pickled and have steaks and mushrooms going and be into the whiskey. God, I miss them sometimes.

Last trip out the teenagers made ME breakfast, and scooted out with their groggy fathers to leave ME with the dishes.

When they were gone and I was left alone in the camp with a pile of dishes and a bottle of Cardhu...I got scrubbing, poured a big drink and drank a toast to absent friends. They later got a moose and two deer. I presided over cleaning the first two animals and the younguns did the last by themselves. They were a little rough with their cuts but they did a respectable job and I think the old boys would have approved of us. My friend's boy walked away from that trip with my beloved old Ruger No.1 in 25-06...and he earned it too! I was going to put it on the EE but it really makes be feel good knowing that rifle is headed afield next year with a strong young man that knows how to use it. Who will he pass it off to?

I am getting old but I am still in the game! I am merely playing a different position and I am good with that.
 
I too have toasted departed friends and cherished many memories, good and bad.
Many years ago, my good friend loved my rifle and would use it over his own, if given the chance. His eldest son now owns that rifle.
My fondest memory is from this year, opening day of bird season with my then 8 year old son. We walked and talked for miles, picked flowers and leaves for mommy.
Came home with 5 birds and the solemn promise that next year we can do it again.
 
hey Glenfilthie from a young kid (22) thanks, ive spent lots of time in the woods and learned many a skill from "the old boys" some ones got to teach us. giving some guns to people who are going to use them is a great thing to do.
 
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