Downsizing, Purging. What do you call it?

I let a pile go to auction. The junk made me money the good stuff..... well! I still have to many? but mostly they are varmint guns, some bench stuff and the odd big game rifle. I am sure some day I will have to let them go but unloading the cream of the crop will be tough.
 
Heh Heh Heh... wait until you get to my trader rating. Yup , less is more but I seem to always be cleaning out or off my shelves!

It’s good to remain organized and tidy. Feels joyful. Besides, someone else can further enjoy the goods. No doubt there exist many good memories, but that’s the joy. Create more memories to dispel all the dark and stupid moments we need to forget! :eek:

And that’s part of the reason I love this community! Dealing with excellent people on the EE forums is cool!

Peace Be The Journey! :wave:
 
About five years ago, I walked into my gunroom, went down the shelves, and thought back to when I used each rifle/shotgun last. I picked out the five or six that other people had asked me to sell them, and contacted those people and made deals. Then I took another fifteen or so that were being used the least, and hauled them to Prophet River for consignment. After a month or so, they were all sold, and I went down the shelves, and picked another dozen that weren't getting used, and they went to Prophet River for consignment. When they were sold, I purchased a nice used Grulla 28 gauge SxS, and a nice Grulla 16 gauge SxS to replace the Two AYA number 2s that I had. I also bought a Christensen Traverse in 6.5PRC, and a Swarovski scope. Finally, I purchased a nice used Kreighoff three barrel set for skeet, and a used Blaser F3 for sporting clays, and a Vudoo 22 for plinking at the range. Then my current clays and hunting shotguns , and 22lr went to Prophet River, and were sold. I still had some left over so I bought 60 flats of target loads for sporting clays. In the end, I had upgraded my shotguns and had about 30 less firearms, and had about $6k left over. Now I enjoy using my higher end shotguns, and I don't see unused firearms every time I walk into my gun room. I have actually gone over four years now without buying or selling a firearm, and I don't miss any.
 
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I tried to move a few out over the last month or so. But the empty spot in the vault did not look right so I then bought just as many back.
Have enough rounds loaded for hunting to last me the rest of my lifetime. Thought about selling components but I think I will wait a couple years and see how much shooting I do after I retire. The only draw back is I plan on moving up to our home in the prov park. So no more back yard range and no more gopher fields 5mins from home. Lots of fishing but not lots of shooting.
Don’t really need the money as long as I’m working. Thinking once I do a purge a nice new ATV will be in order.
 
I call it being practical. 5 or 6 years ago I decided to downsize my handgun collection simply because I wasn't using them and in retrospect that was a good move. Since then I've also been selling off long guns that I don't use, mostly rifles but a few shotguns too. My Weatherby collection went away a couple of years ago and while I had fun collecting them I don't miss them. The trouble is that I've also made some purchases so I'm not really reducing the stock much. I've had to get rid of some heavy kickers due to an old shoulder injury that came back to haunt me and I only have a .416 left to go. Lately I've been selling dies and brass that I don't use and never will, it's amazing the stuff that one acquires over time in trades and such.
 
I have no issues to downsize. I have a son and three grandsons, many of my firearms I've given to my son and some I sell. If they don't sell, I'll give them to my sons.
 
I know the day will come that I'll have to sell as I'm not getting younger. My boys aren't interested. I try and have my youngest get his PAL but just hasn't happen. My collection isn't no where near as others have mentioend but not looking forward to that day.
 
I’m generally of the notion to move stuff (not just this realm) if I’m not or have not used it over a 2yr span.

Last 3-4yrs, my idea was to “streamline” my collection to encompass a one Cal Dia for all my needs from Bench to field ie; 308, 30-06 & 300WM. Reality is.. I’m not much of a bench/target guy AND the three Cals are really redundant to one another and any of the three easily covers the “big three” here in Ont.

Never did put the 300WM in the fold due to COVID sticker shock/prices, but have been toying of moving my 700 HBV/Police lately.

One thing i’m not inclined to do is move optics, easier to store and not having to scramble to find something should I have a weak moment and put something else in the cabinet on a whim. Hence why I keep my Bushy 4500 Elite 3-9x40 and a Leupy FX II 4x, ya know.. just in case..

I know full well.. if any of these get moved the cycle will perpetuate yet again..
 
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I managed to reduce the inventory a few years ago, but (and there is always a but) have again rebuilt some of it back up. I am now again wondering what to get rid of, currently have 3 on consignment and looking at what will be next.
I just wish I could stop finding things that pique my interest.
Why do I need multiples of many calibers.
Closing in on 70 I've heard a phrase, "simplify before you die". Not that I'm planning on going anywhere in the near future but no one knows.
 
ShrtRnd said:
Last 3-4yrs, my idea was to “streamline” my collection to encompass a one Cal Dia for all my needs from Bench to field ie; 308, 30-06 & 300WM. Reality is.. I’m not much of a bench/target guy AND the three Cals are really redundant to one another and any of the three easily covers the “big three” here in Ont.
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I have four 30cals in the safe that are currently under scrutiny.

(1) 700 308 in a Brown Precision, (2) 700 30-06 in a Brown Precision, (3) 760 30-06 (20" bush gun) and a (4) 721 in 300H&H. There's a lot of overlap there. I can see the 308 and the 300H&H going and want for nothing with those two 30-06s.
 
I have been "down-sizing" as well, it would be more successful if I weren't "up-sizing" with other stuff at the same time... ultimately, I want to off load the stuff I don't use to stock up on the stuff I do use. The difficult part at this stage when it comes to firearms, is that I love all of the ones I have... so it hurts a little when I let one go. I have to think very carefully over all of the current and future plans, to be sure I won't be kicking myself in the azz over selling something off.
 
SuperCub said:
Yup ..... I've owned them all and have come to realize that less is more.
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I'm with you on that one.
- Years ago, I'd take enjoyment in having lots of stuff. Fast forward to recent years, I take enjoyment in using them... and just hoarding stuff is starting to bother me. Of course, having had hoarder-friends-family passing away and having to help clean up the stuff got me thinking "I don't want to be that guy"
 
I have a fair pile of guns, to put it mildly. Whenever I have a fleeting thought about “downsizing “, I get a queasy feeling in my gut, sort of like when I’ve done something wrong. I’ve owned some of my guns for close to 60 years. I have no sons, but I do have three Afrikaans boys who I call my “sons”, and they will readily accept any donations I have to offer from the pile.

I have to force myself to cut down. I sold two straight pull Steyrs the other day, both at reasonable prices. One I had owned for probably thirty years or more. It is not the least bit easy, and I definitely won’t be gloating when the flood gates do open. Years ago, I drove a semi sort of part time, hauling cattle to Winnipeg. I always got kind of shaky when I was getting close to the scales. I ran good equipment, never overweight. Just the way things went. Same when I start considering selling some of my guns.
 
I'm not getting any younger and that Turd took the last few years I could physically use my AR's. I'm hoping PP will get a majority and eventually will be able to sell my AR's at a reasonable price, if the Turd gets in again there will be no "buyback" so we will all be screwed out of thousands of $$$
 
It certainly is remarkable how we form lust for items that we don’t have and emotional attachments to inanimate objects that we own. These bonds are real and they’re strong. For many years I pursued newer, shinier, more attractive toys, used them enjoyed them, never fully satisfied, always looking to upgrade. Now well into my eighties, I realize that I’ve gone about as far as I can go and while enjoyment of my toys continues it is fading with opportunities to use them. Yes, I got out a few times for birds last year but deer, moose and elk are out of reach now and the goat, sheep, grizzly, caribou hunts are just a memory now. At this time in life all your pursuits, interests and abilities are winding down, it gives me pleasure to be able to pass my ‘treasures’ along for others to enjoy as I have. Getting old sucks, but it’s preferable to the alternative.
 
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