Ever notice how many shotguns are new and "never been fired"?

[3macs1]

It is the difference between people who like to OWN guns and people who like to USE guns. The former are satisfied just owning them and often their guns become ornaments with the same degree of utility as a Royal Doulton figurine. Meanwhile those of us who see guns as a means to an end enjoy using them more than owning them.

Not true for all cases I like to own them and shoot them. Small example I own four 870 28ga wingmasters. I use two on a regular basis so why should I fire the other two that are new never fired. So my collecting is covered as well as my need to shoot one. In fact many new guns I have bought and saved over the years I buy two of originally for that reason
To each their own
Cheers

 

[caramel]

This is a way of life, i do this with firearms, but also with chainsaws, i have 21 of them 7 that i used all the times, 6 (never add gaz in them) that i showcase in my tool room and 8 that are not even unboxed, like it was said, to each their own... JP.

 

[Bland]

One is never enough, that is the collector's dilemma. I use my guns but I truly only need two. A 22 for goofing around and my 16ga double for birds because that is what I enjoy most. But I am a collector. I try to collect 'stuff' which has a purpose but often it is just because. I do not get too deep into the self-analysis because it would probably take the fun out of it. My favourite shows being "American Pickers" (the Canadian Pickers is all reruns now) and Pawn Stars will probably indicate where I am coming from. Bought my Savage 24 off a guy in the 80's, his Dad bought it for him and he had shot ~10 times in the preceding 20 some years. I traded my 10/22 Ruger which was my only gun for many years and regret it to this day. I was not using it but it held many memories for me. Being gun poor for many years (the usual mortgage,kid responsibilities taking precedence) I am making up for it in my retirement. BNIB is often an impulse buy, conversely there are those who like guns and buy them as an investment. Way more fun than a GIC.

 

[the spank]

I got out of the collecting element and now only have those I use and a couple sentimentals I rarely use but just can't part with(family heirlooms).

 

[3macs1]

This is a way of life, i do this with firearms, but also with chainsaws, i have 21 of them 7 that i used all the times, 6 (never add gaz in them) that i showcase in my tool room and 8 that are not even unboxed, like it was said, to each their own... JP.

Are we brothers LOL
Christ the only thing I have one of is the mrs LOL and they are her words
Honda snowblowers for me, think I have 7 now and one to rebuild and vintage troy tillers another 6 there plus a couple to rebuild and big block chev engines & muncies etc too many to count there
Cheers

 

[Claybuster]

Not true for all cases I like to own them and shoot them. Small example I own four 870 28ga wingmasters. I use two on a regular basis so why should I fire the other two that are new never fired. So my collecting is covered as well as my need to shoot one. In fact many new guns I have bought and saved over the years I buy two of originally for that reason
To each their own
Cheers

It's not an either/or situation. It's quite possible to be both a collector and a shooter and I'm strongly on the user side of the equation. I've had a variety of 870s over the years in various gauges and configurations including the 28 gauge but now have only one 870 in 12 gauge. Much of my own interest in addition to shooting is learning first hand what I prefer and what works best for me. Keeping the ones that didn't make the grade or guns for which I no longer have a specific use doesn't interest me.

Definitely to each their own but as was discussed in another thread when you get to the point of spending money to but another safe to store guns you aren't using you probably have more guns than necessary.

 

[Donny Fenn1]

Amazing why would anyone buy something and never use it, that is like dating and never test driving her.

Geez, that's happened to me more than I'd like to admit.

 

[VICIOUS]

HI; There was a gentleman years ago that bought new Winchesters for future retirement money, he made out just fine.

 

[sam burton]

I bought a 12g just because it came with a rifled slug barrel, then wondered why the heck I needed another shotgun, especially one with a rifled slug barrel?
So I traded it, unfired, for a rifle I am not sure I will get a chance to fire.

 

[dand883]

It is the difference between people who like to OWN guns and people who like to USE guns. The former are satisfied just owning them and often their guns become ornaments with the same degree of utility as a Royal Doulton figurine. Meanwhile those of us who see guns as a means to an end enjoy using them more than owning them.

I imagine this is closer to reality than many would admit. I remember reading about how thinking about doing something nice for someone gives people the same sense of satisfaction as actually doing something good for someone, so you eventually get a bunch of people who intend to do good things, but never actually do.

That being said, it's hard not to think of a new intended use for a shorter/longer/bigger/smaller/lighter/heavier/different gun than you already have.

Back to the topic at hand, I've personally had times where something sounds good on paper, good reviews, excellent in every way... until you actually hold it and it doesn't fit you well at all, so why use it just to say you did and lower the value when you do try to sell it for the next best thing?

 

[3macs1]

It's not an either/or situation. It's quite possible to be both a collector and a shooter and I'm strongly on the user side of the equation. I've had a variety of 870s over the years in various gauges and configurations including the 28 gauge but now have only one 870 in 12 gauge. Much of my own interest in addition to shooting is learning first hand what I prefer and what works best for me. Keeping the ones that didn't make the grade or guns for which I no longer have a specific use doesn't interest me.

Definitely to each their own but as was discussed in another thread when you get to the point of spending money to but another safe to store guns you aren't using you probably have more guns than necessary.

One could spend their money on a lot worse things and have nothing to show for it. What I read here is where I will probally be at 80 I hope with respect to shotguns. The excitement of a new gun is gone, as is gathering and collecting them, my focus is money or maybe lack of it and I've been there ,done that and have the t-shirt with respect to firearms
Seriously what is necessary most of us could do it all with one maybe two guns if we thought like you are now. I know I could
Glad you still have a wingmaster and you are happy with that just like I am glad/happy I still have 23 of them They cost me nothing to be in the safe and if I get to the point we need some extra cash they will take care of that or some of it
Plus someone had to keep a few vintage wingmasters original from the chop shops of today
Cheers

 

[sillymike]

Amazing why would anyone buy something and never use it, that is like dating and never test driving her.

For the same reasons someone might have multiple bottles of scotch that have yet to be open...
- Impulse buy
- Deal that couldn't be passed-up
- Not enough time in the day
- Have other guns that serve the same purpose, that you like better...

 

[heronfish]

Having a wingmaster unfired is a lot like a undriven Chevrolet Cavalier. Doesn't make a lot of sense from any angle.

 

[dilly]

The main reason I don't have unfired guns is that I rarely buy new guns. I have only ever bought 3 new guns from a store. In each case I couldn't wait to try them. All my other guns have been used. Some of them are essentially part of a collection or heirlooms. Even those guns though, I have either shot or used it until I killed what it was intended for to validate it for me. I have even shot Grandpa's war "bring backs". That's just me...

 

[dogzilla]

Two words, impulse buy. I bought a 40yr old 20gauge Remington 870 still in the box with grease on the bolt and the label on the trigger. That was why I bought it, and then realized I had absolutely no use for it and sold it the same way.

 

[Aniest]

One big thing I'd like to add is that there is one big difference between buying a shotgun and a rifle: the stock of the shotgun.

Many shotguns are set to a "generic" settings for fit, but often those generic settings don't work for everyone. Many people buy shotguns off of the Internet by mail order and may find out that the shotgun does not fit them, often meaning the sight picture is wrong and they can't hit anything with it. I know I had a couple of shotguns until I decided to go to every gun shop in or around Edmonton and actually shoulder every gun I could find. I would never advise anyone to buy their only shotgun, one they plan to use a lot, without shouldering it and trying it.

Just to show how much the stock matters when choosing a shotgun, here is a reference sheet for measurements I found on the Internet:

 

[3macs1]

Having a wingmaster unfired is a lot like a undriven Chevrolet Cavalier. Doesn't make a lot of sense from any angle.

It is one of the shotguns I have always sold for more than I paid especially now with the prices good vintage ones are selling for. Just wish I would have taken every one when they could be had for $150 or so
Cheers

 

[Rod]

15 years ago or more I bought an unfired, unused Model 12 Winchester, 12 ga, 28", Mod. . It still has the grease on the action the factory assembled it with.

It was purchased new in 1961-62 and relegated to the rear of a storage closet. . I have plenty of other M12's so it remains unfired and unused.

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense but what the hell.

 

[heronfish]

It is one of the shotguns I have always sold for more than I paid especially now with the prices good vintage ones are selling for. Just wish I would have taken every one when they could be had for $150 or so
Cheers

If all you've done for decades is just barely get your money back while not getting any enjoyment from it, you've lost your shirt given inflation. If you had chosen to collect something unique or high grade it's a different ballgame.
Nothing from the hardware store is worth collecting dust.

 

[caramel]

If all you've done for decades is just barely get your money back while not getting any enjoyment from it, you've lost your shirt given inflation. If you had chosen to collect something unique or high grade it's a different ballgame.
Nothing from the hardware store is worth collecting dust.

Some peoples have to understand that owning firearms is never about money, i have decided to keep my 8x7400 REM not because i could get 5K for the lot but because upond advice of knowlodgeable member, i have a unique collection even if the are consider GM cavalier... JP.