Do you baby your guns? - Page 3

ronl · February 18, 2013, 03:50 PM

I don't really baby my guns, but I do take care of them. Only guns I baby are my 1943 95% Lend-Lease Colt 1911A1 and my '43 Garand. The other weapons I own are tools and they get used.

Drhc116 · February 18, 2013, 04:05 PM

NOPE. Use and Abuse. Clean then oil. and Repeat

Aaron1100us · February 18, 2013, 04:08 PM

The only guns I baby are my Arsenal SLR-101S, 1962 Seneca Green Nylon 66 and my Dragunov Tiger. The rest I still take good care of but don't mind if they get dirty or rained on. Don't want scratches on any of them. I want them all to be nice for when my Son inherits them and for his kids to inherit them.

Achilles11B · February 18, 2013, 04:33 PM

I wouldn't say I baby them. I find the grey area between the 'tools, not treasure' and 'I busted my ass to build/buy these, I want them to last me a long, long time' mindsets.

SPEMack618 · February 18, 2013, 05:16 PM

Some get "babied", others do not.

The tale of two duck guns...

My Grandpa's Sportsman 58, which according to my Gun Trader's Guide is worth about $700 bucks gets used very gently, and the one time it actually went in a duck swamp, I was very careful with it, and cleaned it very well when I got back.

My Benelli Super Black Eagle II, worth about a $1000 or so, gets beat around hard, it is a working gun.

It's all about perspective.

reynolds357 · February 18, 2013, 08:17 PM

I have "safe" guns and "truck" guns. The "safe" guns mainly get left in the safe and the "truck" guns get treated like the tools that they are.

FairWarning · February 20, 2013, 02:03 AM

I do baby my scoped bolt guns, but that's mostly because of the scopes! I am more casual with my iron sight guns and very relaxed in fact with the SKS (no eggshells to worry about, it can take it).

tahoe2 · February 21, 2013, 02:19 AM

I hunt, therefore the use can be harsh, I live in Western Washington, that means rain, snow, dirt & dust etc..
Then when we get home, they get the spa treatment and put in the safe happy, knowing they gave their all and were rewarded for their deeds.

Justice06RR · February 21, 2013, 03:59 AM

Yep, I baby my guns to an extent. I'm not OCD on cleaning them after each range use, but I do maintain them and make sure they are lubed and in good working order.

stubbicatt · February 21, 2013, 10:41 AM

Sort of like a new car. Until that first door ding in a parking lot, I am so concerned of a scratch or dent on my new firearms that taking them to the range is almost cause for anti anxiety medication! After the first time they get a hickey on them, the anxiety is gone, and I have progressively less and less of an issue just using them.

Meeteetse · February 22, 2013, 05:42 PM

Do I baby them, absolutely! Do I use them, of course and they are well taken care of. Never bought a gun I wouldn't use. No safe queens at my house, but no abused ones either. Half the fun is using them and then taking care of them.

defcon · March 11, 2013, 02:11 AM

Yes especially when my dad is pushing my .22's on my baby stroller

Constantine · March 11, 2013, 08:21 AM

^^^ that's awesome. Pops took it to a whole new level lol.

jimbob86 · March 11, 2013, 08:53 AM

Quote:

They're tools not treasures.

Though mine are tools, I treat them better than some of of my other tools.

"Some tools are more equal than others."

Saltydog235 · March 11, 2013, 10:49 AM

I keep my nice guns looking nice but I do shoot them. Sort of depends on what and where I'm hunting on what I decide to take.

Heck, I take care of my synthetic guns but I use them harder than my wood stocked counterparts. Things last longer and have better resale when they are taken care of.

curmudgeon1 · March 11, 2013, 09:38 PM

'Babying' is such a relative term. I shoot once a week (usually 2 guns) and field strip and clean the guns within a day or two every time. Now, detail strip cleaning is another matter, that I very seldom do; just don't have the patience for it, so from that standpoint, I'd have to say no, I don't baby 'em. ymmv

4thPoint · March 12, 2013, 12:55 AM

After serving in the 82nd Airborne and doing fifteen years in the service...No. I take them out in the rain, the snow, the sand and surf. They get thrown in with other guns in the trunk.

I DO baby the bores and internals, cleaning is one of the fun things I do with them (besides shooting, 'natch.)

Quadpod88 · March 12, 2013, 01:05 AM

I baby my guns. I may take them out into rough conditions and beat them up a bit, but when I'm through I give them the equivalent of a bubble bath. And once a month I do the same whether I've shot them or not.

MA45XP · March 12, 2013, 03:25 AM

Mine are almost all ex service rifles, and as such are treated with the respect a seasoned veteran deserves. I do however shoot every one of them, except this one..... unfired from the factory proof

Yes, it gets very babied!

mrbatchelor · March 12, 2013, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breakingcontact

They're tools not treasures.
[...]
I don't abuse them, but yes, I'll shoot in the rain, magazines get ejected onto the marching surface.

While I do have a couple of family antique pieces that have infinite sentimental value but very little real street value, the rest of them are just tools like you say.

Sure, I don't purposely abuse them them. Sure, I clean them properly and take care of them. But I use them as designed, and I expect them to do their job.

I have a hard hat hanging in my office with a big gash in the side that was my "favorite" hard hat for 20 years. Until one day it did its job. My head doesn't have a gash in the side. I was upset about losing my favorite hard hat for about 15 minutes, but I figured out that it's a tool.

Tools have a job. Treasures have a place as well, but it's a different place.

Come and take it. · March 12, 2013, 10:17 AM

I had a springfield armory m14 once that I was afraid to scratch. I didn't keep it very long. If I have to worry about putting a scratch on my gun I don't need it.

February 18, 2013, 04:08 PM	#53
Aaron1100us Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2011 Posts: 206	Re: Do you baby your guns? The only guns I baby are my Arsenal SLR-101S, 1962 Seneca Green Nylon 66 and my Dragunov Tiger. The rest I still take good care of but don't mind if they get dirty or rained on. Don't want scratches on any of them. I want them all to be nice for when my Son inherits them and for his kids to inherit them.

February 18, 2013, 04:33 PM	#54
Achilles11B Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Posts: 588	I wouldn't say I baby them. I find the grey area between the 'tools, not treasure' and 'I busted my ass to build/buy these, I want them to last me a long, long time' mindsets. __________________ Good equipment will never be a substitute for good training.

February 18, 2013, 05:16 PM	#55
SPEMack618 Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2010 Location: Boy Scout Camp Posts: 1,261	Some get "babied", others do not. The tale of two duck guns... My Grandpa's Sportsman 58, which according to my Gun Trader's Guide is worth about $700 bucks gets used very gently, and the one time it actually went in a duck swamp, I was very careful with it, and cleaned it very well when I got back. My Benelli Super Black Eagle II, worth about a $1000 or so, gets beat around hard, it is a working gun. It's all about perspective. __________________ "Growing up as both a Southern and the son of a child of the '50s, I was imprinted with several things that have long stuck with me. The F-86 Saber Jet was the finest fighter ever flown, the National League is always superior, and Leslie Coffelt was the finest revovler shooter since Mr. Ed."

February 20, 2013, 02:03 AM	#57
FairWarning Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 695	I do baby my scoped bolt guns, but that's mostly because of the scopes! I am more casual with my iron sight guns and very relaxed in fact with the SKS (no eggshells to worry about, it can take it). __________________ 1944 Mauser byf K98 8mm, K31 7.5 x 55 Swiss, Rem M700 Classic 8mm, 1920s Colt New Service .45 LC, Browning Hi-Power and HK P7 in 9mm, SAIGA .308 22", SKS 7.62x39mm, S&W 686 Plus 6" and Taurus 617 2" in .357 Mag, Ruger MkIII Target 5.5" BB .22LR, Mossberg 500 & Marlin 120 in 12 GA, etc.

February 21, 2013, 02:19 AM	#58
tahoe2 Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2011 Location: Seattle area Posts: 388	use / not abuse I hunt, therefore the use can be harsh, I live in Western Washington, that means rain, snow, dirt & dust etc.. Then when we get home, they get the spa treatment and put in the safe happy, knowing they gave their all and were rewarded for their deeds.

February 18, 2013, 03:50 PM	#51
ronl Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Posts: 665	I don't really baby my guns, but I do take care of them. Only guns I baby are my 1943 95% Lend-Lease Colt 1911A1 and my '43 Garand. The other weapons I own are tools and they get used.

February 18, 2013, 04:05 PM	#52
Drhc116 Member Join Date: April 26, 2012 Posts: 47	NOPE. Use and Abuse. Clean then oil. and Repeat

February 18, 2013, 08:17 PM	#56
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 884	I have "safe" guns and "truck" guns. The "safe" guns mainly get left in the safe and the "truck" guns get treated like the tools that they are.

February 21, 2013, 03:59 AM	#59
Justice06RR Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 933	Yep, I baby my guns to an extent. I'm not OCD on cleaning them after each range use, but I do maintain them and make sure they are lubed and in good working order.

February 21, 2013, 10:41 AM	#60
stubbicatt Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Posts: 810	Sort of like a new car. Until that first door ding in a parking lot, I am so concerned of a scratch or dent on my new firearms that taking them to the range is almost cause for anti anxiety medication! After the first time they get a hickey on them, the anxiety is gone, and I have progressively less and less of an issue just using them.

February 22, 2013, 05:42 PM	#61
Meeteetse Member Join Date: January 1, 2012 Location: Wyoming - Texas Posts: 38	Do I baby them, absolutely! Do I use them, of course and they are well taken care of. Never bought a gun I wouldn't use. No safe queens at my house, but no abused ones either. Half the fun is using them and then taking care of them. __________________ All it takes for tyranny to succeed is for good men to do nothing.

March 11, 2013, 02:11 AM	#62
defcon Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 151	Yes especially when my dad is pushing my .22's on my baby stroller

March 11, 2013, 08:21 AM	#63
Constantine Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 4,088	Do you baby your guns? ^^^ that's awesome. Pops took it to a whole new level lol.

March 11, 2013, 10:49 AM	#65
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 956	I keep my nice guns looking nice but I do shoot them. Sort of depends on what and where I'm hunting on what I decide to take. Heck, I take care of my synthetic guns but I use them harder than my wood stocked counterparts. Things last longer and have better resale when they are taken care of.

March 11, 2013, 09:38 PM	#66
curmudgeon1 Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: n.e. ohio Posts: 523	'Babying' is such a relative term. I shoot once a week (usually 2 guns) and field strip and clean the guns within a day or two every time. Now, detail strip cleaning is another matter, that I very seldom do; just don't have the patience for it, so from that standpoint, I'd have to say no, I don't baby 'em. ymmv

March 12, 2013, 12:55 AM	#67
4thPoint Junior Member Join Date: August 28, 2012 Posts: 5	After serving in the 82nd Airborne and doing fifteen years in the service...No. I take them out in the rain, the snow, the sand and surf. They get thrown in with other guns in the trunk. I DO baby the bores and internals, cleaning is one of the fun things I do with them (besides shooting, 'natch.)

March 12, 2013, 01:05 AM	#68
Quadpod88 Member Join Date: February 28, 2013 Posts: 62	I baby my guns. I may take them out into rough conditions and beat them up a bit, but when I'm through I give them the equivalent of a bubble bath. And once a month I do the same whether I've shot them or not. __________________ *God made all men, but it was Sam Colt who made them equal.*

March 12, 2013, 10:17 AM	#71
Come and take it. Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 997	I had a springfield armory m14 once that I was afraid to scratch. I didn't keep it very long. If I have to worry about putting a scratch on my gun I don't need it.