How has your collection of guns progressed by type,quality & use over the years

Garycw · Today, 02:07 PM

Just wondering how others collections have grown, changed, use , reloading and modifying.
I started out like some with BB guns. There seemed to always more times than not one in my hand starting around age 6. The old stand by Red Ryder, which I wore out after around 5000 rounds. Progressed to the trusty model 94 lever action which could load 10 from the resivior with slide mag for years. Then the pump 22 Remington and 20 ga. Ithaca for rabbits and squirrels. Many years later started collecting through trades various shotguns and pistols. Bought my first new Ruger security Six for $179 at LGS. Later picked up a Jennings j22 $65.
Then nothing for 30 years ?
In the last 10 I've gotten re interested and started buying again. First it was pocket guns, them full size pistols, then semi auto rifles. Cheaper the better. I was looking for quantity over quality. This was good because I like to tinker and change things. Then it was pump and semi auto shot guns. I wanted better quality but cheaper the better was the rule. I then went into the military surplus route and more modern high capacity rifles. Now it's the 1911's that have been calling. I used to think $200 -$300 was a good price to pay for Any gun even within the last few years. Now it seems $1000 is a bargain if its what you're looking for. I don't really hunt too much anymore but love to target shoot. I rarely ever sell guns, but love to buy them. It is an addiction.
How has your collection started, changed, evolved and used???

g.willikers · Today, 03:48 PM

Having never been either a collector or an accumulator, I've only acquired the ones necessary for a particular purpose.
For me, they're more like tools than objects of beauty.
And that has kept the numbers down but still at a useful level.
If one doesn't get used at all, and it's not likely be be, out it goes.
Rarely has it been missed.
If it's not presently being used, but might be, keeping it or not depends on whether another one would be a suitable substitute.
At times, it's been tempting to buy guns that are of no real use, just because they're neat.
But then I remember they need to be cared for, no matter how little use they get.
And that cools the ardor.
Next??

BarryLee · Today, 04:21 PM

I suppose the biggest change for me is that I very seldom get rid of a gun anymore. Some of that is motivated by regulatory concern and some simply by economics. Initially when I wanted a new gun I had to sell the existing gun to raise the funds, but thankfully that is no longer the case.

Although I do own some hunting rifles I no longer hunt, so most of my recent purchases have fallen into the area of CCW or home defense. Also, I have found myself getting more nostalgic recently, so I may end up focusing on revolvers and 1911s in the near future. However, I don’t really have any plan or set style, so I could end up with something totally off the wall next.

wayneinFL · Today, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Having never been either a collector or an accumulator, I've only acquired the ones necessary for a particular purpose.

So, that's what I am. I've never considered myself a collector. I am an accumulator.

Let me go tell my wife I've been diagnosed.

Jeremiah/Az · Today, 07:47 PM

My first gun was a Red Ryder, still have one, not my first tho. Then I got into single action revolvers & lever action rifles. Then big game rifles, had to have some of them. For the last 10 years, it has been shotguns. I still have most of those gun except for a theft along the way. I don't sell. Over 60 years of shootin' adds up to a lot of guns.

Today, 02:07 PM	#1
Garycw Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2011 Location: Ohio-Kentucky - florida Posts: 333	How has your collection of guns progressed by type,quality & use over the years Just wondering how others collections have grown, changed, use , reloading and modifying. I started out like some with BB guns. There seemed to always more times than not one in my hand starting around age 6. The old stand by Red Ryder, which I wore out after around 5000 rounds. Progressed to the trusty model 94 lever action which could load 10 from the resivior with slide mag for years. Then the pump 22 Remington and 20 ga. Ithaca for rabbits and squirrels. Many years later started collecting through trades various shotguns and pistols. Bought my first new Ruger security Six for $179 at LGS. Later picked up a Jennings j22 $65. Then nothing for 30 years ? In the last 10 I've gotten re interested and started buying again. First it was pocket guns, them full size pistols, then semi auto rifles. Cheaper the better. I was looking for quantity over quality. This was good because I like to tinker and change things. Then it was pump and semi auto shot guns. I wanted better quality but cheaper the better was the rule. I then went into the military surplus route and more modern high capacity rifles. Now it's the 1911's that have been calling. I used to think $200 -$300 was a good price to pay for Any gun even within the last few years. Now it seems $1000 is a bargain if its what you're looking for. I don't really hunt too much anymore but love to target shoot. I rarely ever sell guns, but love to buy them. It is an addiction. How has your collection started, changed, evolved and used???

Today, 03:48 PM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 2,725	Having never been either a collector or an accumulator, I've only acquired the ones necessary for a particular purpose. For me, they're more like tools than objects of beauty. And that has kept the numbers down but still at a useful level. If one doesn't get used at all, and it's not likely be be, out it goes. Rarely has it been missed. If it's not presently being used, but might be, keeping it or not depends on whether another one would be a suitable substitute. At times, it's been tempting to buy guns that are of no real use, just because they're neat. But then I remember they need to be cared for, no matter how little use they get. And that cools the ardor. Next?? __________________ Lock the doors, they're coming in the windows.

Today, 04:21 PM	#3
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 2,156	I suppose the biggest change for me is that I very seldom get rid of a gun anymore. Some of that is motivated by regulatory concern and some simply by economics. Initially when I wanted a new gun I had to sell the existing gun to raise the funds, but thankfully that is no longer the case. Although I do own some hunting rifles I no longer hunt, so most of my recent purchases have fallen into the area of CCW or home defense. Also, I have found myself getting more nostalgic recently, so I may end up focusing on revolvers and 1911s in the near future. However, I don’t really have any plan or set style, so I could end up with something totally off the wall next. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

Today, 07:47 PM	#5
Jeremiah/Az Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2009 Location: Az. Posts: 496	My first gun was a Red Ryder, still have one, not my first tho. Then I got into single action revolvers & lever action rifles. Then big game rifles, had to have some of them. For the last 10 years, it has been shotguns. I still have most of those gun except for a theft along the way. I don't sell. Over 60 years of shootin' adds up to a lot of guns.