I'm thinking of clearing out the gun safes a bit, again. Anyone else do this?

[Leo]

Very few times in life I have sold a firearm and did not regret is later.

There was only one firearm I was glad to see go and it was an up scale, special order Semi auto H&K Shotgun that never was reliable and spent 4 plus months out for warranty repair more than once. unacceptable. I was glad to see that one go.

Pretty much everything else, I wish I still had, especially the ones you cannot buy anymore.

 

[Amishman44]

I've been thinnin' the herd lately, so to speak...selling off several items that have been unused (unfired) over the past 5+ years in order to free up a few $$ in order to get a few different toys. There're two items I would really like to be able to purchase and, of the one's that I am selling, the only criteria is that it is only those that I can replace later, down the road, if I were to so desire.

 

[Colt556]

I’ve tried and tried to whittle down my collection but every time I think of all the fun I’ve had shooting the weapons I lovingly wipe the weapon down and put it back in the safe. Anyone else suffer this phenomenon?

Yup

 

[indyk]

Iv’e been thinking this as well but how does one sell an AR these days w/o giving it away hehehe…

 

[Titanium700]

I don’t know but I’ll give you $10 for it sight unseen.

 

[Sigblaster]

Holy cow, I just realized it's been almost a year since I started this thread. In that time, I've sold off almost everyting that I wanted to sell. And I've taken my time and selected a few things to buy that I think will stay in my collection forever.

I've been reading more than commenting for months. So many perspectives, many of them matching mine. Some, not so much, and that's fine too. We're not all the same.

I don't carry regrets, it's not my habit, but I do understand how people feel that way about selling guns. There are some guns I've owned and sold, and I understand that they have appreciated in value, and I would have to pay more to own them again. No regrets for me, it's just the reality of the marketplace.

I used to buy guns and try them, and make my own evaluations, and keep and sell them as I saw fit. Now I'm more selective. I doubt I sell many more guns, but as spring and summer warm up, I'll probably start selling accessories and stuff.

 

[Tradesylver]

Spring cleaning here too. Sold a few pieces and have several more to go. Picked up several firearms from my father's estate and will never use, but they are taking up room in the safe so might as well find them a new home where someone else will enjoy them. The proceeds will be going to that dream rifle I've been well dreaming about for sometime. Anyway, I've got several non-firearm related items to sell and might as well list them here rather than FB market places or Craig's List. Looking back over the years of buying and selling, I don't have any regrets. Now I just got to get started listing stuff. Good post

 

[BiscuitsandGravy]

I’ve tried and tried to whittle down my collection but every time I think of all the fun I’ve had shooting the weapons I lovingly wipe the weapon down and put it back in the safe. Anyone else suffer this phenomenon?

For sure.

 

[Hookeye]

Having grown up in this stuff, been at it so long.....
am pretty bored/ tired of it.

Kids don't shoot/ hunt. Ive slowed way down.

 

[VERT]

Well the wife and I might have an opportunity to downsize homes about 6 years earlier than planned. If that happens I might be shedding pounds.

 

[doddg]

Been wanting to trim after splurging last year on some "special-to-me" .22LR handguns.
This past March peaked my total number of guns got to an all time high.
Been struggling to shave some off that number since I'm to the point I like what I've got.
But, 5 items over my "alleged maximum."

Sold a couple this week to friends asking to buy guns they knew weren't long term keepers.
Got 5 more on the "sell" list which would take me only 2 below my "maximum."
I know I'll never see 50% of my "maximum" again.
I'd be happy at 80% of my "maximum," but that is really going to hurt.

 

[LtScott14]

Every couple years, I look and evaluate what the full use of my collection is doing. Most are shooter class, meaning not new, not beat, clean and function fine.
Have a couple that are are no sells. Many reasons, but keepers.
Then I have the Movers. Good firearms, possible trade up and cash for a different model.
Sometimes an expense comes up unexpected, Movers go to trading block.
I don't go to Casinos, big $ vacations, or own expensive cars.
I work, spend time with family, go for breakfast with friends. I keep my wardrobe simple, and get what I need when it's due.
That allows me the option of buy, sell or trade my firearms as I desire.

 

[BP84]

I call it the “itch”. I scratch the itch when I buy a new gun. It goes through cycles. I’ll go through a buying cycle then a holding pattern, rarely I will sell one. But then the cycle starts all over.

 

[doddg]

Having grown up in this stuff, been at it so long.....
am pretty bored/ tired of it.

Kids don't shoot/ hunt. Ive slowed way down.

I wonder if I'm headed down that road.
Went to the range today and did not enjoy my time there.
Had 2 more guns to shoot but I didn't even bother.
Only shot 55 rds. total.

I knew I'd reach a point with the hobby that this would happen.
Don't know if today was an outlier.
Time will tell.

 

[ditcherman]

I wonder if I'm headed down that road.
Went to the range today and did not enjoy my time there.
Had 2 more guns to shoot but I didn't even bother.
Only shot 55 rds. total.

I knew I'd reach a point with the hobby that this would happen.
Don't know if today was an outlier.
Time will tell.

Meh.
Without the “bad” times or at least the “bleh” times, what would the good times be?

 

[BP84]

I wonder if I'm headed down that road.
Went to the range today and did not enjoy my time there.
Had 2 more guns to shoot but I didn't even bother.
Only shot 55 rds. total.

I knew I'd reach a point with the hobby that this would happen.
Don't know if today was an outlier.
Time will tell.

I will become interested in other hobbies for awhile and put 2A activities on the back burner. I will slow down on shooting and stop buying for awhile. Then the cycle comes back around and I start shooting more and buying again. It happens over and over again but I always come back and the collection always grows.

 

[Remington 90T]

At 71, sold of 38 of my trap shotguns I had accumulated over the years. just over $138,000 -- Did that after a good friend passed away and his kids dumped his collection for twenty cents on a dollar before I could talk to them.

 

[BP84]

At 71, sold of 38 of my trap shotguns I had accumulated over the years. just over $138,000 -- Did that after a good friend passed away and his kids dumped his collection for twenty cents on a dollar before I could talk to them.

I will have all mine put in a separate casket and buried with me before I let my kids liquidate them for pennies on the dollar.

 

[VERT]

I will have all mine put in a separate casket and buried with me before I let my kids liquidate them for pennies on the dollar.

When I croak all my guns go to my son. He likes guns. He can keep what he wants and whatever else he can do with as he pleases. My guess is a couple of texts to my friends and those will be gone.

 

[223 Gunner]

Having grown up in this stuff, been at it so long.....
am pretty bored/ tired of it.

Kids don't shoot/ hunt. Ive slowed way down.

This is exactly how I have been feeling for the past couple of years. Although I did actually make it to the range this past weekend and had a great time. I was a little worn out getting all my gear loaded, making sure not to forget anything, packing a cooler and grabbing snacks as my range is an hour south of my house.

Anyway, there are very few new guns that excite me these days. My 3 kids have a very mild interest at best. My oldest Daughter just sees dollar signs as far as my collection goes.
My Son who is our middle child, he has a couple of nice FN pistols. One of which I purchased and gave him as a Birthday present as well as a mid-tier AR. Him and my youngest Daughter are only 2 years apart, they are closer in age, and not so money driven. My youngest is the sentimental type, and she is my primary shooting buddy out of all 3 of them. She has told me many times which ones she wants and for me to never sell them.

I do have some that I could part with, the market isn't a sellers market right now, and for now I am fortunate to not be broke and need to sell any.
So I will hang on to them for now, but the "spring clean" bug has bitten me and I am selling some of my other collections of stuff on ebay.
As much as I hate to support ebay, stuff will eventually sell. It's been feast or famine on ebay as of late. But it does feel good to get something sold and shipped.
I have been good about not replacing anything that sells with other items.

The goal is to downsize what I own. My wife and I are about 8 years away from retirement. We have a large house for the two of us (empty nesters), and when the housing market is better, we will look at selling and downsizing to a smaller home. We could make a nice sum for our current house, but we would have to pay a nice sum for a new house.
And by starting now to sell stuff off, hopefully when we move, it will be to our final home. And I don't want to drag a bunch of stuff that sits in totes when we do finally move.