Current thoughts on owning duplicate guns vs spare parts

[Steal2B]

Clint Smith oft talks about owning or even carrying duplicate guns and mentions
One is None
Two is One
Three is Better

In light of short supplies of late with guns, parts, supplies, and sanity ... what is your mindset now with shopping for spare repair / maintenance parts or even getting duplicates of your favorite or go to rifles, handguns, reloading equipment, parts, supplies etc.

Lately, I am tempted to follow a scorched earth policy but have had some restraint and only have a few duplicates, a few spring / maintenance kits, stock cleaning supplies like a first aid cabinet, obsessively buy mags when available on sale regardless of how many I have, I even have bought scarce ammo even if I don't run that caliber.

On another note, at first I kept stock in more than one location and in multiple states for convenience, now I also find comfort in that my eggs are not in one basket.

 

[Saltwater60]

I have been buying some extra parts. Even if nothing else it will save you money in the long run. Biden will make it illegal to buy parts and so will NYS. Get what you can.

 

[cgrutt]

Only gun that I intentionally bought two of for redundancy was the G23. Also have a G19 so I suppose there are three frames/related parts. Several 1022s lots of AR parts...

 

[repete]

Why buy parts for guns I lost while boating?

 

[fnfalguy]

Spare parts turn into duplicate guns when left alone.

 

[Robin]

I'm 100% sure 80% of my guns have spare parts.
Robin

 

[fnfalguy]

I mean, can you only imagine what could happen if you left these things unsupervised? Pure mayhem I’m sure.

 

[dsdmmat]

I have duplicated or triplicates of just about everything that goes bang Or slings an arrow. All are Slightly different, finish, grips barrel length, scopes, red dot or irons, but the base item is the same. “One is none, two is one“ is a theory I have always subscribed. When I was in the PRNY I had a straight pull bolt action AR for each fixed mag semi auto AR I Owned. Now that I am in a free state all but one of the straight pull bolt action ARs have been converted to semi.

the original reason for me to have triples of everything was so my kids and I could compete with each other on an equal equipment basis. This way if they won it was skill not equipment. It is expensive but a great way to encourage practice and skill building.

 

[Podmonkey]

Even if you do have duplicate firearms you should still have a supply of spare parts. Parts are far more portable, cost and space/weight efficient. Personally I try to avoid over duplication in my collection, I much prefer to invest the money I'd otherwise be spending on duplicates into ammunition and high quality optics.

 

[squib]

Question: If you bury a firearm will others grow?

 

[Robin]

I'll let you know this spring.
Robin

 

[Vapor]

Sometimes they are direct duplicates, sometiems they are duplicate in role.

 

[Robin]

Planting heritage stock this year. It's for the grandchildren.
Robin

 

[Podmonkey]

Question: If you bury a firearm will others grow?

I planted a few rounds of ammo a couple months ago...........

 

[spat]

Even if you do have duplicate firearms you should still have a supply of spare parts. Parts are far more portable, cost and space/weight efficient. Personally I try to avoid over duplication in my collection, I much prefer to invest the money I'd otherwise be spending on duplicates into ammunition and high quality optics.

The stuff that's most likely to break (pins, springs, etc...) happens to be the smallest, lightest, and cheapest too.

That's quite convenient.

Ideally you'd have a mix, multiple whole guns that share most of the same components, and a supply of the most commonly replaced components for those guns.

A couple Glocks and ARs and a few small parts kits for each for instance.

But variety is more fun, so I can't say I follow my own advice. I have a few guns that will interchange parts, and a few spare parts for those guns, but most of my guns are unique in my collection.