Seriously thinking of downsizing

[Saltwater60]

Yeah with the humidity in this place I like to touch everything at least once a year. As a bonus it helps me keep track of what I have and where it is. Everything gets cleaned when it leaves the house and once a year everything gets cleaned. A routine I developed a long time ago, I have no reason to stop while I am still physically able to do so.

I do the same. Every winter I go through and look at everything in my gun safe. I pull it all out to organize, and count what’s in there. I do a quick oiled rag wipe down of all weapons used or not that year. Sadly this year I didn’t use much because of ammo prices.

 

[71velle]

You have some thinking to do my friend....

IMO look through you collection and determine which ones are not special to you, the ones that if they disappeared you wouldnt feel you would need to replace. Not knowing how big your collection is, but start small. List 1 or 2 at a fair price and see what happens.

A buddy of mine went through the same thing, he had over 50 handguns. He sold/ traded some away 1-2 at a time and is no down to about 35. Now he is at a point to where there is only a couple he feels he would be ok parting with, and the others he really likes and would not want to part with. I think over time he will thin the heard a bit more and I advised him not to be in a hurry. Nothing worse than selling something to find out you want to buy it again.

 

[1075tech]

Now I’m working on looking at items I haven’t shot in 5 years....

Some items haven't been taken out and shot since 2013

 

[Bustedknees]

When my grandfather died my father gave away 3 of his guns to the guys that have met up at hunting camp for decades. I did the same when my dad died. I thinned the collection further ten years ago. Many were from my dad and gramps but they were just low end, or I had doubles of, and others I just never liked. I figured why not trade for something on my wish list and upgrade the collection.

 

[Bustedknees]

just a thought, not sure if a retired military man has the time or patience for...
find a kid or kids to sponsor at the local club.

 

[Mk44]

It sounds like you have a LOT of guns to go through.
Try to figure out a method that would work for you.
Maybe pick out and set aside the guns that you enjoy shooting, that shoots well, that's rare, or you feel emotionally attached to. Set aside the guns that you will pass on to your kids/ family/ friends.
Then make a pile of guns that you seldom use/ don't use. And ask yourself do I really need this/ that? Maybe sell it to fund other accessories like a high-end scope, binoculars, night vision, tools, boat, a vacation? idk...

I knew a guy that had a best friend that passed away unexpectedly. The wife told him "I know my husband would have wanted you to have his guns." He felt guilty taking them and told her he did not need all the guns. So he picked a couple that he wanted and helped her sell the rest.

I've brought a gun or two from a member (another forum) that was also selling for a friend's family that passed away.

If you feel you have a lot, then it might be a good idea to down size.

 

[dsdmmat]

Well since you have to start somewhere, I have arbitrarily picked a number to reduce the collection. By setting a number it gives me a goal to meet and will set the standard for the ones which will definitely be kept.

 

[dsdmmat]

just a thought, not sure if a retired military man has the time or patience for...
find a kid or kids to sponsor at the local club.

No local clubs here. The ranges around this place are for profit places. There is a kid up in the North Country which I used to help out at range and shoot with me quite a bit. He will most likely get a gun or two as time passes but right now he is off on an adventure where he cannot have guns with him.

 

[FLA45fan]

I did this once . . . when I moved back to NY. I have started again this year after I too lost a lifelong friend. We promised each other to help sell off the other's guns, ammo, and stuff after they passed. He had a lot of crap guns that I am still trying to get rid of months after his passing. The best of them are gone (I bought two of them for me and his wife gave me a couple for helping sell of the collection.) I've got duplicates of some that I don't need but were bought "right" that I should keep . . .

 

[Bustedknees]

No local clubs here. The ranges around this place are for profit places. There is a kid up in the North Country which I used to help out at range and shoot with me quite a bit. He will most likely get a gun or two as time passes but right now he is off on an adventure where he cannot have guns with him.

@Gonzobird is one big kid !

 

[dsdmmat]

@Gonzobird is one big kid !

Actually it is a local kid I met at the range one day about 5 years ago. He helped do maintenance at the range. His father would drop him off at the range to help me do maintenance, I wrote him letters to cover his volunteer hours he needed for High School Graduation. Good kid and a hard worker. got to teach him a bit of stuff about shooting and life in general. Now he is getting married and will be off to Hawaii with his new wife as she starts her career in the military.

 

[nortatoga]

I have been also thinking of downsizing some, I kind of started today (Well not really) I traded off a rifle that I had not used in years for one that I will get a lot of use from!!

 

[dsdmmat]

Think I have identified the initial lot which I am ready to part with. Now I am researching price, and the venues I am going to list them. There are two gun stores down here which do consignment and one that will only buy. My range will do consignment and free transfers if I list them on line at gun broker or here.

 

[Bustedknees]

I'd like to see the list if you chose to sell here.

 

[dsdmmat]

I'd like to see the list if you chose to sell here.

Yeah I will making a list soon enough. It is going to be a very long list. And everything I list here has to be NY compliant

 

[Bustedknees]

You are still a part time NYer ?
If so its legal to transport and sell here ?

 

[Vapor]

I also subscribe to the 2 is one philosophy, but I've kept my collection smaller.


I have multiples of utilitarian type stuff. Multiple SD rifles, multiple HD shotguns, but I keep it slim on any "toys".

For instance, I only have two lever actions, and a few bolt action hunting rifles. All in common us calibers.


I sold off all my commie guns and milsurps. They were just another caliber to stock, or didn't perform well for my purposes other than to look historical (modern scope bolt action beat my Enfields and mosins in ever way)

I plan to keep it this way until I get into pistols.

 

[dsdmmat]

You are still a part time NYer ?
If so its legal to transport and sell here ?

I still have a pistol license but no longer a resident, everything has to go through a dealer in NY anyway so that part is a wash.

 

[dsdmmat]

I also subscribe to the 2 is one philosophy, but I've kept my collection smaller.


I have multiples of utilitarian type stuff. Multiple SD rifles, multiple HD shotguns, but I keep it slim on any "toys".

For instance, I only have two lever actions, and a few bolt action hunting rifles. All in common us calibers.


I sold off all my commie guns and milsurps. They were just another caliber to stock, or didn't perform well for my purposes other than to look historical (modern scope bolt action beat my Enfields and mosins in ever way)

I plan to keep it this way until I get into pistols.

Yeah the problem in NY if you want a 100 rounds at the ready you either have to neuter the crap out of your HD gun or have 10 fixed mag guns at the ready. I went with the second approach in most things.

 

[Vapor]

Yeah the problem in NY if you want a 100 rounds at the ready you either have to neuter the crap out of your HD gun or have 10 fixed mag guns at the ready. I went with the seconds approach in most things.

My bedroom boom stick has several mags on it. Trust me, I wish I could just have one or two standard caps on there.

 

[Robin]

Got any parts ds? Looking fo an AR barrel, 7.62 x 39.
Robin

 

[dsdmmat]

Got any parts ds? Looking fo an AR barrel, 7.62 x 39.
Robin

Nothing like that. Parts turn into guns in my house.

 

[dsdmmat]

Well so far I have dropped 5 and gained 2.

 

[nortatoga]

Well so far I have dropped 5 and gained 2.

That technically is downsizing!!

 

[dsdmmat]

That technically is downsizing!!

That is true, at this rate I only need to get rid of 70 or so to get down to manageable, lol

 

[Vapor]

That is true, at this rate I only need to get rid of 70 or so to get down to manageable, lol

I take donations.

 

[dsdmmat]

I take donations.

So do I, cash donations, I may even give guns with the receipts.

 

[dsdmmat]

Well now I am up to 7 subtractions and 3 additions. I am winning I think.

I am making a rule: the ones I make don’t count as I already had the receivers/slides. Otherwise I would be down 7 and up 6. Lol

 

[1075tech]

I am making a rule: the ones I make don’t count as I already had the receivers/slides.

If you don't serialize them, do they really exist?

 

[kaliber]

Was thinking about starting a thread about parting with some hunting rifles due to the fact I don’t hunt anymore, I figured I would add to this one. Although I would like to go on a paid/guided hunt every now and then and only need a trusty old 3006 bolt action, it seems pretty silly to have excess in the safe when I could have some dough in my pocket for other interest. I find it very hard to cross the line and part with them after all the years I acquired them, hunted with them, snuck them in my house in the dark of night, traded, bartered and other unscrupulous (but legal) tactics to acquire them. Flip side is a vision of my kids selling them for nothing, gun buy back or yard saling them after I’m gon, LOL