Users ~ vs ~ Safe Queeners

[Flieger]

I was just on another popular firearm forum (although this one is my favorite) :amflag:and was looking at a posting of a members handgun that he was touting was incredibly accurate after the 2,000 rounds he'd shot though it. He was using white gloves to show off his museum piece and frankly, I just can't see that it had even had a single round shot.

You know even with Kahr, the first round scars the barrel hood.

Now I have a few collector pieces that never get used, but I really like shoot what I own. Selfishly don't want to save them for my son after I check out.
Well, I should clarify, he will still get them, but slightly used, all under 5,000 rounds. Just broke in a bit.



I was wondering how many of you are collectors verus shooters.

[Planedude]

I have a few "collectors" but nothing so rare/valuable that I won't shoot them. They may not go every time to the range, but every gun goes sometimes.

I have an old Springfield 1911, nothing special, 1980's A-1 that was my first new 1911. This is the gun I used to teach my son how to shoot center fire pistols with. Recently I was talking about the few "heirlooms" that are in the safe. My son reached into the safe and pulled the old 1911 out. With maybe, just a touch of mist in his eyes he informed me that "this one is mine Dad, no matter what"...

1980's Springfield Armory 1911 A-1 with the parkerized finish. Street value, maybe 400 bucks, family value, due to the memories attached, completely priceless.

The guns in my safe that I find valuable may not agree with numbers in some gun value bluebook. I'll bet your safe has some of the same.

[Barth]

My S&W 629-2 Mountain Gun has had heavy duty with full power magnums.
But after having to lock-tight the screws and tighten the cylinder
I've laid off the heavy artillery loads.

IMHO the pre-lock, non-MIM, 38 oz Smith is a Thoroughbred.
And I want to make it last.
So mostly run 44 Specials these days.

Same thing with my S&W 65-3 3" M&P Heavy Barrel 357.
Mostly just punch paper with 38 Specials.

I shoot everything I own.
But have to admit I've started babying my Hand Cannons.

[Bawanna]

Everything I have will shoot. A few have never been shot by me but all have been shot at some time in their lives.

Had a customer during my very short on the job training gig at a gun shop. He bought mostly Winchester rifles and did not want the box opened without him being present. He had dozens that never had the bolt put in the action and the hang tags were not removed.

I don't think I could handle it at that level.

Some deserve a place of honor, most of mine are shooters.

[b4uqzme]

I collect shooters.

[chrish]

zero collectors.


I shoot what I have and shoot them frequently.


some day, may collect...but right now, money goes toward what I enjoy at the range.

[yqtszhj]

Only one collector and it has been shot in the past but it's no longer made. Everything else gets shot or carried on a regular basis.

[hardluk1]

No collectors in this house but do have a couple firearms that have not had any field or range time in a few years. None of them could be classified as anything but a shooter.

[CJB]

I have collectables, but I shoot them occasionally too.

They're not the gold and scrolled collectors, but historical collectors.

What do you do with a pristine 1894 Krag rifle with a perfect bore? Why you shoot it!
What do you do with a non import marked Garand? Ditto.
1911, no A, no 1, no nothin' but Property of U.S. Army - shoot it!
FN "Browning's Patent Depose" four digit serial number Model 1935? Shoot it.
Old Savage .32 auto from 1909? Ditto.
Nazi marked Astra 600 in 9mm long? You carefully download 38 supers for it, and shoot it!
And so on etc etc with any old gun I've owned.... I care for them, treat them well, and use them occasionally for their intended purpose. Doing otherwise would be an injustice as far as I'm concerned.

[b4uqzme]

I care for them, treat them well, and use them occasionally for their intended purpose. Doing otherwise would be an injustice as far as I'm concerned.

+1. :)

[tv_racin_fan]

I shoot what I own when I get around to shootin them. There are three Mosin Nagants in the house one has been shot, I have an older 12 guage SxS I haven't shot yet, also have a Ruger SP101 in the house that I haven't shot yet.

[Armybrat]

Am more of a collector than a shooter (gettin' expensive these days)

Never shot:

Cased Colt Texas Sesquicentennial .45
Mini-14 (30 years old)
Winchester 9422XTR .22 LR
Custom built Mauser 98K .30-06

Haven't shot in decades:

Winchester Model 42 .410 pump
Marlin 336 .30-30
Ruger 10/22 (two)
Ruger Single Six .22 LR
Remington Model 51 .380
Colt Government .380
Ruger 3 screw Blackhawk .357
Hi Standard Duramatic .22 LR
High Standard Sentinel .22 LR
Ruger Security Six .357
Colt New Frontier .22 LR
Colt #3 Derringer .22 Short
North American .22 Mag Mini
North American .22 LR
S&W Model 63 .22 LR
S&W Model 13 .357
S&W Kitgun .22 LR
Browning Safari .30-06
Browning Safari .243

Shoot once in a while:

SA GI .45
Ruger SR45
Kahr CW45
Ruger SR9
Kahr PM9
Ruger LCP
KelTec P32
S&W Model 29

I should say former collection, as all of them were lost on that tragic deep sea fishin' trip out in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico last summer.

Honestly, cross my heart & hope to die. :angel:

[Popeye]

If I don't shoot it, drive it, or ride it, I don't own it. That's just the way I am.

[Longitude Zero]

Until this past year, when ammo became scarce, EVERYTHING I own gets shot at least once a year. Those that put guns on the mantel as look at pretties really are not sane. Shoot'em or sell'em to a gun person who will.

[Flieger]

I have collectables, but I shoot them occasionally too.

They're not the gold and scrolled collectors, but historical collectors.

What do you do with a pristine 1894 Krag rifle with a perfect bore? Why you shoot it!
What do you do with a non import marked Garand? Ditto.
1911, no A, no 1, no nothin' but Property of U.S. Army - shoot it!
FN "Browning's Patent Depose" four digit serial number Model 1935? Shoot it.
Old Savage .32 auto from 1909? Ditto.
Nazi marked Astra 600 in 9mm long? You carefully download 38 supers for it, and shoot it!
And so on etc etc with any old gun I've owned.... I care for them, treat them well, and use them occasionally for their intended purpose. Doing otherwise would be an injustice as far as I'm concerned.

I should say that historical firearms are an exception. I was referring to modern firearms, and with "classics", I agree. There was the time I collected that way. As an example, I had a "b" suffix AC 41, commercial high polished blue with matching numbered magazines. In 98%-99% with a perfect matching hardshell holster, I was the white glove guy.
As I became older, my priorities changed and fun was way. I sold off most of my collection and replaced it with new modern and usable firearms.
The only single thing that stops me from running my collection is if I run dry on ammo.
And I too had a beautiful Astra nazi proofed 600. That is a rare gun.

[JohnR]

I shoot 'em all, but that's only because I don't own any museum pieces. If I did, I'd probably shoot them just for the experience, then clean 'em up and enshrine them.

[jocko]

yup webuy these expensive peaces and keep them back to give tour sons when we kick the bucket then son shoots the piss our of them and then trades them for a go cart or dun buggy. Sure makes sense to me. Just sayin

[Bawanna]

I'm taking all mine with me. Gonna be a heavy box.

[jocko]

I heard each of ur pall bears getshis pick of a gun. Is that true? Just sayin.

Or otherwise u might just lay in that box on top of the ground.

[7shot]

I don't believe in "safe queens". If I own it I will shoot it!

[garyb]

I guess I am a "safe queen"....haha. I inherited a Winchester collection from my father-in-law. Another is an old Springfield 45-70 Trapdoor rifle. I was fortunate to meet a guy who wrote 2 books on the Springfields and met up with him at a gun show. He autographed his book for me and told me about the rifle. It was made from Civil War musket parts as a West Point Cadet Rifle in 50-70, but the barrels came loose so they sent them back and it was rebarreled as a 45-70. It has an 1863 lock on it. Has some value and hangs over the fireplace where it looks good and belongs in my house. It does not need to be shot, so I'm a happy queen.

[TheTman]

I only have one gun that I haven't shot, my Dan Wesson Model 15 Pistol Pack. One frame with 4 barrels, 8, 6, 4, and 2" barrels. The gun looks like it's never been shot, and I bought mostly as an investment and don't want to put any wear on it.
I have an Enfield P17 30-06 that is becoming pretty collectable from the prices I've seen them going for at gun shows recently, but I shoot it now and then.
My old Swedish 1896 long Mauser might be getting collectable too. They were going for about 5 times what I paid for mine last I saw any. But I got mine when there were bunches of them at the gun shows.

[downtownv]

I'm taking all mine with me. Gonna be a heavy box.
except that POS overweight tommy your willing to me, right?:cheer2:

[Bawanna]

Yeah if it didn't weigh more than the UPS truck I'd just send ya the damn thing and be done with it.

[jocko]

Yeah if it didn't weigh more than the UPS truck I'd just send ya the damn thing and be done with it.

assuming ur referring to most all 1911's?????:Amflag2:

[jocko]

Everything I have will shoot. A few have never been shot by me but all have been shot at some time in their lives.

Had a customer during my very short on the job training gig at a gun shop. He bought mostly Winchester rifles and did not want the box opened without him being present. He had dozens that never had the bolt put in the action and the hang tags were not removed.

I don't think I could handle it at that level.

Some deserve a place of honor, most of mine are shooters.

all 1911's should never be shot but admired. Much safer thatway. Just sayin.

[AIRret]

I shoot everything I own!! But like some have already said; I don't own anything collectable.

[AJBert]

I own four I've never shot. Three shotguns passed down to me, two of them I wouldn't trust and the other I believe would be just fine. Just haven't found the need to shoot the one I trust.

The fourth is a Mosin Nagant I got dirt cheap, still in the cosmoline with the bayonette, oil can and ammo pouches. Keeping this one in this condition for the next 20 years or so as more of an investment as others "modify" theirs.

The one firearm I own that could be a collector is a '52 Win Mod 94 in .32 Win Special and I still hunt with it when I'm hunting in the heavy timber. Has a few dings and scratches but probably worth more than anything else I own.

[jlottmc]

The recurring theme here is this guns have but one wish, and this is to be shot. That said, if I can't shoot it, I'm not interested.

[warbird1]

I couldn't stand it... Just looking at them? No...couldn't stand it.

[downtownv]

Yeah if it didn't weigh more than the UPS truck I'd just send ya the damn thing and be done with it.
Colonel, Please pm me for my UPS acct. number when you're ready:D
Hell I'll take the 50 pounds of extra ammo/mags on the account too....

[ripley16]

Mostly I shoot what I own, but there are a few exceptions. There are a few guns that I rarely take from the safe, mostly to re-oil, clean and inspect.

[muggsy]

I have two custom sporters built on Mauser actions that I haven't shot in years, but I'd never part with them. They were made for me by my father. My other guns are fired sparingly except for my Kahrs. I take Jocko's advice and shoot them like I stole 'em. Works for me.

[Alfonse]

I shoot them all and take care of them all. Some don't get shot often though. That's not because they are collector pieces, just I don't call on them as often. For example, yesterday I shot a round of trap with an H&R .410 I hadn't shot in decades. It was my first shotgun. It is in pristine condition. Certainly no collector. But, it can be handy to have around when you have a new, or young shooter, who is interested in shooting a shotgun. Had a couple of those shoot it yesterday as well. I shoot them all, but some just don't get their dance cards called as often.

[VN Vet]

I voted Collect and Preserve, but those are special firearms such as WWI and WWII Collectables and Colt SAA Collectables.

I have certain firearms; WWI, WWII and SAAs that I do shoot. The others are not closet queens because I do get them out and handle them a few times a year. I keep them oiled/greased and waxed. I apply three coats of Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax/Polish (RenWax) each time I make love to my firearms. Whoops, did I really say that. Well sick-o-me. :>)