Keep/Sell decisions based on market and ammo

[Mezcalfud]

I don't know if anyone else is in a similar boat as I am but I am torn on what to do with several C&R rifles. I have thinned out over the years to fund other projects or go in different directions and I have sold some that I just didn't enjoy shooting or ammo got expensive/scarce. The remaining ones are neat but I can sell for quite a bit more than I paid (although inflation is likely higher than the appreciation) and ammo does appear to be getting scarce. I have enough rounds to enjoy them for a few years to come but I do not reload and don't plan to (garage time is cigar time and that is a bad combo).

Money is not the only driving factor here, but I'd hate to see values drop when 303, 8mm or 7.5x55 is scarce and you can't give these away.
I recently dealt with this when selling a .25 Stevens. The rifle was worth more in parts and a box of ammo, if I had any, would be more than the rifle.

[Rob454]

I sold most of my dust collectors…I mean guns a long time ago. I have a rule of x amount of guns like 4 rifles, 4 pistols 4 shotguns. I can buy more but need to sell others.

I had multiple guns and like you….. it got expensive to chase ammo and feed all those guns. I never considered myself a collector nor am I really interested in having a lot of guns just to have a lot of guns.


If you aren’t using them sell them to someone who will. Unless it’s some emotional attachment like grandpappys ol six shooter when he was a outlaw ….

[pitfighter]

If I haven't touched it or looked at it in over a year it's fair game, for selling/trading, lol.
I don't personally take stock in accumulating for the sake of accumulating, but I have friends that certainly do, and I respect that.

I am ruthless with taking inventory, but have a collection that stays interesting and alive to me.

[beerman]

I’ve sold a lot of my milsurps as likes and laws changed. The only ones I regret are my Imbel FAL and an SVT 40. But, I seldom shoot what I have. Heck I’ve got an Arisaka type 99 ( Nogoya 3rd series) that I’ve had 30 years and never shot. It’s a true museum piece with all numbered bells & whistles. Thinking about moving it because it’s value is record high. Tough call selling milsurps.

[Heatseeker]

Sell a firearm of any kind? Never!

I have never been big on selling. I've sold two rifles and one handgun and still feel regret at times. That's just me though ...

[hollowpoint67]

I've sold a handful of milsurps and regretted it. Always end up rebuying and paying more.

Only if I have triples or need to finance a cooler item will I do it.

Sold multiple Enfields and Mausers to fund a M53 build to settle my MG42 addiction.

Received cash and a trade for a Type 99 Arisaka Sniper I picked up for cheap. 3 years later I regret it.

French Surplus sold off my dupes, regretted that as I don't have a 'shooter' anymore.

Money always comes...some of these items don't.

[keepitlow]

Op...gave up on all that crap. Dems ruined it. All standard military caliber, hi cap now. That stuff you like to fondle won't be much good as America gets flushed down the shidder..

[DennisCA]

Sell a firearm of any kind? Never!

I have never been big on selling. I've sold two rifles and one handgun and still feel regret at times. That's just me though ...

+1


Rule #1: Never Sell
When is doubt, see rule #1

[Minsky moment]

[Mezcalfud]

[I Swan]

I sold off a lot. I don't see millennials and Zoomers replacing the boomers in milsurp collecting in the numbers needed to sustain it. A few outliers do because they see movies or video games with those guns but ultimately I think the market will not be the same.

I don't have a crystal ball but I'd not bet on it.

[taloft]

+1


Rule #1: Never Sell
When is doubt, see rule #1

I'm right there as well. sold a couple back in the day and regretted it ever since. Just the thought breaks me out in a cold sweat, lol.

[bigbossman]

Interests change, and holding onto guns that you don't find interesting anymore is silly, IMO. sell them, and use the money to fund your new interests. In the end, if you keep everything someone is going to have to go through it all to sell it off after you're gone.

I've collected, bought, sold, and traded a lot of guns over the last 2 decades. I only ever regretted selling one, and just replaced it with a better copy for about what I sold it for. Always forward, never look back.

[highpower]

I don't really shoot most of my guns anymore due to time constraints, but I hardly ever sell any. A lot of my more collectable pieces I won't shoot due to the real possibility of breaking an original part that would seriously diminish the value. I really don't feel the need to shoot any particular gun in order to enjoy it.

A case in point is my recently acquired ac44 (Walther) G43, a rifle I have been wanting for several years. I know I could get a shooters kit and would probably be okay with PPU 8mm, but shooting it just doesn't matter to me all that much to risk breaking a rare and valuable matching number gun.

I have however, reached a point where storage is becoming a issue, so I would have to sell something off before I buy anything else.

[plumbum]

I’m torn, because I seriously could sell half my stuff and not notice, but I’d be heartbroken to liquidate all my surplus (I mean I hope to one day have the time to shoot them, but who knows if it will be legal by then?!)