Is my buddy a poser?

[TurboChrisB]

Ok, one of my oldest friends is a gun enthusiast. When I buy a cool new piece...he's the one I call to brag too. We've been shooting buddies since I bought my first gun and our friendship goes back to highschool.
He has a nice collection of firearms. AR15, AK47, FN FAL, all registerd AW's. Also a 9mm, couple shotguns, etc. Well, I've always had AR's, M11's, handguns, deer riles and shotguns, etc. While we both went through a spell where we didn't shoot or buy anything for the last 10 years or so...this year I got kind of a renewed interest and have gotten back into buying and shooting my guns.

When we used to go to the mountains I would bring ALL my fun guns and we would shoot the crap out of them. But his AR, AK and FN that he aquired back in the 80's and 90's have NEVER been fired. He only would bring his Remington 870 and 9mm, only the guns that have been used.

Well I'm planning a desert trip and we were talking. I was trying to get him to bring some rifles out and finally shoot them. He admitted that when he first bought them he kinda viewed them as some kind of investment and just liked the idea of them being all new and perfect, even though he knows they've all been fired at the factory, so not like they've never been used. And he admitted that he will never sell them.....When we talk about going shooting...he says he'll bring them out...then he admitted he probably won't..I think it's kinda a OCD thing...but now I'm thinking...

is my buddy a poser?

Or is this more common than maybe I'm aware of??

[Recession]

What was the point of him buying them then? He treats them as if they were show pieces. They are just rifles. Just like everyone elses. Nothing special.

[glock21fan]

I don't see the point of owning guns you don't shoot unless he's a C&R collector or has something of sentimental value. seems like he wants the bragging rights more than anything. I know if I had a FAL I'd love to shoot it. same for the AK...not like those are worth a TON of money or anything so why not shoot them.

[Merc1500]

So have you physically seen his guns? If you have I don't understand the question. Maybe they aren't legally registered.

[Merc1500]

Maybe he sold them during your "dry spell" and he is too embarrassed to say so.

[freonr22]

well, it it kinda neat to have unfired raw's. almost like an unfired Colt Python. Do you shoot it or not?

[TurboChrisB]

No, he has the guns and yes I've seen them. He's one of my best friends. And yes, he legally registered them. I know all this for a fact.

[Mastermason11]

There are some people like this.. I know some folks owning ferraris, lambos and porsches and they dont use it at all.. They are just happy enough to say that they own one...

[IrishPirate]

i always wondered why people assume that by never firing a gun they will definitely get their money back. Unless you can prove that the gun is 100% new (coughimpossiblecough) then it's likely that anyone who wants to buy it will not pay MSRP or even really close to MSRP when they can get one for the same or a little more that they know has never been fired. I guess if you buy it super cheap and sell when the damand and prices are high you're just really lucky, but to buy a gun just to let it sit in the safe to be able to say you've got one.........just doesn't make sense to me. Use it, sell it, or find a cool display where you can at least show it off and get some kind of enjoyment out of it.

[Saigon1965]

Different strokes for different folks - I have quite a few friends with lots of un-fired weapons - They all have a selection for everyday use -

[Uriah02]

I am leaning more toward "yes" he is a poser in the specific aspect of his RAWs. Being that they are not exactly "collector's" material why wouldn't he want to shoot them? I plan on shooting the heck out of my collectable firearms, the only reason I don't fire my 1911 more is the double stack magazine well is too large for my hands.

[TurboChrisB]

Ok, now this is what I was looking for...is it extra cool to have them unfired?

See, for me....the fun is in 2 parts. Looking at them, (fondling them if you will, haha) and shooting them. So, for me....he's missing out on half the equation...more actually...
And while it's cool to have something new and shiny..it's funner to use them.

I learned something a long time ago. I had a REALLY nice, REALLY modified Bronco 4x4. Lifted, locked, big motor. Basically a show truck. And every time I would go out fourwheeling....and get brush scratches or a dent...I'd be all bummed and buff it out when I got home or have the dent fixed...cause I was into it being perfect. Then I started hanging out with guys that wheeled HARD. And to them...scratches and dents from offroading were war wounds...and guys with perfect trucks were generally considered posers. Enough of that rubbed off on me that I stopped being obsessed with it staying perfect.
A lot of guys are like that with their guns too....and thats ok...cause the guy with the big lifted truck that is shiny and perfect probably never takes it off a dirt road....but you can shoot a gun and keep it perfect...but not to shoot it?

Seems to me that's kinda like building a big bad truck and never taking it offroad...and that's poser, right?

Keep the comments coming...think I might send this to him when alls said and done...cause I think he NEEDS to get out and shoot those guns!

well, it it kinda neat to have unfired raw's. almost like an unfired Colt Python. Do you shoot it or not?

[NSR500]

I wouldn't call him a poser. He sounds more like a collector than a shooter.

[battleship]

Seems to me like your enableing him to not shoot his guns, your bringing all yours on the trip why should he bother. Tell him you want to shoot his this time and not just the shotgun and 9mm. Friendship is a two way street.

[TurboChrisB]

Ahhh, interesting. I forgot about that. When I had a turbo porsche..it was obvious that most guys with Lambos, porsches and fcars only drive them on weekends, not as daily drivers. Hell, the average 4 or 5 year old fcar only has like 4000 or 5000 miles on it. I bought my porsche in FL and drove it home to CA...when I posted that I planned to do that on a porsche board...some people almost equated it to abuse...like I shouldn't subject the car to the road chips and stuff. Some of them couldn't imagine buying it and driving it 3000 miles home.

There are some people like this.. I know some folks owning ferraris, lambos and porsches and they dont use it at all.. They are just happy enough to say that they own one...