“Thinning the herd”

I’ve recently been “thinning the herd”. Really refining the herd is more like it. Getting rid of some of the more expensive and oddball collector guns that I know I’ll never use, and picking up some more practical and useful ones.
 
I sold a bunch of long guns last year. I did a quick inventory of pistols the other day and indentified 4 that I never shoot and never have shot much since I purchased (gotta have it right now). Sold all 4 in 3 weeks of being on consignment at LGS. Went by there yesterday to pick up check. THey litterally have nothing to sell other than a couple 40cal pistols, 2 AR pistols and a 308 AR. 3 weeks ago they had at least 2 dozen MSR's and display case full of pistols. One of the guns I sold was a Para 45 which is like having VD. They told me 3 weeks ago when their S&W rep was there that they could get any S&W ASAP. BS...they got nuthin.
 
A few motivating factors:

Moved in 2019 and had to inventory and pack everything 🤤

Occasionally in the safe and realize it hasn't been shot in 5+ years [or 10]

Remember the kids are now adults and aren't actively going shooting / dont need youth guns

Have to move 6 other guns out of the way to get to the one I'm looking for

Have 3 others just like it

Etc etc etc
 
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Wmt8987 said:
Getting rid of some of the more expensive and oddball collector guns that I know I’ll never use, and picking up some more practical and useful ones.
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This is the right place for you.

We got plenty of oddball collectors looking for guns. 😂
 
Jim1392 said:
The last few years as I've gotten older I've sold off anything I don't regularly shoot or carry. I found that I had guns in my safe that I hadn't shot in years, and I never considered myself to be a collector. My son also has no interest in guns so I figured if something happened to me I'd be leaving one more problem for my wife to sort through. In the past I would only get rid of a gun to buy another. I did break my own rule awhile ago and bought a Sig 365 to replace the Shield I've been carrying.. It just didn't work for me since I feel I shoot the Shield much better. So moving forward there will be no more new guns for me unless I find something to replace my Shield.
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Why not just buy another Shield !!
 
Sell them now and use the $$ for fun or when you leave this earth, the kids will sell them (if you can sell anything) or watch the feds
chew them up in the grinder when they are illegal. Mr Sunshine here! This is today's major dilemma. If you factor out the panic buying
spree that has taken place over the past months, our market to sell is has been shrinking as some of us age out. Something else to worry about. Probably need to sell something to pay for all the new 'gun tax' junk coming our way.
 
Limit your calibers and you will shoot more. Sold a 454 Casull, few 9mms and my favorite 45 Colt because those calibers were too close to 44 and 357 family of calibers. Worked out great.
 
I sell something when I loose interest in it.

Once upon a time, rimfire benchrest was my jam. Over time, I lost interest in it, and started shooting other things. Sold the guns collecting dust.

Decided I much prefer shooting revolvers, so I sold off quite a few of my auto pistols.

Decided I liked AR's better, so I sold my Ak's.

Frees up room in the safe, and cash in my wallet, to put towards things I'll enjoy more.

I'm less concerned with having "the most stuff" and more concerned with having "the stuff I like".

I've met people who's mantra is that you can never sell a gun. I don't get it, but you do you, man.
 
Last time I sold some was when I dropped calibers. Drop 380 and 40.....both because they always find a way in my 9mm and 45 acp reloading process. Then I had to stop and clean up the mess.
 
I have sold a lot of my "stuff" lately. I have a few more to finish thinning the herd, before I'm satisfied. Even been selling duplicate reloading stuff (keeping Dillon, selling Lee). Nothing wrong with my Lee stuff, just not using it.

I don't shoot as much as I use to. It's too hot, it's too cold, kinda thing. Too tiresome to load vehicle up to go shooting! Some of the joy is gone. I've given some firearms to my son and grandsons. Sold some I fell out of favor with. Why hold onto something just because I can? Enough bullshit! Sell 'em now, enjoy the money, and deprive some stranger at an auction, from enjoying my firearms, when I'm gone!

Larry
 
As we age, our interest wanes for a lot of reasons. I went through a down period for a few years but last year got interested again. Did the same as a lot of you by thinning the herd. Trouble is, with a wad of cash in my pocket I have bought several pistols with Red Dots which I never had before but now find more enjoyable to shoot with my ageing eyes.

One is a 45acp Kimber Pro KHX , red dot ready, with a tight fit and smooth as butter. And a Sig 365XL and SCCY 9mm with red dots which are easy to CC.

On a whim I picked up a Norinco 1911A1 that appears early as the frame and slide has matching phosphate finish. Dates to around '84. Functions well with diff types of reloads. I've had a bunch in past years but the frames on all were blued instead.
 
Starting out I wanted to stick to 22LR, 9mm, 223/5.56 and possibly a 12g. Ended up with that plus 380 and 30-06. Rarely ever shoot the 380s or 30-06s. Will keep the 30-06. Thinking of dropping the 380s and letting the 22LR, 9mm and 223/5.56 be the core groups. The 12g and 30-06 would be the red-headed step children of the collection.
 
I sold alot of guns since December. In every case I upgraded to a nicer or rarer one. I want to have guns that visitors have never seen and probably won't. We shoot everything here from .22 short to 50 BMG.
 
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