I was looking through my safe and way in the back is my 180 series mini 14 that I realized has not been shot in over 4 years. Now my question is, do I keep it or try to find it a home where it may see some use. Some additional background on this rifle is that it was the second rifle I ever bought, my M1 carbine was my first, and it has been lightly customized with a professionally shortened barrel ( to enhance accuracy) as well as a trigger job and an early butler creek folding stock. After It was modified, I test fired it and put it away and focused on my other toys. Right now, I am working on building my next three FN-fal rifles and do not for see my mini 14 seeing any range time in the near future.
never part with a firearm unless you gotta pay your rent or mortgage and have no other choice...
keep it. if you need room in the safe give it a wet lube job, and vaccum bag the sucker in a extra long food saver bag and stick it on a high shelf in your closet.
Location: A Little South of Heaven, Slightly North of Hell
Posts: 314
I guess the real reason behind why it hasnt been shot would answer the question. To me, if it aint doin it for ya, you have no interest in shooting, its an odd caliber, etc., etc., etc., then well maybe.
Oldest one I have I bought in 1961, haven't shot it since probably 1965. Why sell one? Every one I've sold I think I've regretted later, and I'll tell you, there haven't been many I've sold.
Diamonds may be forever but Guns are made to be used or sold for funding on the next project. FAL's are addictive I'm sure you know your gonna need more parts!
I look at it this way......If I ain't gonna use it, why keep it when I can turn it into something I will use? I just sold the first rifle I ever bought (in '96) a few weeks ago. It was a 700 BDL chambered in 30.06. It was in prestine shape. A beautiful, quality, good shooting gun that I NEVER used. I looked at it like this, it's expensive to shoot (to me), I never use it, so why keep it? I had rather have something I would enjoy than something just taking up room in the safe.
I always said that if I bought a gun, it would never leave my possession. Well,....... I bought one about six months ago intending on reselling it, and I did. I only had it in my possession for 15 hours. After I sold it, I bought something I wanted, used it for a while, then sold it making money each time I sold one. I kept this up until I bought my new Mini 14. I am only out of pocket $250 on my 581 series Mini 14. Once I figured out I could do this, I realized it didn't hurt at all (to me) to sell one, so I started weeding through all the ones I didn't use. Now I can go to my safe and reach in and pick up anything in there and I will enjoy it.
I'm with you Lead Slanger. If I'm not going to use it someone else would love to get a good buy and I would have the cash for accessories or ammo for what I do use. I know a few Guys who have more than 50 firearms each. Tons of ammo and mags to equip an army. They can afford it and it makes them happy.
I can't afford it, and I know I will not live long enough in SHTF scenario to need all that stuff.
I keep the guns and ammo I train with or shoot weekly. I know my Main Pistol and Rifle inside and out,and that I can depend on them to run flawlessly.That's what makes me happy.
I have a couple that I've NEVER shot, and I got both of them in the mid 60's for $15 (including postage). One is a Snyder Pat Breach, the other is a worn out Rem Rolling Block.
I've got a few others that I've only put a couple of rounds through, just to say I shot them IE: 1905 Win, Mod 12a &b Rem 22's, Stevens "Crack Shot", etc
I've got a few that are "semi-retired" after providing good service: 1907 Stevens VLR, 1948 vintage Mod 94 Winnie, 1907 vintage SxS Meridian Arms shotgun, M1 Garand, etc
Others are still "works in progress", and haven't made their way to the shooting bench yet.
What I don't have time for are unreliable and inaccurate "bullet hoses" that need to be pampered to work. There isn't a single Ruger or "black rifle" in my safe, my "go-to" rifles all have bolts (and the recoil from some of them would make you boys cry "Uncle" :-) )
What I don't have time for are unreliable and inaccurate "bullet hoses" that need to be pampered to work. There isn't a single Ruger or "black rifle" in my safe
I agree with you on not owning an bullet hose, but no Rugers???? C'mon!
Have quite a few guns. More then i need,but like to collect then. I have a 6.5-55 that hasn't been shot in over ten years. They won't be going anywhere.
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man that loves guns Big Little X NAVY 375 Dan 357 M 41 M 44 M Long guns 22 223 243 25.06 270 30.06 Black powder 45 cal 50 cal hand and longe guns. I load all that I shoot
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Joe R
A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” Proverbs 22:3
I don't buy any that I don't want so I keep mine forever, shoot them when the urge hits me. My Mini (181 series) is over thirty years old, will leave it to one of my boys that will take care of it when I am gone and hope he leaves it one of my grandsons, so I guess your answer is forever.
I wouldn't be in a big rush to sell just because I hadn't used a rifle in a long time. You might get a new one and as a result your older ones may get less use. Depending on the price of ammo too, I'll use one more than the other at the range but still like them all. If you don't have a personal attachment to it, you could always use the money you make selling it towards to purchase of a new one.
If I have guns I don't think I'll shoot again, I don't have a problem selling them or trading them in as a means of funding guns I would be more likley to shoot. I have done that before and will do it again.
That being said I have several I have not shot in about 5 years. They are for a specific type of shooting I haven't done in 5 years, but I hope to do again at some point. I am ok with them collecting dust in the back of the safe until I need them again.
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man that loves guns Big Little X NAVY 375 Dan 357 M 41 M 44 M Long guns 22 223 243 25.06 270 30.06 Black powder 45 cal 50 cal hand and longe guns. I load all that I shoot
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Joe R
A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” Proverbs 22:3
I literally gave one gun away to a family member who lost a lot in a divorce. I bought it for $100 and he never knew. He helped me on a gun project. He sold 95% of his guns for the divorce. I "sold"/ gave my XDM to my parents so I had piece of mind. Do I regret either situation. Not one ioda. Good outcomes in every situation. Just to sell, no way. You'll never get what you paid for it if you remember what that even is. Guns are like a good running old truck. You'll wish you had it when it's gone and you'll leave burn outs in your pants trying to replace it from a dollar value.
I only sell one if I need the cash for a nice replacement. Like I sold my WASR in order to buy a better one. I sold a couple other rifles recently to get a AR-10. I have 36 or so, win a few loose a few. When I do sell its only to replace, usually with a better rifle. I have 10 or rifles that I haven't shot at all.
OOPS DID I DO THAT?
Kevin
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