Less But Better! Should it Apply to Guns?

[Matt Johnston]

Way too late in life, I’ve come to appreciate the idea of “less, but better.” It’s a philosophy that can, and probably should, apply to a lot of things

One great wife beats a current OK wife and a couple of exes. A few close friends who would truly have your back are worth more than dozens of shallow friendships. The same principle applies to cars, watches, clothing, fishing gear, tools, whiskey, hobbies, and just about everything else. But should it apply to guns?

I’ve been working on downsizing my possessions in preparation for retirement and a likely move in the next few years. When it comes to firearms, though, I’ve heard countless times: “Never sell your guns.” Still, it’s occurred to me that with some thoughtful sacrifice, I could end up with fewer guns, but better ones.

I know that back when I owned just one decent 1911, I was a much better shot than I am now with different pistols in my hand every trip to the range. It seems logical that the person who carries one quality handgun and knows it intimately is probably better prepared for a real life-or-death encounter than the person with a different carry gun for every day of the week, or every season. What do you think?

One can never have too many guns, or A few really good guns is the better way to go?

 

[HowieR]

I already did this, I had more guns than I could ever use, I saw the prices creeping up then going throught the roof on the S&W's , Winchesters etc. I had a rather large collection, I decided to liquidate , sold the old big house bought a smaller house used the proceeds from the guns on the new house, I have a dozen or so guns left, one I built for the range and an IDPA gun, the rest are my carry and a couple of hunting rifles for Maine and shotguns for deer here in MA. Do I wish I still had some of them that I let go, yes, but I enjoy what I have and do shoot what I have better in my opinion.

 

[John Kleespies]

I 100% believe in keeping all things to a minimum and knowing how to use that minimum to maximum efficiency.

Like you, I lived the first 53 years of my life with the philosophy of never selling a gun, but I currently have one on the consignment wall of my local gun shop and am considering unloading another two if things work out with the LGS.

As a competitive shooter, I built up a bit of a "collection" by virtue of the fact that I shot in different divisions which had different rule sets. But even during that time, I kept things as standardized as possible. For instance, my Pistol Caliber Carbine Optic was the same gun as my Pistol Caliber Carbine Irons, with the exception of a sighting device change. My competition pistol was a 9mm single stack 1911 that also had separate .22lr uppers for irons and optics. That's two guns for five divisions.

Now that I'm retired from the competition scene, my "go-to" guns are a .308win bolt-action that I built, the above mentioned 1911 (that I built) a 5.56mm carbine (that I built), and a pump shotgun that's been upgraded to point that you might as well say that I built it, too. I also have a few leftovers from competition that are now used to train others, plus a few defensive guns that are specific to family members (plus heirlooms) but the first four garner 100% of my personal trigger time.

"Beware the man who owns only one gun: he will know how to use it."

 

[Chad Adams]

I've been a never sell 'em guy all this time. And in the last few years I've thought about downsizing to upgrade on certain things. But then I realized anything I have is just an early start on the kids' collections, whether they become fellow gun nuts or sell them when I'm gone to finance whatever they want. Though I may haunt them if they sell a few of these guns.

 

[Steven Donovan]

Depends on the firearm.

I don't overthink it and am generally Darwinian/naturally selective with my choice of guns, mostly out of practicality/effectiveness. If I struggle to "find a use" for a specific gun and I haven't shot it in over a year, it usually naturally drifts into the "sellable" category - and I usually don't keep it. I see it as "money/resources" sitting in a safe "doing nothing." This is especially true if there is a "better version" of that action/gun/cartridge in the market that I can eventually "upgrade" too. Even though I absolutely love firearms, their history, and the study of how they work (and ballistics in general), I have never really had a level of attachment to any specific gun (I have owned so far) enough for me to keep it for nostalgia alone. I also do not have any children, so the heirloom motivation isn't a factor for me right now.

I will say though - as I have gotten "older," I have generally focused on a smaller number of higher quality firearms. I think people develop a more refined sense of quality/taste/usage over time... and realize a dozen or so average rifles you never shoot are a much worse choice than using the same funds for a quality firearm you will actually want to use (which is a whole other rabbit hole...).

Right now, my current "goal" battery is the following (having owned all of these previously):
-a reliable handgun for self-defense in 9mm
-3 bolt action rifles, one each in .30-06, .375 H&H, and .416 Rigby
-.470 NE double, depending on future budget/opportunities in Africa
-a high quality AR-15 (or rifle that can be used "in battle")

Everything else, for me, is just extra sugar on top.

 

[Jeff Forrester]

I dont have many but considering selling a couple that I dont think I will use other than just plicking so I can put the money towards a higher quality rifle I can use in the outdoors.

 

[Matt Johnston]

Well, I had hoped this thread would get some responses, so I'm pleased. I'm seeing a trend. I think I'm going to start considering what I'd want if I had less.

 

[John Kleespies]

I’ll also add that I’m reaching a point where I appreciate optics way more than I used to. Maybe it’s old eyes, lol. I can now see myself selling an underused gun to buy a higher quality optic for one of my frequently used guns. I don’t think I would have said that a decade ago.

 

[Hammer]

I really hate that you’re probably right.

 

[YETI]

In reading this, I realized I may be getting to the "too many" stage of gun ownership. This is especially the case with 9mm pistols. For long guns, I have specific rifles for specific tasks/game. The only long gun I have that is not for a specific purpose is the Henry 45-70 and that's not going anywhere.

If the C4X proves to be as good as I'm hoping, I may downsize my 9mm collection and focus on just that gun and getting as accurate and familiar with it as I can. When I was recently shooting to requalify for my CCW, I realized the only 9mm I actually enjoyed shooting was my Staccato HD P4 but that pistol is, to me, too heavy for concealed carry.

 

[Al "Shifty" Schultz]

Depends on the firearm.

I don't overthink it and am generally Darwinian/naturally selective with my choice of guns, mostly out of practicality/effectiveness. If I struggle to "find a use" for a specific gun and I haven't shot it in over a year, it usually naturally drifts into the "sellable" category - and I usually don't keep it. I see it as "money/resources" sitting in a safe "doing nothing." This is especially true if there is a "better version" of that action/gun/cartridge in the market that I can eventually "upgrade" too. Even though I absolutely love firearms, their history, and the study of how they work (and ballistics in general), I have never really had a level of attachment to any specific gun (I have owned so far) enough for me to keep it for nostalgia alone. I also do not have any children, so the heirloom motivation isn't a factor for me right now.

I will say though - as I have gotten "older," I have generally focused on a smaller number of higher quality firearms. I think people develop a more refined sense of quality/taste/usage over time... and realize a dozen or so average rifles you never shoot are a much worse choice than using the same funds for a quality firearm you will actually want to use (which is a whole other rabbit hole...).

Right now, my current "goal" battery is the following (having owned all of these previously):
-a reliable handgun for self-defense in 9mm
-3 bolt action rifles, one each in .30-06, .375 H&H, and .416 Rigby
-.470 NE double, depending on future budget/opportunities in Africa

Everything else, for me, is just extra sugar on top.

Most of mine are heirlooms, passed down through my family, or very close friends some as far back as my Great Grandmother (1800s).. individually they aren't expensive or collector pieces per se but they have nostalgic and heirloom value which to me makes many of them priceless.
I do have a few (mainly handguns and a few hunting rifles) that I purchased outright and those are my "tools" that I use regularly, but I still love taking my kids out to shoot their Great Great Grandmother's Stevens .22, or their Great Grandfather's Winchester 1897.. those are guns that simply won't be sold at least in my lifetime.

I used to chase the new improved fairy tale, but I've reached a point in my life where I've realized that for most hunting (at least in North America) the .308, .270, 30-06.. still get the job done at the same ranges most people are capable of shooting in the field. The 29 Nirvana (see different thread) doesn't do anything many of the old timers can't do..

Actual projectile technology, and optics technology I can get excited about though, because therein lies the real improvements.

 

[safetekk]

I've been fortunate enough to be able to amass a relatively small collection that is truly drool-worthy, primarily on the tactical side. All to be passed down to my sons at some point. So I'm pretty much already there and just waiting for the big man to pick my number. I wouldn't say I'm done buying but I'm definitely done buying just anything. I think there are still 3 guns on my wish list.

 

[YETI]

I've been fortunate enough to be able to amass a relatively small collection that is truly drool-worthy, primarily on the tactical side. All to be passed down to my sons at some point. So I'm pretty much already there and just waiting for the big man to pick my number. I wouldn't say I'm done buying but I'm definitely done buying just anything. I think there are still 3 guns on my wish list.

I have one gun on my wish list now, a 45-70 tactical lever gun

 

[Wade Burns]

I have a lot of guns but most I purchased to collect and not use. I primarily only use just a couple. I have been contemplating selling some to fund fewer but better quality guns.

 

[Steven Donovan]

I have one gun on my wish list now, a 45-70 tactical lever gun

We are probably in a "golden age" of tactical .45-70 lever guns...

 

[Steven Donovan]

Most of mine are heirlooms, passed down through my family, or very close friends some as far back as my Great Grandmother (1800s).. individually they aren't expensive or collector pieces per se but they have nostalgic and heirloom value which to me makes many of them priceless.
I do have a few (mainly handguns and a few hunting rifles) that I purchased outright and those are my "tools" that I use regularly, but I still love taking my kids out to shoot their Great Great Grandmother's Stevens .22, or their Great Grandfather's Winchester 1897.. those are guns that simply won't be sold at least in my lifetime.

I used to chase the new improved fairy tale, but I've reached a point in my life where I've realized that for most hunting (at least in North America) the .308, .270, 30-06.. still get the job done at the same ranges most people are capable of shooting in the field. The 29 Nirvana (see different thread) doesn't do anything many of the old timers can't do..

Actual projectile technology, and optics technology I can get excited about though, because therein lies the real improvements.

I will say, if I had heirloom firearms passed down through the family, I would probably want to keep those... but I currently have zero!

 

[safetekk]

I have one gun on my wish list now, a 45-70 tactical lever gun

Dang... that's exactly what's on my list.

 

[Rjohnson.307]

Around 25 years ago I had the same philosophy and decided "quality over quantity" was more important in my gun purchasing habit. Now 25 years later I've commissioned well over 20 custom rifles and bought countless high end factory guns so I've ended up with "quantity of quality...."

As I approach retirement myself I have been thinning the herd down to my absolute favorites and what I actually can use. The great thing about selling off a large collection of "Assets" was that I took the proceeds and booked two African safaris and my wife couldn't argue about how much it cost My new philosophy is "Memories over possessions".

I can see a big bore 375, 416, or 404 in my future if this African thing becomes a bug which I'm sure it will!

 

[Hammer]

And.....I just bought another.

 

[Chiro1989]

The guns are "for the kids", more than I need, not as many as I want, enough so that if they ever come for them, they will take a lot and think they got them all.