[one3]

My hunting days are over. I would rather let the guns go, the way, I want them to. I, see no sense in letting someone do what, I should have done. No sense in burding someone with all that.

 

[ysacres]

Remind me not to buy a boat again. Yu guys got me skeert!

No worries, Vic
Progressive will sell you some good insurance.

 

[MisterEd]

I would rather let the guns go, the way, I want them to.

How is it you want them to go?

 

[dano too]

I should "thin the herd" as well. The vast majority of my "herd" was purchased long ago when I had an FFL, and when prices were a lot more reasonable.

Most of my herd, is still NIB. What I have has increased in value substantially. One of these days.............

 

[Sr-556]

I could never sell my collection Ive thought about it though.There all 25 or more years old.It would be like closing a bank account.When im gone my wife can pass them down to the kids or sell them she knows the values of every piece and where we live would not require paperwork or crap like that.Only once I had to sell two for financial reasons and it about killed me.All the ammo would sell quickly by word of mouth.

 

[ponycar17]

I'm only in my mid-40s, but the thought of what my wife would do with my collection if I died has crossed my mind. I try not to think about such things, but I did have a health scare about 5 years ago. However, a friend of mine has already identified me as someone to help his wife sort through his collection in the event that he's no longer around.

 

[one3]

I have seen where someone pass, and a family member is tasked with selling things. It becomes overwhelming. Next thing you know, the auctioneer comes in.

 

[johnsxj]

I tried downsizing once...
Brought 4 nothing special long guns and 5 revolvers to a local shop that specializes in C&R items. Left those behind and came back with an Iver SxS 12 gauge.
That only gained me temporary space as I've since bought more than what I traded in.

I also seem to be the depository for some other members of the R&G club I belong to when they do "housecleaning"...
One buddy gave me an Alpine Sporter Swiss K11 that was grumpy (fixed the grumpiness) along with a bunch of random reloading dies. Another buddy gave me a half dozen "project guns" in one whack and over the years has unloaded various reloading gear on me (I pay him back by doing minor gunsmith work and brass turning).

One of these days I have to gut off my duff and start listing up some of the parts & pieces I've got piling up if for no other reason than to make room for when people give me more stuff that I have to buy other junk to fix...

 

[62vld2042]

I.....too.....on multiple occasions.....have considered some downsizing.
Then....I go get a Dr Pepper......activate a John Wayne VHS tape.......and wait for the absurd "feeling" to pass.😎

Always remember.......He who dies with the most toys.....WINS!!😁😇

 

[Oak41mag]

What DID I do with my reloading stuff? Nothing. It's still set up and gets used regularly - and probably will for a long time.

I would think with the 173 guns you once mentioned having you could probably let go of a quite a few and never notice.

I mean, do you even know (or remember) what all you have?

Heck, I make my wife wear a name tag so I don't forget her name!!!! I probably forgot half of what I own, so your probably right. It just doesn't feel right

 

[one3]

All ,I can say to you guys that want to hang on to everything, until death do you part. You want to give someone a big task. Good luck.

 

[Garandoodle]

Was it hard for some of you older guys, to let your collection go???? I'm getting older and don't shoot most of them. I have only a couple of handguns and most of my colletion is rifles. I just can't seem to let them go, but I hate seeing them just sitting there and I could enjoy the money to do other things. I let go of some of my motorcycles and that didn't bother me, but my guns are like my kids!!!

What did you do with your reloading stuff??? Just courious about when and what should I do as retirement is here. Oak

I am situated much like you are, except fewer to sell off. I live in a regulated State—Thankfully not commie fornia. It is the process that is tripping me up. We have 1 or possibly 2 gun shows a year in my small state. It is the HOW…the method to best sell all of these long guns I’ve had past 20 years is what stumps me. No gunnies in my fam. Hate to sell to gun shop at dirt low prices I know are LOW BALL. Just do not understand why shops would expect to make twice the margin on used as they would in new stock. I have half a dozen levers, K98 rebarelled in 280 cal, Ruger #1 25-06… K31 Swiss, sporterized Long Branch Enfield. An eclectic collection, I admit, though most are in way above average, except the old milsurp girls! Hmmm? How to go about finding good homes for my collection at a fair price?

 

[GaryL]

It is painful any way we look at it. If like me, you probably collected the rifles you liked and the ones in above average used condition. I call them Safe Queens and that's the way they remained all the while I have owned them. I have one deer hunting rifle, my favorite Winchester model 100 and 6 more just like it just because I love that model. The problem with selling them is two fold here in NY. Regulations where they all must be sold through an FFL dealer and only to those who can pass the background check and have the semi auto endorsement. The more important issue is in pricing. I know what these are worth but guys wanting to buy a rifle always want the bottom line price plus the dealer wants his cut to do all the transfer paperwork. It hurts me to the bone when the rifles I own have never had any paper trail and now the eye in the sky wants them on books so they can track them. Passed down from grand dads, dads and uncles and now we can't even do that legally. Gone are the days when buddies bought and traded guns between each other and we could go to estate sales and walk away with nice guns a dead guy owned since new and his kids have no desire to keep them.

 

[billylee]

About five years ago I got rid of 6 shotguns and three rifles. I went through Wisconsin Surplus Auction. They charge a flat rate of 5% and handle all the background checks and paperwork. SIL and grandsons are coming for a visit next month to pick out the handguns they would like. Our daughter already has my SP 101 in 357 so she’s set. Will keep my 12 gauge pump, FIL’s bring back Arisaka 38, Dads 12 gauge, one 22 rifle, and a few revolvers. Plan to auction off whatever is left. We will be moving within the next three years…haven’t decided if it will be a condo or apartment, but definitely smaller with no yard work or snow removal and closer to the Grandsons.

 

[ms6852]

Last time I said I was going to downsize I bought 3 firearms. Not sure if it was a knee jerk reaction, my heart was palpitating irregularly and as soon as I bought them the irregular heart beat stopped.

 

[tuckerd1]

I started downsizing about 2 months ago. So far about 40 are gone or on the auction block.

My reloading stuff is staying for now. I plan to move it with me when/if my house sells. Without me mentioning it, my wife says I will have a dedicated gun room in whatever we buy.

 

[Garandoodle]

I have seen where someone pass, and a family member is tasked with selling things. It becomes overwhelming. Next thing you know, the auctioneer comes in.

Hope to man up soon and thin long gun herd by 70% and short gun by 15%. At least I will be able to fit and easily pick over my 5 or six long ones. Room in safe then to organize neatly all my shorts😊. Will not leave this burden on my wife and only my daughter and Son in law show any interest in guns.

 

[ysacres]

What I did once to downsize was I went to Cabela's, I saw a Remington XHR 300 win mag I wanted for Elk hunting. I had Three New 12 gage shotguns laying around that I traded. By the time I bought the sling, scope, rings, Harris bipod and some boxes of ammo, I still owed them a couple hundred bucks.
But at least I got rid of three and traded for one.

 

[Garandoodle]

Was the Trade-in values about right and fair or low-ball values?

 

[ral357]

What I did once to downsize was I went to Cabela's, I saw a Remington XHR 300 win mag I wanted for Elk hunting. I had Three New 12 gage shotguns laying around that I traded. By the time I bought the sling, scope, rings, Harris bipod and some boxes of ammo, I still owed them a couple hundred bucks.
But at least I got rid of three and traded for one.

View attachment 324687

View attachment 324688

Looks like a 700, how does it differ?