Should I shoot it?

[AJBert]

I have only three I've never shot. Two side by side 12ga that were my grandpa's. I'd be afeared to shoot them. The other is a Mosin Nagant still in the box along with the bayonet, oil can and ammo pouches. So many people have bought them and have modified them. I figure in another 50 years or so there won't be any originals left and I might make a $5-10 profit on it! I do have some that don't get shot much and others that get shot quite often.

Errr, I mean I used to have them. Avalanche took 'em all a few years back.

[Bawanna]

Damn Avalanche's will get you every time. Just got hit with another myself. Start over again.
Funny you mention Mosin Nagant, I was cleaning the dust off some rifles right before the avalanche and one was my Mosin, I have a rifle (might be a Cossack Rifle) and a carbine. Never shot either one but I might. The carbine is like new, probably never issued. The rifle is a tad rough and the bore is not great but it's getting better. I brush her out and soak it now and then and I think it was improving. Done the kroil and JB bore thing which helped but didn't cure it. Now under all that snow I'm sure it's a write off and probably broken. Got me to thinking so I found Enemy at the Gate on Netflix and was able to watch it for free. Great movie, seen it a few times, I'll watch it again.

[greg_r]

A recent event made me change my mind about not shooting collector pieces. I lost my father earlier this year. He had a rifle that was collectable. He was very sick and we knew he didn't have much time left. He wanted to shoot his rifle. when I mentioned the value and what it would do to it, he said, I'm dying. I want to shoot my rifle. We shot the rifle and had a good time of it.

After that I decided that any collectable guns I had would be sold if I was not going to shoot them. FWiW, the rifle was appraised and shooting it hurt the value very little if at all.

[Bawanna]

I'm glad your dad got to shoot his rifle. That would only increase the value to me and would be all the more reason to keep it as a family keepsake.

When my dad was sick and time was short I frantically tried to return his 1917 Enfield back to it's original military configuration. He had sporterized the stock but left all the metal stock. Didn't straighten the floor plate or any of that usual stuff.
I got not great stock and hand guard but didn't arrive quite in time to get a picture of him holding it. It was close.

I'll still never sell it. His wife who I got along with quite well while he was alive turned into a gold digger so I'm glad I asked for the rifle before hand. Not any great value other than sentimental. I have my grandfathers 1917 also, only rifle I ever hunted with except a model 94 I used when I hunted with him.

Wow, suddenly occurred to me I've never hunted with a store bought production rifle. Well I guess the 94 was a production rifle so guess I did after all.

[ltxi]

A recent event made me change my mind about not shooting collector pieces. I lost my father earlier this year. He had a rifle that was collectable. He was very sick and we knew he didn't have much time left. He wanted to shoot his rifle. when I mentioned the value and what it would do to it, he said, I'm dying. I want to shoot my rifle. We shot the rifle and had a good time of it.

After that I decided that any collectable guns I had would be sold if I was not going to shoot them. FWiW, the rifle was appraised and shooting it hurt the value very little if at all.

And there ya go! Especially given this past year...I get it.

[340pd]

Pic won't post right side up.

Works fine. I just turned my monitor upside down.

[Bawanna]

Brilliant, why didn't I think of that. Yeah I know, lack of a full deck.

[Charlie98]

I've got my fair share of firearms in the safe... not one is a safe queen, that's just not how I roll. The real beauty of any mechanical device, and a firearm qualifies as such, is in it's operation. Unless there is some sort of safety issue, shoot the darned things....

[b4uqzme]

I've got my fair share of firearms in the safe... not one is a safe queen, that's just not how I roll. The real beauty of any mechanical device, and a firearm qualifies as such, is in it's operation. Unless there is some sort of safety issue, shoot the darned things....

^^^ +1

[Tinman507]

that pic looks just fine to me

[Bills1873]

I’ve not bought an unfired collectable, so everything gets a turn at the range

[Dbholfo]

If I bought it I shoot it. I have no use for a tool I can't use. I practice for self defense and self improvement. Shooting is fun and shooting my friends guns broadens my horizons without costing me anything but the gas to get to the farm. I am anxious to open a box of .44 Mag I bought so I can shoot my buddy's Big Boy and another's Marlin 1894.

[b4uqzme]

If I bought it I shoot it. I have no use for a tool I can't use. I practice for self defense and self improvement. Shooting is fun and shooting my friends guns broadens my horizons without costing me anything but the gas to get to the farm. I am anxious to open a box of .44 Mag I bought so I can shoot my buddy's Big Boy and another's Marlin 1894.

I shot the Redhawk the other day. It’s a mitt full. I wouldn’t mind a try at either of them lever guns. Have fun.

[DavidWJ]

If a gun has "Collector's Edition" etched into it, it's not a collector's item except for folks that like "Collectable" written on their guns. Go ahead a shoot the heck out of it.

[Dbholfo]

I shot the Redhawk the other day. It’s a mitt full. I wouldn’t mind a try at either of them lever guns. Have fun.

My buddy with the 1894 also has a Redhawk. As soon as we get sunny weather in January we'll be setting up the targets at the farm. Lots of loud reports will be heard. Large holes will appear in paper. Fun will be had and lunch will follow at the Mexican restaurant.