Thinning the herd.

[Holycity73]

So the time has come. After last year, selling 21 rifles, I have made the decision to sell off most of the rest.
As of right now, I am looking at selling another dozen or so. That includes glass and accessories.
I am moving toward less collecting and more of what actually works for me, with the odd few "because I want them," rifles.
Has anyone else done this and did you immediately have regret?
What did you sell/keep?
I'm focusing on a happy balance between hunting and precision/target rifles.
Let me know what your thoughts and experiences are.

And I know, I know... never sell, but here we are.

 

[gohring3006]

I have, I had 14 rifles that I shot regularly. I started to get low on reloading components and did the math for the money that it was going to take to satisfy me in components. At least 500 bullets of the same lot number, and 5 to 8 pounds of powder for each rifle, and quickly decided to sell most of them, built a custom creedmoor, kept a 338 lapua, .243, and my trusty old 30-06. Much happier now.

 

[Sykes]

I had 27 rifles 3 years ago and I started selling and trading and upgrading. I've turned those 27( plus a few others mixed in) into 4 main rifles that are 2 Coopers, a CA Ridgeline and a Proof Switch rifle. I kept a few others, a lever action 44 mag, an old Sako L61R 300 H&H. I really like the simplicity of fewer rifles to learn, load for and be comfortable with. And yes I have regret! Shoulda kept the Fierce 28 Nosler, the 2 JM stamped Marlin 45-70s among others. In the end the rifles I've acquired are very accurate and also very high quality in comparison the the factory Savages and Remingtons I collected for years.

 

[Frog4aday]

Your question intrigues me. When I was younger, I had to sell off guns in order to get new guns, and there were always those that I regretted letting go. I'm thinking you won't miss 90% of them, but there will be a few that - once they are gone - you'll miss them. I just don't know how you identify those ahead of times. Here's some thoughts though:
* Guns you rec'd from relatives; it seems you tend to regret letting these go
* Guns that are exceptionally accurate; they are rare and special
* Guns with great 'memories' attached (first deer? used when hunting with kids? took to Alaska or Africa?)
* Guns you put a lot of time, money, and effort into making "yours"; at first you don't miss them...then you do

Maybe come back in a year and let us know how it went. What did you miss? What didn't you miss?

 

[Bstick]

If you have to ask then you shouldn't.

 

[Holycity73]

If you have to ask then you shouldn't.

Don't worry, you know what I'm keeping.

 

[bdlesh]

You cam always buy another if you really miss them. Like said by Frog4aday, I would keep anything with sentimental value. I don't sell any of mine anymore. I regret selling a Dan Wesson .357 that was my first handgun. I will replace it one day, but for now I have other wants.

 

[Holycity73]

Luckily, I have a wife who understands my passion for shooting. Unfortunately, I have a pragmatic side that drives 99.99% of my decisions. It's not a matter of sentiment, those firearms are safe from the cull. It's the previous sale that moved all of the easy decisions. Now it's down to the rifles that didn't sell last round and the rifles that are simply occupying space in my safe because I was holding on to the dream.
Most of what i shoot is 6.5 and 30 cal.
Things like the venerable .270 and the .338 Federal etc are all in the chopping block.

 

[Buck3]

I have done what you are talking about a couple years ago. I have no regrets at all. I did keep the sentimental ones which I might not shoot very often, if at all.
So trimmed down my collection by about 75%. It allowed me to make what I have left a lot nicer. I did end up picking up a couple here and there on a "deal" I couldn't pass up.

Out of all them that went down the road eventually I would like to buy another p210 or Wilson Supergrade.

 

[hrnhntr]

I was always told when a teenager never sell a gun. But once I had a different caliber for everything it got out of control. I sold off a bunch of guns and started putting that money into a few nicer set ups...semi custom Remingtons. Then that collection got a bit on the big side and I moved that into what will end up being 3 full customs (6.5PRC, 300PRC, and 338 lapua) and a semi custom Tikka (6.5CM) for the kids to shoot. Haven't regretted it one bit. I have kept any guns from family or sentimental value excluding first deer, etc.

 

[scotto]

So the time has come. After last year, selling 21 rifles, I have made the decision to sell off most of the rest.
As of right now, I am looking at selling another dozen or so. That includes glass and accessories.
I am moving toward less collecting and more of what actually works for me, with the odd few "because I want them," rifles.
Has anyone else done this and did you immediately have regret?
What did you sell/keep?
I'm focusing on a happy balance between hunting and precision/target rifles.
Let me know what your thoughts and experiences are.

And I know, I know... never sell, but here we are.

Going thru the same, its tough but downsizing and simply don't want to move all my stuff! Will end up with a Blaser R8/375 and 270, Aya #2 in 20 Fox Sxs 12 and some auto 12 for geese. Most of the guns in my safe have not been fired in 25 years, just don't need them, but don't want to give them up! but its time

 

[extreme]

I sold 50 rifles and 6 shotguns and don't miss any of them. What I wanted to have was one of each cal, to hunt anything on the planet.
257 wby. mag 300 wby.mag 30 nosler 338 lapua 460 wby mag. I believe that covers anything i want to hunt smallest to the largest and meanest. After testing the 30 nosler may replace the 300 wby. mag. The other thing was i had no one i wanted to leave them to. I put the money back in my bank account.

 

[Kooz7]

I have been in the same mode for about a year now, and have been moving excess when I can . I do not miss any of the guns that I have moved . I am just keeping a few nice rifles that are accurate and fit well , and concentrating more on getting out in the field as often as possible .It seems that no matter how many rifles I fool with and get "dialed in" I usually still just end up grabbing one of the same from a favorite group of maybe three rifles to take hunting, so why have the others taking up space in the safe?. What makes it tough now is the market, I don't believe I have ever seen it this soft , places like grab a gun and CDNN are literally giving guns away .

 

[gusd]

A couple years ago I sold almost all my guns all the ammo, and accessories that went with them to have a couple customs built. No regrets.