'Gun Collection Envy' - try not to fall into that trap...

[AJMD429]

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So there's this guy, juat about my same age, who has a podcast, and a gun collection, and he has episodes on various types of guns, cartridges, and so-on...

The other day I realized his collection of just double-rifles alone, would exceed not only my own entire gun collection's value by ten-fold, but probably exceed my entire net worth two or three-fold. For a moment I felt pangs of being an underachiever, loser, and/or wimp for not having such cool guns, and not having the means to go on the amazing hunts and things he has. Maybe he just inherited a bunch of money, but judging from his demeanor, I doubt it - I think he worked hard for it, and perhaps sprinkled with a bit of luck, just wound up 'on top' by most measures. He's clearly a smart guy, and no lazy bum.

He's the Buffalo Bore Guy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRYC96kmQJs

Thankfully, as I'm watching one of his many great videos, my wife comes in to the room, wants to watch a Netflix with me (...and it is NOT a 'girlie' movie - she likes WWII movies... ), and I realize that I'd not trade my life with anyone - even Bill Gates or any other super-successful person my age. Now I'd consider trading gun collections with Tim, or investment portfolios with Bill, but the more important things are just not measurable in monetary terms.

I guess that makes me a 'conservative' (aka 'fascist', according to the college-age crowd ), because it is the 'liberals' of today who measure every bit of life in terms of materialism, and their love of all things material and their worship of all things monetary, has replaced their love for mankind and their worship of God.

So I will not succumb to gun-collection-envy, because a) overall I have all the things I need, and almost everything I ever wanted, and b) Thanks to YouTube, I get to vicariously experience stuff like Tim Sundle's AMAZING collection of guns, hunting stories, and I even have bought several boxes of their ammo.

Here's his incredibly well-organized Gun Collection - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfWYPY8ymrc

[gamekeeper]

If I'd kept every gun I ever owned I would need a warehouse to keep them in but I have always had to work on the sell one buy one rule I envy anyone who has a gun collection no matter what the content

[marlinman93]

Gun collections, and gun owners come from all walks of life, and thus somebody is always going to have more nicer guns, or do more exotic hunts than most of us do. In my younger years I was extremely envious of the various collectors who had vast numbers of fine old guns I wished I could own. I have more today than I ever imagined back then, but still miniscule compared to numerous gun collectors I know! When I walk into a gun vault filled with a thousand or couple thousand fine old guns at friend's homes I feel like my collection is pitiful in comparison. But that's just the nature of the beast. Some are better off financially and have more resources, so it's nothing we can really control or do anything about. Enjoy whatever we have, and appreciate what others have been fortunate enough to accumulate.

[fordwannabe]

Ok I have a few guns. In my opinion there are also a couple different kinds of collectors. I have a buddy that is a "condition collector". He doesn't do just, leverguns or shotguns or single actions, he would rather have pristine guns of whatever kind. Hey it's his collection and his money, but personally I prefer a gun I can take out in the woods and use as a gun. This actually works pretty well for us because I am not interested in what he wants and vice versa. I actually prefer a gun with scars, nicks, and boo boos, but not abused. To me it's more AMERICANA, like antique signs. A 100 year old Winchester 1894 should have "lived" not hung on a wall for 100 years IN MY OPINION! I worked as a nurse not a CEO so my collection is diverse but no expensive(compared to other peoples).

[Griff]

I do not suffer from "Gun Collection Envy"... for I don't have a gun collection... I have a collection of guns that I use for rather specific purposes... a few backups to the ones that see more use than others. The enjoyment achieved in "the pursuit of happiness" is worth every penny I spent in acquiring a few guns. While I know that I've mentioned which my favorite gun is... what my favorite round is... what my favorite hunt is... in all probability, my favorite is whichever I'm holding in my hands at the time. While I think I intellectually understand the allure of collection antique firearms... I know in my heart I don't really "get" it! Even in my cowboy action shooting, I'd rather have a modified, more reliable, new version of the firearm of the time than a true relic from that era. It's why my 2nd Gen 1851 Colts are all modified with the Manhattan gate, Ruger plunger and coil hand spring and a wire trigger/bolt spring. Function over form for me. Again, why my 1911s have better sights, better/smoother feed ramps. Why my favorite 1987 shotgun is a made in China clone of the trench gun, and why my least favorite is an original 1910 riot gun that doesn't feed my preferred ammo from magazine to chamber... unless it's run like I stole it! And while capable, it doesn't feel right to treat an antique like that. I happen to love my Miroku made 1885s & 1886, moreso than if I owned originals. I don't worry about using and breaking them. My most used Winchester 94s are all post '64s... and my favorites are the two that I modified into versions that I like! They're not wall-hangers, they show a few bumps and dings from use. I look forward to getting my Uberti 1860 Henry back from the gunsmith after being shortened to a carbine form. It just might become my new favorite cowboy action rifle!

[765x53]

I don't really collect guns. I just want one of each.

[JimT]

I was a much better shot when I had 1 or 2 big bore handguns, 1 rimfire handgun, 1 rifle and 1 shotgun.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I was a much better shot when I had 1 or 2 big bore handguns, 1 rimfire handgun, 1 rifle and 1 shotgun.

I have more than I need. My wants are very simple.

But I agree. I was much better when I had much less.

[AJMD429]

I was a much better shot when I had 1 or 2 big bore handguns, 1 rimfire handgun, 1 rifle and 1 shotgun.

"Beware of the man with but one gun..."

I'd say that might be just as true if he has 'several'...

I certainly don't NEED any more firearms, and don't need many of the ones I have, but I do ENJOY them.

Some just for sentimental reasons (great-grandfather's 32-20 Marlin 1889, my first 10/22, Super Blackhawk, and Ruger M77), some for boring practical reasons (AR-15, Glock, Mossberg shotgun), some for very specific tasks (22 LR set up for possum-duty at night if the chickens squawk, Marlin 1894CST set up for coyote or 2-leg duty if the goats start hollerin'), several for deer-hunting (44 Mag Marlin 1894, Ruger 96/44, & Ruger 77/44), a couple powerhouses 'just because' (Ruger 375 Alaskan, BHA 89 500 S&W), and some - mostly just for lookin' at. It's that last category that I try to minimize, because I figure if a gun isn't getting used, it is surely some kind of a sin. I think maybe they come alive at night like in Toy Story, and talk among themselves - if they do, the ones that never get 'played with' surely are sad...

[Streetstar]

Would be cool to get MR Sundle to weigh in

but Buffalo Bore being a niche market supplier --- may be fuelling all this man's success and if so i have been misjudging the market for heavy for caliber critical defense and hunting loads

but things like expensive double rifle collections and second homes in Africa that are as nice as most of our homes here in the states --- means maybe he had a good run with an outside company and brought his knowledge to us with Buffalo Bore ----- without government contracts, making heavy duty ammo almost seems like a hobby if i were a wealthy guy

Whatever the case, i subscribe to his YouTube channel and catch a few of his videos when i can

[GunnyMack]

My old shooting coach was a 'bad' influence He told me when I turned of age to buy by caliber. Get a 22 then get a 243, then a 257 etc. I have done that over the past 40 odd years. Now I cover 17,22,257,7mm,30s,338s,375,450 - what I wanted none are the same makes or models.
Buy what YOU want, it's your hard earned money to spend how you want.
Val I would love to see your single shot collection!!!

[marlinman93]

I have friends who have never fired any gun in their vast collection! That seems just nuts to me, as the first thing I do is start getting brass, dies, etc., and get one shooting ASAP! Some collectors just want to own the guns, and either don't reload, or wont load for obsolete cartridge guns.
I personally am not crazy about high condition guns for the most part. When I see them I often wonder if they're nice restorations, or originals, and if they're original I wonder why nobody loved them enough to shoot them much?

[piller]

I would bet that somewhere there is someone who would like to have as many as most of us have. I bought a Ruger Speed 6 from a forum member. I like it, and it is a great shooter. Probably could sell it for what I paid for it. It fits my hand nicely, and is accurate. It will get handed down someday.

[Ysabel Kid]

I don't really collect guns. I just want one of each.

[Steve in MO]

A dear friend of mine, who has gone Home now, had one of everything at one point or another. He was a collector and a shooter. I learned a lot from him, and miss him every day. For example, I told him one day I was thinking of getting a Remington 700 in .17 Remington and he told me "I've got two of them, what do you want to know?"

[piller]

I find it easier to admire the dedication which goes into having the guns you want.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I shoot the guns I like a lot. Lately a USFA Rodeo and the Shootists 40th Anniversary levergun in .45 Colt have been the most used.

The .410 Remington 870 was the most used shotgun this year.

Do I really need a safe full of guns????

I’m reminded of the warning about putting up treasure here on earth…,,,,

[Gunstore Commando]

I think big gun collections are like classic cars or show animals. They are great things for your buddy to have. Then every so often you can go over to his house and look at them for five minutes. Then you can say, "that's nice, man. Now what do you want to do?"

[marlinman93]

For most collectors I know, (myself included) it's the thrill of the chase. You know exactly what you want, and what a maximum is to pay, and then you spend years searching for it. Sometimes you find it, but it's either priced too high, been monkeyed with, or some other reason you have to pass on it. But when you finally find that one that checks all the boxes it's a very happy day!
I rarely sell anything I've searched for years to find, but I have changed collecting areas several times in my younger years as my interests changed. I'm very specific in my gun collecting for the last 35-40 years now, and only time I buy something outside my interest is if it might be cheap and I can resell to generate funds for what I'm still looking for.
For me it's not about keeping up with others, or having nicer guns than others. It's about filling specific areas of interest.

[Walt]

HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS, WINS

[Streetstar]

I shoot the guns I like a lot. Lately a USFA Rodeo and the Shootists 40th Anniversary levergun in .45 Colt have been the most used.

The .410 Remington 870 was the most used shotgun this year.

Do I really need a safe full of guns????

I’m reminded of the warning about putting up treasure here on earth…,,,,

Oh -- the USFA Rodeo

I should have bought 2 or 3 of them back in the late 'oughts when they were 5 or 600 bucks !