Beater versus cabinet guns

[Mossy88]

You ever buy two of the same exact gun because you know youre going to bang one up and you want a show model too?
Ive done it. lol. My wife thinks Im nuts, but Ive got Berettas that havent been fired because I bought two of them just so I could keep one in mint condition.
Do I have a disorder?

[farmerjim]

I am not and never be a collector. All my guns are used. A scratch or a ding are a badge of honor. I am good enough to be used.

[Finster101]

I only have one gun that I would consider a beater. That is my KelTec P32. It has seen so much rain and sweat from being carried in my pocket that it sure ain't purty but it still goes bang every time. I even make a point of not cleaning it before going to the range just to prove it's reliability. Then it gets cleaned well and fresh ammo in the mag only to go back in my pocket for maybe another six months.

[Butzbach]

Not a disorder really. We are all just trying to find a way to cheat the worms and the rust. Ah but the beaters are the most fun. I bought a S&W model 13 off of GB that had definitely seen better days. Soooooo popping off the side plate and doing my first trigger job was no trauma. I sweat so much that keeping it in my chest rig causes speckles the cheap reblue job it came with. But so far with its new mainspring it goes “bang” every time.

[GARD72977]

I bought a 98-99% 1884 Springfield Trap Door. I couldnt make my self shoot it so I bought another really nice gun with no cartouche on the stock. Still havent shot that one......

[444ttd]

whats a cabinet gun?


every one of them has scratches and dents that i, along with some others, have done. when i buy the rifle, it knows it must be shot many times.

[racepres]

whats a cabinet gun?


every one of them has scratches and dents that i, along with some others, have done. when i buy the rifle, it knows it must be shot many times.

And if too Nice... let the kids borrow it for a season... Back to a "Using Tool"!!!

[contender1]

Long ago, I chose to buy a shooter to accompany my collector pieces. I do enjoy collecting, and displaying. But I also enjoy shooting,,, so I try & get (2) of certain ones for sure.

[Pete44mag]

If I own it I will shoot it as often as possible. No collector guns here.

[Gtrubicon]

Guns are tools, I use tools.

[Mk42gunner]

I've never personally understood the keep it in unfired condition mentality. If it is unfired, just how sure are you that it will work if needed?

Maybe it would be different if I had a closet full of $3,000.00 Korths, but I doubt it.

Robert

[Markopolo]

Guns are tools, I use tools.

Well said!!!!

and my tools are fun!!!

[brewer12345]

We chase jackrabbits in a place tat is sagebrush prairie. A few scraggly trees on 5000 acres are the only vegetation above waist high, and the sand and grit that blows around the property on windy days is so bad that I keep a pair of ski goggles handy to protect my eyes are we walk around. Jacks are tough animals and often need a finishing shot after you tag them with the 12 gauge. None of us want to have a fancy sidearm in that mess. I really appreciate my Bulgarian Makarov, but it is in far too nice a shape to bang around there. A few years ago I picked up a "cosmetically challenged" CZ82 from J&G Sales for like $200. Mechanically in great shape and like all Eastern Bloc guns is shoots in whatever conditions you ask of it. But it has chipped grips, a crappy finish that is partially worn off, etc. I like the pistol real well and it is handy for the intended purpose. Sometimes I think about getting a nice set of wood grips, having it custom cerakoted, etc. Then I realize that a couple of days being sandblasted in my holster would probably undo all of that.

[rbuck351]

I collect guns but not for resale. I collect them to shoot not just to look at. If I get a new to me gun in a caliber I don't have, I get a mold or two and a bunch of brass and take it out and shoot it as soon as possible. I rarely buy new guns as used ones are usually cheaper and I don't have to worry about a ding or scratch.

[2A-Jay]

All of my guns are display pieces and shooters. Some of my display pieces are more fun to shoot that others.

[kevin c]

I have no firearms that could be called collectible, but I do have pistols that are BNIB. That's because Glock pistols are not expensive so owning a couple of a model doesn't break the bank, and being tough, reliable service pistols, I can shoot one in practice and competition 50 to 75 thousand rounds before it gets retired and the backup is broken out.

Like it was said above, tools.

[dverna]

I have mostly tools, and toys and a few collector pieces.

Many "redundant" tools, but not to keep one pristine. A NIB tool has no attraction for me expect as a spare...but I want to be sure the spare works so it will get tested. I want 2 or 4 of the same guns for SHTF so we all use the same mags and cartridges. I do not need four AR toys until I NEED four AR tools. I have a similar affliction with the .357, 9mm, .308, 30/30 and 12 ga platforms. If I HAVE to have it, I need more than one.

[NEKVT]

All of my guns are shooters although some infrequently especially now to stretch component supplies. Even though my safe isn't quite filled to "rated" capacity my guns have gotten more nicks and dents from being in the safe than using them. Many have steel buttplates so that didn't help. I went to buying gun socks for the unscoped ones and put socked ones in between the scoped.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

You ever buy two of the same exact gun because you know youre going to bang one up and you want a show model too?
Ive done it. lol. My wife thinks Im nuts, but Ive got Berettas that havent been fired because I bought two of them just so I could keep one in mint condition.
Do I have a disorder?

Yes, I have. And what usually happens is that when I decide to keep one in pristine condition and buy another to actually use, I get the second one all cleaned up and maybe refinished, and then it's too good to subject to hard knocks. Actually, I can't imagine letting a gun get beat up voluntarily. Maybe yes, out of necessity.

DG

[BamaNapper]

I have a Steyr Model L that sat for a decade or more because I didn't want to beat it up. Double set trigger and a sweet full length mannlicher stock. It's easily the best shooting long gun I've ever owned. I even refused to put a scope on it, not that it needed one, or that it got shot enough to justify one.

I realized at some point that the engineering and workmanship is wasted if it just sits there looking pretty. I mounted a decent scope on it and it now gets hauled through the woods as my primary deer rifle. It's got some scars now and it wears them well.