Hey guys. I wanted to see if anyone has experience with selling a gun to fund the purchase of another. If you have, what did you sell, what did you buy, and did you ever regret it?

I'm in a situation where I'm considering selling a pump action 12 gauge and all of the goodies I have for it, for a full-size steel 9mm.

The 12 gauge is reliable, versatile, great for home defense, and is much less likely to be affected by future anti-gun legislation (helps me sleep better at night) - and the 9mm is limited in its application - but I do not actually enjoy taking the 12 gauge to the range. Lots of recoil, beats my shoulder up, etc. Nor do I actually take advantage of the gun's versatility (I don't hunt, etc.). Shooting the full-sized 9mm is a dream, on the other hand.

Decisions are still to be made.

 

EDIT: Money is tight, too, and I'd feel bad about myself for blowing money on another gun.

Seems you have made up your mind.  Sell the SG and get the 9.  What you get for the SG depends on what somebody is willing to pay for it at that time, nothing more.  There are plenty of PA SG to choose from if you decide you revisit.

Seems you have made up your mind.  Sell the SG and get the 9.  What you get for the SG depends on what somebody is willing to pay for it at that time, nothing more.  There are plenty of PA SG to choose from if you decide you revisit.

 

^^^^^  what he said.

Firearms are tools, if you have no practical use for it then sell it.  A few years ago I bought a Ruger American Rifle as my first bolt action rifle.  It's a fantastic rifle but I have no practical use for it anymore.  It is not a good range gun due to the sporter profile of the barrel, but it will make whomever I sell it to a great hunting rifle.  I'm not in any hurry to sell the RAR because I'm still saving up for a Ruger Precision Rifle.  I'll probably pay for the RPR in full then sell the RAR with the scope and use that money to buy an optic for the RPR.

 

With that said, I cannot tell you how many stories I've read/heard about people regretting selling guns.  Who knows, maybe when I retire and move out of state I'll regret letting the RAR go.

I sold a .22 M&P Sport and a Stag-15 5.56.  And bought others.  The .22 I do not regret selling, as it served the purpose and I didn't need it any longer.

The Stag I really do miss.  As a bench AR, it was rock solid.  Just to heavy for non-bench shooting.

 

I took a bath on both of them, resale-wise.

Multiple Choice 

 

A. If money is tight you should not be spending it on guns. 

 

B. If money is tight you should not be getting a new gun because with new guns comes more money spent, holsters, sights, trigger ,ammo...

 

C. If money is tight you should use the guns you already have to rob a bank.

 

D. Both A and B are correct

Hey guys. I wanted to see if anyone has experience with selling a gun to fund the purchase of another. If you have, what did you sell, what did you buy, and did you ever regret it?

 

I'm in a situation where I'm considering selling a pump action 12 gauge and all of the goodies I have for it, for a full-size steel 9mm.

 

The 12 gauge is reliable, versatile, great for home defense, and is much less likely to be affected by future anti-gun legislation (helps me sleep better at night) - and the 9mm is limited in its application - but I do not actually enjoy taking the 12 gauge to the range. Lots of recoil, beats my shoulder up, etc. Nor do I actually take advantage of the gun's versatility (I don't hunt, etc.). Shooting the full-sized 9mm is a dream, on the other hand.

 

Decisions are still to be made.

 

EDIT: Money is tight, too, and I'd feel bad about myself for blowing money on another gun.

 

I only sell guns that would not be difficult to re-acquire in the future, for example:

 

+ Glock 17, 19, 21, etc. 

+ Modern revolvers

+ WASR-10, other AK Clones

+ AR-15s (though these have the WORST resale value)

+ Shotguns 

 

I'll be hard pressed to sell:

 

+ SCAR17

+ FN FAL

+ M1 Garand

+ M1903 Springfields

 

I'd say, go for it.  Even if you take a hit, it's worth trading up if it means getting what you want.  That's the hard part about guns is there aren't a lot of opportunities to try before you buy. 

I have learned from the oldtimers who taught me to shoot. they all have storys about guns that they wish they have never sold. with that said I don't have a ton of cash to spend on guns so I decided to only sell guns I have multiples of.  

Hey guys - thank you all for the feedback.

I came to the conclusion that despite not liking the 12 gauge, I still consider it an essential "tool" and would probably add it back to my arsenal later down the road. I don't think it'd make sense for me to keep switching back and forth, wasting money on transfer fees and shipping and such.

I'm going to just slowly save up and hopefully I'll pick the 9mm up in a year or so. Let's hope are laws don;t become more FUBAR'd by then.

Oh and the guns in question are a 18.5 inch Mossberg 500 and a CZ 75B SAO.

I will sell if I have no use, and forsee no use, for the gun in question. Example: I traded a bunch of books for a collection of Arisaka rifles. The Arisaka ammo is really hard to find and the rifles were worth a bit of money due to condition so I sold them. I also had doubles of some rifles, Nagants and Romanian trainers so I sold them too. I don't sell anything that I use and I use everything I own. But if one was becoming a safe queen and I didn't think it would be useful then yes, I would sell.

You may want to either:

 

1. Try to find someone who doesn't like their CZ SAO and is looking for a shootgun and negotiate trade. Depending on shotgun you are offering you may need to bring cash to table in addition to shotgun.

 

2. Save up for the CZ SAO and purchase when you have funds.

 

That being said, not many sell their CZs. Those that do usually regret it.

I have sold guns to fund other guns but only sold those that I didn't care much for or guns I baught for fun but were not practical. But I would not sell a gun I like.

I have learned from the oldtimers who taught me to shoot. they all have storys about guns that they wish they have never sold. with that said I don't have a ton of cash to spend on guns so I decided to only sell guns I have multiples of.  

I kinda wish I hadn't sold you that AR15

Lol^

For your Mossberg, get a longer barrel so you can try other activities like shooting clays or hunting (turkey season is coming up). The longer barrel will help with recoil but something like a Caldwell Field Shield will make it feel like you're shooting .22lr.

I bought a smith and Wesson shield in 9 mm for ccw. It was my first and only striker fire gun. It was a very nice gun, shot really well, carried very easily, and well made. I ended up "hating" the striker fire trigger. I thought I would learn to love (tolerate) it but in the end I couldn't. So, after it sat in my safe for quite some time I got rid of it and bought a sig p239 in 40cal to replace it for carry. I have many other sigs and I just love the DA/SA triggers. I actually tried to apply the "don't sell any guns because you will regret it" mentality but I think I'll be OK........ and I sold it to a friend who loves it........... and he got a great deal too

I've sold quite a few - some I regret selling, some I regret buying in the first place and some were sold to upgrade. 

 

The ones I wish I had back?  A Colt Python, a Colt Cobra, a S&W mdl 15-3 NIB, a Colt Frontier Scout, a High Standard Supermatic Citation and a Beretta mdl 1934 - all with family history but sold for elder care expenses.

The ones I don't miss?  Glock G19, FNH FNS40 and a CZ P07.  Nothing wrong with them just not for me.

For upgrades, I just sold a Ruger GP100 because I bought a Match Champion, a Para 1911 Expert because I bought a Novak/Colt 1911, and I'm about to sell my Sig P229 because I bought a P229 Legion.

 

I won't sell again unless it's either to upgrade or I just don't like it.

Occasionally. These are the few examples that I remember:

 

Remington 700 BDL .30-06 sold to purchase a Cooper LVT in .17 HMR

Remington 700VS .223 sold to purchase a CZ527 Royal .223

Remington 1903-A3 .30-06 sold to purchase a S&W 325 PD

 

I don't tend to sell much - more of a hoarder. I still have several guns in my safe that have yet to be shot and that have been there for years.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Wow, a lot of stories!

Good stuff guys!

Multiple Choice 

 

A. If money is tight you should not be spending it on guns. 

 

B. If money is tight you should not be getting a new gun because with new guns comes more money spent, holsters, sights, trigger ,ammo...

 

C. If money is tight you should use the guns you already have to rob a bank.

 

D. Both A and B are correct

This^, especially A. You already have a gun. Spend your time improving your financial situation if things are that tight.

Go shoot clays!

The shotgun is pretty versital. If it's beating you up I'd recommend using something like the knoxx recoil reducing stock and low recoil slugs and shot. Most people who have fired my 590 are amazed at how light the recoil is.

I only sell guns that would not be difficult to re-acquire in the future, for example:

 

+ Glock 17, 19, 21, etc. 

+ Modern revolvers

+ WASR-10, other AK Clones

+ AR-15s (though these have the WORST resale value)

+ Shotguns 

 

I'll be hard pressed to sell:

 

+ SCAR17

+ FN FAL

+ M1 Garand

+ M1903 Springfields

 

I'd say, go for it.  Even if you take a hit, it's worth trading up if it means getting what you want.  That's the hard part about guns is there aren't a lot of opportunities to try before you buy. 

 

Great post

 

I have learned from the oldtimers who taught me to shoot. they all have storys about guns that they wish they have never sold. with that said I don't have a ton of cash to spend on guns so I decided to only sell guns I have multiples of.  

 

Yep, plenty of those.

 

I will sell if I have no use, and forsee no use, for the gun in question. Example: I traded a bunch of books for a collection of Arisaka rifles. The Arisaka ammo is really hard to find and the rifles were worth a bit of money due to condition so I sold them. I also had doubles of some rifles, Nagants and Romanian trainers so I sold them too. I don't sell anything that I use and I use everything I own. But if one was becoming a safe queen and I didn't think it would be useful then yes, I would sell.

 

 

Yes, guns are expensive,but the least expensive part of guns.  The biggest expense is actually the ammo and range time.

 

Guns are an asset, and unless you bought them brand new, it is tough to lose money on a used gun.

 

I have bought and sold plenty of guns over the years, and the ones I sold were those that were dime a dozen  and easily replaceable.

 

There are two guns I regret selling... 

1. HK P30L (because i bought it very cheap, was in pristine condition and I would be hard to find one again.)

2. Sig P226 USPA (special edition, good gun, good price).

 

Sold them both for good prices, and in reality, I did not love shooting them, but do miss them.

 

Shotguns, such as common pumps, and basic dime a dozen Glocks are almost commodities. Same for ARs, I have no issues selling any ARs as you can build your own at any time and your tastes change.  If you have no need for it, sell it.  However in any case... you would not be wrong to keep the gun anyway.  It is not a car that loses value, or  booze that gets drank. 

 

On a note... 40 caliber handguns tend to be tougher sellers. 9mm, and 45 will have no issues selling.

 

There will always be some craze that drives prices up... last year it was Tavors, before than Scars and ACRs, AR15 anytime there is a shooting.  Today it is Colt prices that are just nuts.   Don't be afraid to monetize something either. 

I dumped my Jersey AR when I moved to PA. With the money going to a replacement.

I dumped my Jersey AR when I moved to PA. With the money going to a replacement.

All my AR's are set up the way I want them, Timney triggers, scopes and optics, BCG, ect that I want. Rather than go through the trouble and expense of stripping the expensive "stuff" I put on them and putting the mil-spec back on, then buying another AR and putting the good stuff on it, I'd just keep what I have and thread the barrel and change out the stock. I've gotten barrels threaded for $35 and you can get a tube and collapsible stock for $45 (and up). Except for the barrel which you have to send out, you can do the rest while your sitting on you couch watching Andy Griffith reruns. If you've never done it before but have the aptitude to build a model car, 30 mins of you tube and you can just about build an AR from scratch.