Well guys, now is a good time for me to start thinning the herd. So I'm looking for a decision process, with specific guidelines, to help me decide what to keep and what to let go.

If you have any ideas or methods that have worked for you, or known any from anyone else, I'd like to know about it.

So far I've thought of some type of process of elimination, for example, if I shoot gun A better than gun B (for the same class of gun such as full size, compact, carry vs range, etc.), then I'd probably unload gun B and keep gun A, something along those lines.

What says the hive mind of the great Sigforum ?

Consolidate calibers. That can be an easy way to cull some of them, by eliminating redundant/unneeded calibers.

I started trimming the low hanging fruit, guns that I had no connection to or guns that had no specific purpose, redundant guns. Also, when I got a new carry gun, I realized I had 2 other carry guns that I was very likely NOT going to ever carry again. I dumped a few pistols this year and I'm glad I did it, ended up putting the money towards some legitimate training.

I could also see getting rid of guns that are the only platform or pistol in a specific caliber. I personally dont have any such guns, but if I did, I'd want to consolidate based on caliber.

Which ones do you enjoy shooting?
Start there.

Not hard and fast rule, but I generally go by "least" favorite to go first to "most" favorite going last.

you are asking the internet to decide or tell you how to decide,

granted, this corner of the internet is a damn good corner to be in,

however we are not you,


decide how you want to procede,
as in

favorites and sell the rest
consildate calibers and sell the oddballs
stick to a type and sell the rest

etc etc etc,


and be prepared to fail,
as in I told the wife when I turned 50 I would keep enough to compete in any discpline I wanted and a few collectibles, and sell the rest

sold about 5,,, in the 10 yrs since, I have bought maybe 10 x's that amount,,,,,

granted, I do this for a living, as in I'm a FFL/SOT that focuses mostly on estate buying, so I get tempted a lot,,,

Agree with above. Go with least favorite first. I traded 4 marginal firearms for a good quality one this fall.

I could do more, but not ready.

Hold each one. Close your eyes.

Ask yourself, “Does it spark joy?”

Take a read over here:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/9520034505

Then start making decisions.

An important question: WHY are you thinning the herd?
Specific guidelines don't exist, each is independent on whatever situation you might be in.

Broke? Well, are you willing to part with your more expensive guns?
On a sinking boat? You may want to keep the Glock and get rid of that M-60.

We all have our “ go-to “ guns. Guns that we EDC regularly and those for emergencies or contingency. Compatibility is a primary consideration. Whether it be magazines, caliber or spare parts. Considering that criteria, I’d keep what has won your confidence and parse what you haven’t or can’t see yourself using. I’ve personally found myself with doubles of models that work for me and have sold off entire brands.

Good luck.

Easy decision to make, keep what you shoot best, keep what you enjoy shooting most, keep the guns that are the most affordable to shoot, keep the gun(s) best suited for home defense and concealed carry, get rid of odd or hard to find calibers if you have them. Several years ago I ditched the majority of my collection and just held on to one AR, two shotguns, and a couple handguns. Made a profit on some, broke even on others and a few I lost money but I don't miss any of them or regret selling any of them.

quote:

keep what you shoot best, keep what you enjoy shooting most, keep the guns that are the most affordable to shoot, keep the gun(s) best suited for home defense and concealed carry, get rid of odd or hard to find calibers if you have them...

Yeah, pick it up, hold it, take it to the range one last time... and if it no longer gives you the joy it once did... let it go.

One thing you may also consider:

If you sell one and then wish you didn't, how hard would you think it would be to find a replacement or anything similar?

I've thought about this matter a lot as I have several candidates for thinning. I am located in New York, and that is a significant consideration for me because with the way things are here, and the way they are going, it will never get any easier to obtain new firearms (which makes me hesitant to do any thinning). It's a sad state. I am making decisions primarily due to the political/regulatory climate.

I have 2 I am going to put up in the next few days. One I have had for many years and shot it once after I first got it. It has long since been replaced as an EDC.

The second, I bought the model whenever I could. They were inexpensive and when people came to me wanting a handgun, I would sell them one of these and get another. This one I sold to very dear friend. He passed away a year ago and his boys gave it to me. I have other, more valuable guns, he gave me over the years, so this one has no sentimental attachment.

I have been going through the same process. I have decided that if it collects dust and there isn’t any emotional attachment that they are all up for the chopping block. I usually go through everything I’m thinking about culling with my adult son to make sure it’s not something he is interested in keeping. I have very little emotional attachment to my guns as it’s mostly just stuff. As a collector, many times the chase is more important than the ownership. I tend to look at the collectible guns as if I am a custodian/curator for the time it resides in my possession. I pretty much got rid of all my 40s&w guns except for one P229, and when ammo disappeared a few years ago that was all I could find on the shelf. I am currently deciding on whether 357sig stays but I have quite a bit of ammo stashed away. These days I am more of a shooter than collector and very little has my interest as a collector. I am starting with the duplicates, redundant non-shooters, and dust collectors. There are firearms that I haven’t yet shot, although there are no firearms in my collection I’m not willing to shoot. I no longer own unfired collectibles, they were sold off a few years back. Best of luck, it seems almost as hard to dismantle a collection as it is to assemble one. Best of luck.

Every time I have started this it ends up where I started. It doesn't help that my son doesn't want me to get rid of ANYTHING. So I am no help whatsoever.

Lots of great advice here. As I age I am thinking of doing the same though I don't have near as many as a lot of members on the forum. My son is a shooting enthusiast too though so what is left will go to him so I might just leave at that too which also means my wife won't have to deal with them if she doesn't want too.

Something that might help is to rank yours from high to low or in groups such as A, B, and C with group A being the ones you are thinking you will never part with and group C those you like but if you parted with would be no big deal and are pretty easily replaceable anyhow. Another thought is if for some reason you lost all your firearms such as a fire, which ones would you definitely go out and replace in fairly short order and start from there. Also there is nothing wrong IMHO having some firearms you rarely if ever shoot but you just love to handle and admire. My still almost like new Belgium made Browning Light 12 A5 shotgun is such an example for me though I did finally shoot it again after almost 50 years last summer, and it ran flawless, which was a total joy. I bought it new when I was in high school around 1967.

Keep the best. Do not sell your prizes w/out careful consideration. My opinion is there is more seller's remorse than buyers remorse.

When it's time for me to get serious I'm going with one of the big name Gun Broker sellers. 15-20% to avoid the hassle is a deal.

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:
Keep the best. Do not sell your prizes w/out careful consideration. My opinion is there is more seller's remorse than buyers remorse.

When it's time for me to get serious I'm going with one of the big name Gun Broker sellers. 15-20% to avoid the hassle is a deal.

A good option for a large collection or unique desirable items. 15-20 percent plus 5-6% gunbroker fees gets you in the ball park of the auction houses if the collection warrants. I guess it would depend on what all is in the collection you’re trying to liquidate.