there you go!
he knowingly joined a group dead set in eliminating weapons for citizens. Those for and against may be at each other in the street so I would not knowingly supply them with MY weapon. They are plagued with systemic stupidity.
Planning for the Future
- Thread starter VaRandy
- Start date
I've often had similar thoughts before combat deployments. I have a family friend who I trust will guide my wife through the sale process. My kids are young but my son has his "own" guns that won't be sold.
68W40
68W40
I'm about your age and have been an avid shooter and hunter for over 50 years. I have some real nice pistols and rifles, some of which are not made anymore. And I'm quite fond of them. Although I'm in relatively good health now, I'm closer to the end than the beginning.
Like you, I don't have any family that is interested in firearms or shooting to leave my firearms to when I pass on. They are not anti-gun or anti-hunting - they just are not interested.
My focus / concern is not on the disposition of my firearms but to relieve the burden on my wife and / or daughter of having to deal with my stuff. So I've already made plans with my gun smith to buy my entire firearms estate including all reloading equipment. The only "turd in the punch bowl" is if I out live him. If that happens then I'll have to come with a plan B.
My philosophy, right or wrong, is that it's events and people that add value to life not material possessions. Material possession are just tools to aid in experiencing events. Material possessions wear out, can be stolen, and can be lost but the memories of value added events such a great hunts endure.
Like you, I don't have any family that is interested in firearms or shooting to leave my firearms to when I pass on. They are not anti-gun or anti-hunting - they just are not interested.
My focus / concern is not on the disposition of my firearms but to relieve the burden on my wife and / or daughter of having to deal with my stuff. So I've already made plans with my gun smith to buy my entire firearms estate including all reloading equipment. The only "turd in the punch bowl" is if I out live him. If that happens then I'll have to come with a plan B.
My philosophy, right or wrong, is that it's events and people that add value to life not material possessions. Material possession are just tools to aid in experiencing events. Material possessions wear out, can be stolen, and can be lost but the memories of value added events such a great hunts endure.
First, sorry for the loss of you son. Thats awful and I couldnt imagine that.
Second, my brother and I fit this second recommendation. If you ever decide to sell, keep me at the top of your list and let me know what you have. I havent competed in any major comps yet, just trap and skeet, and I have done mammoth sniper challenge 3 years in a row. Im trying to get into PRS pretty heavily but my job sucks up all my time at the moment.
Third, option, is probably your best. Donate them to 4H or some similar organization that gets kids into shooting.
Fourth, take care of yourself. I work with 75 year old engineers who crawl in and out of boilers all day and you would never know they were 75. They all look 55. I aint no fortune teller but these guys look like they have another 20 years left in them.
I am on the back side of this process. I am the executor of an estate in which there are no children. The gentleman was a gun enthusiast. He had around 80 firearms left, but gave away more than 50 in the last year of his life. He had an inventory list of over 200 firearms from the 80s and nothing was marked off his inventory. Anyhow, I had to meet with a couple of apprasiers to get things valued. He persued accuracy with firearms but no customs. Avid reloader.... 30 years ago. He was 86. It took me over 18 months to sell off all the firearms at decent values (according to the lastest Blue Book). Some to private collectors. Some on consignament to gun stores. And last ones at the estate auction. The auctioneer asked that I save 10-15 firearms as "bait guns" to bring in a large auction crowd. Wow did that work. Those sold for 1.5-2X their value in bidding wars. I have 100s of hours invested in this project on just the firearms. 1000s in the liquidation of the estate which is going on for over 2 years. It is all going to charity.
In hindsight, I am fairly certain this gentleman choose me to help him because he knew I would appreciate and undetstood the values of most of the guns. If you ask someone to help to this after the fact, please reward them. I didn't feel I could negoiate a price for this service with someone that was terminal with cancer. I will get whatever the judge gives me when probate closes.
As others said, you can't take it with you. My advance is to take most of the firearms to matches or gun shows (while you can) and sell off all but the few that you really want to keep . You can have a 2 minute conversation with a person and tell with a high probability if he/she would appreciate that firearm. If you don't like them, shoot them a super high price and let them walk. That is what I did at the gun shows. If you have a serious collection, collectors will buy in bulk. Customs will be the hardest liquidate. That is what forums like this are good for.
The more serious problem was and is the decommissioning the 10,000 plus centerfire reloads in over 50 calibers. I have 8 five gallon buckets full of loses ammo loaded in the 60s and 70s. Had over 30 lbs of powder some of which was 50 years old. All the powder went to the state bomb squad to make pipe bombs for training. Still working on the reloads. I have several offers from people to take and pull it apart to recycle. I can't stand the idea of it being dumped in a concrete mixer and burnt.
My advice is try to clean up and liquidate what you can. Make an inventory of firearms, reloads, equipment, etc. Cross things off after you sell it. It is going to be difficult to find someone that finds value in all you find valubale.
I wish you go luck in your choice and pray your health allows you to keep at it. But plan ahead while you can.
Tim
In hindsight, I am fairly certain this gentleman choose me to help him because he knew I would appreciate and undetstood the values of most of the guns. If you ask someone to help to this after the fact, please reward them. I didn't feel I could negoiate a price for this service with someone that was terminal with cancer. I will get whatever the judge gives me when probate closes.
As others said, you can't take it with you. My advance is to take most of the firearms to matches or gun shows (while you can) and sell off all but the few that you really want to keep . You can have a 2 minute conversation with a person and tell with a high probability if he/she would appreciate that firearm. If you don't like them, shoot them a super high price and let them walk. That is what I did at the gun shows. If you have a serious collection, collectors will buy in bulk. Customs will be the hardest liquidate. That is what forums like this are good for.
The more serious problem was and is the decommissioning the 10,000 plus centerfire reloads in over 50 calibers. I have 8 five gallon buckets full of loses ammo loaded in the 60s and 70s. Had over 30 lbs of powder some of which was 50 years old. All the powder went to the state bomb squad to make pipe bombs for training. Still working on the reloads. I have several offers from people to take and pull it apart to recycle. I can't stand the idea of it being dumped in a concrete mixer and burnt.
My advice is try to clean up and liquidate what you can. Make an inventory of firearms, reloads, equipment, etc. Cross things off after you sell it. It is going to be difficult to find someone that finds value in all you find valubale.
I wish you go luck in your choice and pray your health allows you to keep at it. But plan ahead while you can.
Tim
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I feel your pain. I started shooting at 5 years old the day my Dad stuck a side by side in my hands and told me
to hit the can. After I let loose with both barrels, he picked me up, propped me up against a tree and told me
to do it again. I am 62 and do not have any one in my family pass my guns down to either except for my little
Ruger Birds Head Shop Keeper, my Wife wants that. Like you I also have a Son and Grandsons. Neither of
them are candidates for gun ownership. I do have one person that I could pass them on to. He is a good kid
that made a good lasting impression on me. I may surprise him when it comes to that day. Have already told
my Wife that this is what I want to do. But until that day, I am going to enjoy the heck out of what I have to
shoot with. After I am gone it really doesn't matter anyway.
to hit the can. After I let loose with both barrels, he picked me up, propped me up against a tree and told me
to do it again. I am 62 and do not have any one in my family pass my guns down to either except for my little
Ruger Birds Head Shop Keeper, my Wife wants that. Like you I also have a Son and Grandsons. Neither of
them are candidates for gun ownership. I do have one person that I could pass them on to. He is a good kid
that made a good lasting impression on me. I may surprise him when it comes to that day. Have already told
my Wife that this is what I want to do. But until that day, I am going to enjoy the heck out of what I have to
shoot with. After I am gone it really doesn't matter anyway.
How does it happen when you have kids who aren’t into firearms? I have 2 boys and another on the way (young 4 and under, not quite ready for firearms), and it would suck if they didn’t get into firearms. I have nothing but awesome memories of my dad, brothers, and friends all plinking, competing, and hunting together. I wouldn’t trade those experiences for the world. I would hope my boys would love them too.
timeout
Silver $$ Contributor
You might ought to home school them to avoid the anti gun indoctrination.
good point
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
I was thinking the same thing. Not going to comment on probably why that is tho because I don’t know the guy and it’s not my business.
But here is a personal example I can share from today:
I purchased a brand new Honda CRV crossover style car for my teenage son last year. He had a Toyota Tacoma prior but we didn’t like it and sold it. The little CRV is all wheel drive plenty of storage and a really safe vehicle for new drivers with all the sensors and alerts. Anyhow, we were driving into town this evening to grab some food and he asked me, “Hey Dad, what am I gonna do for hunting season this year if you’re not with me? Am I gonna strap the deer to the roof of my car or what?”
I laughed and was filled with joy that he thinks like that. I spent a lot of time with him his whole life while hunting, fishing, and shooting and always try to make the experiences fun and enjoyable. I have always loved hunting and now so does he. Spend quality time with your kids teaching them the things you love and how to enjoy them and they will follow. I made damn sure right from the start that no liberal education system of any kind would be able to sway the mind of my son in the wrong direction now or ever. Mission accomplished
I was thinking the same thing. Not going to comment on probably why that is tho because I don’t know the guy and it’s not my business.
But here is a personal example I can share from today:
I purchased a brand new Honda CRV crossover style car for my teenage son last year. He had a Toyota Tacoma prior but we didn’t like it and sold it. The little CRV is all wheel drive plenty of storage and a really safe vehicle for new drivers with all the sensors and alerts. Anyhow, we were driving into town this evening to grab some food and he asked me, “Hey Dad, what am I gonna do for hunting season this year if you’re not with me? Am I gonna strap the deer to the roof of my car or what?”
I laughed and was filled with joy that he thinks like that. I spent a lot of time with him his whole life while hunting, fishing, and shooting and always try to make the experiences fun and enjoyable. I have always loved hunting and now so does he. Spend quality time with your kids teaching them the things you love and how to enjoy them and they will follow. I made damn sure right from the start that no liberal education system of any kind would be able to sway the mind of my son in the wrong direction now or ever. Mission accomplished
good point...not the why, it’s none of my business. I guess broader picture of how? Friends, other family members, got a bad GF or BF that influenced them?
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
I think you know I am a gun guy. Four kids, 1 son, three daughters. Homeschooled, conservative kids. only #4 is interested in shooting. My son went into fly fishing. Then ministry. His thing is people, serving people. daughter #2 never was into it. Daughter three never liked shooting either. daughter 4 loves a 308, shoots a 222 for grounhogs, finds joy proned out behind a tactical rifle. But never gets into the reloading room anymore. (All my kids loaded ammo) She is in college, studies British Lit and political science and works two jobs. I just have to face the fact that right now my guns are mine. They matter to ME. But to them? who knows. Much will depend on who they marry if the guns go or if the cash goes.
I would rather give them away at a discrete range session than auction them or let the govnt have any piece of it. NTDB.
My will divies stuff up . I put together a notebook on every gun...a history, load data, stories. That goes with it.
At 45 and facing retirement in September, I sure hope one of you strike up a conversation with me at the range this summer. 
68W40
68W40
OK. My idea of finding the right people to pass down my custom long range precision rifles has not shown much promise so I just came up with Plan B. I will live to 100 and find a way to move to the west coast where I can shoot my stuff long any day I want without having to travel so far. I am living off social security now so need to find accommodations for just myself and Super Dog. Would love to find someone else that is retired that would like a serious shooting buddy on call! I don't want to compete in contests with clocks running or where I get barrel hot from volume shooting. I have a couple of what should be serious builds of Tactical that a were built for IBS before I decided it was not for me that are good for 2000 yards and a ELR capable of 2 miles or so. The fun for me is to set up with a bench where I can either shoot varmints (low volume) or even rocks at very long distances. The fun starts when I am looking for critters or pick a rock and determine the distance. The software and wind meter are employed and my Strelok is ON for all my rifles. My Swarovski Big Eyes are representative of what long distance shooting has meant to me, MANY other things in my life did not happen because I have been dedicated to precision shooting. I am sure that if I had been out west all these years I would have more than a couple of regular shooting buddies,
Randy, Not sure where you are in VA, or if you're even in VA. I've heard there's a 1000 yd. (maybe longer?) range somewhere near Wytheville. Might be a good place to hang out if you're not too far away. There are also events at Butner in NC where you might meet some new people with similar interests. Or you could move out west.
Good luck, but in the end it's just stuff.
Good luck, but in the end it's just stuff.
My wife and I married late and neither has or wanted kids. I hoped that I’d have been able to introduce my nieces and nephews to shooting, but it just didn’t happen that way. I have a brother who has some casual interest, but not even close to the level of interest I do, and i don’t see him ever having the time or money to dedicate to serious competition in his lifetime anyway.
At 45 years old, my health took a drastic turn for the worse this year and I’ve not got much time left. I decided to package up my most specialized and precious to me rifles into complete packages to be sold after my passing by my close trusted friends. They know what the rifles are and where to find buyers who will love these rifles as much or more as I did and will be willing to pay fair prices for them. The proceeds from the sale of the rifle packages and all of the ancillary equipment that goes with them is to be split evenly for the nieces and nephews and presented to them when they are old enough to perhaps purchase their first car or to help with college, etc. It won’t be much, but my rifles will be loved and used instead of rotting in a safe somewhere and the kids will have a time in the future to remember me for something nice.
With the exception of one step-nephew who is just about a grown man now. For him, I‘m converting one of my competition rifles into a state-of-art varmint, mid-range precision rifle as he enjoys hunting and will actually get some years of enjoyment out of such a rifle.
At 45 years old, my health took a drastic turn for the worse this year and I’ve not got much time left. I decided to package up my most specialized and precious to me rifles into complete packages to be sold after my passing by my close trusted friends. They know what the rifles are and where to find buyers who will love these rifles as much or more as I did and will be willing to pay fair prices for them. The proceeds from the sale of the rifle packages and all of the ancillary equipment that goes with them is to be split evenly for the nieces and nephews and presented to them when they are old enough to perhaps purchase their first car or to help with college, etc. It won’t be much, but my rifles will be loved and used instead of rotting in a safe somewhere and the kids will have a time in the future to remember me for something nice.
With the exception of one step-nephew who is just about a grown man now. For him, I‘m converting one of my competition rifles into a state-of-art varmint, mid-range precision rifle as he enjoys hunting and will actually get some years of enjoyment out of such a rifle.
My immediate thought is that there are "wildcats" that are just close relatives to off-the-shelf stuff and there are serious wildcats. I don't know what sort of wildcats you are talking about, but if you are talking about a 6x47 Lapua or a 22 Creedmoor, then I think it's reasonable to try and find a needy newcomer. If you've got stuff more like a 22 Waldog or a 17 Squirrel (which I'd call serious wildcats), then I think you need to list it for sale and find an interested buyer, at which point you can determine how much you like the person and cut them a great deal if it feels good.
!
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