My gun is too pretty to shoot!

You can shoot most guns quite a bit without showing a lot of wear on them provided you don't abuse them and you don't holster them. Sure, you'll get a turn ring and maybe a bit of muzzle burn on a revolver. Maybe the barrel hood on a semi-auto will show a bit of wear after you shoot it. But, unless it is an out of production gun with some collector interest, why the heck should you not shoot it? You'll be dead and gone when somebody takes that bright, shiny gun and puts 300 rounds through it the day you're buried.
 
There's no such thing as "too purdy to shoot".

That's like a wife being too purdy for her husband to kiss. It just ain't so.

They're your guns, so do with them as you wish. Me? I shoot all of mine. If I want to invest, I'll find something else to put money into. Coins, stamps, precious metals, or whatever.

Daryl
 
No gun I have is too pretty to shoot. Maybe too pretty to be banged around in the woods, or wagged around in a holster, but never too pretty to shoot!:D

i try to justify this by claiming they are investments and i dont want to ruin them.
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Does not apply! Investments are something you eventually sell for a profit, hopefully!

RULE # 1
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You only get one life, and you can't take them (your guns) with you when you leave. I am of the camp that believe that I am NOT a curator for some guns that will ultimately go to someone else to be stored and occasionally fondled without being shot. I want to be the guy that puts the wear on them, collectors be damned. I may not wear them out, or put ENOUGH wear on them in my lifetime, but I am going to try. I have some pretty guns, but everyone of them gets carried (occasionally, as that task gets passed between them) and shot. I would LIKE to wittle down to "that one gun", but I am a promiscuous gun owner.......I love them all. It would be nice to be known to favor just one gun, but that is so hard to do. Perhaps as I get even older (I'm already half way ther or more), I'll be able to have a clear favorite. Before then, I am guilty of having more than one of the same type, just in case I DO wear one out, it breaks, or just to make sure I am never without one (of its kind).
 
You are not alone.

One's choice of a carry pistol arguably should be based on which pistol (if you have more than one) is the most reliable. For me, I look at my mostest favoritest pistols and think about one of them sitting in a police evidence room if I ever had to use it for its intended purpose -- and I can't bear the thought. So I bring out a beater, and tweak it until it's 101 percent reliable. And that becomes my carry gun.
 
Aguila Blanca, I hear people make that statement (or read it in the forum) all the time.

I have guns I really like. I don't like any of them as much as I like breathing, and waking up to a new day. I don't like any of them nearly as much as I love my wife or family. I don't like any of them as much as I love any of my dogs.

If I lose a gun to an evidence locker, but keep breathing, waking up, spending time with wife and family, and playing with my dogs - that's a fantastic trade.

I carry guns that I shoot very well, and that I trust. I don't own a gun that's too good to lose to evidence locker abuse (and I own at least one or two high-end guns).
 
So I bring out a beater, and tweak it until it's 101 percent reliable. And that becomes my carry gun.
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I don't think the OP was even talking about CCW. Just shooting his safe queens makes him nervous.
It's his choice. If he wants to keep them as decorators, or museum pieces that's up to him. My choice is to make mine go boom as much as possible!
 
Can anyone give me a good reason why any of us should have a gun that we use in self defense, and is taken into evidence, suffer any kind of abuse or neglect by the police or other authorities? It think that is a travesty of any kind of "justice", and worthy of lawsuits, or worse. There is no reason that I can think of that private proerty should be abused like that. I hope they (the police) are not going to key both sides of my car, should it ever be stolen and recovered by the police. That would make about as much sense as allowing a gun to be damaged while in custody. :confused:
 
My HK P7M8 is so beautiful and precious that I can't fire her anymore.

If I can pick another one up I will, but the ones that I find are pretty expensive, I'll probably end up geting a PSP and having Robar NP3+ it.
 
So I bring out a beater, and tweak it until it's 101 percent reliable. And that becomes my carry gun.
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And that's fine. If the gun is reliable and you can shoot it, that's what counts. As Carry_24/7 said, it looks like the OP is concerned about even shooting his guns.

Can anyone give me a good reason why any of us should have a gun that we use in self defense, and is taken into evidence, suffer any kind of abuse or neglect by the police or other authorities?
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I think the problem here is that the gun is just another piece of property that will be stored on a shelf for several months. Over time, it might rust. If it's got blood on it from a shooting, the police will leave it on there because it has evidentiary value. If they clean it, they destroy potential evidence.

I have and do carry both relatively inexpensive handguns and relatively expensive handguns. I mostly don't let the cost of one keep me from carrying it but I can understand why some people feel differently about this.
 
I don't care if the gun is 1 year old or 110 years old. If I buy it, I will shoot it. I may not conceal carry an antique gun, but the thing is going to come out of the safe and get fired once in a while. Otherwise what is the point of owning it?:confused:

I would make an exception if it was a truly rare and irreplaceable firearm (one of a kind or one of a handful,) or had such extreme historical importance that the gun should be kept in a museum....but since I am not extremely wealthy, I doubt I will ever own a firearm that meets that criteria. :(
 
Beretta 92's aren't particularly rare or collectible. They are produced 1000 at a time on an assembly time to this very day. It's like holding onto a current production Ford F-150 because it's too pretty to drive. There's no reason you can't, but why would you?

The other part is that guns are terrible investments. For an ordinary mass produced firearm, you'd be lucky if the value kept up with inflation.

Stainless steel is also easy to maintain. And if it comes down to it, you can polish out scratches if they aren't too deep.

Also, you have two stainless ones. You might as well shoot one.
 
I have to agree with American Eagle and others IMO whats the purpose of having it if you don't shoot it. Its like buying a 4x4 truck and never using it's four wheel drive capability, why even have it? You can do what you want but even my dad who has a class 3 BAR and Thompson he will take them out on occasion and shoot them and both are collectors. But that is the rule at our house we buy it, its bought out to be used. We all worry about scuffs marks and dings, if we are careful they will always is that condition. But do as you wish your call I don't see no purpose in having something that you never having intentions of using. If you are well to do and you can great but you will never know the feeling of firing it if you never take that plunge.
 
i am sure this is some sort of mental problem. but it would be comforting to know i am not the only one.
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The only one with safe queens. Probably not. 92 fs's yep you're the only one. In my opinion they are a run of the mill gun having 2 in my safe and both get a lot of use. I shoot my Python on a regular basis and to me safe queens are a waste of money. Why own it if you don't want to enjoy it using it for what it is intended for SHOOTING!:eek:
 
I buy some guns simply because of a unique design. I will disassemble the gun and become quite familiar with its design and operation, but I may never actually shoot it. I really don't have to fire a cartridge in a gun to enjoy and appreciate it. An example of this is my COP 357 - never shot it, but have taken it apart several times. The design is fascinating to me.
 
What does the pistol think?

Frankly I bet you guys that have safe queens **** them off. Think of the poor lonely gun sitting in the dark safe, not being used. She must feel neglected at the very least.

Guns are made for one purpose only and that is to shoot bullets. So get those beauties out of the safe and bang away, just don't scratch her!
 
OP, you paid for them - do what you want with them.

Aside from something rare and collectible, which doesn't fit a 92, I personally wouldn't spend money on a pistol I didn't intend to shoot. Resale value of a 92 is not going to drop that much if it is fired, and it doesn't have to get dinged up taking it to the range. A pistol rug and a little care in handling can keep it from getting seriously marred, and you can still feel that pride of ownership and enjoy shooting a very fine pistol like a 92.

But like I said at the top, it's your choice. If just knowing you own them is enough for you to enjoy them, you have yourself some lovely and shapely safe queens. Just don't expect to retire on the profits, because there isn't likely to be any of substance.
 
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