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Sell or Keep These Two Rifles

6K views 17 replies 12 participants last post by  unclepaddy 
#1 ·
I have two rifles that are fairly unique in the USA that bought in the 90's and I have hunted them some and taken game with both of them they are relegated safe queens as I don't want to tear them up hunting them as I have lots of other rifles to hunt with now.

The first is a Sig Sauer Model 200 in 308 that has the smoothest bolt action I have ever handled. There just aren't that many Sig Sauer 200 and 202's brought into the USA. I got lucky and bought this one new on a close out sale for $500 and today they are selling for around $1500 today.

The second one is an H&R 301 Ultra rifle that was made between 1965 -1972 with the Fabrque National Belgium action and Douglas barrel a custom California style stock. They made the 300 ultra-rifle with a fancy Monte Carlo stock with contrasting end cap and grip cap. They made far less of the Model 301 with the mannlicher stock then the Model 300 which was the bulk of their production. The switched to Sako actions in 1973 and they were used until 1977 and then they switched to the Mauser type X action made in Yugoslavia. All production of these rifles ended in 1983. I bought this as new for $500 and today the model 300 sells for around $1000 if original and in great condition.

I owned about 5 model 300 and the 1 Model 301 over the years and have given my son a FN version in 270 and I currently have a Model 300 in 30-06 with FN action and a Model 300 in 243 with the Sako action and the 25-06 talked about above.

Any it's hard for me to decide whether to sell these two rifles or keep them as safe queens. The only thing driving me to sell is I'm 68 years old and I have way more rifles then I can hunt with and the safe is really crowded. I just want some advice on what your thoughts are. If I sell them I will pull the scopes off and sell them with the rings and bases on and go for top dollar on Gunbroker.
 
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#2 ·
If you don't use them to hunt or shoot, then I'd sell them.

When I hit 65 I stopped buying guns (except for a 10-22 that followed me home from Montana one day). Now like you I'm thinning oout myyears of hoarding rifles, pistols and shotguns. I'm finding that relatives really want their own style guns, no free to good home happenings.
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Would you replace these rifles with another firearm?
 
#4 ·
Well I will be doing a major thinning of the herd over the next couple of years because I've been a massive buyer of guns over the past 5 years including a collection of S&W revolvers. My kids have no interest in the revolvers and as far as hunting rifles go they both have a collection them selves. Plus as I accumulated this herd I did so thinking these were part of my 401K and that I could selll them when ever I wanted to fund vacations and the such. I have bought 3 rifles in the past 6 weeks so I obviously hadn't got the memo yet from my brain to stop buying as it's time to start selling and stop buying!

I bought 2 Savage American Classic Model 14's one in 308 and the other in 270 Win and I picked up a used Browning A-Bolt Madiallion in 25-06. It was the 25-05 Browning that got me thinking of selling the H&R 301 Ultra rifle in 25-06. Then I started looking at the bigger picture which is to start downizing my gun collection because we never know when a health issue may not give up time to do what's needed and one that would not leave me no time sell them and then leave that burdon on my Kids.

It would be a masive chore for them to have to sell them and on the S&W revolvers they have no idea what they are worth and how some are worth much more then they would think.

Anyway thanks for the imput as it's helping push me in the right direction.
 
#3 ·
I'm with Harry on this one. I have no safe queen rifles, but I suppose each to his own.
 
#5 ·
They are your firearms and only you can decide if they should be kept or sold. The opinions of others don't amount to spit.
 
#6 ·
I also own a good number of hunting rifles and have chosen to sell off some safe queens at times, as well. Some of mine have been sold to finance "other" rifle purchases and some have even been sold to buy some pricey scopes. Either way, I figured I did the right thing for me. Another consideration for me is that I'd not want to leave the decision as to what(?) they might be worth, or sell for, to someone else, should I not be here tomorrow. In other words, I have chosen to take the "worry" of divesting at least some of my collection out of the hands of those that might be confounded should I not be around to advise on their sale. (I do also have a professional appraisal on all my rifles, but sometimes that's not quite enough)

The reality to me as I watched some very favorite guns of mine get labeled & shipped at the local UPS depot was not nearly as scary as I'd worried it would be. I trust the rifles are now being used or at least cared for and the use I got from them remains a part of their history and I'm not bothered by one single sale.

For the record, I find GunsAmerica to be a better platform for selling quality rifles. Many buyers of such guns are not at all interested in a "bidding" scenario. Just my personal opinion, of course.

Good Luck!!
 
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#9 ·
I don't think so but that would be a smoking steal of a deal if you could find one and someone did actually sell it to you for that. I actually owned a Sig Sauer Model 202 Supreme in 270 Win that I bought off Ebay when they could sell guns and it was topped with a Leupold 6x20x40mm scope that I bought for $1000. I took off the scope and sold it for $500 on Ebay and replaced it with a Leupold Vari-XII 3x9x40mm. I had it for 10 years but the stock was so blasted awesome I would only shoot it at the range. Well two years ago I traded it for a Browning Citori O/U with 3 inch chambers with screw in chokes, a Browning A-bolt in 223, and $300 in cash.
 
#13 ·
I live in Arkansas and I do an annual hunt back to Colorado for Elk every year as I lived there for 21 years and I've hunted with same guys for 29 years. I own 16 rifles and a muzzle loader so a lot of my rifles don't get hunted and when I say a safe queen they still go to the rifle range but some don't get hunted. It's hunting where you scratch up a rifle especially in snow in the Colorado mountains where you can fall a lot.

My caliber range goes from 22LR to 338 Win mag with several doubles in Caliber along the way. In Arkansas I basically only hunt Whitetail Deer and I belong to a club that leases about 6900 acres of land. The deer here are rather small compared to the Colorado Mule Deer and any caliber between 243 and 308 does a more then adaqate job. I usually use a 25-06, 270 Win or a 308 and my hunting partner uses a 243 or 270 Win.

I'm finally reaching the point at 68 to start selling some of my guns and reduce my collection. I'm starting with the some on the more unique ones that I don't hunt anymore and take to the range maybe once a year.
 
#15 ·
Simply do as you want. I'll simply say that I truly enjoy my entire collection and also constantly have something to do with "it" whether it's cleaning, shooting or hunting with any one of them. Not everyone "enjoys" firearms, as many simply "use" them. I say there's nothing wrong with either outlook. There's nothing wrong with a fella that hunts every day with the same rifle, but there's also nothing wrong with a fella that might use 10 or 15 in a single season of hunting either. ;)
 
#16 ·
I couldn;t agree more, TN. My last post was more tongue-in-cheek than anything. I do have to keep myself in check though, as it seems every animal I want to hunt brings to mind a special caliber or rifle that I want to hunt it with....and it's usally one I don;t already own. ((:)D)))

For an upcoming oryx hunt, I can;t decide: should I take the 30-06?....or the 300Sav? Should I try to get close enough for the 35Rem? Or......do I need to look for a new rifle in 280Remington.....or maybe 260 Remington...

So..I can sympathize with Fyimo, but I still don;t want any that are just for the safe.
 
#17 ·
About the only guns I have that at not subject to sale or trade are the family heirlooms that will be passed down in the family. All other are to be used or traded for one to use. In my 60 years I have owned well over 300 different firearms and enjoyed every one of them.
 
#18 ·
I have turned loose of very few guns in my life time, and I regret every one of them. That doesn't mean much though, because you are you, and not me. Just think it through. The very fact that you think to ask indicates to me that you probably want to be talked out of it. Here's a good reason to keep them: In my opinion, people who have collected even a modest number of guns will soon realize they have an asset akin to a pile of gold. Even if I'm wrong about that, they will certainly continue to increase in value. A much surer bet than nearly any investment right now, IMHO.
 
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