I want your honest opinions. I live in a state thats not friendly to AR’s. I do have a carry permit in this state as well. So heres my thoughts. I have a nice pistol I carry, but do not get to shoot half as much as I should to be proficient with it in a very bad situation. I have a rifle that I’ve setup the way I always wanted, but dont get to shoot as much either. Currently money is short, so I can not just go buy ammo when I feel like it. I’m thinking I should sell my rifle to fund ammo and training for my pistol. What say the members here? With the saturation of the market with uppers and rifles, I probably will lose money doing this. I guess my thought is my pistol can be with me at all times, when my rifle is in the safe unless I’m on private property. And if S ever hits the Fan, then I just have to fight my way to a rifle. I dont see how I can have both. Thanks for you opinions.
I’ve regretted selling a gun every time I have done it. Eventually I have replaced what I’ve sold and it costs me money. I wouldn’t sell anything if I were you, especially your rifle.
Unless you are selling to fund a newer/better rifle I wouldn’t. Market is soft as well and unless you are willing to get to take a substantial lose or it ain’t likely to sell quick anyway. Also, I understand the desire to want to train and not being able to, but if it is a quality piece, clean and lube it, leave it in the safe, and once funds allow then train, even if it is in two or three years.
I can relate to this, except for the fact I have my own property and shoot when I want.
I recently sold one of my two Sig SP2022s because I was in a pinch, I had already made a deposit on a German Rottweiler pup, a championship breed with a 20 year bloodline/family tree. As I awaited him to be born and ready for pick up finances went south. I lacked a few bucks to complete the purchase, so I sold a pistol to my local shop and lost my butt on it as far as money. It was a sacrifice I saw necessary to get my new best friend.
I buy my ammo from the same guy… it’s tough to see “my gun” in the case for sale.
Longtime customer I’ve been there he told me I could buy it back if it hung around for $25 more than what he gave me for it. But if you don’t HAVE to sell, hang on to it and be patient on the training.
Now if you need money to put food in your kids belly that’s a different story
The rifle is yours, It’ll be fine in the safe, selling it for practice ammo for the pistol will be shot up and gone.
Unless you absolutely need the money elsewhere, I would keep both as well. When funds for ammo are low, you can still dryfire and practice manipulations, mag changes, transitions, etc. at home. Then as funds allow, you can hit the range or get to structured classes.
There are any number of scenarios where your pistol could need repairs, be lost, stolen, etc. You would then need to rush out and buy a second firearm if you had none. Keep the rifle- see Kain’s comments above.
+1. Don’t underestimate the value of dry fire practice as suggested here. Get some dummy rounds and practice on the cheap. It doesn’t replace putting live rounds on target but it has its place in the training regimen and shouldn’t be ignored, especially in your circumstances.
I know these cost a little money, but have you thought about any laser systems for dry fire practice?
https://www.laser-ammo.com/SureStrike-Laser-Training-system.html
I can’t speak from experience with them but is something I’ve thought about trying to save ammo cost.
Just my .02 cents but unless I had to feed my kids I wouldn’t sell my only rifle. You will never be able to replace what you sold for what you got for it and once the cash is gone you have nothing. Dry fire practicing with your pistol is almost as good as the real thing if applied with disciple and purpose. Hang on to your hardware, work on your software as much as you can without spending money. Your financial situation will get better and then you can feed both guns again.
Please, keep your rifle.
As time and circumstances permit, consider moving to a gun friendly state like Texas.
Yes, I know, kinship, close friends, etc. have to be factored into your decision, but I’d move when moving is made possible.
All of my (other) loved ones live in N.E., but I just can’t imagine living is such hostile, anti gun states.
They want their citizens to be sheep…
Keep both. I can pick up a rifle and dominate an well trained version of myself with a pistol. A long guns should always be on hand, especially for HD and such situations. Pistols are for carry and backup IMO.
Well everyone agrees that I should put the rifle n the safe for now and bring it out when money permits. Thanks guys. Your help is appreciated.
You are making a good decision. Dry fire daily and shoot whenever possible. Whatever else you do, always keep the rifle.
Dry fire, weapons manipulation, drawing and presenting on target, mag changes, movement to cover, off hand practice of every drill, lots of ways to maximize your time when away from the range. If you can find an airsoft replica of your hangun you can even practice putting “shots” on paper from home! Imagination is your only limitation in training.
Selling a rifle generally isn’t going to get you enough ammo to justify the loss. If you can’t afford $3k of ammo per year, your focus should be on dry fire with low density/high value live fire.
Keep the rifle. It will doubtful be worth significantly less in a few years than it is now, unless you need it, in which case nothing else will fit the bill.
I have stepped up my dry firing since I posted and will continue to do so. I guess my concern was to be ready if a situation ever calls for me to use the pistol. I was looking at the rifle as a drain taking training time and ammo money from the pistol. With your insights I see that I can have both.
Keep the rifle.
I don’t work for/ get paid by NextLevel Training, but have the SIRT AR-bolt and dry fire with them. It’s my kettlebell.
Great during winter cabin fever.
Sell the rifle and use half the money to buy a cheap 12ga pump and the rest to buy ammo. Gotta have SOME kind of long gun these days.