Hi guys,

I haven't been on this forum in over a year and it's been about that long since I purchased a firearm. My collection of rifles, mostly Japanese type 99s and Mosin Nagants now has come to a screeching halt. My 03 FFL expires this coming February and I'm not sure I want to renew it.

To tell the truth about the direction of my collection or at least my thoughts on firearms is that I'm very turned off by the collector mentality now after many years. I had to take a good hard look at myself and ask why I felt I had to have racks full of firearms, many of them were gathered because of small variations such as dates, model or stocks or receiver styles or type of wood used, carbine or rifle but essentially they are all the same, this is true especially of the Mosin Nagants. I realized as I look upon my collection of nearly identical rifles that I was not a collector but rather a hoarder. There is a fine line between the two and as we know hoarders have a problem with reality. I find many people on any gun forum to be such kind of people and its seems that the hoarding of firearms is greatly promoted, talked about with indifference and even joked about. Many joke about Mosinitis for example and how those rifles seem to breed and multiply. We all laugh and shrug it off. But when I look at myself and realize I have 20 of essentially the same rifle I had to stop and take account of myself. I am/was essentially a fool. I say this for myself and make no judgment on anyone else as I am only accountable to myself. Also I can only speak for myself in saying that such an activity was only hurting myself both financially and as a human being.

I asked myself what is the American rifleman? My answer is a person who chooses his or her firearm with great care for their particular needs and then they master that firearm and become proficient with it like an extension of their person, They shoot it, clean it, maintain it and become a marksman and this is all that is needed. Should they decide that they need a better firearm the sell off the former and acquire the new piece. There is no collection, or history or coolness factor. There are no variations, restorations, bubbas or purists. It's just about responsible gun ownership with no military delusions of grandeur, camouflage tacticool fantasies or white glove purist arrogance bickering over stampings and patina.

Basically if you want to have a collection all you need is a collection of three. A good rifle, a good pistol or revolver and a good shotgun. That's it.

I suppose if gun owners limited themselves in this way, gun forums would eventually dry up and there would be no need for them. In my estimation that wouldn't be a bad thing... no offense.

So I have changed and my collecting has stopped. I'm not wanting to be self righteous. I chose to take a peek here on the forums after such a long time. I saw this post and it struck a nerve. I felt I needed to say my part even if most will disagree If the SHTF I can only grab one weapon and go. The rest will be left for the looters and zombies or what ever bogyman that people justify as a reason to buy firearms. Now I have all these rifles and no longer have a fervor for them although I still appreciate their history. I'm glad I got it out of my system finally but I wished I had been smart and not got caught up in the collecting frenzy or listen to those who promote it. I could have bought one good modern semi-auto and left it at that.

God bless all.
Jim