Category: Newbie Collectors

Many people would love to collect guns but there are so many awesome guns out there, that you may feel overwhelmed. Gun collecting is a great hobby so don’t give up! We’ll go over all of the basics to consider before starting, and even go over what our favorite ammo is for using with your collection. We personally like Tula ammo.

Here are five ways that will help you get started.

Choose Which Guns You’d Like to Collect

This is the very first thing to do. You may already be drawn to one type of gun but if you’re a beginner, you need to narrow it down. One of the ways to do this is to research which part of history you like most. This could be World War I or II, the War of Independence, the Wild West or contemporary guns. If you’re drawn to historical weapons, check out Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values which is a must have for any gun collector. If you’re after something more modern, your go-to book is S.P. Fjestad’s Blue Book of Gun Values, now celebrating its 35th Anniversary in print.

Go and Look at Guns at a Gun Show and Join a Club

You can search for Gun Shows near you at The NRA website. You can also search for your nearest Gun Collectors organization from the same page. Gun collectors are very sociable and love to talk about their collections so you can get some great information. You will also get to see lots of guns so you can continue to decide which ones to concentrate on as a collector yourself.

Going to a gun club is a great idea because although you can learn a lot of information from the net, books and magazines, to fall in love with one you need to be able to hold it. Gun collectors love to show off their items so it’s a good opportunity to do this.

Sign Up for Magazine Subscriptions

Don’t balk at the cost. If you’re going to collect guns then you’re going to part with some cold hard cash so doing some research will save you a lot of wasted time and wasted money. The magazine websites have a lot of useful information too.

Try:

• Guns & Ammo
• Guns Magazine
• Shooting Times
• And the highly popular Man at Arms

Ready to Start? Don’t Go Crazy!

For your first gun, try and resist the pistols owned by George Washington. A pair of steel mounted saddle pistols owned by him were sold in 2002 at an auction in New York for a cool $2 million.

Like we said, start small.

Lighten Up

It’s a fact that you will probably make a mistake or two along the way. Everyone does so try not to beat yourself up about it. Take it as par for the course and most of all, remember to enjoy your new hobby. Although we are sure that you will!

Don’t Forget That Guns Are for Shooting

If you need some ammo for your gun collection you need to look at Tula ammo. With the approval of Emperor Alexander II, Tula ammo was founded in 1880 and is still privately owned and going strong today. Tula ammo is known for amazing quality at affordable prices so treat your new collection to ammunition from this historic company.

People collect a lot of things as a hobby. Stamps, coins and vintage artifacts are the common ones. But there are some folks out there who like to tread the unusual path by collecting guns and other firearms. It is wrong to consider such people as fanatics or someone to stay away from. Like any other hobby, gun collection is a passion shared by many. Most hobbyists do it for the history associated with the gun/firearm or just out of their sheer interest in guns. If you are also looking towards starting this as a hobby, it can get a little overwhelming to pick up the first gun for your collection. We’ll go over all of the basics, including whether or not 7.62x54r ammunition is right for your collection and how to choose the right ammo.

Taking the Baby Steps in Your Gun Collection Hobby

First of all, you need to choose the kind of guns that you would like to collect. They can be a part of the history like the ones belonging to the period of World War II or from the 18th century. Start from the events that entice you and start looking out for guns from that era. Once you narrow down your interests, the act of collecting guns can be made simple too. Research upon the guns used in that period so that you know what exactly you are looking for.

Read as many magazines or books specializing in guns. Attend workshops, seminars or gun shows. All these will expose you to the various aspects of gun collections, teach you more about handling them and ensure that you have enough knowledge that you don’t get duped. Talk to other gun collectors. They will surely guide you through the whole process and probably give you better guidance. You can learn from their mistakes and consult them when you purchase the first gun for your collection.

Make sure that your first investment is something small. Spending less would ensure that even if you make a mistake, the damage isn’t too heavy on your pockets. You may also like to invest in the right ammunition to make your collection complete—for instance, the 7.62x54r ammunition may or may not be the appropriate choice for the gun collected by you. Choose accordingly.

The Proud Collector

It will take some time to understand the nuances of gun collection. Don’t regret if you freeze your choice on the wrong weapon or take time to learn about guns. Over time, you’ll get the necessary experience and knowledge to become a master in the game. Once you cross that bridge, you can join the squad of proud gun collectors.

All the best.

If you’re thinking of collecting guns, there’s a lot of information out there, from the most valuable pieces to add to your firearm collection to guns that are most likely to increase in value. But to the novice gun collector, it becomes overwhelming.

To make things a little easier, and take some of the pressure off, here are three tips to get your collection started, regardless if you’re spending $200 or $2,000.

Novice Gun Collector Tip 1:

Every gun collection must start somewhere, so don’t worry too much about that necessary first piece. While some people collect any and all firearms they can, most have some sort of theme to their gun collections. Some common themes include:

• Historical periods, such as World War II era or guns from the wild West
• Gun styles, like historic 1911s or flintlock rifles
• Manufactures, including Ruger or Glock
• Application, such as hunting rifles or self defense pistols

Other times, the collection may have a more general theme, like old guns or guns from movies. And remember, it’s okay for your collection’s theme to simply be “guns I like to shoot.”

Novice Gun Collector Tip 2:

If you don’t know what gun to buy, but want to start your  collection with a bang, choose a gun that’s either no longer manufactured or one that’s imported. Be sure it’s in good working condition and of a decent quality. Imported, high-quality guns almost always hold their value and those that are no longer available are only going to become harder to find, increasing their worth.

Novice Gun Collector Tip 3:

When you can, buy the best. That doesn’t mean you should cash out your 401(k) to buy a gun you can’t afford, it means when given a choice between an okay gun and a good gun, opt for the good gun if it’s in your budget. Again, don’t break the bank. Every gun in your collection should be two things: a gun you like and a gun you can afford.