Would you shoot it or keep it in the safe?

[Cinaet]

Not only would I not shoot it, I wouldn't handle it unless I was wearing clean gloves. Someone in your family thought enough of it to stash it away and never fire it. I'd carry on that tradition.

 

[FoRce5ReCoN]

there may have been tons of them made, but how many of them are still unfired and are still in original paper? you cant shoot it, a gun being that old and not being fired would make it worth more. keep it the way it is.

 

[tomthebaker]

I already shot it

Sorry

 

[m4man27]

Great story. I would make sure it isn't rusting and then put it away.

 

[_CY_]

got a Springfield 03A3 national match that sat in my gun safe for 20+ years in unfired condition. finally got her out to shoot in a Military rifle match at Sand Springs gun club

first outing ... O3A3 won the match ... unfair advantage was the grumble .. after inspection ... everyone agree that O3A3's match sights came from the factory, so was completely legal.

after cleaning 03A3 National Match was still in mint condition ... go shoot yours, it won't hurt it. odds are my 03A3 was proof tested by firing, so it was never in truly unfired condition.

 

[NikatKimber]

An unfired 03' Springfield is a rarity. Normally I'd always say shoot it or sell it, but not in this case. I'd have it appraised and find out how much value would be lost if it was fired at thsi point. There are plenty of shooter grade Springfields to be had, but unfired? Not so much...

Valid point, but if it's value is sentimental, then dollar value is irrelevant. If you decide to keep it regardless of value, then shoot it.

Put me in the "shoot it" camp, but then again, I've never had any firearms that had a heritage like yours. My collection is put together, first and foremost, with shooting in mind, so I've never gone out of the way to acquire a "safe queen."

Unless there's a premium value in unfired 1903's, I would shoot it. Carefully and with reverence and respect, to be sure. I feel that cars should be driven, paintings should be hung, tools should be used, and guns should be fired.

(Let's not talk about my collection of mint postage stamps...)

Even if there's a premium on unfired '03s, if selling is not an option, who cares?

Shoot it, and take your kids and grandkids shooting with it. They will have a lot more good memories associated with it that way than if it were just a wall hanger that they were never allowed to touch. Show them how to care for it and keep it in good shape.

The only reason not to shoot it would be to keep it more valuable in case you ever sell it. Personally I would never sell an heirloom like that, no more than I would sell the Arisaka my grandpa brought back from WWII. So shoot that sucker! They are great rifles, and loads of fun to shoot... especially at long range, like 500-800 yards. Popping steel with irons at that kind of distance is pretty awesome.

The above is exactly why I would shoot it. I would shoot it with my brother, with my dad, and with my kids and grandkids (both Lord willing some day).

If they dig it out and are like "Oh, I didn't know grandpa had this" it won't mean as much. If it's a treasured memory of their childhood, then it becomes far more valuable than any amount of $$$.

I don't have any such memories, or associated weapons, with my dad or grandparents; I sure wish I did, and I plan to do my dead-level best to give them to my descendants.

got a Springfield 03A3 national match that sat in my gun safe for 20+ years in unfired condition. finally got her out to shoot in a Military rifle match at Sand Springs gun club

first outing ... O3A3 won the match ... unfair advantage was the grumble .. after inspection ... everyone agree that O3A3's match sights came from the factory, so was completely legal.

after cleaning 03A3 National Match was still in mint condition ... go shoot yours, it won't hurt it. odds are my 03A3 was proof tested by firing, so it was never in truly unfired condition.

What he said. If you don't abuse it, ya ain't gonna wear it out.

 

[Old Fart]

I've had the pleasure of coming across several unfired "old" guns. All have been over 50 years old. They've all been fired since I have them. They were all manufactured to be shot, not looked at.

I have one unfired gun. It will probably remain that way as for me. It's a commerative gold plated colt in a very nice lined display case. It was made to look at. I was giving it for a token cost from a dying friend. I'd like to keep it that way.