To Shoot, or not to shoot? THAT is the question

Zamo · 11-04-2007, 05:54 PM

Gentlemen,
In reading the posts in this and other forums, I see that a great many collectors would be positively aghast at the thought of "firing" their Lugers.
I can certainly see taking great pains to be very careful with a highly prized and very valuable Luger, but I can't see NEVER shooting it. Certainly the great average of everyday Lugers. I might not be inclined to shoot a truely "one of a kind" or even "one of 1000" type specimen worth in excess of $50,000 or more...Maybe if I had a Luger worth more than what I paid for mine, which was exactly what I got for the 1980 Yamaha YZ465G vintage dirt bike I sold to get it, I may be more inclined against shooting it.
I can easily understand having an "everyday" shooter, and plan on getting one, but even after I have a nice, low value shooter, I can still see taking a nice Luger carefully out to the range for a few rounds now and again. Probably on the scale of a magazine or two every six months to a year...maybe less. Maybe (though unlikely) more.
Having owned and fired numerous firearms for the last 30 years, it certainly seems to me that the greatest harm a pistol might endure is not while shooting it, but either the act of holstering and unholstering it, or the act of carelessly carrying it "in the field". Those and poor maintenance (rust from fingerprints, use of corrosive ammo, etc.) seem to be much greater a bain than firing a few dozen cartridges in a controlled range environment in my experiance.
These are weapons of war, designed and created to be shot thousands of times.
While I understand I am only the current custodian of a piece of history, I intend to shoot mine, that it may be fully enjoyed by someone who appreciates its whole value before the inevitable day when our American pistols have to be chopped and rendered paperweights like our poor cohorts in the UK have had to do.
Having said this, how many of you feel the same way, and how many have your hands up to your mouths right now?
How many shoot your nice Lugers once in a while, versus simply keeping them underglass in a climate controlled environment like old stamps?
Let me assure you, I in no way mean any disrespect to either breed of collector, I am simply curious as to whether I am an abomination or not.
I shoot my firearms. Use is not abuse.
I would also dare to say that it is inevitably more likely any blue wear any of my firearms sustain will probably be due to too much cleaning versus too much shooting. I am a former Marine, and was "educated" early on about firearms maintenence and frequent and diligent cleaning.
Just curious, where do you fit in?

11-04-2007, 05:54 PM	#1
Zamo User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 142 Thanks: 4 Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts	To Shoot, or not to shoot? THAT is the question Gentlemen, In reading the posts in this and other forums, I see that a great many collectors would be positively aghast at the thought of "firing" their Lugers. I can certainly see taking great pains to be very careful with a highly prized and very valuable Luger, but I can't see NEVER shooting it. Certainly the great average of everyday Lugers. I might not be inclined to shoot a truely "one of a kind" or even "one of 1000" type specimen worth in excess of $50,000 or more...Maybe if I had a Luger worth more than what I paid for mine, which was exactly what I got for the 1980 Yamaha YZ465G vintage dirt bike I sold to get it, I may be more inclined against shooting it. I can easily understand having an "everyday" shooter, and plan on getting one, but even after I have a nice, low value shooter, I can still see taking a nice Luger carefully out to the range for a few rounds now and again. Probably on the scale of a magazine or two every six months to a year...maybe less. Maybe (though unlikely) more. Having owned and fired numerous firearms for the last 30 years, it certainly seems to me that the greatest harm a pistol might endure is not while shooting it, but either the act of holstering and unholstering it, or the act of carelessly carrying it "in the field". Those and poor maintenance (rust from fingerprints, use of corrosive ammo, etc.) seem to be much greater a bain than firing a few dozen cartridges in a controlled range environment in my experiance. These are weapons of war, designed and created to be shot thousands of times. While I understand I am only the current custodian of a piece of history, I intend to shoot mine, that it may be fully enjoyed by someone who appreciates its whole value before the inevitable day when our American pistols have to be chopped and rendered paperweights like our poor cohorts in the UK have had to do. Having said this, how many of you feel the same way, and how many have your hands up to your mouths right now? How many shoot your nice Lugers once in a while, versus simply keeping them underglass in a climate controlled environment like old stamps? Let me assure you, I in no way mean any disrespect to either breed of collector, I am simply curious as to whether I am an abomination or not. I shoot my firearms. Use is not abuse. I would also dare to say that it is inevitably more likely any blue wear any of my firearms sustain will probably be due to too much cleaning versus too much shooting. I am a former Marine, and was "educated" early on about firearms maintenence and frequent and diligent cleaning. Just curious, where do you fit in?