Shoot It or Keep it Mint?

[Doc Safari]

Right after the election debacle here in New Mexico, with a governor-elect being very much anti-AR and standard cap mags, I decided to purchase another Colt M4 "just because I can."

Normally, I can't stand not shooting a firearm I own at least once to make sure it doesn't have a major issue right off the bat and to get it sighted in at least with irons.

In this case, though, I'm thinking about keeping it new and unfired to help it hold its value.


Note that I own enough Colts that I don't NEED to shoot this one to have an HD weapon or even a range toy. It was just an "I'm gonna buy another one just because" purchase.

What would you do? Shoot it or keep it NIB?

[WickedWillis]

Right after the election debacle here in New Mexico, with a governor-elect being very much anti-AR and standard cap mags, I decided to purchase another Colt M4 "just because I can."

Normally, I can't stand not shooting a firearm I own at least once to make sure it doesn't have a major issue right off the bat and to get it sighted in at least with irons.

In this case, though, I'm thinking about keeping it new and unfired to help it hold its value.


Note that I own enough Colts that I don't NEED to shoot this one to have an HD weapon or even a range toy. It was just an "I'm gonna buy another one just because" purchase.

What would you do? Shoot it or keep it NIB?

If it doesn't have a role currently, just keep it mint I would say. If things get really bad you can always move it for a profit.

[donlapalma]

I would keep it NIB. Like you said, you have plenty of other firearms to shoot so bang on those and keep this one tucked away.

[markm]

Run a few full clips through it.

[J4ggy]

Fellow NM here. Sounds like you bought it as an investment and, since you have other AR’s, it wouldn’t hurt to keep it NIB as long as you can.

Who knows what craziness will hit our state. There may even be a no grandfather clause that would deny us to resell “assault” weapons or high capacity magazines to residents. You could possibly sell it out of state but there is potential that it wouldn’t be worth more than you paid for it if the ban isn’t a national one.

[Doc Safari]

I should add that I did complete inspection on it to make sure all the staking was done, the BCG is "C" and "MPC" marked.

For a collector the only "iffy" thing is that the serial number starts with "CR" instead of "LE" but that wouldn't (and didn't) stop me from wanting it. I suspect the serial number fetish represents a tiny universe of Colt buyers.

[Doc Safari]

Fellow NM here. Sounds like you bought it as an investment and, since you have other AR’s, it wouldn’t hurt to keep it NIB as long as you can.

Who knows what craziness will hit our state. There may even be a no grandfather clause that would deny us to resell “assault” weapons or high capacity magazines to residents. You could possibly sell it out of state but there is potential that it wouldn’t be worth more than you paid for it if the ban isn’t a national one.

If I had to sell it out of state I can just put it on consignment at a gun shop in El Paso, Texas (or at least I could a few years ago).

Although it has been almost impossible to get gun laws passed in NM historically, people are saying this time might be different since our state is turning dark blue. The legislature is hamstrung by time limits on their sessions, so they usually spend all their time on budget items. But you never know.

I'm thinking down the road ten years or so. If the mass-shootings eventually turn the national political atmosphere toward restricting or outlawing these firearms, then just because it's a new, unfired Colt M4 might make it worthwhile to hold onto until I turn retirement age and then try to sell it.

I'm told by several sources that the younger generation may not be picking up the enthusiasm for the gun culture and in a few years we may have a LOT more to worry about. That could also be a bunch of hooey.

Another consideration: Not that my M4 will become a sought-after collectible, but you never know. Twenty-five years ago I owned a Colt "Match Target". I recently saw a NIB example that actually sold on one of the auction sites for several times what I paid for mine. That kind of made me want to buy another "just cuz."

[Stickman]

Test fire it. It won’t alter the value as it is test fired at the factory anyway.

[Stickman]

Run a few full clips through it.

Give it so much clips!!

[MistWolf]

Why did you buy this new Colt? To have another to shoot, or to sell for a profit? If the former, go shoot it and don't look back. If the latter, leave it in the box and put it away. There's no guarantee you'll make much (If any) money on the deal, but the rifle and the packaging will be worth more kept as pristine as possible.

You can always buy another so you've got one to keep and one to shoot.