Sentimental Attachments to a less-than great gun
 

OK, need some help from y’all to help me determine if I’m being a bit silly here. Bottom line is that it does not look like I will be getting permission to hunt the private farm I was able to hunt last season, so it looks like I will primarily be hunting public land. Being on public land in Central VA means other hunters, especially on Saturdays (and especially opening days). I have always hunted from the ground, but I think that I would be much more unlikely to get hit with a stray bullet if I were up in a treestand. I was thinking about selling my slug gun (Marlin 512 Slugmaster) and using the money to buy a used climbing treestand. But, I will have a hard time selling that gun. If I make a list of pros and cons, I think I have to admit that my attachment to it is sentimental.

Pros
• I already own it and it is a legal means to take deer in shotgun-only counties (so is a muzzleloader, but holding multiple rounds allows the taking of multiple deer at once [or a quick follow-up shot available if ever needed])
• Similar to the first reason, I already own it and it can be used by another person that wants to learn to hunt (I don’t have very many deer-killing guns)
• I carried this gun around Pocahontas State Park my very first season hunting (many, many outings) and killed my first big buck with it (sentimental)

Cons
• The gun is fairly heavy (there are lighter slug guns)
• The trigger is insanely heavy and needs a trigger job ($$ to pay a gunsmith to do it, or $$ to buy the tools I need to do it myself)
• Recoil is ridiculous (a 20-ga slug gun has much lighter recoil than a 12-ga)
• The scope mount sits so far forward that the 4x Weaver I have for it won’t sit far back enough that you can see through it. So, in order to scope the gun, a gunsmith needs to tap the receiver and move the mount back an inch or so, or I have to find a scope with the dimensions and eye relief to work properly (a real PITA since the Weaver I have is pretty standard, dimensionally).

So, what do you say? Have you sold a gun that you had a fond memory of, and regretted it? I mean, on paper (and regardless of the need for funds to purchase a treestand), I should sell this gun and buy a Savage 220F. But, me being me, I would like to keep this gun and also buy a Savage 220F. :D

I think I would keep it for sentimental reasons and find a different way to get the money. It's probably worth a lot more to you than it ever will be to anyone else

Heavy - bad trigger - nasty recoil - sight system not user friendly????

Sell that sucker. You'll get over it in about two days. ;)

i say sell it . then you can make new memories with a new gun!

I'd have to disagree here, I don't think I will ever sell a gun again- I've sold a couple and regretted it every single time. If it were up to me, I would keep it and live with its flaws....

It sounds like you would be wise to sell it as it has to many problems to be worth fixing up.
As for buying a used climber, I would be very careful there also.
I found all the climbing stands I tried to be expensive and just a bit wobbly. I ended up with a set of strap on steps that I can use anywhere and a light aluminium strap on stand and have found it works well for me.

I won't ever sell any of my guns. I sold one and regret it. I have been thinking of getting a new muzzleloader, but the one I have is the first one i have ever owned. I also killed my biggest deer with it. So there are always pros and cons but never sell your guns. Just buy more lol

Sell the slug gun.

Whether I would sell it would depend on how much I can get for it to cover the cost of the stand and whether I use it regularly. If you can get enough $$ for it, likely go for it. Should you need a shotgun for one of those occasional shotgun only hunts, a single shot H&R or Rossi comes pretty cheap. I don't collect guns so I will only buy/keep what I know I will use (one exception is a gun my dad restored).

If its for sentimental value, keep it! I have a Tikka M65 in 30-06, that my father bought for me 25 years ago. I was going to sell it and buy an Encore, before I bought my Triumph. My thought swapping barrels... right. Even though I haven't hunted with it for sometime and rarely shoot it, there's plenty of memories tied to it.

shot a deer(first one) keep it.......every time you shoot it you'll remember, my first deer was with a bow I still got it...

I love my 512. Does yours have a wood or synthetic stock? I'm thinking wood if you say the gun is heavy. If synthetic I may be interested.

The market for 512s is pretty good. It will sell quickly if it's in good shape.

I don't know why you have a problem with the scope mount. Mine is fine with a Bushnell 1.5-4.5 variable. The easy answer is to shorten the stock a bit. This will help with the forward-positioned bolt handle too.

I guess the only way I'd sell it is if you really need the money to buy the next gun.

I know how you feel... its a tough call. I own my 2 great-grandfathers shotguns. One is an old single shot and has his last hunting liscense in the stock and the other is an old modle 19 marlin thats unfireable and can never be made so......and I'd never sell either one

If you can get a good price for it then sell it and get the Savage 20 gauge.
Wait to purchase a tree stand until after you get the new gun.