Might be an age old question

TexasLife

Handloader
May 24, 2020
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Do you have a caliber (not cartridge) you own more of than any other or just play the field?

For me I've been a 26cal fan as of shooting more of 264wm back in junior high than a few other cartridges my dad had. The 264 was a gun he bought just out of HS. It is a pre'64 mod70. He claims he didn't like the recoil, so he bought a 270win. Like that has less recoil? It's a close race, but I have 4 different cartridges in 26cal (6.5gren, 6.5creed, 260rem and 264wm), which is 1 more than my 30cals (300bo, 308win and 300wm).
 
I grew up with .30 cals. My "first" deer rifle was an H&R Topper (30-30) that had a terribly hard trigger, bad sights. An underpowered 30 Carbine ( worried my first deer to death with it) until purchased my own 94 Classic Carbine 30-30 which I used until my early 20s. I also ("played with/shot alot) with a 1917 Enfield my uncle gave me when I was 16 and the long experience of finally getting it sporterized ( took about 18 yrs, what with the gunsmith leaving town with it and others' rifles) It was recovered by the Texas Rangers, he was down in Brownsville area. I was in Liberty county then) But, being loony at an early age, I have used from .22 to 458 cal. I still love/use a 300WM, I like a 270-7mm for a deer size rifle, and love the 6mms for predators. When I was taking my Godson to shoot Prairie dogs, the 204 Hornady was the berries!
 
Right now I am tied at 4 firearms each in 338 and 358, and tied at 3 each in 25 cal, 6.5, 7mm, 30 cal and 375.
338:
2 x 338 Federal, 338-06 and 338 Marlin Express (recently sold my 338 Win Mag)
358:
2 x 356 Win and 2 x 358 Win

25 cal:
2 x 250 Savage and a 250 AI
6.5:
6.5 CM, 6.5x55 and building a 6.5 PRC
7mm:
7mm-08, 280 Rem and 7MM STW (may be getting another 284 Win...)
30 Cal:
2 x 30-30 and a 300 WSM
375:
2 x 375 Win and a 376 Steyr

Shotguns, now down to 2, 28 ga...having just sold the third (sxs)
 
I too have a soft spot for the .264 cal. I have 5 rifles in 4 differ 6.5 cartridges. And for a pistol caliber i have 2 rifles and 4 revolvers in 357
Also have multiples in .243, .25, and .30
 
Now this is an interesting question. I think technically either .30s or .357, but I want it to be 35 cals. - Whelen, 350 Rem Mag, 35 Rem, .358 Win. The list goes on a bit (no desire for a .350 Legend), but you get the idea. In a related vein, I'd also like to have a collection based around a single parent cartridge; you know, collect all the -06 cartridges, for example (6.5-06, 25-06, 270, -06, 338-06, etc.).
 
Ha yes... .264 - I have 3 of them.1 Steyr Mannlicher Swede 6.5x55 and 2 Mannlicher Schoenauer's - one is a 'Takedown' the other a Stutzen... both original cartridge 6.5x54MSch.
I just love the slick bolt on the Mannlicher's and the fabulous & so cool rotary magazine on the MSch rifles. It's great fun dis-assembling the bolts too
 
Do you have a caliber (not cartridge) you own more of than any other or just play the field?

For me I've been a 26cal fan as of shooting more of 264wm back in junior high than a few other cartridges my dad had. The 264 was a gun he bought just out of HS. It is a pre'64 mod70. He claims he didn't like the recoil, so he bought a 270win. Like that has less recoil? It's a close race, but I have 4 different cartridges in 26cal (6.5gren, 6.5creed, 260rem and 264wm), which is 1 more than my 30cals (300bo, 308win and 300wm).
30 cal or give me death.

Actually...
When growing up my PaPa.. (grandfather.. but he was more my Dad than the real one)
This time of year he and my uncle would talk about hunting and shooting until wee hours of morning.
I'd just listen.
He had a 300 WBY mark V German made

Uncle had a 300 win mag
700 BDL from the 60's.
Blued steel but stainless underneath

I turn 12 all excited to hunt and they hand me a model 141 35 remington. LOL...what's this?

He said everyone had to use that and now it's yout turn.
DON'T USE pointed anmo was the message of that day...

After a year of lugging that s.o.b. i saved money and all set to get a BDL in 300 ...the store was out but had a .270

You know how kids can wait ...so that's exactly what I did.
Waited 10 seconds and bought the .270
I wasn't leaving the store without a rifle damn it.

I never liked that thing. 1" group was a challenge no matter the load.
Pretty thing...just not me.

Model 7 SS came out and had to have one. 7-08

Nice for the woods but still just didn't make me all giddy.

That said I went through at one time or another in 30 cal
308 win
300 wby
308 norma
30-40 Krag
Odd six
30-30
Plus a few more I'm forgetting as I only had them for a cup of coffee

The 300 WSM was introduced and I got a model 70 pre 64 action. Terrible synthetic stock (the original one with no insets and a recoil pad tougher than steel) there was no free floating bbl there. Nope...but this thing shoots. Best group I've ever shot was with that.
5 shots covered with a nickel.
Simple wooden notched front rest ( the ones you see at the range) sand bag rear.

I've since past that along to one of my sons. He put a hogue stock on it and we worked thr trigger. It's a great hunting rifle

Today I own several rifles in 300wsm and have learned all about it through and through.
It's so bad I avoid the used rack because if I find one I find another reason to need that particular one.

I own many firearms today...some might think it's embarrassing I might be able to arm a small borough 😯😯

So yes on both counts
I've a 30 cal sickness plus a 300wsm sickness

P.s. there is one more rifle...
...you know...
"I NEED"
And that's a 30 Kong
Someday I will have one just because
 
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.22- specifically rimfire. Would like to find a .17 mach 2, a 17 WSM, and a 17 Hornet though. CL
I had mentioned being out of the industry for a bit...
Are you saying the mach2 is hard to get now?

I used to sell them easily and they were plentiful when I managed a store for a few years around 2005ish
 
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