So I simplified my life.

[Guy Miner]

I'm down to a pair of .22 rifles, one traditional muzzle loader, and six center fire rifles.

.204
.25-06
.308
.30-06
.300 WSM
.375 H&H

Still feel the urge to cut it down more. A good .22, the .25-06 and the .30-06 for hunting, and the .308 for target shooting would actually do it - but then I wouldn't have the really fun .204 & .375 anymore... And the .300 WSM - well even after all this time, it's still on thin ice with me. Who knows?

 

[Oldtrader3]

Fotis, I only have (7) centerfire rifles now: .204 Ruger, CZ527: .257 Roberts, Browning Custom: .270 Winc, Model 70 Super Grade Custom: 7mm Rem Mag, Interarms Mark X Custom, .30-07 Spring, Model 70 Winchester: .338 Federal, Sako Model 85: .340 Weatheby, Mark V Alaskan. This pretty well gives me at least one rifle and in most cases two choices, to hunt anything from varmit to Roosevelt elk.

Plus this, I have a shotgun and a couple rimfire rifles to keep the yard free of varmits. I had a completely full (28) gun safe when I retired, ten years ago. Health and financial issues have taken their toll but I still have what I need to get by and it sounds as though you do as well. Plus I have given away several long guns and revolvers to the kids and grandkids. I am thankful to still have what I do have and to have outfitted the kids and grandkids.

This does not even include the robbery where I lost (4) Colt pistols and most of my flyfishing gear. However, despite this home invasion robbery, I did not get hurt. I still get by and am thankful and happy to have those firearms which I am able to shoot once in a while. Life has its ups and downs, plus life is too short to worry about stuff that you no longer have. I have nearly died from health issues about (8) times in the past (10) years alone and been in the final death process (4) times during this period. I am just happy to be here still warm and breathing and continuing in sharing with life with my family, friends and pets.

 

[gerry]

I'm down to a pair of .22 rifles, one traditional muzzle loader, and six center fire rifles.

.204
.25-06
.308
.30-06
.300 WSM
.375 H&H

Still feel the urge to cut it down more. A good .22, the .25-06 and the .30-06 for hunting, and the .308 for target shooting would actually do it - but then I wouldn't have the really fun .204 & .375 anymore... And the .300 WSM - well even after all this time, it's still on thin ice with me. Who knows?

People might not like me saying this but I don't find a 30-06 or smaller 300 mag really much different. It would be the easiest to send down the road.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Gerry, I would keep my Model 70, .30-06 myself, because it is the most accurate game rifle that I own. I must admit though that my .300 Mags have killed things faster (DRT) than the .30-06 but not any more dead I did give up my .300 WSM though and still have the .30-06!

 

[SJB358]

All this talk of thinning the herd is crazy talk! Sounds like some kind of cult or something... Need to keep this contained before something bad happens! :lol:

 

[JD338]

All this talk of thinning the herd is crazy talk! Sounds like some kind of cult or something... Need to keep this contained before something bad happens! :lol:

Right on buddy, we need to inject a serious dose of RADD.
I think I need a M48 25-06, a 375 RUM and a 416 Rem. Might as well add a 30-06 since I don't currently have one.
Now might be a good time to get another safe too. :mrgreen:

JD338

 

[SJB358]

All this talk of thinning the herd is crazy talk! Sounds like some kind of cult or something... Need to keep this contained before something bad happens! :lol:

Right on buddy, we need to inject a serious dose of RADD.
I think I need a M48 25-06, a 375 RUM and a 416 Rem. Might as well add a 30-06 since I don't currently have one.
Now might be a good time to get another safe too. :mrgreen:

JD338

Yeah, I agree Jim! That would be a pretty awesome bunch of rifles. I know it is hard to look much further than you 280 and RUM though. Those two cover a whole lotta ground.

The wife mentioned she wanted to elk hunt the Fall of 2013, so I might have to make sure she is properly outfitted for that hunt as well!

 

[JD338]

Scotty,

Sounds like a 280 AI is in your brides future. :wink:

JD338

 

[Oldtrader3]

Scotty, I would think that the .270 WSM would be a good elk round for a woman, loaded with 140 grain Partitions? Not too much recoil, flat shooting and enough power. When my ex-wife hunted, she used a Rem Model 725, .30-06 with Leupold 2.5-8x36 VariX-III on it. She was deadly with that rifle. One of my friends here in Washington has been successfully using a .270 Weatherby Mark V for elk for 50 years.

Besides, 5-7 high powered rifles is still not handicapped, just slightly limited!

 

[Guy Miner]

Gerry - yeah - my .308/.30-06/.300 WSM rifles have a lot of overlap. No doubt. I think that's why the .300 is "on thin ice."

On the other hand, it shoots really, really good... Much more accurate than my beat up ol' .30-06 M1917. The 1917 though will never leave - it's a family rifle. They have permanent resident status here.

Guy

 

[Elkman]

I have probably sold at least 12 rifles and 5 pistols in the last few years. I still have at this time 4, 30 caliber magnums. There is really no overlap if I am unsure of what rifle will work for a particular big game hunt I take a 300 mag. For everything else I have a .223. There are a lot of other toys but the get down, go to, first choice, is the 300 mag.

 

[IdahoCTD]

All this talk of thinning the herd is crazy talk! Sounds like some kind of cult or something... Need to keep this contained before something bad happens! :lol:

Oh your preaching to the choir. Besides it would be too hard and take too long to sell them all.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I gave away almost as many to family, as I sold over the past 10 years. Most of the guns that I sold were mostly better grade, shotguns (over/under: Beretta's, Weatherby's, Brownings) and a few handguns (mostly Colt and S&W magnum revolvers). Besides, I would bet that I have owned 50+++ rifles in the past 50 years! I know that I have owned (28) Model 70 Winchester's, Carbines and Super Grades alone, plus a dozen or so Winchester, Pre-64 (first year production) and custom shop lever guns. So I think that I have paid my dues in this club!

I have only owned one .375 Ouch & Ouch (Model 70 African), (3) Pre-64 Alaskan .338 WM's and (2) Pre-64 Alaskan .300 H&H's. Plus several Browning High Power bolt actions and (4) Sako bolt actions, Beretta Mato bolt actions, plus a couple of Husqvarnas, Mannlicher Schoenauers and custom Mausers. I have been around this merry-go-round a few times! Come compare notes when you are an old f*rt like me, right DrMike? This does not count the pistols, Browning, HK, Walthers, Lugers, P-38's, et cetera, most Nazi marked. It is all a blurr now. But who cares! Add on multiple Ruger, Colts SSA, USFA, clones allsingle action hog legs. :mrgreen:

 

[DrMike]

Besides it would be too hard and take too long to sell them all.

Plus, you never get back what you invested in them.

 

[SJB358]

Scotty,

Sounds like a 280 AI is in your brides future. :wink:

JD338

That is why I was sorta interested in that M70 Featerweight 280.. I will keep my ear to the ground. I have made the Model 70 a search on Gun Broker, so I see them when they pop up.. I think a good 280 would be a PERFECT WOMAN's elk rifle! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: (HA! David, you thought you were going to best me did ya?)

Scotty, I would think that the .270 WSM would be a good elk round for a woman, loaded with 140 grain Partitions? Not too much recoil, flat shooting and enough power. When my ex-wife hunted, she used a Rem Model 725, .30-06 with Leupold 2.5-8x36 VariX-III on it. She was deadly with that rifle. One of my friends here in Washington has been successfully using a .270 Weatherby Mark V for elk for 50 years.

Besides, 5-7 high powered rifles is still not handicapped, just slightly limited!

I have some excellent loads for the 270WSM as well. Truth be told, if I put a good recoil pad on it for her, she wouldn't be handicapped in the least with that rifle. I have alot of faith in that rifle, even on elk. It may be a touch on the light side for me, but I know it would dig very deeply with 150 PT's and at 3100, it is very flat shooting out to 400 yards, enough so she wouldn't hardly have to adjust her aiming point from 0-400 very much on a chest shot. Might have to look into the recoil pad for it when I get home. I have a matching 7WSM as well, that would do more of the same.

She does have a little Ruger 308, and I shot it before I left with 165 AB's at around 2800 out of that rifle. Seemed plenty accurate and I know that would work fine out to 300 yards or so as well. I am not a huge fan of the 308, but it is a great carrying rifle and she shoots it very well. It needs a new scope, so I am hoping to drop a nice Minox on it and get her out to the range with it when I get home.

I think it would be a blast having her out in the elk woods..

 

[BK]

All this talk of thinning the herd is crazy talk! Sounds like some kind of cult or something... Need to keep this contained before something bad happens! :lol:

I'll do my best to fight the tide, Scotty!

 

[bullet]

this is the reason most of mine are put away for good or sold and it would be boring if it was not such an awesome killer in the field.

:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[Guy Miner]

Is that your .358 ?

 

[bullet]

Yes sir, it is Guy, my 358Win with a 225gr bullet and the load that moves 2556fps

 

[FOTIS]

What else do you need? (from a practical stand point)---notice I did not say want.