Three or four rifles only?

[Guy Miner]

Take a gander at this rifle battery, and comment if you will please:

.22 rimfire, Marlin 39A, scoped - small game, practice, short-range varminter

.204 Ruger, CZ 527, scoped - varmints at longer ranges (varmint shooting is important to me)

.308 Win, Rem 700 precision rifle (custom stock, barrel etc, a bit heavy) - rifle competitions, occasional varmint or longish range deer hunts - it's really a bit too heavy for general purpose hunting, but great on the firing line at the range

.30-06 Model of 1917 - general purpose deer, elk, black bear, or pretty much anything that doesn't need a really big rifle...

I figure that if I re-barreled the .308 to a .243 Win or 6mm Rem, I could still use it in competition, and it would be an even better varmint rifle, so I could actually cut out the .204 Ruger and get down to three rifles... What say?

For some reason, I'm reallly getting into a "less is more" mindset, and am contemplating further clearing out the gun safe, cutting down to a few really useful rifles, shotguns and handguns...

 

[JD338]

Guy,

Looks good for what you are wanting to do. Are you still thinking of a 375 H&H? That would have you covered for anything you would even want too hunt. Another option for flexibility would be to replace the 30-06 (ug! :shock: ) with a 300 Win Mag. You can load down to 30-06 levels and load up for big, nasty and long range hunting.
Where does the 45-70 fit in?

JD338

 

[jmad_81]

Well I would have to go with the 6mm and sell the 204. That would get you to the three rifles so when that smoking deal comes along on that 375 you can get it and still have four guns in your safe!

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

.243 is a very flexable caliber, but if you like varmit shooting, how about a 22-250?

.22
22-250/.243
30.06
.375/45-70
sounds pretty good!

 

[.405]

Nice selection, but I would have to keep the .308 and I would replace the 06 with a .375H&H .Or just keep what you have and add the .375.Then you would have everything covered nicely. 8)
I am with ya, I am fixing to tighten the screws down tighten on what I buy and spend.

 

[bullet]

It looks sound to me and thought out well.

 

[Powerstroke]

Guy,

You know where I'm going to go with this if you're going to rebarrel the .308. The .260 or 6.5 X 47 Lapua would cover you on the smaller end with very light recoil. Obviously cover you even better @ the range and some long-distance targets. Excellent round on the deer too.

Short of that I'm a huge 22-250 fan, but not sure if you can hunt with that in your state ? It's a no go here.

I hear you on the too many issue....one seems to spend too much time tinkering between all of them to really enjoy one or two.

 

[FOTIS]

Take a gander at this rifle battery, and comment if you will please:

.22 rimfire, Marlin 39A, scoped - small game, practice, short-range varminter

.204 Ruger, CZ 527, scoped - varmints at longer ranges (varmint shooting is important to me)

.308 Win, Rem 700 precision rifle (custom stock, barrel etc, a bit heavy) - rifle competitions, occasional varmint or longish range deer hunts - it's really a bit too heavy for general purpose hunting, but great on the firing line at the range

.30-06 Model of 1917 - general purpose deer, elk, black bear, or pretty much anything that doesn't need a really big rifle...

I figure that if I re-barreled the .308 to a .243 Win or 6mm Rem, I could still use it in competition, and it would be an even better varmint rifle, so I could actually cut out the .204 Ruger and get down to three rifles... What say?

For some reason, I'm reallly getting into a "less is more" mindset, and am contemplating further clearing out the gun safe, cutting down to a few really useful rifles, shotguns and handguns...

22- no brainer a keeper

204--- sell it


308 rebarell to 6mm rem heavy barrel 100 gr PTs at 3300 fps flat as hell and the varmint weights are not too shabby either.

30-06 workhorse keep it


On a different note what happened to he 7mm ruger #1 beauty?

 

[YoteSmoker]

I would keep the 22, 204, 308 or 30-06, and 7 mag. I recently went through the same thing and gave a bunch of guns either to my dad or back to him and kept 204 and 22-250 for varminting (always nice to have two in a prairie dog town) 308 target rifle, 7 rem mag and 300 ultra mag for big game hunting (nice to have both on a big game adventure, catered to the game and possible range I'm hunting). I do have an FN 270 Win that needs refinishing, but I haven't even begun to work on it yet...maybe someday when I find the time.

 

[Guy Miner]

JD338 - the .45/70 Marlin was sold to a friend who is a big bore fanatic and will use it more than me. In eight or nine years of owning a .45/70 Marlin, I only shot one doe mule deer with it. Not much of a hunting record. Always seemed to grab something with more reach when there was a tag to fill. It was fun, and I enjoyed owning it and shooting it. Enjoyed hunting with it too, the few times it went afield.

Pop - still have that beautiful 7mm Rem mag Number One.

Was considering selling a couple of rifles, paring down the inventory a bit more. Two that I was considering selling were my .25-06 Rem 700 and that pretty 7mm Rem mag Ruger. Figured anything they could do, my beat up old .30-06 could also do. They're both really good guns, and the .25-06 has put three sets of mule deer antlers on my wall in the past four years as well as filling the freezer and eliminating a number of coyotes... Kind of doubt I'll actually sell either of those rifles, the Ruger is a thing of beauty and shoots well enough, and the .25-06 has been mighty useful.

Good suggestions guys - I don't know if I'll pare it down that much or not. But it's a thought. Yes, I still want some kind of a "thumper" like maybe a .375 H&H or .375 Ruger to replace the big bore Marlin. Hmmm. Might even re-work the ol' 1917 into a .375...

Regards, Guy

 

[nodak7mm]

Mr. Miner,

Have you spoke with anyone regards to this feeling you have had? Been overseas or in contact with anyone that may have contracted the swine flu? Eaten any Nestle Toll House cookie dough recently? This type of logic is symptomatic of a yet to be defined illness... I suggest professional help....

On the other hand, just give them to your boy. You will have achieved your goal of "paring" down the battery, while at the same time keeping them in the family.... And if you look back down the road with regret, just take em back......

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Rod

 

[.405]

Looking back over the last forty years of hunting, I could probably taken most of the large game I killed, with a .30/06. It would have been a boring ride though.I still like going out in the fall with an old .30/40 Krag with Redfield peep sights.The rifle means something to me because I bought it with $60 I earned when I was thirteen.I like dropping the hammer on my 95 Winchester in .405 and watching the buck hit the ground stone dead.I have enjoyed cooking up handloads for different guns. It keeps things interesting.If I looked at a gun like a hammer or screwdriver then I would probably just buy a .30/06 and be done with it.A lot of it is tradition when I smoke a buck with my 50/100 Sharps using a black powder load.I guess you can call me a died in the wool gun nut :wink:,but I don't even own a .30/06 :lol:

 

[JD338]

Guy,

nodak7mm makes an excellent point! Keep 'em in the family. Your son will be thrilled!

JD338