I'm leaving on a bear hunt in Idaho in a few days and I decided I "needed" a .45-70 to take with me. After looking around, I decided on either a Winchester or a Browning, if I could find them.
I checked on several, and then things all came together. I'll spare you the details, but I ended up with a NIB Winchester Short Rifle 1886 and then a few days later I did a deal with a guy and picked up a LNIB Browning 1886 - both deals I couldn't pass up. Both are the plain variety w/o much as far as decorations - exactly what I was looking for.
So, that leaves me with this question. Which do I hunt with? The NIB Winchester or the older (but with box, peep sight installed, looks brand new) Browning that's 30 years old? The Winchester has the bounce hammer garbage and the safety on it.
On one hand, I tell myself I should use the Winny, because I don't want to get that beautiful browning scratched up. On the other, I prefer the Browning, so I should use it, right? And leave the Winchester NIB and put it on a shelf somewhere?
I haven't shot either one at this point, so I can't compare them that way.
Thoughts?
