Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Help me thin my rifle battery.

I like it.

I have tried this twice before and bought more than I had the previous time. I will stand strong and grow a pair this time

This is a model 21 in 7x64 (mine), it is basically a refined small ring 98 with dovetails on top.




This is a Husqvarna 146 (picture from internet), these are a large ring 98 and can be had at very reasonable prices, and were I starting out I would definitely be going the Husqvarna 146 route.




This is a 146 (not mine) that a fellow on another forum has modified...and I for one think it is a cracking job.



I honestly do think the Husqvarna 146 is the very best buy to be had in quality/dollar terms.

jerrywoodswalker,

I like the way you broke the down the varmint rifles. These are the hardest for me. In my mind, each fits the perfect niche scenario. Like you suggested, if I rid myself of one from each group I could then see how I like it.

The 22 Magnum and 22 Hornet are probably the least desirble in the first group. They both have the Lux stock which is great for standing, but not so great for prone or shooting off the bench. I also loathe the safety on the 22 Magnum. Ammo was a pain in the butt to get too. I had envisioned using the 22 Hornet as a downloaded 22 Magnum if I couldn't find ammo. The problem I have run into with this Hornet is the magazine length forces me to single load with most of the newer varmint bullets. Also the twist rate is 1-16", yuck.

The second group would be harder for me. I bought the 222 because I am total push over for the triple deuce, although I hate the 1-14" twist. The 223 is a short stainless gun I had envisioned using as my AR, since I can't stand the platform, yet I would still like to have something chambered in the same cartridge in case the zombie apocalypse comes I am thinking the 204 Ruger and 22-250 may have to have a shootout this spring to see which I like better.

For the deer rifles, I could live with three and not feel like too much of a hoarder.

Okie John,

I have a nice set of Zeiss binoculars and a Leica rangefinder, so I will check those. My scopes consist of Leupold, Nightforce, Zeiss, and a few Weavers mixed in. The boots are a great which I would probably screw up.

The '06 rifle is a great suggestion, but I would have to download to use it. I had to take a break from shooting and hunting for medical reasons and now that I am back into it I am starting to realize how much pain I blocked out. I can go out today and shot my 243, 6mm, or 260 and not feel bad afterwards. I think I know my limitations and I don't want to condition myself to ignore the pain. I used to shoot much bigger stuff and I may again someday, but right now I don't want to try. You are right though about the availability of ammunition and I may get stuck having to use someone else's rifle on a trip. Thank you for your help I may end with a bigger caliber in a few years.

I have tried the AR route and it is not for me.

This is a good simple battery too. I am finding my hardest part is giving up the varmint rifles.

Beautiful rifles. I will have to look into them. When I think Husqvarna I think chainsaws. Is it the same company?

Yes, but they no longer make rifles...for some reason they do not seem to attract the attention of post modern plastic aficionados.
Metallurgy is excellent, and they are something that your great grand-children can get to use and cherish, for they were all made in an era whereupon quality was admired and avidly sought.


I came to the conclusion some years ago that I should own the best quality that I could reasonably afford...and leave the rest to those who do not know or care better.

I've a good friend in Canada that has a "Husky" in 300 win mag. He will never part with it.

keep the 22LR
keep the 222 (sweet rifle- sure the 204 and 22/250 are uber faster but the groundhogs wont know the difference)
edit- just saw 500 yards keep the 22/250 also!
keep the 6mm remington- mule deer and antelope

elk? 270

A very smart man your friend.

FYI, the Husqvarna logo (even on chainsaws, snowblowers and motorcycles) is a gun sight.

OK, I am back into this one more time - my suggestion was
.22
.223
.243
.260

Reasoning -
22 lr - Because everyone needs a good rifle chambered in 22 lr, if I could only have one rifle it would have to be a 22 lr, inexpensive to shoot, lots of good ammo, and they usually get shot a lot more than any other rifles.

223 Rem - It can be downloaded to cover the 22 Magnum and your other smaller 20 and 22 calibers. Accurate and good combination of paper-punching ability and a great varmint, so much so that my 22/250's never come out of the safe anymore.

243 Win - It can be loaded to duplicate the 22/250 using 55 gr bullets and can easily handle deer/antelope, etc with the 95/100 gr bullets.

260 Rem - It can also handle deer/antelope, etc and is easily capable of elk within normal shooting ranges of 200 - 300 yds. All of this and just slightly more recoil than a 243, what's not to like about it.

I am like everyone else recommending stuff, I think that because this is what I generally use it must be the answer for everyone. Well, it may not be the answer for everyone but it surely has worked for me for a lot of years now.
If anyone could be left out it would be the 243 since there is more overlap between it and the 260 than anything else in my choices.
All minimal recoil cartridges and all are cartridges that have a great track record.

drover

Barm. A heavier 30/06 like the Husky(10lbs with a scope) with a thick limbsaver pad will not recoil that much with reduced recoil loads. You may be intimidated by the noise of the rifle as much as the actual recoil.

22 LR
243

I can't go that far--a mild mannered, not-so-loud .22 centerfire would be handy for groundhogs without scaring the neighbors.

I'd trip the 6mm Remington for sure, and likely the 260 Model 7 too, depending on how far out the mag box allows you to seat 140's. If I kept the 22-250, I'd put a 1-8 barrel on it and punch it to AI. What's the 223 twisted?

Does such a thing as a not-so-loud centerfire exist? .17HMR is very useful around neighbors. 30-06 does nice work on deer and elk.

I think you should send me the 6mm then. efw knows it's the" 257 Roberts, much improved"