Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Any of you rifle looneys (like me) ever got to the point where you realy feel you have all that you

need or want in terms of rifles? Or guns, period?

Not so long ago, I would never have thought I would arrive at a point of happy arrival and "DONE" with even just my rifles, but really and truly now satisfied with my whole assemblage of firearms. And, the number of firearms I have is not a large number at all. I am pretty sure I could count them with my fingers and have some fingers left over. I decided years ago to strive for a few really, really good guns VS a bunch of mediocer or pretty good pieces and have managed to assemble a far better group of arms than I ever thought I would or certainly deserve.

For me, the re aquisition of my full custom Mauser in 7mm MAshburn Super, plus a recent add of a cerrakoted and fiberglass stocked Remington model 7600 in 35 Whelen and a Burris 30mm tube 1.5-6 scope to go atop it, I feel like I have almost an embarrasment of riches, firearms wise. To want any more or desire someting else would put me into an area of excess and overkill as well as my not really having the ability to enjoy even the ones I have, fully. The pump action 35 Whelen allows me to better utilize my disabled hunter placard by having a rifle which can be charged and made ready from atop my four wheeler/quad or 4WD truck much more quickly than can any of my bolt guns. And, I have been wanting to play with the 35 Whelen since I was in junior high and read all about how powerful yet efficient they are. Yes, I am at the point in my disease where hiking about is too painfull and dangerous to my blood pressure. But even when I get a new kidney someday and feel much better, I am just really happy with the guns I have and see no room for another, in any form of practicality or need or niche.

I shall not bore you with what I have assembled and considered my now complete collection unless asked, I am just wondering how many others feel that with the firearms on hand they have arrived at hunting guns nirvannah and are done seeking any more for the forseeable future?

If so, what were the final pieces, or maybe one item, that when it arrived in your safe allowed you to sit back and say "done, finished, I have all that I could want for"

If you want to share what your complete collection looks like and the niches each item feels, that would be fine and I would be quite interested in that and what it looks like for you.

If you want to know what my 'complete, to me' pile of guns looks like and/or how each rifle fills a hunting scenario or niche for me I will share my (short) list.

Genuinely curious here,

Safariman / Mark

Mark: In a word, "yes"....pretty much.

Yep. When I retire early next year an azzload of guns, long and short, will go. All part of a plan in the accumulation.

Ditto...

Put me on that mailing list! I regularly drool all over the keyboard when you post pics of your firearms. You have good taste to say the least and I have a long time to enjoy them before my retirement.

Uh, let me think� NO! As US citizens (and patriots) we can never amass enough weapons and ammunition within the current political climate, and looming economic collapse� plus more guns is always more fun! We should all continue to exercise our second amendment rights, and freedom, and when/if the day comes that someone tries to take those rights away, we can be the well organized militia, and are well prepared to defend them vigorously. I sell a gun or two every now and then, but only if it's to fund a new gun or two I'm buying/building, and the end result is always a + sum gain. Didn't mean to hijack the thread, but given the significance of today's date I seem to have Freedom, Liberty, God and Country on my mind.

Foxx

"Any of you rifle looneys (like me) ever got to the point where you realy feel you have all that you need or want in terms of rifles? Or guns, period?"

No. But sometimes I do wish I only had one. First new one I ever bought in 1981 for $240. A M700 Remington Classic in 7mm Remington Magnum.

Practically and intellectually....yes. I know that many of the rifles I have bought in the last 2 years will never be taken afield until I sell them.

Emotionally....no. I'm always looking and have a list I shop regularly, buying something every once in awhile. As they say, the chase is the fun part. Thats certainly the case for me.

Good answer, and it probably described me for a lot of the last couple of years. This only changed for me this week. I really feel that now, even my emotional riflery 'needs' have been assauged.

Having this Mashburn in the fold and the Karnis stocked and Ed LaPour built 416 Rigby make me consider myself highly blessed among men of arms.

At the moment I have more rifles than I want yet I can't decide what I want to get rid of 'cause each one I bought or had built was for a purpose.

At the moment, my favorite, best shooting rifle is the one I am getting the least use out of. The one I get the most use out of is the most boring of the bunch.

Kind of a predicament.

It is further complicated by (lack of) availability of reloading components, especially brass, for the short list of cartridges that could consolidate uses.

At the moment I'm stuck between stuck and stuck.

Tom

Seems like there is always the need for one more......

Setting aside small rodent-y varmints for a sec ..

I could do everything I want with one rifle ... coyotes, deer, elk, cats, black bear ... in .270, .280, 7mm mag, '06 (gag), .300 WSM or any of the belted .30s.

Problem is, that's not really what I **WANT**.

So ... the cycle repeats. Prune to one, get bored, creeping rebuild 'til I'm over-stocked, "wash, rinse, repeat."

Four days ago:

I recently bought an action, set of mounts and commissioned a rough turned stock. The motivating factor was the action had been unobtainable for a few years and recently turned up for sale again. It was an impulse buy, no doubt about that. Looking at the parts now I'm thinking "why did I do this."

I'm perfectly happy with what I already own and this one will fill no holes and probably not get used very much.

With all that said, It's like money in the bank. I'll build it, play with it and then sell it when and if I see fit. Will I lose money? Sure, but it won't be all that much. Stocks, bonds and mutual funds are great but they aren't much fun to play with.

Your not "Done"

In six months you will be back on line with a story about the latest gun you got!

Awash in guns. Overflowing. How many can a guy shoot anyway? I mean a guy with a job???

Blessed to have nice rifles, and more than I need.

LOL. Play the disabled hunter card, then go out and drag race your UBERcycle that evening. You are one more first class schitbird.

Why George, what a nice post there. FWIW, I have missed the last few races due to them falling on days that I just could not ride. Usually a combination of pain and exhaustion. But when a race day happens to fall on one of my good days, I go give it a whirl. 8.5 seconds on the bike, 2 or 3 times is do able on those days and I am trying to live my life to the fullest I can with the cards given me, to borrow from your terminology.

Maybe some would just sit at home 24/7 when hit with such a disease and symptoms but it is my way to push through it as much as I can and enjoy life as best as can be done. If others do it differently, that is up to them and how they live thier life. I try not to judge because I am not walking in thier shoes. I would ask that of the self appointed activity police here at the same time.

Skane, GREAT avatar there! Tell us about your uber rifle! As to the posts, there were four days in between them, and during that time I aquired back my Mashburn Super. Don't need a 26 Nosler, don't need a 257WBY, Don't need a 300 H&H and others that I had been jonesing for. This rifle replaces or scratches all of those itches. That was the very POINT I was making here.

And actually it was the arrival of two guns this weekend that really filled my basket or bucket. My two niche's to try to fill were that of 1) a beautiful Walnut and Blued Steel Mauser type rifle in a very flat shooting chambering. 2) a fast handling, reasonably powerful .348 or 35 that was (Preferably) detachable magazine fed and which would offer some serious THUMP on an elk or bear on the move or in the reprod or toothpick timber.

Jeezus, you're fixing to shoot another critter in the ass.

Haha and brag about how awesome his gun is because he can kill with any shot placement....given time

Started herd thinning about a year ago. Down to a revolver, a .22LR, a 12ga., and 3 Center Fire rifles, all left hand. Trending toward .270Win being the final chambering for CF.

While the .270 is all I "need", hard as I try, can't get down to just one center fire rifle. I love to tinker too much. The LH M70 .300H&H is only a new barrel away from becoming a .375H&H. The .30-06 Stiller is a candidate to become a .270 varmint rifle... Or one of these might get sold to build a nice wood stocked LH .257 Roberts "faux" Super Grade.

Yeah, still got it bad...

I like your taste in guns, quite a bit. If it were me, I would keep the LH model 70 300 H&H. That will certainly do it all, and with style and a cool factor wayyyyy up there.

My 'collection' is a lot like yours, except I do need a walking varminter in 222 and heavy bench varmint rifle in 223. Have them, both in pre garcia Sako actions with nice wood and accurate replacement barrels. Blued steel, of course

I could buy a double rifle in 450/400 or 470 and not buy another rifle for the rest of my life. It'll never happen of course (not buying another rifle).

For a long time I thought that I wanted a double rifle as well. Calibers I wanted were 475#2 and or 9.3x74R. With a set of 20ga shotgun barrels also fitted to the frame and to the custom flightworthy carrying case.

Now, I am pretty sure that since 99.999% of my big game and varmint hunting has been with a bolt action, and since I have a wonderfully built and also quite attractive 416 Rigby I should stay with that. Add in that I am unlikely to go to Africa again ever, and if I do probably only the one more time and the versatility of the 416 and being able to hand down a rifle that took all of my dangerous game to a grandson makes the most sense for me.

I have so many guns they almost aren't fun anymore!!

Everytime i reach into the safe my MK II 7x57 comes out.

I'll be damned if I could reach in there and find anything I could sell though!!!!

NO!!!!!

For me the primary enjoyment comes with the "planning what's next" whether it be a custom build or a factory rifle. Once I get the gun and settle on a good handload, it's time to start looking again. My enthusiasm has wained of late, it can be an expensive hobby and often I spend time on rifles which can be better used elsewhere. And have my first in college this year and another next year. Will be 53 in November and maybe just seeing things differently than 20 years ago.

Were I to run into a tight English 450-400 Nitro Express top lever hammer rifle with 28" barrels my checkbook would be doing some severe whining for a few days.

This is kinda what I think some of us feel at this point. I am 54. In my late 30's through my 40's I aquired just loads of guns in all shapes and sizes. Shot them, hunted with some of them, grew tired of most of them and sold them off. Made the decision a number of years back to reduce the number of firearms I had by a bunch, and use my aquired firearms value equity to sell and or trade my way to a few "Best quality" or in my view best of the best guns for each hunting, concealed carry, protect the home or homefront scenario and I just now hit my Zenith. What is more, my best quality guns are far better pieces of gunsmithing and wood and craftsmanship than I thought I would end up at. So for me, I consider myself as having aquired the gun collection that I want or need.

I know that most here are still in some phase of building and or aquiring, for whatever reason makes them happy in so doing. I am happy for them and wish them the best in thier endeavors. BTDT and got the t-shirt. I was just wondering if any other folks here thought that they had pretty much arrived at THIER firearms aquisition zenith or not.

This is similar to the feeling I got when I realized that I do not have the wall space for any more trophy heads and do not wish to pony up the bucks for any more taxidermy work. I have given some dandy shoulder mounts away, and am no longer trophy hunting. One set of trophy bull elephant tusks is a lot, IMO, and All I wanted was good, fully mature, symetrical examples of a good bull elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail, Bear, and a few African Trophies and done. 90% of what I shot in Africa my last couple of trips were meat or bait animals. I am nowadays meat hunting and hunting for a good time with my other hunting brothers and sisters in the game fields now. Hunting is now very much a social event for me. If I don't have a freind or new hunter to bring along, it is not worth going any more for me.

Went on a bit of a rabbit trail here, but for me all of this kind of goes together. Just where I am as a rifle nut and hunter. Thought I would see how many others are at a similar place in thier life.

You're 2 years ahead of me on the same path.

Having the perfect rifle for each situation is not as important to me as it used to be yet I can't let go of the pursuit I've been locked into for 30+ years. Even though I really no longer give a [bleep] I can't stop going through the same motions. There doesn't seem to be a 12 step program for this particular addiction.

Yes I do feel I have all I need BUT. I still want more for some reason...funny thing I really only hunt with a few. It's a sickness there is really no cure for..
After moving most of my stuff to nebraska I have decided I need to trim down some. After all who needs 100 rifles I'm thinking of selling off some run of the mill stuff and upgrading to nicer higher end stuff...

That is the direction I went, and I am happy with my choice - for me.

I always thought I needed a 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and a 30.

The 17 is not adequately covered with a couple HMR's, I need a Hornet or a Fireball. I also need a 204 Ruger.

The 22 is covered with a 22-243AI, 24 with a 6mm-284, 26 is doubled up with a 260 and the 264, and an STW covers the 28.

I long ago sold my '06. Thought I needed 30 cal mag built off the 375 Ruger, but a rebuilt shoulder precludes any enjoyment from such an endeavor.

So yes, I still have a couple holes to fill on the bottom end, and I would like to rebuild the 260 and the 6mm into real shooters instead of "good enough for a deer to 200 yds."

Hell, had I not caught this dreaded 41 mag contagion, my rifle list would have been complete years ago.

(Yes, Mark knows of what I speak.)

I have been there several times. Not trying to brag, but I have owned/toyed with more guns than most ever will. For more than two decades my house was a revolving door of guns. Kinda still is, but not as much. Same with knives.

I go through phases of what I'm "in to". Rimfires, LR sniper rifles, short range target rifles, big bore lever guns, big bore handguns, ARs, the list goes on. And on.

I'm starting to not care as much for some, after thinning the herd a bit. I just have too many and am realizing I can't use them all. I have more bullets and powder than most gun shops. There are at least 40 scope boxes atop my safe.

It is hard to let go of the ones I have left. Some will eventually be given away. Some sold.

Some have become safe queens, some get abused. I like the abused ones best.

I am pretty comfortable with what I have, as I should be. Realistically, only about 3 guns on my bucket list. All 3 for a long time now. Not sure if I will ever own any or all 3.

That said, I bought a new gun 3 days ago. Sold one same day

Earl, you really got screwed!

My first new CF rifle was exactly the same, and I only paid $185. I think the gunshop owner's wife took pity on me after seeing me drool over the new rifles since I was 12.

Guns are like Pringles potatoe chips.

So true, gwasshoppa.... Is this written in the books of the Buddha, The Proverbs of David and Solomon or perhaps the Ecclesasties aka "the preacher" books?

I don't have too many firearms... I just don't get to hunt as much as I would like to...

THIS! If I have to chose, I'll put the money towards more hunts before more guns. I've only bought 4 guns and sold 2 of them to help defray hunt trip costs. All the rest were gifts or inherited. I'm pretty well setup, but if a year comes by when I have the $$ but not the time I'll probably add another to my safe. That said, my two boys are needed outfitted so I'll probably be spending "my" gun money on them instead.

I only have burr a few as it is. My dad and I recently went over the idea of swing some guns to buy a travel trailer, I couldn't really think of what I would sell... possibly my pre 64, although I wanted one forever and found EXACTLY what I wanted from a buddy, or my m4, but that's my shtf gun, or my 3006, but that's the first rifle I ever bought....

TOM,

I'm 17 years ahead of you and still dealing with the same addiction. I started collecting Remington 721 and 722's because that's what my dad and uncles used. And they are fairly reasonable.

But I'm a Mauser guy at heart. Now I've found a custom gun maker who is reasonable (as they go)so I'm in the process of selling off my Remingtons (anyone need a 300H&H or .244 ?)and replacing them with custom mausers.

Well. Gotta have something to leave the grandsons.

O

Yep , gonna sell off a few soon

All of my rifles are totally boring!!

No!

JAFO,


GWB

I pretty much have all I want, for sure all I need.. May buy some more if something strikes my fancy, but for now I am content. I think of selling some, but many have been worked over with custom stocks or barrels.. I would never recover my $.. not even close.. I have two of my former students, and one of my pals that will get most of them..
Years ago, I thought I was pretty well set when I had my .22-250, 25-06, and .300.. Along with my .22 and 870 12, I felt I was prepared.. I was.. I could still exist with those, but life wouldn't be as interesting or fun..

Outcast, how much for the H & H and .244???

Yes. Will retire soon and am down to a very small safe full. I have no duplicate rifles or chamberings but some overlap in application and yet each fills specific niches in my mind. Nothing fancy at all.

No to say my tastes and desires don't occasionally overshoot my resources and real needs like they did this afternoon. I spotted a Merkel .22 Hornet in Cabela's Gun Library.

Saweeeeeeeet!!

I


am


content...

The day I get tired of guns or the next project just bury me.

Beyond that there isn't much on the face of the earth here that I want to hunt, and can afford to, that I couldn't take with my very first rifle. 243 win in a Rem 788. Especially with the advent of Barnes mono bullets.

So I could have been done there. Or at least by my very next rifle, 300 wtby fibermark.

But I'm thankful I"m not done yet....

I spent my youth looking at pictures of custom rifles and daydreaming of owning one some day.

In the mean time I bought, traded and tried many different factory rifles and they were easy to let go of.

Then I started restocking a few and that was enjoyable, still easy to let go.

Finally decided I needed to fulfill the desire for a full custom(Mauser of course)

Unfortunately my finances said not so much!
Then one day at a gun show I found a 1909 Argentine action for $200, thought ya I can swing that, saved for a barrel, stock...

Kinda like a layaway plan.

Well the addiction was in full force after building my first custom and many Mauser's later and I still have hard time passing up a clean Mauser action when I find one.

The cool side affect is I have so much time into my customs and they cant be easily replaced that I will never sell one, therefore they are immune to my gun trading affliction.

To satisfy the tinkerer and trader in me my disposable, trade able rifles are Savages. Love the damn things! I swap barrels, stocks etc...
And they are accurate! oh and did I mention cheap?

Thankfully I never had a gun trading affliction.

Fine firearms are a lot like good looking women. When you stop looking, it's over.

sorry i took so long to get back. sold boyh for $450 each just three days later.

O

I have found that with more experience and more actual hunting days, I want less and less around. I have learned from experience that there really isn't very much difference between cartridges' actual performance. My ability is the deciding factor. If I perform well then almost anything will work. If I don't, then nothing will compensate for my mistakes. Having too much actually limits use.

I could get by very well with three or four rifles. Since I have fewer rifles I now spend much more money getting each just the way I want it. I'm more demanding regarding those that I do have.

That's why I am trying to work my way down to one... May not stay there. But, definitely less distracting with fewer...

I think I might be arriving there myself...I look at guns and think why.....I still want for a few but many have become boring....mostly run of the mill Remington's..
A manlicher in 7x57 and a first model newton and a 358 model 88 have eluded me....

This is pretty much me, except for the trimming down and moving to Nebraska stuff...

I knew I had "all I needed", until I thought about it some more. Then I realized I needed another one...

Sure don't need anything. Wife is on couch and can"t read this. However there are some very specific things I want. Also anything too cheap. That is a problem though, as I usually feel like I am ripping someone off and tell them what it is worth. Usually do not get it then.

I'm not even close to where I'd like to be.

In the last year or so I've sold many of my rifles and had a custom 280 AI put together that is not even close to what I want.

I did purchase two Tikka T3s a 270 and a 223 that I basically consider to be working rifles strictly and I am planning on the 270 seeing some years of hard use packed in very steep brushy country.

However it is not every hunting trip that I find myself in T3 rifle conditions and so I have decided that it is time to add extensively to my list.

In my future I see various model 70s some custom some factory of the wooden stock variety.

I see a Remington or two added to the collection.

I see a 280 AI that I already own sent to someone and completely redone. The action is Whitworth with drop bottom metal trued and mated to a shillen stainless select #5 1/9 twist at 24" in a BellCarlson. The rifle weights 12 lbs.

I see the barrel being turned down to a "3 fluted and blued and shortened to 23" to remove the break and threads. I also see a fine wooden stock added and the Super Sniper scope removed and a leupold 6X36 or 6X42 taking its place.

I also see a few fine wood stocked rugers.

I'm quite sure I'll think of a few other fine wood stock rifles along the way.

I don't see much in the way of hard working brushy steep country get banged up rifles as the T3 270 will do all I need. I do however see the possibility of a fluted rebarrel when I shoot this barrel out and dropping it into a Manners or a McMillan stock and adding bottom metal and a metal bolt shroud in the future.

Oh, and at the top of my list....someday I hope to purchase a fine 270 rifle from Bobin if he ever decides to part with one.

Shod

I have an addiction to rifles that apparently has no cure. At a recent gun show there was a very nice B-78 in .25-06 which is a caliber I like but I have one. Now I have two. I don't know why I needed to get a duplicate but it called to me and perhaps I like to rationalize that they are just like money in the bank.

I am content with my current lot but always on the lookout for something interesting. Like a butter knife handled bolt action on a Mauser action in 7x57.