The "what is your favorite deer rifle and caliber" thread got me to thinking about if my rifles could talk, would they argue about being the favorite. Maybe it would go like this:
Wby 30/378 - "I'm the favorite because I'm his biggest and fastest and have one of his best deer to my credit". The post 64 Model 70 30/06 says "maybe faster but you are not bigger and by the way he has shot more deer with me than any of you." The Marlin 30/30 speaks up "true but when he was 12 yrs I shot his first deer. None of you can ever claim to be his first".
Then the 6.5/300 wby says "don't forget how fast I am. I am one of the latest and greatest in the 6.5 craziness." That's when 264 mag speaks up and says "first off you are only 100 or 150 fps faster than me. Don't any of you forget I am the one he picks up when he really wants it done long range. No doubt I am his favorite."
About this time the S&W 1500 7mag speaks - "I have listened to all of you and you are full of it. I am the favorite, first off his dad gave me to him, and while true ole post 64 30/06 has taken more deer, it is not that many more than me and none of you can say you have shot an elk - but I can." Then the M70 Win 7 mag says well I can't really say I am the favorite, but I know I am special. I belonged to his dad. He made a big deal about taking me hunting and shooting a deer with me."
Then the Ruger 270 says "which one of you does he grab when it's nasty and wet? Which one of you does he leave in the truck on occasions? Which one of you does he loan to hunting clients who can't hit the side of a barn with their own rifles? It's me....the favorite." Suddenly the new Browning 25/06 couldn't keep his bolt shut. "I think I am the favorite - look how much load development he is doing with me, I am young and brand new." That's when all of the other rifles say in unison "shut up rookie, you don't even know what blood looks like, you haven't even been in the woods yet."
A few more minutes of arguing goes on when the old Pre-64 Model 70 finally speaks. "Boys, I hear all of you but you are forgetting one very important thing - ME. Yeah my little brother over there has more deer with him but don't forget I belonged to his father. That means I have taken more deer than many of you put together. You see I was the only rifle for many years. When his father passed away last year, who did he take hunting? It was me. Who has he made the promise to that he will hunt with until he gets that deer he saw last fall? It is me. Which one of us does he put in a place of honor? It is me. I was his dad's first deer rifle - every time he pulls me out, he has memories of all those hunts of years gone by."
With that - the gun safe became very quiet. What else could be said? All of them were important and each had a special place in his safe. Maybe he didn't have a favorite, maybe all of them were his favorites. The next day he comes to the safe - opens it and greets all the rifles - "good morning guys, going to do a little shooting today" and with that he grabs the little 10/22 - "gonna take my granddaughters".
