Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Suggestions on reducing number of hunting rifles

I've thought of downsizing too, but lost everything in a boating accident.
Fish finder said 387 feet when it happened.
Now I have nothing....
So bummed.

For BG hunting I suggest a primary rifle for one of the following, 270, 280, 7-08, 308, or 30-06. Nothing bigger is needed until you get into 375H&H territory. Have a second rifle that is very similar but less “tricked out” for a different cartridge from those listed. Use it to loan or as a back-up. I have had my primary rifle go upside down shortly before headed out for hunting. Sell everything else and fund great optics, stocks, etc.

For your primary rifle spend the dollars and buy the Proof stock from Stock’s. Am buying one for my own use. Get the primary rifle set up so it is “just right”.

If you simply must own another rifle the get a similar 204 or 223 and attempt to wear it out. DONE !!!

Spend money shooting and going hunting.
It took me until I was well into my 60’s to learn all this.

You lost me at you want to keep the pos rem 700....

This is good advice for all of us 👍 but in my case easier said than done as i am a rifle whore 😁.....Hb

243 and 30-06.

All you mentioned was deer, so we'll go with that, and the '06 is off the table.

The .300 is the easy one to cut.

I'd be inclined to keep the Sako, because it's a Sako and likely a bit nicer than the Tikka more than because of the cartridge. I personally don't care for mags that hang down. You may just want to keep the one that fits you best, and you should keep a spare at least because stuff happens. If you don't really like either all that much, sell all three and buy something you really like, maybe in a very light version like a Fieldcraft. I'm trending towards light and handy myself and have picked up two .24 calibers that weigh around 7lbs or a bit less, and like the concept a lot after a couple seasons.

I won't buy another 700, but my 1st rifle was a 700 ADL in 30-06 that I bought new in 1975. I haven't hunted with it in years, but won't sell it either. I can understand where the OP is coming from.

To the OP. I put my 700 in a McMillan Edge stock before I retired it and with a reasonable hunting scope in Talley lightweight mounts weight is right at 7 lbs. If you like the rifle that would make a good all around rig. But for about the same money as an Edge stock you could just buy a Tikka 30-06 and come in at about the same weight and have a better rifle. Retire the old 700, but keep it.

Personally I'd retire the 30-06 and sell everything but the 7-08. Then I'd replace the 243 with a 223. The 7-08 is a good all around choice. Nothing wrong with a 243, but it is too close to 7-08 in my opinion. A 223 does everything a 243 does on varmints and could be used on deer in a pinch. The 7-08 will take you from deer up to anything but big bear. I might let some of those lever guns go too if I needed to clear out some space in the safe.

30-06 and 243

Elect democrats

This does seem to be a popular topic here lately. And I’m guilty myself. However at 34 I realized with the family that opportunities to hunt were going to be limited as we have 5 little kids. So I started selling stuff and am now building a few files to hunt everything. Figured I could build 3 rifles with same stocks and scopes and just change around the calibers for what appropriate. Less having and less bullets/powders to keep around and more time being familiar with the rifle I hunting with. Not sure how it will work but time will tell. But spending 5-8k a year on guns will go along way towards going and actually hunting.

YMMV
David

This M700 in -06 had a Leupold 2-7 Ultralight and Weaver mounts and rings. In a Brown Precision stock and no metal work it came in at 7lbs 2 oz. It kicked way less than the post 64 M70 it replaced (which weighed 2 lbs more) with the same load of 180's because the stock was fit to me.

Forgot to mention I converted it to a BDL in the process.

Don't.

Sell the .243, .300, and 7-08, buy a .223 Rem and you'll be set for the USA and probably most of the world.

Your 700 probably won't weight much less with a different stock.

This.
Bob

A .308 can replace both!
HA!

My vote for best (though slightly altered) advice.


Jerry

Get rid of the one which you dislike to carry or shoot.

Near as I can tell you don't even have enough guns to consider selling any. You got a woman pissing at you? MB

Ditch the 243.

Have to agree with those that suggest ditching the .300WSM. If one really has to go.