Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Rifles You Should Have Kept?

I've sold any number of rifles I should have kept. Four which come to mind are a DCM M1 carbine, a DCM O3A3 Springfield, an M2 Springfield in .22 RF and a Savage 99F in .308. Of these four, perhaps selling the Savage angers me most as I was then a teenager and I had relied on the "sage" advice of an old time hunter who thought he was Jack O'Connor. He said the .308 Savage didn't shoot nearly as far as his .270, thus undermining my confidence in both the gun and caliber. I was inexperienced and so I believed him. The truth is, now with 50 hunting seasons behind me, I never took a deer that could not have been taken with that .308.

Most of the guns I've sold was to raise money to buy other guns. Not so with the Savage. That was sold through ignorance. What about you?

The one I regret selling is a Win Pre64 270 that had the most beautiful stock on it. I to sold it to fund another purchase...biggest mistake, wish I had it back. The gun I bought with the funds has since gone down the road to

Ithaca Model 49, .22 single shot.

1. pre-production winny 70 ss featherweight in 270.. gorgeous wood. dumb owner...

national match springfield armory 308 back in 1980, wish I had it.

no rifles but i did trade a Colt Python for a Rem XP100 35 rem... i want to choke myself over that one!

I some how came out [bleep] in that deal.

I had just turned 21 and wanted to buy a handgun. So I sold a sweet handling, super accurate, tang safety Ruger 77 in 6mm Rem to a guy that was just starting to hunt.

I still have the Single Six and he still has the 6mm but doesn't hunt anymore, maybe I'll get the 77 back someday.

Dale

Me too!! grins

at least mike came out ahead!!

I have sold so many that I have lost count of the ones I should have kept. I don't have the money to own them all so some have to go.

Dink

Dad bought me a Remington 700 30/06 that was from the early 70's...rifle was mint and shot the lights out. I was in my late teens and STUPID...traded it after I had killed several deer, a bear and a wolf with it. Wish I could have a do-over! Sorry Dad!

Erich

I mourn the loss of quite a few...but the two that I particularly regret the loss of are:

1956 Brno ZG47 deluxe in .270 win.

B model 1927 Waffenfabrik Oberndorf single square bridge with factory fitted Zeiss Zielvier in factory fitted Akah detachable mounts...in 7x57.

The Mauser I sold as I required cash.....the Brno went to my Brother for half of what I paid as that was all he had, and I wanted him to start with good gear.
He still has the ZG47 and a 1958 Brno model 5 that I sold him at the same time....and hopefully he will not part with either!

An Epps Enfield with a one piece stock in 35/303. The guy I bought it from told me it was a 303, most of the bullets went sideways through the target sideways and groups wern't too good. I was 16 at the time and didn't even know what a wildcat was and didn't even know you could reload rifle shell. Got rid of it real quick, still think about that rifle, wish I had it now.

erich

Sold a Marlin 39A "Golden Mountie" to buy my first handgun back in the early '80s.. still regret that choice. A lot of memories hunting squirrels and rabbits with that gun in the woods of PA. Very accurate and all around fun to shoot.

A Winchester Featherweight 270 with highly figured wood and shot everything great. That one will haunt me til I die.

The first centerfire I ever owned; Marlin 336 .30-30. Of all of them, I'd love to have that one back.

I missed my first deer with that rifle...

A Ruger M77RS carbine in .358 Winchester,

an FN Mauser Supreme in .250-3000,

I think I need to stop right here...

Win. M70 Classic feather weight, ss/walnut in 6.5x55.

savage 99 take down in 38-55