Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Best money you ever spent on a rifle?

That's right on course, as far as I'm concerned.

In addition to bargains and sentimental favorites, there's a big element of bang for the buck which is pretty informative.

Good barrels sure take the drama out of getting rifles to do what they're supposed to...could very well be a major contributor to best money spent on a rifle.

DJ

Rem 700 BDL in 270 and a used WideField 3x9 in 1972, on the advice of Jack O'Connor, of course. I hunted around the country and Canada with that rifle. I didn't know any better and took elk, mulies, antelope and whitetails for nearly 30 years. Then
Al Gore invented the internet and I learned that 270 bullets barely gave big game a bloody nose, so I had to give up traveling out west.
It stills shoots pretty well, tho the inside of the barrel looks like sundried alligator skin.
That rifle took some abuse as I learned to reload with it, and there were times when I certainly pushed the envelope. Wore out a Speer #8 manual. It never saw a round of factory ammo til after it was 30 years old and I did some benchmarking.
It is wearing its 4th stock, a kidsized plastic job fitted to 2 of my grandsons that learningto shoot with it.
Think my total investment was something less than $200.

I bought a brand new Beretta Mato Synthetic with all of the accesories for $500 + sales tax. The total was either $525 or $535. Then about a year ago I picked up the a grade XXX Turkish walnut stock on close out from Beretta for $139 + tax and shipping. The stock is just gorgeous.

I've gotten better deals, but this one became my son's rifle this year:




NIB Weatherby Vanguard Back Country .30-06, $650. I bought it a couple of years ago. He'll join me hunting with it this year.


P

I picked up a refinished pre64 fwt last year for $425 iirc. I ordered an edge around Christmas. So it'll be a real sweet rig on a few months.

I've posted this in a couple of spots this week already, but its going here because its the best money I have spent er... actually money I didn't spend.
Ruger No. 1 in 450/400 Nitro Express 3" obtained this weekend.




The deal: I'd been looking for either the 9.3x74R or the 450/400 N.E. 3" for a couple of years, and had missed several deals from them either being snatched up or not having the fun money. I found this one the day it was put out for sale, and decided to sell a couple of things to get it.
I went into the shop sold my stuff and bought the rifle and managed to come out exactly 1 penny ahead on the deal!

An old Winchester 69A that I bought from a pawn shop for $40 a long time ago. With the barrel bobbed to 20",the receiver grooved to mount a scope and some spray paint. It is the most accurate and useful gun that I have ever seen.

paid alot for this little 99 250 savage barrel band, as you can see it puts a big smile on my face

and this winchester mod 54 in 30/06, it also has a high fondel factor

My Marlin .17 HMR. Most accurate rifle I own and I abuse the heck out of it.

250AI from Kampfeld -- little to no wait time!

Another story like the first one. Back in the late 70's or so I bought three Remington Nylon 66's for me and my two boys for Christmas. A brown one for me and a black one and a green one for the boys. I think they were under $100 ea. or so brand new at a big box store.
We still have them, still shoot them and the black and green one's are worth in the $800 to $1000 range to the collectors.

Another story like the first one. Back in the late 70's or so I bought three Remington Nylon 66's for me and my two boys for Christmas. They came in colors and I bought a brown one for me and a black one and a green one for the boys. I think they were under $100 ea. or so brand new at a big box store.
We still have them, still shoot them and the black and green one's are worth in the $800 to $1000 range to the collectors.

I have no idea the $ ratio on it, but based on the use/enjoyment, the best $ I ever spent was on the first .223AI I had put together. I shot more, shot at longer ranges, killed lots of stuff, learned more about reloading, learned to dial for distance and use mildot's, wife shot more, introduced friends to shooting with it...

I guess I'd have to say it cost me a lot of $ as well since I've had several rebarreled in the same chambering, but it's been well worth it!

NOT to question YOU or dispute at all.

Am I mistaken?

I am not AWARE that Win chambered the Pre 64s in 280 Rem.

There is NOTHING wrong with a re-barreled rifle, Pre 64 or not. Rem brought out the 280 in 1957, so it's possible.

Can someone help me??

about 5 years ago I bought a like new looking Rem M7 in 260 with Leupold mounts and a new looking Ziess Conquest 3.5-10x40 I think that is the power for a total of $550

Best Bargain for me EVER.

I'm the 2nd owner of a Rem 700 BDL in 8mm Rem Mag. I was with the guy when he bought it in the 80s. He got a steal of a deal when a store was closing out their sporting goods dept.

Somewhere @ 2000, he sold it to me for a price..................

I will not disclose.
_________________________________________________________________

I don't own a gun I don't like.

ONE of my favs & best $$ spent is a Ruger 10-22 SS in laminate stock. I bought it from a Wally World on closeout > $160.
It's my fav 22 ever. Great carry gun and DEATH & DESTRUCTION on squirrels and other small game.

I don't have a pic ready to post yet.

1927 7x57 single square bridge Waffenfabrik Oberndorf with factory fitted Zeiss Zeilvier in Akah mounts for $1600.00, used it and turned it over for $3000.00

Got a 100% tax deduction for the purchase as well...sometimes the sun just shines!

In a 22LR, a BSA Martini Model 12 for $125 years ago. Have had a lot of fun out shooting folks with scoped 22's. Centerfire best buy was a NIB Steyr ProHunter in 6.5X57 for $475 when they changed distributers. I guess the best one is a '55 Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in 300H&H that was passed down to me. I also got all 5 boxes of 50's ammo. 2 1/2 were not shot. Never even had a scope mounted.

Hunting rifle wise...Ken, firearms44 who I shoot and hunt with, came up with a like new Remington Custom Shop 7KS/.350 RM for $800.00... He kindly let me buy it and it is probably the last one to be sold when I pare down. They were $2500 new at the time and had just been discontinued... Killed a nice doe with it this past fall in Pennsylvania at 120 yards...



Bob

4 Kimber Montanas.