They're all so doggone cool! Little ones, big ones, red ones, blue ones... Lever actions, single shots, muzzle loaders, bolt actions... Even a few semi-autos...

I've plinked with them, hunted with them, gripped them in life & death situations... I just like rifles! I revere their history. I like the results of forward thinkers. I like handloading for them, shooting in competition with them, hunting with them, and I really liked having one in my hands when the situation was a wee bit tense.

I'm a guy who likes simple solutions. One 4x4 vehicle, one motorcycle, one bicycle... I love the IDEA of one big game rifle... But dang! All those others... Sigh.

I'm not a wealthy guy. I'm not a guy who has hunted the world. But I have some rifles, not a gazillion, just some rifles. And often it bugs me 'cause I know that for what I do, I "need" only one big game rifle.

For centerfire hunting rifles I've got:

Ruger Number One rifles x2


Lever action Marlins x2


Bolt action hunting rifles x3


As well as a few target rifles, a varmint rifle and an AR-15 I keep around just in case bad stuff happens.

7 hunting rifles may not seem like a lot, but dang! It's what I've cut back to after having a dozen different ways of killing a mule deer. Oh, and there's a traditional muzzle loader that's taken a couple of mule deer too. Then there are two hunting bows as well...

Honestly, I could do it all with my 30-06 Remington 700 CDL - it's brought me pronghorn, mule deer, elk, black bear, wolf and grizzly...

But, I LIKE all the other rifles! Dang. Could probably sell most of them, rely just on the 30-06, and easily afford a trip to Africa. But, where would all my rifles be?

Sigh... I think they were referring to this as a "First World Problem" in recent times. Sigh. Such a burden. I'm afraid that I may have to keep them. Unless I get wild & crazy and sell most of them and go to Africa!

Who knows? Is there something wrong with liking lever actions, bolt actions, single shots and muzzle loading rifles? Some folks sure seem to get bent out of shape about others who don't share their preference. Me? I like 'em all! *Never shot a pump/slide action hunting rifle, but I'd like to!

Regards, Guy

Loony.

LOL! Good point.

[quote=Cascade]

Ruger Number One rifles x2



*Never shot a pump/slide action hunting rifle, but I'd like to!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx




Wanna trade ?
6mm Rem, 270 Win, 30-06 Spg >> Take your pick !

They do work.

Jerry

Nice mulies! I think variety is more interesting. However, I'm boring. I have a semi-auto .22, but the remaining three rifles are bolts. Last year I decided I had too many rifles and sold my Ruger Hawkeye and my .308 pre-64 Win Featherweight. I know it was sacrilege to sell the pre-64 but I didn't hunt much with it, and never cared for the stock. I now have a Kampfeld-modified .30-06 1993 Stainless Rem Mountain Rifle, a 7mm-08 Rem Mtn Guide, and a 7mm-08 Kimber Montana. (I'm currently thinking of selling the Mtn Guide) My passion has always been upland bird hunting so shotguns are where I start drooling. I've got a matching set of Beretta Silver Pigeons (12 ga and 20 ga.), and a couple of Benellis. In '92 I had the chance to buy a 12 ga Beretta 687 EELL for $800. I'm still kicking myself for thinking, "that's too much for a shotgun."

I buy rifles to prevent me from buying rifles. I $hit you not, it’s a proven strategy that works. I also buy and hunt with rifles for other people even though they are unaware they exist... damn they have nice rifles at my house though.

ROF


Jerry

Amateur.

I feel ya!




Browning High Grades
M71, 348Win
M1885, 300 H&H
M65, 218 Bee

years in the acquisition, among others!

ya!

GWB

Cascade, Geedub, and elhunternm all on one thread about liking too many rifles....

Who woulda thunk?

Now you. Dang

geedubya mind is severely diseased and his many fine knives and rifles are evidence of that.

Way too many here

It's kinda crazy. I average about 1.5 big game animals a year, still wondering where that half a deer went...

So, why do I have 7 (or 12 like it used to be) deer/bear/elk rifles?

I just like them!

Guy

Ya, but you've got some fam-dancy rifles! They're purty!

Guy

Hey...Ive whittled my collection down to 8 long guns and 5 handguns! And only one of the rifles is over .224 cal. ( Course the .223 and .223AI get used for most of my bigger game hunting....)

My big game animal kill to big game animal rifle ratio is much further out of whack. About the only thing I kill each year is time.

I have way more than I need and fewer than I want, but as long as no one in the house is missing any meals, I make no apologies. I do enjoy them.

Oh hell I have 40 rifles capable of killing a deer. It gives me comfort to know that if I get the hankering to hunt an Elephant I have 4 rifles capable of getting the job done. I like single shots and have them from the 250 Savage to 405 Winchester BUT my biggest downfall are custom rifles. I've kept my smith busy with a new rifle for the last 6 years and were just waiting on a barrel for this years rifle project. Between the Pre 64 M70's, Ruger #1's one custom High Wall and the custom bolt rifles I use what I have and have what I need......until the next one.

I think I can help.

I have way too much overlap. My practical side doesn't play well with my looney side.

These statements prove complete sanity and eliminate any possibility of "Red Flag" (Communist Confiscations laws) from being directed at you.
Well done.

I have around 40 deer rifles too, plus shotguns, 22’s, etc. I like them, so I buy one every now and again with OT money I make. I can’t help myself.

I will have to count mine, Not sure how many.. Just gave a pal two pump shotguns, a 97 and 31 , as well as a custom 7mm wea..
Vut still have a bunch from 22 Hornet to .375 and .45-70//

Geedubya - that is certified rifle porn.

I think some body on here said that if you now how many you have you don't have enuff

Lets not get into shotguns it's worse than the rifles. I like old SXS for Parker, Fox, Purdey, H&H etc.. there are at least 12 each of 16 &20 ga . I have been on a 22 pistol kick lately with Models 41, K22, 18, 34,&48

Don't kill many "big game animals". However one of the nice things about hunting private land in Texas is that I am able to hunt 24/7/365.

That gives one significant opportunity to assuage SDD (Shooting Deficit Disorder), and use different firearms to do so.

One of my hunting bud's and I have take right at 300 pigs since July of 2018. Most were dispatched with rifles. Also had the opportunity to take fox, coyote, coons, aoudad, white-tail and turkey.



Dakota M10, 7mm-08


Winchester 1885, 375 H&H, Kill Light


Armalite AR-10, 308 Win, Night Vision


Armalite lower, Bear Creek Arsenal 300 Blackout, thermal


A "twofer"
Nosler M48 Custom Sporter, 325 WSM


2 singles
Blaser K95, 30-06 Springfield


Remington 700 Custom Shop, 300 Win Mag.


Blaser R93, 9.3 x 62

ya!

GWB

I used to. It was a difficult time if I had to cull one.

GWB has some fine rifles!!!!

Ya!!!

I like pistols and shotguns, but love rifles!!

Someday.... I hope to have a few nice rifles myself.
Until then.. Cheers

I was wondering when you were going to show up....

Thank goodness. I was thinking something was wrong with me.

I have more than one reason NOT to count.


Jerry

ps, I really don’t know.

I just counted my rifles just for deer and came up with 11. That includes 1- .240 Wby, 1- .257 Roberts,1- .25/06, 2-.270 Winchester's, 1-.270 Wby, 1- .270 Ingwe, 2-7x57 Mauser's, 1- 7mm Dakota and 1- .30/06.

I am having another .270 Ingwe made.

Obviously some of those can also be used for elk and such.

ya!

GWB

Geedubya - both the fox and the rifle you used are terrific!

Guy

I believe if you sold a bunch ... you might get down to a few.
You’re welcome.
😉

Beautiful collection. Do you have any rimfires or AR's?

Someday you can sell me some of your nice ones and then you will be that much closer to a "few"...

I know how many gunsafes I have. I think.... Sometimes the saying ignorance is bliss is a blessing in disguise.

I recently rediscovered this 32-40 hiding in a safe. If you lose track of a gun this good, you may have reached your practical limit. LOL

I don't have that problem... I got rid of all of my guns, so I don't have to worry about that any more...

I destroyed them all before the government takes them and do that to them.

Well today I bought some dies for one rifle and put a layaway on another. It is strangely my first Ruger rifle. Im not in Gedubya's orbit but I figure that I stack up pretty good as a looney to anybody who is my age(52). I will probably retire in a couple of years and then either I will amass more or slow way down. I remember when my father had 1 Mossberg 308 win rifle without a scope and one winchester model 62 22lr. We came to Alaska when I was 10 in 1978 and he told me, don't ever sell a rifle unless you can make a lot of money on it. I have recently deviated from this but I am back in the slow steady march to get what I need.

Thanks, The looneyism isn't quite as strong with rimfires, but I am obsessed thinking a CZ 457 needs to be added - possibly the 22lr/17hmr combo. I don't have any pics of an AR-just a good tool to me.

Bottom one is 22 Mag:

Am struggling some
Downsized and then ended up inheriting a few.
When not shooting your own stuff enough its kinda hard IMHO to justify more.
Am a user and not a collector.

Am struggling some
Downsized and then ended up inheriting a few.
When not shooting your own stuff enough its kinda hard IMHO to justify more.
Am a user and not a collector.

Jerry Fisher 4-pack... .

Jeeeze... those are just wicked rifles.

I have a limited number of rifles but they are each “just right” or they move to new homes. I stopped the rifle acquisition madness after I counted parts for around 20 new rifles in addition to the 10-15 which were finished.

I sold all the parts and several rifles. I have continued to attempt to build the perfect light 270. The improvements are at most minor but I enjoy the process. I have been hunting buffalo so I needed a bigger stick. I fiddled with a 416 but lately use a 375 H&H.

I am very familiar with the two that remain. Neither has failed me. I like having less stuff around me.

PS For me the perfect battery for BG hunting is a very light 270, a slightly heavier 30/06, and a 375 or 416. My recent success causes me to slightly favor the 375.

Hard to beat that line-up.

I wished I could just follow that advice!

yowsir!


GWB

I know! You fellas put up some mighty nice rifles.

Do you have any Biesen's for sale. Only trying to help a brother out..

Hey neighbor, congrats on the upcoming Ruger! They are my favorite. I only have two hunting rifles, a 338 RCM for the mountain hiking and the dog sled scabbard for winter caribou, and a 416 Ruger for anchoring the large bulls on the dry banks on canoe hunts.

The initial cost of setting up a good hunting rifle (dies, brass, scope, bullets) give me a smidgen of anxiety and buyer's remorse. It is expensive when ur homesteading or bush dwelling.

Now I tried a single rifle (browning 95 41 caliber carbine) which was great to anchor the big moose on canoe hunts, but was a bit heavy lugging around in winter on snow shoes with heavy winter clothes.

The scoped 338 RCM shaved 1lb 4 oz off what I used to carry.

A 225 grain bonded boat tail at 2700 fps will reach out and touch some sht. Its flat shooting in bear country.

The 416 Ruger will anchor them 1600-1800 lb, rut charged moose on the dry ground along our Alaskan Rivers.

2 rifles is all I need........

I passed on a Voere Titan II today. I really wanted it, but sure didn’t need it.

I passed on a 7mm 08 Bergara today.
Passed on a new Hoyt compound too

Took the cash out of my pocket and put it back in the gunsafe.

You would love the gun I found dies for. It is a Model 71 in 348-450 Ackley Improved that was set up with an old Bushnell Scope Chief 4X that is set to the left with a Williams mount that I have never seen before nor likely will see again. God smiles on madmen and rains on the Scotts so I found an older Alaskan friend who had a brother who ran one that was built by Bill Fuller at Harold Cooper's Gun Shop. His brother's widow gave the rifle away to a good family friend but somehow kept the dies so for 200 dollars I have dies for both the 348-450 AI and for a 450 Alaskan.

The Ruger is a Ruger 77/22 in 22 hornet that has been shot 8 times with a 4X compact m8 Leupold scope. I might have to send the barreled action back to CT Precision Chambering who will pin the two piece bolt and then rechamber the barrel to minimum specifications for a decent price. I am in the sprint part of the finish of my urban experience and will be moving back down to Chitina Country in a year or two.





The 348-450 AI is in the center between a 45-70 and a 458 Win Mag. It duplicates the 458 Win Mag.

Cool rifle. Those big cartridges off the 348 are serious horses.

I don’t see how one might have too many. They are all retirement supplements.

Mine will go to my three sons.

Have a couple Biesen's none for sale.. .

Whitebird! You keep flying high!

I've bought, built and traded a shytload of rifles over the course of the past 45 years. I'm to the point now that there's nothing out there that interests me at all. They're just tools to accomplish a job and I've got plenty of tools. Bolt action rifles in particular bore the ever living hell out of me anymore.

Jordan Peterson who people may hate or like said that every man owes it to have one room in their own house that is full of beautiful things. Mine just happens to be rifles, recurve bows, and Japanese swords. Michael Petrov, Jim Williams, Gardner Gentlemen, Fred Williams, Ed Stevenson. It is probably not common in your areas but exceptional men here in Alaska amass exceptional collections of rifles. I have rifles that I drag out into the nasty. I sometimes even take nice rifles into the nasty but I do have one room where I have beautiful things.

Thanks Cascade and K68. I am enjoying this thread. Be Well, RZ.

I'd be where you are at except I recently discovered blackpowder cartridge rifles and that has really tripped my trigger. Bolt action rifles for the most part make me yawn anymore. My levers still get a bit of a rise out of me.

Don't get me wrong, I like nice rifles too. I tell the wife that they are a lot like golf clubs in that they all have different functions. That said, while I have several "deer" rifles, there is a lever, a medium range bolt action and a long range bolt action. I've been reading here long enough to know that some of you have dozens of rifles that all would do the same thing shooting nearly the same cartridges. That is something that I can't quite understand. I've sold rifles sure and it was because they didn't work for me being too heavy, rattled in the slide, were cheaply made, ejected out the top, shot an obsolete cartridge... What I have, I use. Don't hate me if I ask that same wife question of: "Why do you have so many guns?" That answer could maybe help some of us less articulate married guys best answer that question.

I just picked up a model 71 last fall with that Williams offset scope mount on it like yours. I could not get used to it and plugged the holes. Good luck. However....a 450 alaskan sure looks like fun

Short answer, "Because I can"

A bit of an expanded answer, to which I can attest, as I drove the same truck, for which I paid cash, for 17 years and pretty much did what is described below............



Circa 2002


2016


2020


If one was to purchase a new Ford F-350 for $70K and put $10K down and toted a 60K note for 6 years (72 payments) at zero% interest monthly payment would be +/- $833. If interest was 5%, the montly payment would be $966.

What would that truck be worth at the end of 6 years. Maybe $15k at best.

Anywho, what if one could redirect that monthly note and purchase a firearm at 40% to 60% of MSRP every month, or even every couple months, and ended up during a 72 month period with at least 40 firearms that could follow someone else home, most at a profit.

What'cha bet the value of your "collection" would be greater than the depreciated value of a six year old truck.

From that point of view, would it matter how many rifles of the same or near the same caliber/chambering one had.

Plus if you could surprise your darling bride with tokens of your affection from one of the firearms in your "collection" that followed someone else home, would she be upset or encourage you to do it again!

Quien Sabe,

GWB

What GWB said... Because I can too.

Why should I hate you ? We all have diff interests and tastes.

You are not a Gun/Rifle Loony..... and that's ok.

As GW & Whitebird said, "Because I can".

Since 2009 I have hunted 2 or 3 diff rifles or cartridges each season. I enjoy diff looks and features of diff rifles.
In those years I've hunted a 6.5X55 in a Win 70 XTR FTWT that I never had before.
In those years I've hunted a 284 Win in a custom rifle-- that I never had before. etc. etc.

I can have more rifles/guns than airplanes.
I can have more rifles/guns than fast cars or trucks.
et.al.

I've been able to buy 1 or 2 guns in years easier than many other things.

It's a good thing we ALL don't like the same thing.

Jerry

Guy I completely understand. I could do all of my big game hunting with my modest 30-30 Marlin but where’s the fun in that?

With young sons starting to hunt my focus has shifted to getting them set up with quality rifles so I limit myself to one lever (the 30-30) and one bolt action. The last two years it’s been a different bolt action each season. I like buying and selling getting a feel for different types. I’ve about narrowed down what I like the best now and will be picking a rifle to purchase this summer.

I figure being ‘addicted’ to guns/hunting is better than some other vices I could have.

I just bought another S&W 22/32 Kit gun off the classifieds just because A) I can and B) it was a good value at least to me. I deer hunted last year with 8 different rifles and shot two deer. One with a new custom #1 in 300 H&H the other with a different #1 in 450/400.

I have never enjoyed the outdoors and all it has to offer or a meaningful refreshment and a fine cigar while staring at a mutual fund statement.

10/4.

Chances are good that you will be more able to finance your addiction, long term, with firearms than if you were a meth-head or crack-head. At least that's one of the excuses I use.........


ya!

GWB

I’ve been giving my earlier question some more thought and lots of you are way more adroit at buying low and selling high than I have been selling firearms. Firearms being a life long fascination with lots of us, most of us know a good deal or something that is going to appreciate in value more than the average gun show piece. I got rid of my junk guns years ago and find myself drawn to the collector shows just to appreciate the better pieces. While lots of us can, we don’t. A portfolio just seems a safer place to camp some disposable income. A friend of my dad’s had a huge collection of old Winchesters and one day the police got wind of a plot that some guys were coming into town to steal a big Winchester collection and let Bob know that he might be targeted. It spooked him so badly that he sold off his collection. Not that we live in a high crime area, we don’t, but stuff happens. The wife an kids don’t have near the appreciation for whats in the gun safe than I do and if I dropped over tomorrow, they wouldn’t have a clue what things are worth. As I get older accumulating even more stuff just doesn’t seem to make good sense. I can only hunt with one at a time and it will be a nice one that might appreciate in value, but as noted, I haven’t got the loony label. Your mileage may vary.

Not really a problem.

Like women.

As long as you keep'em all well fed and serviced, and don't marry one of'em.

8>)




GR

It can be a problem. On a whim I bought one of the case colored Ruger #1's in 22 Hornet yesterday. It has a nice piece of wood esp for a new #1.

Glad I don't have an addiction.... eer problem like the rest of you.... I am perfectly sane..... kinda... sorta... ok, well, not really

I can quit at any time! in fact I have for several months at a time....

This is just the Mauser portion of my collection....

I have them not because I can but because I want too. I have had a fascination with guns (especially rifles) since I can remember. Wanted to go to gunsmithing school out of high school and mom talked me into biology in college and said if I still want to go later I could…..so after my masters degree I went to Trinidad - went really to learn stockmaking and learned that as well as engraving. I am a biologist by trade but tinker in my “hobby” when I have time and do mostly restorations but also some stock duplicating and making. Long way around why I have so many but have accumulated quite a “collection” over the last 50 years and I shoot them all (hunting, shooting in local .22 shoots, military shoots and silhouette mostly but also trap, skeet and sporting clays)……I have all guns cataloged and my wife knows exactly where to go when I kick the bucket (I have the prices I paid and what they are worth (approximately)). It’s my “retirement” or hers (or hopefully both)……and I’m glad I didn’t spend the money on other things personally.

PennDog

Great post PennDog. You stayed true to your love for firearms while earning the money required to keep the habit, er hobby going.
Are you still doing any stock work?

I do OSU……primarily for myself as I don’t have the time to finish other’s in a timely manner. I do quite a few restorations though as the time is not usually as demanding and I get great satisfaction from returning an heirloom to “new” condition.

PennDog

I love rifles, and have been through all the types and various cartridges.

With that being said, I am slowly pairing my rifles down to a manageable number.

Life changes and have been more focused on habitat/conservation work on our property. It becomes a decision, spend the money on rifles or irrigation improvements, fencing materials, trees, bushes and seed.

This should pay off bigger dividends in hunting experiences for the family and financially if leased or sold.

.270 Win NULA - check

30.06 Classic SS Featherweight - check

.375 H&H AHR - check

What the hell do I do with all the others?

Don't we all, but I am going to advertise one of my Brno 21 in 7x64 some time this week as I have three and I simply am not going to get any use out of it.

Still stunt shooting I see.......

I’ve been really into guns and a collector of guns since I was young kid. As a kid I daydreamed about being old enough to go to deer camp and loved to read all of the popular hunting and gun magazines and dream about hunting this or that or having a rifle chambered in something that I read about.

Collecting more guns than I need is about the fun, appreciation of and emotional satisfaction of owning something that I spent countless hours about as a kid dreaming of having and fascinated by. It also doesn’t hurt that I appreciate them all for different reasons. I’m a sucker for a nice piece of walnut but also like the utilitarian aspect of others. Ruger no 1’s and others remind me of reading articles by my favorite author as a kid Ross Seyfried. 7x57mm reminds me of Bell and many others as well as being a cartridge that influenced our 30-06. The 30-06 reminds me of... and on and on.

I found a Ruger 7x57 tang safety with an an old Leupold 3x9 setting on top of it in a gun shop in Omaha. I have left it behind twice now. I'm not sure I could do it a 3rd time. I'm not going back again for a while. I don't need it but somehow my brain says I've got to have it. It's a disease.

kwg

Need has nothing to do with it. want has EVERYTHING to do with it. If you don't already have a 7x57 then you really do need it and if you do have one it never hurts to have a spare.

I have 3 1893 Mausers in 7x57 and an 1895 Chilean Mauser in 7x57 but none of them are actually hunting rifles. I'd have to arrange and out of State hunt to use it. But, you are right, need has nothing to do with it.

kwg

What was Remington thinking with those recoil pads?