Lots of us have been shooting/acquiring rifles for many years. Just curious if you were to start all over today knowing what you do and with today's variety of rifles and chamberings, what would you buy?

270

W

knowing what I know now I could have saved WHEEL BARROWS full of cash by purchasing a 450 marlin BLR for short to moderate range and a 340 or 375H&H caliber synthetic stocked stainless bolt action for general use on elk hunts and sticking to the two for all my hunting.
once you have total confidence in the rifle you carry its makes little sense to keep trying new stuff the money and times better spent elseware but it took me decades to fully appreciate that fact

If I was starting one of my kids out today, I think I'd get a Remington 700, screw on a 22 inch Shilen or Kreiger, chamber it for '06, put it in a Micky stock, and top it with a 2.5X8 Leupold.
I'm too fond of what I've got to be sensible for myself.

280, 30-30, and a 22/250 covers me fine. I could have saved a ton money by staying right there 25 years ago.

358 Win and never look back. 222 Rem Mag for the little critters.

Ken

I always say when I got married I had a 16 ga 870 and a 6 mm remington 788 as well as a 22 rifle and pistol . Should have quit right there.

I think the 7-08 is here to stay.

I also think that a 204 Ruger, the 7-08 and a .338 Win mag would cover about everything in North America.

donsm70

I think I'm doing it pretty well my first time around.

I've got a .45-70 for any hunting I do here in Maine.

I've got a .375 H&H for when I get to hunt Alaska.

I'm in the process of building a 7mm Mashburn for hunting the western states.


and that's all I currently own for rifles. I need a small bore to round out the collection and I'm done I think. Time to start putting money towards tags and hunts. Less things and more experiences.

I started and stuck with 30cal rifles for most of my life. Looking back everything save Africa could have been done just as well if not better with a light bolt action in something like 270, 280 or 7-08.
That would leave a lot more room in the safe.

Stainless Model 70 375 H&H
Kimber in 6.5 Creedmor
Cooper 57M or Annie 1710 in 22LR

Already did it.....

Ruger 10/22
Kimber in 243 (with a properly throated and twisted barrel for 105's)
MRC in 375 H&H

Call it a day other than shotguns.

223AI x 2

308 x 2

One light, one heavy in each.

Well if I'm gonna be honest with myself, I only need 3 guns...

1. Ruger 10/22(any decent .22 would work)
2. Either Winchester M70 or CZ-550 in .270
3. 12 gauge pump shotgun.

That would pretty much cover it...now don't EVER show this to my wife!!!

No need to start over, was shooting a 270 forty-five years ago....

Cooper in 7mm-08

Winchester 70 375 H&H

.223 in AR platform

6mm Remington Ackley Improved

.308

300 Winchester mag.

That would cover my needs/wants completely, from coyote hunting, varmints, elk, mule deer, to long range steel ringing and competition.

Model 70 stainless chambered in 300 win. mag and a Kimber Montana 7 WSM.

223 and 270

I wouldn't change a thing. Buying/selling/trading has been a lot of fun for me, getting to try new rifles/cartridges.

But if starting with no rifles right now, I'd buy:

A 7RM/7STW/etc custom for elk/deer
A 30-06/300wm/etc custom for elk/deer
A Cooper in 6ppc for shooting tiny groups at the range
A nice AR for fun
A 50 for fun
A custom 10/22 and nice bolt 22lr
A trio of precision rifles for LR work, 260, 7RM, 338RUM.

Fast twist 243 an 870 a 10/22 and whatever bigger one I decide on

And then I would get stupid and start building and trading and never end up satisfied like now lol

I really don't think I'd change a thing because I have never come back from a hunt with an unpunched tag because of what I was carrying.

And no matter what I had in my hand, it was no trick to kill anything if I shot straight.In short,anything within reason that I tried worked and gave me the distinct impression the animals did not stand a chance.

What I have learned is that field marksmanship,good bullets in the right place, and smart hunting are far more important than the chambering of a rifle.

I'd take a Model 70 fwt, in 30-06 or 270.

I am in that camp, with a preference for a 270. If I could do it over again there are at least a couple rifles I should have just kept and dispensed with trying all the others.

I'd buy a bigger safe, and just keep most anything worth a crap.

I wouldn't change a thing. It's been a fun ride so far. Experimenting with different rifles, rounds, scopes etc. has provided a life time of interest and fun for me. I think it's called being a hard core rifle loony. I may need counseling, naw just another glass of cab.

Kimber Montana in 223 and a custom 7-08 on a 700 with a Mcmillan stock.

Throw in a 22lr and I'm done

This, my friends, is why we proclaim ourselves rifle looneys

The trouble is today's knowledge would only be effective if I could go back in time. I would go back to the 60's and buy boatloads of those beautiful Damascus shotguns that folks dumped because they were not amendable to smokeless.

Starting today, I'd buy everything with a wood stock. All of those will be tomorrows classics when all of the racks carry nothing but plastic.

I'd pick up a Remington 600/660 .308 and be done with it.

Nothing different that what I already own.

This idea, except I may, or may not, choose something different on the big end. 7-08, 30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag would be candidates.

I'd start out with a stainless .308win. purely for practicalities sake until I could fill in the rest of the gaps.

That's about where I'd begin too. Maybe not stainless and must be stocked in "nice" wood. My first "real" rifle was $88 new, the second $200 new, .308 & .270 respectively. If $ was no object I'd probably take a hard look at a Dakota but when I came to my senses I'd go with a Kimber. It might take me days to decide 308/30-06..... but I do like a .308. Considering inflation I think a good solid rifle is actually cheaper now than back in the day.

.22 LR nuff said.

6X45 or 47 just because the .223 isn't legal in Colorado for big game and possibly some other states I might hunt. With 55-70 grain bullets it plays hell on varmints as well. 80-100 grain for deer and pronghorn.

.270 Win for everything else and just because I like it.

.375 Ruger or H&H for if I ever want to hunt DG in Africa.

I could make do with a 223, a 308, Tikkas would do fine. A 12ga Rem 870. A 22 pistol, either Ruger MKII or S&W 17. A 22 Rifle, a Ruger 10-22. And a Glock 19.

22, several
222
223, at least 2, 3 is better
223AI
7-08
308
30-06
300 Mag
7 Mag
338
375


So Im a slow learner...........

Are we including scatterguns?

K-80 tube set with 30's
K-80 32 inch sporting
1100 sporting
1100 skeet
1100 Trap
11-87 field, 26 inch tube
870, about 3
Citroi 16 gauge, Gran of course
11-87 20 bore
1100 20 bore

That "might" cover it, Im sure I forgot some stuff..

Yep. Thirty years ago for me.

I have a bunch of rifles, but I could make due with just a 270.

If I had a 3 rifle battery to cover the world it would be:
223,
270
and 375H&H.

A .22 bolt action, a .22 auto, a .270 bolt action, a .223 auto and a 12 gauge pump.

That's the practical answer.

The real answer is I want it all.

I would find a 308, 270, or 30-06 (in that order) in a rifle I liked. Add a fixed 4 or 6x scope and call it good.

Bolt Actions
223
308
35 Whelen

I did start over and I probably have more overlap than the first time around. I don't know if that just means I know what I like or if that means I'm dumber or if it means I have less mental justification to worry about this time around.

22LR
338 Fed
375 h&H
12 ga

Covers everything I want to shoot.

Ruger 10-22-Small Game
Tikka 270 Winchester Superlight -Deer

270 winchester

I had a good man tell me in the 70's

22 LR 30-06 and a 3" 12 gauge and don't waste any more money

He died in 1995 and he was right btw

Ruger 77 stainless 30-06
Mickey Sako Classic stock
Leupie 6x36

I'm thinking about doing this anyway this summer. It would make life simpler.

223, 257 bob,300wm

First rifles:
.223
.30-06

From there:
Any damn thing I want. Not that I would need anything.

I'd probably simplify things and spend more time on hunting trips and shooting games (trap/skeet, defensive pistol, etc.). Of what I currently have: I'd keep the 22 K-Hornet for the small stuff, 6.5x55 for medium critters, 9.3x62 for bigger, and a 12 guage would cover long gun needs. I'd probably have to keep a handgun or two - a 1911 45acp and single action 45 Colt or 44 Spl. Then I'd have to keep something in blackpowder - don't think I could part with the Shiloh Sharps. Of the military styles, I'd pass on the M1A and keep the M1 Garand and Colt AR carbine.

That would get it from over 50 to under 10 and I doubt I'd miss any of the others.

Remington Model 7 in a .308

Remington 700 in a 7STW for bigger stuff further away

Rem 11/87 12 ga

25-06 (700, 70 or 77 Mark II Ruger)

204 (Ruger Predator) coyotes/prairie dogs, good weight compromise for both uses.

Then everything else that I think I miss that will spend most of the time in the safe.

30-06 Every house in America should have at least one.
And a 338 Win Mag Rem 700 topped with a Leupy 2.5-8

And don't forget my Winchester Model 320 .22LR

To "start over" ... all Left Handed:
> Nicely stocked .22LR
> Benelli SBE
> Rem or Rem clone in .270

And THEN the buying and selling would start all over again...

If I were to start over again I'd start by avoiding the .30-06. My luckiest chambering but I'm not convinced I ever needed one. I certainly could have lived without the pounding on the bench.

I'm 77 and have some twenty ot more rifles. Knowing what I know now, if I started over I would have the following:

A bolt action accurate ..22 LR,
Two center fire bolt rifles in .243 and .308 ( I have no local PD, ground squirrels and etc.). Going to Africa or AK, I would buy a used heavy and sell it post hunt.

I will take this farther. Three handguns, .22; .38;

& either a .44 or .45.

And lastly a 12 and 20 shotgun of your choice. Mine would be an O/U 20 and an 870

Jack

22LR, 223, 270 win, 338win mag.

Agree w Steelhead. But I split the diff:
22 + 30\2 = 26 cal.
Medium wt. Bbl = 1 rifle

6.5x47L in fluted Light Palma

If not handloading ~ 6.5 Creedmoor

Don't forget a 6x scope. (Splits a 3-9x)

7x57

A 7-lb .308/7-08 or 7-1/2 lb 30-06. Boring but practical.

I think it would likely be a Tikka T3 chambered for 7mm/08. I could be entirely happy with Leupold 6x42 and a LRD.

or 223 and 7x57.

I think Steelhead's answer is very sensible. I would likely do something very similar, but would probably skip the AI version.

Quality .22LR bolt rifle.
Light .223 bolt gun
Heavy .223 bolt gun
Light .308 bolt gun
Heavy .308 bolt gun
Midweight AR in .223

8" twist on the .223s and 10" or 11" twist on the .308s, both throated properly.

Not much I couldn't do with the above and logistics would be as good as it gets.

John

I did.
I purchased a new 7x57. That covers anything in the lower 48.
John

im sitting pretty well, although there is probably too much overlap.

my main hunting rifles:
223(ar15)
243
257wby
7 LRM
300WSM.

I could scratch the 243 & 300 and be perfectly fine. Or,scratch the 257 and 300.

280 AI
300 WSM

Both would be completely custom built with Borden actions.....which I've already done.

I've always wanted a Winchester model 70 .280 Rem. I have one in .270 and maybe that's close enough?

.007 - James Bond would agree
Simply load 140 AB, 150 BTs, and 160 PT - and you are there.

If itsa FWT you are not far off.

If I were to start over today it would be much different, because you have the choice of more than two types of bullets...those that blow up and those that don't expand at all. I can do things with a 45 grn monolithic bullet today, that it required a 165 grain soft point to do 45 years ago.

It's not. I'll probably have to find myself a Featherweight .280 at some point. I never owned an FWT.

What I have now:
Model 70 FW 270 (pre 64)
Model 70 30/06 (pre 64)
Ruger 10/22
Whitworth 375 H&H

If I would have just started there!

Matching set of stainless Win 70's in 260rem, 358win, some variety of 375/416, Mickey stocks, Leupold 2.5-8's. Of course some sort of 22, also. And a few shotguns. And of course a few handguns. And....back to square one....

I would start with this combo of components, Husky 1900 action, Hart barrel, McMillan stock and chamber it in 280 Ackley.

The 45-70 wont work in Alaska??

If we're talking just big game then basically what I have ended up with as my Go-To hunting rifles.

Remington Model 7KS Custom Shop .350 Remington Magnum. Will do anything from small game with pistol bullets to the biggest bears with 250s. Weighs 7# ready to gun and is a joy to carry.... Has a Leupold 1.75-6 on it right now but just found a 2.5-8 with a B&C reticle that will probably go on it...





Second gun would be for longer ranges. Debated a long time over a .264 Winchester Magnum vs. a .257 Weatherby Magnum and the Weatherby won out. Always wanted one but didn't like the Weatherby stock design but when the Remington 700 CDL stainless fluted came out I bought one. Shoots .3 moa with 120 Speer BTs at 3200 fps. 6.5-18 Shepherd scope is on top and matches the ballistic drop reticle out to 600 yards. With light bullets would be a great long range varminter, heavies will do elk in a pinch.







Last gun would be a backup and general purpose rifle in .308. Kimber Montana, Remington Model SEVEN, most any light weight stainless/synthetic stocked rifle. Right now the bill is filled by a Remingtom Model SEVEN stainless/synthetic. It has a 20" barrel and is .5 moa accurate. If I kept it the only change would to put it in the same stock that the 7KS is in. One of the discontinued Remington AWR with a 22" blackened stainless barrel in .308 would be perfect...





Left shot was a called pull so I fired one more...



Bob

Were I starting over today I would follow the same path again. A wonderfully eclectic variety of rifles have passed through my hands in my life. If I had to pick just one out of all of them to fill my hunting/experimenting urges I wouldn't cry if it were a classic .30-06 sporter built on an '03 Springfield.

I have my 3.....

270 Win Ruger M77
.243 Win Tikka
.375 H&H M70

If I were starting over today I'd buy the following:

Pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight, 270 WCF, in a McMillan Compact pattern standard fill stock. Add 1000 Winchester cases, 5000 Winchester LR primers, a set of Redding dies, 40lbs of Ramshot Magnum powder and 5000 130r Nosler Partitions and I'd never have to go shopping again

Dang, I like your thinkin....

Ruger 10/22 with the Boyd's SS EVOLUTION® stock
AR-15 in 223
Bolt Remington stainless or Tikka T3 in 308 (or 7-08)

It's not for sale guys....

Gee BSA, if we all did that all of the rifles companies would be out of business.

yeah! Ive bought tested and in some cases traded off or sold rifles , my late hunting partner bought a BLR in 358 win, settled on a load that shot well with a speer 250 grain, over 45 grains of imr 4064 and never changed a darn thing in 30 plus years.
he used to laugh at me, said I was partly insane, as changing rifles and testing loads , was a waste of money and time. he often said ,his BLR in 358 win killed every elk he ever shot at, there was obviously no way to improve that track record.

Well, I had to start over at my divorce. This is what I did, all left-handed rifles:

CZ 452 American 22lr, McMillian stock, leupould rimfire 3-9x33mm, R&D all steel blued-trigger guard.

Ruger Hawkeye 223rem, McMillian stock, Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40mm.

Ruger Hawkeye 308win, McMillan stock, Leupold FXIII6x42mm

22 LR
,223 Rem
6.5 x 55
.375 H and H

All from Mr. Forbes with the barrel weight and length I specified. And I almost forgot, a quality air rifle. That one is very important.

22lr
223
25-06 or 6.5 swede
444 Marlin

1-8" twist 22-250 Ackley. Second would be 280 Ackley built on a Remington action #2 contour barrel cut at 23" all stainless sitting in a McMillan edge mountain rifle stock topped with a leupold 6x42 with M1 turret

All those good buys. I thought I couldn't afford..

22lr
223
3006
375 H&H

Yep!

Ruger 10-22, laminated, SS.
Tikka T 3 Lite SS 270 Win.
Win 70 Winlite 300 WM (could be Rem 700 7 RM, I own)

I don't have any need of a 223 and will not hunt anything needing larger than the 300 WM.

I don't think things would be too different for me. I've always been what I think John Barsness calls a "churner," someone who is always trying something different in rifles, cartridges, etc, though I think I'm finally over it.

Or at least I'm in remission.

6mm rem, 264 win, and a 35 whelen

I suppose we gotta pick something....

For BG hunting (varmints/targets/plinking is different)

7mm Mashburn Super

375 H&H,and.......(drum roll )


270

Big Game.

The M700 based 30/06 I'm currently having built,and another very similar to it in 338 Win Mag.

Throw in varmints/predators,and we have to add the 22/250.

Varmints-.223,22/6mm,.243,.240 Wby and a .25-06.

BG-.243,.240 Wby,.25-06,270 Win/Wby,7x57,7mm Dakota,.30-06,.300 H&H/Win/Wby mags,.338 Win/RUM,.375 H&H/RUM.

That's what I would start with.

Bob picks a 270 Winchester? Probably in some old 50's style rifle. Old fashioned almost obsolete cartridges...

I'd start with the 243, 30/06, and the 375. The question would be, how long before I started itching to try something else.

Stainless Rem 700 SPS with Timney trigger assembly and McMillan edge stock in .270 Win. with Conquest HD scope.

17 HMR, 221 Fireball, 250-3000, 284, 358, a big 7 of one variety or another.

A bigger house with more walls for more safes!

22, 243, and 270. Very simple and effective

22 LR, 223, 308

Wouldn't buy any differently or change what I have ...I'm covered full spectrum from gopher to T-Rex.

I would have bought the Sako AV lux in 30-06 that was on sale when I was a kid and wanted to buy my first rifle. Even for back then it was cheap. Rifles got really expensive around here as the rand depreciated against the dollar over the years.

If it were me and you asked me today... It would probably be these two..

M70 338 Win Mag



M70 7mm MSM..



The pair of them would cover a ton of ground. I don't do much plinking and don't even own a 22LR that I can call my own..



I think I'd do okay... I guess you could throw a shotgun in there as well as well as my SBH 5.5 44..

I have a 240 Wby had a 257 Wby and have a 25-06 TK3 and a 30-06 Styre and they are all sweet kinda whish i still had the 257. Oh well hind sight:-)

if i could start over i would start hunting big game out west at a younger age before my lungs and legs gave out, i should have found the money somewere.

Yeah that's the trouble, you can't get it back. I should have sold off something and gone to Africa in the 70's but I thought I was too broke. Now I'm just broken down!

10/22 Target
.17 Fireball
243AI
7SAUM

.22 cz
.223 colony varminter
.220 Swift
.25/06 or .270
.300 win

12 ga 870
20 ga 870

I have all of these plus others, so I wouldn't make many changes..

All lefties

222 Rem - would probably get a Savage 223 and have it set back and rechambered
260 Remington - Tikka or maybe Sako
270 Win - Rem 700 put into a Mcmillan Edge
307 Win - Winchester M 94
308 Norma Mag - probably a Rem 700 300 Win set back and rechambered
35 Whelen - Rem 700, would consider a Ruger

I wouldn't change a damn thing. It's been a fun ride.

Starting over(last week), 243 and 270, perfect pair for anything here, 90's at 3150fps and 140's at 3050.



A 22-250 and 55's would be another sweet 400 yard laser.

And of course a couple shotguns as well.

I have to say I do not have all that many regrets. However, given hindsight, there may be a few blind alleys I could have missed.

For instance, my first deer rifle was a Remington 742. My buddy put a 742 and a 760 in front of me and asked me to pick. I picked the 742. It's been out of action since 2004 with a bad case of the chatters. Mind you, I had gobs of fun with it, but I see where I went wrong.

Back in those days, I lusted for a Remington 700 BDL. I wasn't thinking about a Win Mod 70. As it turned out a used 670 fell into my hands a bit later, and I never did get around to buying the 700. I repent any thoughts I had of a Remington bolt gun.

I would have bought my Savage 99 much sooner, back when they were not collector's items. I'd still buy a 308 WIN, but I bet if I'd gotten a 358 WIN, I'd have never gotten into 35 Whelen. Frankly, I wish I had a whole rack of them.

I would have bought a bolt-action 223 REM much sooner. I cannot say I regretted buying my Mini-14 twenty years ago, but it kept me from buying a bolt gun. It's funny. A buddy of mine from Texas asked me about my Mini-14, and I said I liked it. It was a heck of a lot more accurate than common opinion of the time would dictate. My one qualm was that I should have bought the ranch version, because mounting a scope on mine was problematic. 5 years later, he died and a near-new stainless scoped Ranch Rifle arrived at my door. It had been the last rifle he bought, and he made sure I got it.

Which reminds me: I would started buying stainless rifles a lot sooner. My Ruger Hawkeye last year convinced me of that.

I should have bought my 25-06 sooner. I love my custom Mauser.

I do not regret buying my Marlin 336 in 30-30, but I think I should have kept it as the designated yute rifle for my sons. On the other hand, I fully repent not buying a Marlin in 357 Mag sooner. I love that little thing.

I should have bought a hundred Albanian SKS when I had a chance back in 2006. They've appreciated from $70 to $400.

A M1 Carbine would be nice right about now. I could not figure why I'd need one back in the early 80's. I can't say what I'd be doing with it, but that has never stopped me.

Nice! scopes on each?
All up weight of each with the bipods attached?

My father-in-law gave me a 30.cal carbine and a M1 grand a few yrs back about 4 yrs ago i traded off the grand for my TK3 with $250 boot still have the carbine shoots great. they use it every year in the Memorial day parade and the Veterans day parade each year so it getting a little use. the one's i love the most are the WBY.240 ultra lite and the TK3 everything i have ever shot with ether one has always dropped never traveling more than 30yds

i traded off the Grand because it was falling apart, trigger housing kept falling out main spring had to be replaced came out in 7 pieces it had been real hot and a tight group was 8 in. at 100 yds

Try some 55s in your 243. I suspect all longings for a 22-250 firing 55s will go the way of the Passenger pigeon.

I hunt ruffed/spruce grouse, snowshoe hair and whitetails in Northern MN and Northern WI. I also hunt squirrels/rabbits around home, so I would probably follow Larry Koller's advice and buy a matched pair. Either a Winchester 9422 or Henry classic lever 22lr and a Winchester 94ae carbine in 30-30. or a Marlin 39 and a Marlin 336 30-30. That way I could hunt with open, peep or scoped depending on age/eyesight and be time and money ahead.

Amra, the 270 has a 6x36 Leupold and weighs 6lbs 6oz scoped(7lb 4oz with the bipod).

The 243 has a 2.5-8x36 Leupold and weighs 6lbs 4oz scoped(7lb 2oz with a bipod).

Both rifles are fairly accurate.



PG, that could be a possibility but adding a 22-250 to the safe would be more fun!

I wish I'd bought a 22-250 a long time ago.




Travis

My first rifle was a push feed M70 22-250 that must weigh about 10lbs. Still have it of course.

Sweet little cartridge for sure.

223 makes a lot more sense than a 22-250, if a guy already owns a 243.

Logic has nothing to do with it, that and I have an AR.

I would start with the two pre'64 M/70's that I currently own, a prewar .257 Roberts and an early 50's Standard that I rebored to .35 Whelen which I have upgraded to a Super Grade using all the correct vintage parts. For a smallbore I have a custom Springfield 1922 M2 sporter.

77/22 .22

77/17 VHZ

Sako .222

Pre-64 M70 FW .270

Leica 10x40's

.22
.243
.708
870 wingmaster/12

I would grab a 700 classic in whelen, and have randy melvin in billings build for me a 30-338 on a defiance/bartlein/mcmillan... For starters that is...

A matching pair of Coopers in .22 and maybe 6.5 CR or 7/08 and a vintage or new production Ithaca pump or Browning Light 12. I also might spring for a Smith 41 to replace my .22 handguns.

I'd buy the same guns I have now.

Over my years I have owned, shot and hunted with literally hundreds of different rifles, shotguns and handguns. In that time I have pretty well figured out what works for me so that if I were to start from scratch I would likely end up with the same guns and chamberings I use today.

I might choose better wood, but most of my guns are nice enough for me now without being so nice I hate to use them. And I know I'm going to use them hard no matter how nice or expensive they might be.

Even though I might "know" where I was going to end up.....I'd probably not do things too differently. I have loved using many, many different guns and chamberings and learned from each and every one.

When I tell you that I prefer a certain gun or chambering, it's NOT because I've never tried anything else. It's because I HAVE tried and used almost every combination you can think of.....and decided what works best for me based on experience, not advertising and second hand advise. Without going through the years of gun trading and use, I'd not have that knowledge. What I learned is that damn near anything will work if the shooter is good enough, but some just work better.....for me.

If anything I'd likely own MORE, not less firearms than I do.....and that's saying a lot since I now have some 200 firearms in the gun room. I'd trade less and keep more if I had it all to do over.

With that said, I'd likely start with the guns I use most today. First would have to be a good .22 rifle. I've used a lot of really nice rimfire rifles, but keep coming back to the Ruger 10/22 with the checkered stock. It's not the most expensive or best looking .22 I own, but it just works.

For centerfire rifles I'd go with the rifle that started it all. My first true big game rifle was a custom FN Mauser in .30-06....and I've never found any I like as well and still shoot it the most of all my guns. A second Mauser...in .338 Magnum....would handle heavier game for me.

I've owned some 40+ Savage 99's over the years and still love that rifle. I would have to have 99's (probably in the EG configuration) in .250-3000, .308 and .358.

I know, the .30-06 (or the trio of Savage 99's) would cover every need I might have in a lifetime, but I don't believe in going with the minimum on anything. I LIKE rifles and prefer to have a gun for every use.

One rifle that would HAVE to be replaced is my Ruger 44 Carbine. One of my earliest rifles, it has always been a favorite. There are many more versatile rifles out there, but I can think of nothing I'd rather have in my hands if fast, close-up shooting is required and a heavy punch is needed. That little carbine feels like a part of my body and I love it.....and likely why I like it's twin, the Ruger 10/22, is also a favorite.

In shotguns, I am a die-hard fan of classic double guns. My main shotguns would be a pair of L.C.Smith doubles in 20 ga. and 12 ga. These would cover almost every shotgun need I'd ever have. However, for hard-core waterfowling, the doubles are just a little too delicate and since the introduction of steel shot not as versatile as a heavy 3" magnum. For this use the Remington 870 is near perfect.

My handguns would start with the most used....a Ruger 5 1/2" barreled Target Model. One of my first handguns, I have tried many others and keep coming back to where I started.

For hunting, my Ruger .44 Flattop would be my choice. The Super Blackhawk is a bit stronger and also a good choice, but just doesn't fit my hand as well as the old Flattop does.

For everyday carry around the house and woods a 4 5/8" SAA in .45 Colt rides my hip like it grew there. Been carrying one so long I feel naked without it. I would probably add a second SAA in .32-20.....just because I like the chambering and it is a bit better for shooting edible small game.

Of course I could never be without a good 1911 in .45ACP for general self/home defense and carry. It also makes a passable hunting weapon as well.....if used carefully.

I know, that's a lot of guns, but I LIKE lots of guns and that battery would make a nice start if I had to start over. Then I could add a couple of hundred more over the years.....again.

Tikka T3 270
Tikka T3 223 Superlite

Both rifles would be topped with FX3 6X42 leupold with M1 turret

I currently own these 2 rifles unfortunately they are not topped with the FX3 however instead are topped with Zeiss Terra 3 RZ6 scopes. I am pleased enouph with the Zeiss RZ6 that I cannot warrant changing.


GUNS I DONT HAVE


I would aquire and hunt a Model 70 featherweight in 7X57 Mouser and I'd top it with a Leupold 6X36 FX2 with dots.

Winchester Lever Action 22 lr



Would build One Custom

Remington Action Trued and Lugs lapped
260 8 twist finished at 21"
McMillan Stock
Leupold 3.5-10X40 M1 turret



Winchester 20 gaige


Other than these I'd buy, sale, trade and occasionally probably add a firearm or 2.

Shod

- MkV Deluxe in 30-06 FX3 6x42 (or perhaps 7-08 since that is what I have) < 8# when done

- CZ453 American in 22lr & 17 HMR

- Bolt in 223 (not sure which) Would like a MkV Deluxe with a medium wt barrel.

- AR in 223/556 RRA ATH and/or Colt 6920

- LW rig MkV SS Fibermark in .280 with FX-II 6x36 right at 7# all done (I have this one, so I may be my first if I was to start over )

- Not sure if I want/need a Heavy. But the Caprivi has always interested me or a M70 either in 375 H&H

From top to bottom in order of purchase .....

EDITED TO ADD ..... A M1 GARAND!!

That's one BIG hole ....