Hi everyone, this is my first on the campfire so I'm hoping you've all got some great advice for me.

I'm considering paring down my gun collection (I know, I know), but hear me out.
First some background: I'm primarily a deer hunter (also some turkey) in upstate NY and I feel like there is a lot of redundancy in my current rifles. I hunt from a treestand mostly, but I've been getting into tracking, and other big woods hunting where long hikes, rough conditions, and snap shots are more the norm.

Now to the rifles:

Winchester 94 XTR top eject in 30-30 (1981 MFG), iron sights.

Remington 1903-a3 sporter in 30-06. M70 featherweight profile Douglas barrel, buehler safety, full length stock in figured claro walnut. Currently no optics.

Kimber Montana 308win, Vortex Razor HD LH 1.5-8x32

Tikka's T3 forest in 270, Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40

Tikka T3x lite stainless in 30-06, Vortex Razor HD LH 1.5-8x32

Shotguns (I know this is a rifle forum but some ares only allow slugs for deer hunting)

Remington 1100 12ga, 2 3/4", 21" rifle sight smooth bore and 28" VR
Beretta 686 White Onyx
Baikal 12ga single shot 30" full choke
HR partner pump 20ga compact

Would like to thin the herd a bit, already sold off a Remington 700 ADL beater.

Would also consider an overall reworking of the fleet if it mean the less guns total, and less money into them.

Thinking to sell the T3x 30-06 (keep scope) and the partner pump. Also sell the zeiss Conquest and replace with vx-3i 1.5-5x20 for the 1903-a3. Or I could go to express sights for the 1903. Considering selling the Tikka 270 also because for the ranges I hunt/shoot within 300-350yards, 150gr 308 is fine. I'm finding that the Kimber is a great all around gun. Very light, awesome glass, can't damage it. I like having a quality gun I can beat the [bleep] out of.

ALSO tempted to sell the 1100 and replace with a very lightweight pump or auto 20ga for deer. Beretta covers bird hunting.

Thanks!

Keep the Winchester, put the Zeiss on the Montana, keep the Beretta and the Remington 1100 and then buy a Savage 220f and scope it.

Keep the 30-30, Tikka 30-06 and the 1100 w both barrels.

1100 covers birds and slugs where the Beretta only covers birds.

Kimber, 1100, 686.

Trip the rest and nab yourself a nice lightweight 223 or 22-250 for a lower-recoil option to practice with that's similar to your big-game rifle.

Keep:

Kimber Montana (although, for your terrain and game, a 7mm-08 would be a slightly better cartridge choice)
Baretta 686

Keep the Montana and the 1100 (Though I am admittedly not one to go for advice on shotguns). Keep anything else of sentimental value.

+1

To maximize available dollars and not negatively affect your abilities, I would keep the Tikka 30-06 and the 1100. If maximizing available dollars through resale is not a concern, I would keep the Kimber instead of the Tikka. I'd still keep the 1100 if keeping one of each were your goal.

The Kimber and Winchester will easily handle any deer hunting in NY rifle zones.

Put a receiver/peep sight on the 30/30 if it still has original irons.

Keep them all.. great investments!!! Then buy more.....

Lmao!.....good advice 👍.....Hb

Keep the Kimber 308 and whichever Tikka you like best. It never hurts to have a back-up rifle in case something goes wrong with the one you are using.

For the shotguns, keep the Remington 1100 and the Beretta.

For the scopes, I liked the Zeiss Conquests I have owned in the past. I have not used Vortex, so I can't say for it. A Nightforce SHV 3-10x42 would be nice on one of your deer rifles.

Keep the Winchester and Kimber.

Sell every scope you have except the Zeiss Conquest, and mount it on the Kimber.

Keep the Beretta for birds and the 1100 for slugs and as a backup.

Pick up something in .223/5.56 for practice and cheap fun.

I’m down to a T3x in 6.5 creed and a T3 in 308 and a rem 700 in 243 AI.

I have an LMT in 5.56 and an LMT MWS in 7.62x51 with a 6.5 creedmoor barrel, too.

I think I’m set.

Sell them all ,your from New Dork and don't need any firearms according to your asswipe politicians, hey don't take it to personal. MB

Rifle: Keep the Winchester, sell the rest, buy more vintage Winchesters.

Shotgun: Meh.

Keep one rifle & one shotgun. Ship the remainder to me. That should accomplish your minimalist effort.

I'd like to see pics of the O3-A3 sporter

It's hopeless. Your collection is perfect in my way of thinking. All of the firearm type have a purpose. You might want to add 5-6 handguns though!

This is the best advice. Every firearm I own was bought for a reason so I consider my self a minimalist. My next firearm will probably be bought because I have one more slot left in the safe.
Hey, it's a reason.
Then I'll buy another safe.

Do you own a .22lr?

I'm serious. The OP's collection covers much of the ground that interest me. A nice light 30-30 lever for camp. A 1903 Springfield for a project. All of the guns the OP has was thought about.

I’d keep the Kimber and sell the rest.

+2

Sell everything and start anew.

Make a commitment to have three maybe four rifles and one or two shotguns and one handgun.

I had that when I was 20 and barely armed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have never figured out how to use more than one firearm at a time. 😋

Welcome, and unless you're over 90 years old I wont help anyone get rid of their guns.

Thinning down the heard is a very sad thing to do.............but if I were give those options I'd sell ALL of them except the 1903-A3. Take the money and buy a CZ 22 long rifle and put a good scope on it and then a Mossberg 590 with a bird barrel and a slug barrel.

A good 22, a 30-06 and a shotgun will cover ALL your needs for ever, and do everything there is ----------------------------- but will be far more boring then having a lot of guns to choose from.

Kimber 308 with whichever of the bunch is your favorite scope
Rem 1100

The rest are all fluff.

Somebody probably already said this, but take the Zeiss off the .270...put it on the Tikka .30-06....sell everything else.

Keep the Tikka ‘06, 1100, sell everything else, grab a 1:8 Tikka 223. Done.

Keep the Kimber Montana .308
Rip the Vortex off there and put a Leupold Compact 2.5 X 8 on it.

Sell everything else and buy an Ithaca Model 37 Deerslayer pump 20 ga

Send that 94 30-30 to me for further testing 🤠

I'd just keep the 30-30 and a shotgun. Dont be like me. ;D

WTF?? No scattergun??

Wow, thanks for all of the great replies. I've read and considered everyone's comments, so no hard feelings if I don't respond specifically to yours.

MM879, each gun was carefully thought out, I've spent a lot of years with more time than money so I had to be thoughtful.

Regarding the scopes Vortex Razor is absolutely phenomenal optically, has a German 4a type reticle, and weighs 13oz. I've done the Leupold thing, and the vx-3i is not optically superior. Neither is the zeiss, although it's too close to tell without testing I don't care to do. I chose the Vortex because I've never had too little magnification for a long shot, but I've been unable to shoot deer running in thick cover at close range at 3x. 1.5x is vastly better for what I'm doing. I will get a Leupold 1.5-5x20 eventually with alumina flip caps because the Kimber bolt handle causes clearance issues with a scope cap like butler creek.

I do not own a 22lr. My father lives close and owns a CZ455fs which I have free access to.

1903-a3 is sentimental as is the 686. The 94 is my first lever gun, and will eventually get a fast fire on a turnbull fastfire receiver mount (its factory d and t).

THe tikka 270 is just crazy accurate. Never had a rifle shoot varying ammo as well and to same POI.

Tikka 30-06 was a possible replacement for Kimber, but the stock is garbage, and I'm small and weak so I prefer the lighter Kimber. In the meantime it's been a loaner to various broke/cheap friends without reliable guns.

The Kimber is basically my do it all beater, crash through brush, drop in snow, knockaround, not give a care hunting rifle.

1100 does basically everything reasonably well.

The baikal single shot is completely refinished, and actually pretty nice. Refinished and reshaped stock, mitre blued small parts. Als probably only worth like $50, so why even bother. Plus there's nothing quite like watching someone shoot 3" turkey loads out of a 6lb shotgun.

I think that the advice to keep them all is probably good, but I want to pare down a bit. I think for now I'll lose one of the Tikkas, and the partner pump because it's junk.

I think my takeaway from all e comments is that there's a lot I could ditch without losing capability, but there's also not a lot of redundancy. I view the tikkas basically as redundant because the 1903 and the Kimber cover all that ground anyway.

So at least one tikka is going, and maybe both. If I sold both I would probably look for a Remington model 14 in 35rem with a good bore and a rough finish/bluing as a project.

Fix that ASAP.

Keep the Tika T3X stainless in 30-06 and put the Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 on it. Keep the Beretta 686. All pared down.

I've been trying to post a photo of this 1903 but for the life of me I cannot figure it out.

My Ass!

I would keep all the rifles except the Tikka 30-06, based on the kimber being well suited to big woods treks, the 270 b/c it’s a shooter. I would fit a peep on the 94.

For shotguns, I could be well served by an 870 express for turkey/waterfowl and a wingmaster (12 or 20) for rabbit, grouse, and pheasant.

I would definitely acquire a 22 LR. If you must pair down further, sounds like the 1903 and 94 are out because of sentimental reasons, but really the Kimber 308 and a 760/7600 would suite you well for the hunting you do and any future endeavors westward. Pair those 2 with a 22 and you have all you will ever need.

Keep the 03-A3 as it's the most unique one listed, and the Kimber because you seem to favor it as a working rifle. Keep the 1100 and 686, can't go wrong with either. Keep both scopes from the Tikkas, one for the 03-A3 and one for a spare. Lastly, find a way to get your father's 455fs in your safe.

I have no idea about the shotguns. Keep the Kimber and the Tikka 30-06. They strike the same blow and you’ll never have trouble finding ammo.

Sell the rest.


Okie John

Keep the Kimber Montana 308 , and put the Zeiss on it.
Keep your Rem 1100 outfit. I'd prefer a 20 gauge pump outfit, but that is my view, not yours.

Sell everything else. You have NY game covered with the above two firearms. Shoot them as much as you can.

I'd pick up an accurate 22 LR for squirrel hunting. Doesn't have to be premium, just accurate (I like bolt actions). If you want to go chuck hunting a 222/223 bolt with heavy barrel and 6x scope is nice (is Howa 1500 varmint).

Then buy a recurve bow, and have a lot of fun. Southwest Archery Spyder XL 64" amo bow ($150), 30-35# draw weight, some Easton Tribute xx75 aluminum 1816 or 1916 shafts ($3/each at Lancaster Archery), and get "Shooting the Stickbow" by Anthony Camera ($20).

I would do what your thinking except I would treat myself to a Savage 220 slug gun, you already have the scope after you sell the rifles.

I’ve actually been building shooting and hunting with stick bows for about a decade. I try to keep my bows down to no more than a dozen reliable hunting bows at one time. Right now I’m primarily shooting a tri-laminate D/R wood longbow, hickory, hickory, ipe, with rosewood and Osage riser. 66” AMO 45#@26”

Ben,

You could pick up a Rem. 870 with the barrel you want and pick up an extra rifled barrel for a true 'minimalist' set-up. Set up the rifled barrel with a scope or red dot, whatever works for your hunting.

Sounds like the Kimber .308 is working out quite well for you, If it doesn't have one put a receiver sight on the Win. 30-30. The "Remington model 14 in 35rem with a good bore and a rough finish/bluing as a project" sounds like fun, but again... hold off until you find one with a receiver sight (they are expensive if bought separately)... This would duplicate what your 30-30 works for, Sounds as if you like to tinker so do it anyway.

Definitely get a .22LR, action and the brand something you like===> Win. Lever (out of production so kind of spendy), a bolt for accuracy... these days I would look at the CZ 457, or yes a Tikka T1X and a couple of spare magazines. Scope the Tikka T1X (for my use the Weaver 2-7 Rimfire is perfect, made in Japan, quality and on sale at Natchez shooters supply right now) or if a lever get a receiver sight on it. And shoot the heck out of it in the off season, hunt small game if possible in your area.

We've all bought guns for a "Reason", but our needs and circumstances change.

Trip a few and if it doesn't hurt, trip the rest until you get where you feel it is right... It will change down the road and you can change it up again which is half the fun.

YMMV,

Jerry

Keep the Kimber .308 Win. Sell the others and get a Kimber MT .223 Rem.

That’s all you’d really need.

Late tot eh party. I'd push the "Easy Button". IF the .270 is scary accurate, keep it just the way it is, along with the 1100. Sell everything else. Buy a .22 LR that suits you. ANd rock on...

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/14346440#Post14346440

1903-a3, more pictures to come

I'm in the process of whittling my arsenal down too. It gets tough figuring out what to send down the road. But I agree with what RinB says.


Still, I like the idea of having some backups or alternatives so don't plan on going down to only one rifle at this point.

Based on what the OP says, I'd keep the Kimber 308 which sounds like is his main duty rifle that could really serve as his only rifle if he were to take it all the way down to one. Keep the 1903-A3 .30-06 because of its sentimental value and practical in it's own right, but I question does it still get used? Perhaps a moment of clarity will determine its future down the road. Punt.

Keep the Winchester 94 30-30. It's the classic woods and thick brush rifle for a reason and shooting with iron sights is fun outside of the very dimmest minutes of twilight.

I don't really see the need to keep either Tikka other than one can be a backup for the Kimber .308 if the 1903 isn't getting used for that duty. However, getting rid of it because it can shoot flatter for a little further than the .308 is a moot point since the .308 can shoot further than the 30-30 when 95% of your shots are probably at 30-30 ranges. Send the other Tikka down the road and ask yourself do you really see yourself using the Tikka 270 enough to justify keeping it? The fact it is super accurate is great and argument to keep, but will you use it? Cash is easy to use and far more versatile.

I tend to agree with your preferences on scope magnification since I hunt in thick woods and brush. 8x is more than ample on the top end. I'm not familiar with Vortex but like the configuration and #4 reticle. Wish Leupold hadn't jacked their reticle change fee up. I'd like to try the #4 in my VX-III 1.75-6 and possibly in my 2.5-8 as well. Figure out what scopes you will keep, but I'd advise keeping an extra or two around in the event you have a scope failure or need to troubleshoot accuracy gone awry.

I don't have enough experience shotgun hunting to give good advice there. I really should remedy that.

+2

First world problems.