I need to start narrowing down my medium bore rifles a tad.so will want to keep one, maybe two, and get rid of the rest. Have my own ideas as to which ones, but I may have left some things out of my thought(?) process. I do not ever wish to hunt outside NA again.

So, which of the following would you keep?

(I have a several-lifetime supply of ammo and loading components for each of them.)

Question:
Which would be your number one "keeper" from this group, and why?

Choices:
Commercial .375 H&H magnum mauser
Steyr .376 Pro Hunter
original Mauser 9.3x62 sporter
9.3x74-R double rifle
Musgrave .404 Jeffrey sporter (first one they ever made)
Ruger No. 1 .450/.400
Ruger No. 1 .405 Winchester
Ruger No. 1.9.3x74-R
Ruger No. 1 9.5x57-R
Marlin .375 Winchester
Winchester M94 .38-55

Question:
Of the list, which would you choose as the second to keep?

Choices:
Commercial.375 H&H sporter
Steyr .376Pro-Hunter
original Mauser 9.3x62
9.3x74-R double rifle
Musgrave .404 Jeffrey sporter (first one they ever made)
Ruger No. 1 .450/400
Ruger No. 1 .405 Winchester
Ruger No., 1 9.3x74-R
Ruger No. 1 9.5x57-R
Marlin .375 Winchester
Winchester M94 .38-55

 

I voted keep the 375 H & H Mauser and the Winchester 94 in 38-55. I really can't see any usefulness in any of the others if you are never going to shoot outside of North America.

But it is a shame that you can't stretch to three and keep the 9.3 x 62. I think it is probably more useful than the 375 in certain situations.

In fact I'd even be tempted to sell the WHOLE LOT and buy a top range bespoke (custom) 300 Winchester Magnum! Not that I like that cartridge at all!

If it was me, I'd sell the lot of them and buy a .338 WM and a 7mm-08. That's all you need for North America.

Pretty strong logic although I would throw in a 22-250 or 243.

quote:

Originally posted by cobra:
If it was me, I'd sell the lot of them and buy a .338 WM and a 7mm-08. That's all you need for North America.

i voted .. but i'd probably sell them all, and buy a searcy 470 NE, 375 ruger, and a 7x64

I agree with the "sell them all" sentiment. Buy a pre-64 Model 70 30-06, put it into a nice synthetic or wood stock and you'd be golden.

Unfortunately only one or two of you answered the question asked.

I have no intention of selling them all.

I already have most of the others that were suggested as alternatives, including the pre-'64 M70.30-06, .300 Wby, the .338 Win Mag, the NA equivalent of the 7x64 (a quick twist .280), several 7mm Magnums, two 7/08s, and so on...in fact, a much too large bunch of other "so-ons". None of them, BTW. do I consider "medium" bores.

I listed MY medium bores....my rifles between .350" and.425" bores. To me rifles from .300 through .349" are small-medium bores, and anything under .300" down to .243" is a small bore. Below that are "miniatures". It is okay if you and the forum have different criteria. That doesn't bother me, and my criteria/grouping shouldn't bother you.

So...of the ones listed, which would you KEEP, and why?

With the 9.3x62 you can kill any medium game in the world out to 250 yards.
If you want to shoot at longer range than that then get a medium magnum, say the 7mm Rem mag.

By asking which ones we thought you should keep you were also asking us which ones we thought you should not.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
I need to start narrowing down my medium bore rifles a tad.so will want to keep one, maybe two, and get rid of the rest.

I voted .375 for both the first and second choices. Of what you listed, that's what I would keep.

Chaque à son goût

The .404 #1 and the Double #2. Both are a class act;strictly a choice of fondness and appreciation If in fact you use any of these in the field again the .375 isn't going to do any better than my first or second choice.The rest may be also ran. roger

AC,
I would pick the two "rifles" that I like the most as the all the cal./cart. are capable of taking moose and elk which is what I would use them for..
But here goes my picks..
If the 9.3X74R double was light wt.,set up for a scope and accurate enough to take a moose or elk at 200yds. then it would be one of the keepers..
For a rough weather/terrain rifle I would pick the .376 Steyr and I would cut the barrel down to at least 20" and mount open sights on it...
But then there's that little Ruger #1 in 9.3X57R, the only custom rifle of the bunch.. I bet you built it to your spec's which just might push it into the #1 spot..

I would keep the south african "mauser" in kal. 10,75x73.

Wow, this is hard.

Never going to Africa again? North America only?

Tough, tough call.

I'd keep, as the primary the 9.3x74r. Pigs, blind gun, horseback elk? Load it up, load it down, but that's as heavy a rifle as NA would ever be needed.

Yeah, it's a Number 1, it's heavy. It's not a carry rifle. But It's a modern classic in a great cartridge. Besides, properly placed there's no need for a followup from a 9.3x74...right?

Second rifle? I'd want to go smaller...or at least lighter. Marlin .375 only because I'm not much of a Winnie fan...but either the Winnie or the Marlin would get my vote. Great medium-short range action and a quick followup shot.

BTW, must be tough to have to make this decision!

If my choice was to keep 2 rifles out of those, I'd keep the 375 & 9.3X62 Mausers. Both are classic rifles and calibers and can be used for any kind of big game hunting out to 300 yards.

The 9.3X74R double would be the 3rd choice but only because i want to own a nice DR.

The other rifles are not ideal for general purpose hunting of deer, elk or bear. Since none of them are real flat shooting long range calibers, I would drop all of them.

Good luck.

Given the stated parameters I chose the 9.3x62 Mauser as the first choice and I am the lone vote for the .376 Steyr as second choice.

Those are the ones I'd want for NA hunting anyway.

No1 and No2 ... I'd keep whichever you believe will hold its value best.
Cheers...
Con

I voted 404 No.1 and 375 No.2 pretty hard to beat for med. bores. I use my 416 Rem. in place of the 404 and allways have a 375 that's good to go.

I voted for the double gun as 31 and the 404 as #2.

Teh double is a classic and will hold it's value.

The 404 well let's just say I like large rifles.

My first choice is the Oberndorf Mauser sporter in 9.3x62, I also have a very choice specimen so chambered. This is still among the most useful rounds ever developed for general big game hunting, especially for we backpack hunters in areas with lots of Grizzlies.

My second choice is the 9.3x74R DR, a very useful round in B.C. and while I have a Merkel drilling in this plus double 12, I would love to have a DR in it as well. I missed a Merkel re-done by Ralf Martini a year or so ago and I would gladly hunt with one anywhere in BC or the rest of NA.

If, there were a third option, I would take the .404J and you can always "loan" it to me for "experience" if you feel you have too many rifles, I only have around 40 and can use a few more.............

I like the idea of an original Mauser in 9.3x62 for everyday hunting you would not be under-gunned.As for the second I like the win 94 in 38-55 for the old school factor.
But it will be a hard decision to make whatever you choose.GOOD LUCK with that.

1) DR 9.3x74, can do everything you need in NA. Everyone "needs" a DR

2) 404...because it is so cool

I voted to keep the Mausers.

I voted that way because they are at the top of the class you have listed.

Plus, you might change your mind about never again hunting outside of North America, and a .375 is enough for anything anywhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Low Wall:
AC,
I would pick the two "rifles" that I like the most as the all the cal./cart. are capable of taking moose and elk which is what I would use them for..
But here goes my picks..
If the 9.3X74R double was light wt.,set up for a scope and accurate enough to take a moose or elk at 200yds. then it would be one of the keepers..
For a rough weather/terrain rifle I would pick the .376 Steyr and I would cut the barrel down to at least 20" and mount open sights on it...
But then there's that little Ruger #1 in 9.3X57R, the only custom rifle of the bunch.. I bet you built it to your spec's which just might push it into the #1 spot..

Low Wall - I should have known by your pen name that you are a very perceptive guy with good judgement!!

Yes, the 9.3 double already has a scope on it, and is very accurate to 250 yards, with 286 gr. Norma bullets.

And, as to the 9.5x57-R Ruger No. 1, yes it was built to fit my physical and mental idiosyncracies by the late Paul Marquart, my old elk-hunting buddy. Amongst my single shots, only a couple of my small bores (a Ruger No. 1-S 7mm Mag, and a Ruger No. 1-S 7x65-R also built by Paul) even compare with it as hunting guns. They all fit like gloves and almost leap up on my shoulder and aim themselves, with the triggers going off in seeming automatic mode when things are just right.

That's what makes the .375 part so tough to call...I've got this great old magnum mauser .375 H&H which I bought in England in 1972, the nice custom .375/8m/m-R (9.5x57-R)built for me by an old & dear friend now deceased, and the .376 Steyr which is very, very accurate and has plenty of power with 270 gr. bullets for anything in NA...and it already has a short barrel, Leupold 2-7, and composite stock, and weighs less than 8 lbs....perfect for crawling the Canadian/Alaskan bush.

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
No1 and No2 ... I'd keep whichever you believe will hold its value best.
Cheers...
Con

Con, I appreciate your logic, and understand it, but the monetary value of rifles is not in play in my decisions any more. I am in my mid-70s. I don't need money. I don't need to worry what my rifles will be worth in 5, 10, or more years. I do need to quit living as a bank guard to an accumulation of way over 100 rifes. This is just the first step of trying to decide what to thin out of the herd.

AC,

If I can be of assistance in clearing out your safe, mine has an empty spot or two! Send whatever you don't want my way. PM me for my mailing addy!

I voted to keep the 9.3 x 62 first, for all the reasons stated above, and the Marlin 375 second. The classic apeal of a nice Mauser Action for the 9.3, and I love Marlins. Given the choices provided, that would be my two. After reading that you have the rest of the suggestions plus, it just confirmed my choices. DW

I can'
t see living with out a double rifle or a 375 H&H. So those are the ones I would pick.

465H&H

Thought I might want to explain the "never gonna hunt outside NA again" part. It is not that I wouldn't like to let some of these rifles experience Cape or wild Water buffalo (Gaur), the big cats or something like that in the coming years...

I just won't voluntarily travel to or through politically hostile or unstable countries anymore. I got enough of that in my youth. Hell, that's the same reason I won't go to Washington, D.C. or Chicago or south LA....

Even more important, I won't fly in commercial aircraft unless I absolutely am forced (and I mean "FORCED") to.

I've already had two commercial aircraft burn out from under me in this lifetime and escaped both times without a scratch. But, you know what they say, "The third time's the charm".

I'd rather die asleep in bed. I know no one has a choice of when/how they go, but another plane fire is not my idea of a good time. And there's still lots of good hunting and welcoming campfires in NA, especially Canada.

Thank you all for your help so far...

I'm sure a lot of guy7s had good logic, but didn't read all the posts, I don't have my glasses and my eyes are getting tired.

I voted the 9.3 and the 404. without seeing them (which would probably help a lot) I figured those were the best looking, more importantly though, from those listed, I thought it gave you a good spread.

Red

I voted for the .375 mauser and the 9.3 mauser.

Having said that, given what you have said here, I think I would be keeping the 2 that had the best hunting memories for me, and that my heirs would appreciate the most.

At this point, I assume you are less worried about "serious" international or extreme condition hunting, and more into enjoying your time with good friends and seeing places you want to see...

Any of these IMO would "work" for anything in NA, although maybe some, like the 38-55 may not be capable of killing some of the bigger stuff from any angle. Thus, its not a "best caliber" decision as much as a "favorite gun" decision. We have no idea (as a whole) what gun has meaning to you - as an example, I don't like Ruger #1's (Yes, I'm a snob) but with what you said later on, I don't think I'd want to get rid of something a friend made for me.

Then again, if its a "theft" thing, insure the lot, and let "god" sort out your problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
No1 and No2 ... I'd keep whichever you believe will hold its value best.
Cheers...
Con

Con, I appreciate your logic, and understand it, but the monetary value of rifles is not in play in my decisions any more. I am in my mid-70s. I don't need money. I don't need to worry what my rifles will be worth in 5, 10, or more years. I do need to quit living as a bank guard to an accumulation of way over 100 rifes. This is just the first step of trying to decide what to thin out of the herd.

X2 roger

Mr. Butler - No, its not a theft thing. Once in a while I even think that if someone stole them all, though I'd be mad as hell at first and would probably kill a burglar if I caught him/her/them in the act, after I calmed down I might secretly thank them to some small degree.

I can't honestly say what all it is. To some degree, I am tired of killing harmless animals, big or small, mild or brash.

I also no longer need to prove anything, so am no longer interested in competitive shooting.

I've lived long enough and owned enough guns to realize there really is no magic gun, no truly all-around gun, no super-specialty gun. All those attributes are really characteristics of the shooter, not the gun.

A good rifleman can do magic with the gun he has at hand. Likewise, he can hunt just about anything, anywhere, with most guns, if he has the skill and exercizes the patience to create a good hunt.

He can specialize in most kinds of shooting by customizing his mind. He can shoot 1,000 yard targets very successfully with a .308. He can kill Cape Buff very dead if he chooses his circumstances and shots with the same .308 and the appropriate bullet(s), though the .308 is certainly not the best suited cartridge for either use.

Also, I have come to realize that I just like roaming the hills & woods, and sitting by the campfire, with or without a rifle of any kind. I enjoy calling quail into my javelina camp and watching the little buggars come in, challenging one and all to a fight before they realize what is up and slowly and reluctantly retreat.

And, I like being able to go away for the weekend on the spur of the moment without having to worry the whole time over whether Ft. Knox (extreme west annex) is truly secure in my absence.

I guess I am just saying the passions and dreams of the young are no longer driving forces in me. Been there. Done that. Now it's time to relax and reflect.

Hell of a thang, ain't it?

It is not hard to understand how you feel about killing AC..
The winter before last we had the deepest snow here that I have seen in the last 20yrs. By mid Jan. the does were standing on their hind legs eating moss off the lower dried spruce limbs and the fawns where SOL.. By mid. Feb. with -30* at night I bought them some hay and fed them daily.
What a lesson that was in "human behavior". It was all there.
Later the "clowns" (3 Moose) came. What entertainment they are!
This coming fall will the first I will hunt in the last 17 but most likely won't kill any animals unless it "presents" itself for the taking..

quote:

Originally posted by Low Wall:
By mid. Feb. with -30* at night I bought them some hay and fed them daily.
What a lesson that was in "human behavior". .

Maybe it's a function of "life experience" Low Wall....

I still remember the second moose I ever killed.

An acquaintance of mine had gut-shot him with a .303 Smelly and hard ball Mk. VII ammo, a yearling boot-jack moose which was feeding in a ditch in the early morning sunshine along side the road with what was apparently his twin brother, bothering no one.

I tracked him and found him lying hidden in a small patch of trees along the Athabasca River, under a conifer and surrounded by some smaller stuff...trying his best to be perfectly still and not attract attention. He was not nearly dead, but was obviously hurting bad and immobilized by the pain.

He lay there head up with all four legs folded under him dog or cat style, looking me directly in the eyes as I walked up head-on to within 20 feet of him. His eyes clearly were saying "Help me, help me, please don't hurt me any more."

He made no try to get away as I raised my '06 and put a 200 gr. Nosler into his "sticking point". It was the only help I could give him, as I couldn't carry him to a vet or anywhere else. And I couldn't leave him there in pain, without food or water for who knows how long, until the wolves found him and ate him alive.

I did salvage every ounce of his meat, and used his pelt to make a jacket for my wife. Still, he was so young, so innocent, and so hurting...it tore a real hole in my heart to have to shoot him.

Now-days I feed the deer 10 pounds of 14% protein "All-Breed" every morning all year 'round. They eat it within 10 feet of my front door. At the same time I feed the Merriam Turkeys and Valley Quail.

They pay me back triple just by being there to beautify the panorama around our house. I get to watch them teach their young to groom each other, to "stay" when their moms go to the river to drink or danger appears, to take their turns at the feeder, the salt block, and the water, and those sorts of things.

It's a lot more fun than killing them.

quote:

Originally posted by Dewey:
My first choice is the Oberndorf Mauser sporter in 9.3x62, I also have a very choice specimen so chambered. This is still among the most useful rounds ever developed for general big game hunting, especially for we backpack hunters in areas with lots of Grizzlies.

My second choice is the 9.3x74R DR, a very useful round in B.C. and while I have a Merkel drilling in this plus double 12, I would love to have a DR in it as well. I missed a Merkel re-done by Ralf Martini a year or so ago and I would gladly hunt with one anywhere in BC or the rest of NA.

If, there were a third option, I would take the .404J and you can always "loan" it to me for "experience" if you feel you have too many rifles, I only have around 40 and can use a few more.............

I also pick the 9,3x62 1st, but picked the 404J 2nd.

Thanks for everyone's help.

At this point I just can't bring myself to sell all but two.

The ones I will sell for sure are the .405 Winchesters (I forgot that I also have a bolt action .405 built 40 years ago on a Springfield '03 action).

The ones I will keep a few more years for sure are the .404 Jeffery, the .450/.400, the .376 Steyr, the 9.5x57-R, the .375 Marlin, and the 9.3x62.

The .375 H&H, .38-55 Win, my 9.3x74-R DR, and a few others are on the "maybe keep, maybe sell" cusp for now.

Next I've got to thumb through my big bores, then my small-medium bores, though there are few enough of the big bores that I guess I could just keep all of them. The real problem will be deciding on the "small-bores" (.25" thru .299").

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
Thanks for everyone's help.


*** my 9.3x74-R DR, is on the "maybe keep, maybe sell" cusp for now.
WHY? roger

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
If my choice was to keep 2 rifles out of those, I'd keep the 375 & 9.3X62 Mausers.

Hi Naki is that your 9.3 on trademe?

The .375 H&H will do anything as well if not better than the rest. So that leaves
you with your choice of the rest. It's the one that's not only fun, but pretty cool
to use and pretty functional as well as cost value. Therefore having shot both many
times over the years I would include the terrific .405 Win. Also it's in the Ruger No. 1
thats no longer available.

Just my thoughts.
See you at the range, Kidd

The cynic in me says the second that you sell your .404 and your 9.3x74R, you'll find the deal of the century on an African trip.

Otherwise, I suppose the most logical choice is to keep the .375 and either one of the lever guns or one of the Ruger #1. Whichever gives you the most pleasure.

If you loved the double, you never would have put it on the list.