Was sitting here alone reading the AR forums and thinking back on all the memories you folks suggest to me.

For some reason, that brought me to the subject of rifles in the same makes which I've owned or still own. From that I tried to decide what my principal use of rifles is, and which pair of the same make I would choose to keep IF I ever have to make such a choice.

It wasn't easy. I've got 3 pre WWII Model 70s in a variety of chamberings. Also 3 sizes of Sakos. More than 3 different Mauser sporters.

I also considered for a while a pair chosen from my more than 15 Ruger No. 1s, but decided against that when I thought of some of the encounters that might happen in the Alberta/BC bush.

Finally, Off the top of my head, I think if I had to pick one PAIR as my hunting rifles for the rest of my life it would be a pair of....



Steyr Professionals. One in 8x57 Mauser, and one in .376 Steyr. The 8x57 would be great for Elk and lesser game. The .376 could handle Elk and greater game with satisfaction and safety (given proper bullets)

Both actions were rough when I got them, but both are now very, very smooth. Both have excellent and adjustable trigger pulls. Both have 22", convenient barrels for the bush. The stock on each is made of a weather-proof composite and is free-floating. Very important to me, the scopes on each are in mounts which make them ride at about the height of iron sights on most other rifles. And the stocks put those scopes right in front of my eye when I toss the gun(s) to my shoulder.

I also like the fact that each is equipped right now with at least five 5-shot QD magazines, which allows me to carry not only quick reloads, but quickly interchangeable loads if I ever found a need to.

So, bottom line, I think they both would be very effective field work tools. After all, though I've been very successful as a rifle competitior in match life, I'm really just a Joe-Blow hunter who was lucky in competition too.


SO...I'm sure lot's of you guys have at least one pair of rifles that really float your boat, too.

Please tell us what are they, why you like them above others, what purpose(s) would you want to use them for, and why would you choose to keep THAT pair, if you could only have two rifles??

For me it was a simple choice and I used two 98 actions and built "my pair"matched in many ways through style and feel but with differences apropriate to thier intended purpose. A light and a heavy, I went with a 7x57 Mauser and a 404 Jeffery. Classic in every way both in performance and in the traditional way these two are built. They have been a benchmark for 119 years for the 7x57 (1892) and 107 years for the 404 J (1904) A 160gn Woodley at 2700fps and a 400gn Woodleigh at 2300fps they will handle anything I will every be like;y to hunt and do it with style and authority as they always have.

Von Gruff.

Well I have a pair of CZ 550 fullstocks, one in 6.5 x 55 and the other in 9.3 x 62. They both have Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20 scopes. The 6.5 has been worked over by Wayne at AHR to include shortening the stock to a LOP of 13". It is just a lot of fun to shoot now that Wayne has tuned it up and it handles in the thick woods like a dream. Wayne is working on the 9.3 right now. I have other rifles but these are all I really need for around here. If I'm hunting deer I take the 6.5. If I'm after a big old hog and I don't want to track it through the thickets I bring the 9.3. I get a lot of enjoyment out of this pair of rifles.

I've had a bunch of African pairs over time...Jarretts in 416 Rem and 338, Lowell Manley custom Mausers in 270 and 404J, Ruger RSMs in 458 Lott and 300 Win Mag, and Colt Sauers in 458 Win and 300 Wby. Bailey Bradshaw is now building me a matched pair of falling block doubles, in 500 NE and 9.3x74R. Can't wait!

Zinger from left field...2 Remington model 30's. 30-06 and 375 WBY. Peep rear sights.

Some different pairings...

3 Herters U9s, 243, 30-06, 300 WM
243 and 30-06 Remington pumps
A Parker-Hale with barrels thake change in minutes 22-250, 257 Roberts and 30-06

Current sets for me, five Ruger 77 RS tang safeties in 22 250, 257R, 30/06, 35 Whelen, and 416 Taylor. The 22 250, 30/06 and 35 are identical. The 257 has a bit longer and heavier barrel. The 416 is just a bunch bigger than the rest and now has a laminated stock, it broke the original. I have an almost matching 22 LR 77 RS. Ruger put the safety in the wrong place on that one. I've often considered spending the money to have it altered to have a tang safety. I also have a matching set of Interarms Whitworths 30/06 and 375. I have a MiniMauser in 223 that is similar, but not a real match.
A few years back I had a Browning O/U in 9.3x74 and foolishly sold it. It was a perfect match to a Browning Superposed that I've had for a very long time. I have a near matching O/U 16/8x57R. The pair of O/U's are keepers.
I've always enjoyed having matching guns in multiple calibers. It's just my take one the man with one gun line.
Bfly

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Caretaker: Zinger from left field...2 Remington model 30's. 30-06 and 375 WBY. Peep rear sights.

Excellent.

Two 1956 Winchester 70's, a 30-06 Fwt and a 375 H&H. I round out the other 1956 in the group!

quote:

Originally posted by Von Gruff:
For me it was a simple choice and I used two 98 actions and built "my pair"matched in many ways through style and feel but with differences apropriate to thier intended purpose. A light and a heavy, I went with a 7x57 Mauser and a 404 Jeffery. Classic in every way both in performance and in the traditional way these two are built. They have been a benchmark for 119 years for the 7x57 (1892) and 107 years for the 404 J (1904) A 160gn Woodley at 2700fps and a 400gn Woodleigh at 2300fps they will handle anything I will every be like;y to hunt and do it with style and authority as they always have.

Von Gruff.

The 404 Jeffery is a fantasic chambering. Ralf Martini is going to build me a 7x57...really looking forward to having that pair.

I share the same tastes as MMM.
A pair of CZ 550 FS in 6.5x55 and 9.3x62.
The Coyotes hate that 6.5 and I've never had to track anything with the 9.3 if I've done my part.

Cheers, John

I have a matching pair of Rem Model 30S's, and they are just 314 ser.# apart. A 458 Lott and a 375 H&H. Both have Lyman 48 receiver sights. The only difference, is a scope on the 375.

Keith

Lots of nice pairs out there in the hands of AR members....more than I suspected. (I really like that Kiwi 7x57 & .404J pair in the Mausers.)

I got the .404J, but instead of the 7x57 (which I wish it was) somehow ended up with a .308 instead...both Musgrave-Mausers made in RSA.

I've thought of rebarreling the .308 to 7x57, but it is such a perfectly beautiful and well functioning rifle as it is, I just can't bring myself to do it.

BTW, if you guys can, I'd like to see some pics of your pairs.

My favorite pair is actually a switch-barrel; 6.5 WSM and .338 WSM (both are wildcats). Basic rifle is a short-actioned Rem 700 in left hand.

Second set of pairs are also Rem 700s, .25-06 and .375H&H Mag.

Pairs ..... Hhmmm?

I'm a Leftie so finding a Pair of anything can be difficult.

I'm looking into the gunsafe as I type and there's 8 R93 barrels in holders attached to the safe door. .222 Rem. thru .375H&H.

O.K. - I'm All-In, got 4 Pair w/.375H&H high; beats 3 Pair.

quote:

I'm All-In, got 4 Pair w/.375H&H high; beats 3 Pair.

Does eight of a kind beat that?.....all M-70 featherweights!!.....if not I'm just going to fold!

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Originally posted by MMM:
Well I have a pair of CZ 550 fullstocks, one in 6.5 x 55 and the other in 9.3 x 62. They both have Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20 scopes. The 6.5 has been worked over by Wayne at AHR to include shortening the stock to a LOP of 13". It is just a lot of fun to shoot now that Wayne has tuned it up and it handles in the thick woods like a dream. Wayne is working on the 9.3 right now. I have other rifles but these are all I really need for around here. If I'm hunting deer I take the 6.5. If I'm after a big old hog and I don't want to track it through the thickets I bring the 9.3. I get a lot of enjoyment out of this pair of rifles.

+1 My only pair. I also have the 1.5x5 VX3 on the 9.3. I just bought a VXR 1-4x for the 6.5.

Because they were a good buy;

Mk-X (daly) = 270, 300WM.

and

M70 pre64 = 243, 30/06

quote:

8 R93 barrels in holders attached to the safe door. .222 Rem. thru .375H&H.

Blasers are great...if you change the hunt, just change a barrel. I have it covered from 257 Wby up thru the great 8x68S, with both wood and synthetic stocks. I use separate rifles for the big African animals...from 375 up through the mighty 577 T-Rex!

Talking of pairs!

I have a pair of 375/404 rifles, both are built on the Dakota 76 action. One has a Shilen barrel and one has a Lilja barrel.

Both go to Africa every year, as they have been doing for quite some time.

Between them they have accounted for a number of elephants, lions and leopards, plus several hundred buffalo, and several hundred plains game. From duikers to eland. From 10 yards to over 500 yards.

What more can a man ask from his rifles?

There's no more persuasive argument than success!

I forgot about those. one rifle 6 barrels.

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Originally posted by Biebs:

quote:

8 R93 barrels in holders attached to the safe door. .222 Rem. thru .375H&H.

Blasers are great...if you change the hunt, just change a barrel. I have it covered from 257 Wby up thru the great 8x68S, with both wood and synthetic stocks. I use separate rifles for the big African animals...from 375 up through the mighty 577 T-Rex!

In a pair or set, I will have to type in the .338/300-Ultra mag and my 6.5/06. They can handle anything in the USA or Canada. They are both model 70 Winchester pre-64 actions with Leupold scopes on them.

I have a beautiful pair of .358 STA Model 70 Winchesters, both custom, one from the Winchester shop and the other with a Lilja barrel and Winchester action. I also have a pair of the South Carolina FN Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Deluxe rifles in .270 WSM. Both have drop dead wood and will shoot lights out. My third set is a pair of Browning A-Bolts in .243 WSSM and 25 WSSM that are a real joy to shoot and play with. I love my pairs and have a pastle of grandkids that will someday reap the benefits. Good shooting.

For those of you with 4 to 8 brrels for your take-down rifles, let me clarify the intent of this thread a BIT.

The question was asking for input from those who have PAIRS OF RIFLES, presumably of the same make and at least similar models, but likely different chamberings (though not required...I really like a pair of the same exact rifles for hunting Africa, such as our host Saeed chose, for reasons I've listed on other threads.)

For example, my first such pair after my pre-war M70s was for Plains game and was a pair of H&H-built Mausers in .275 H&H, cased, with a nice gold "1" inlaid on one and a gold "2" inlaid on the other.I no longer have that set, and would not pick it as the pair I'd keep if I did. It wouldn't do all the things my much cheaper Steyr Pro-Hunter pair will do.

I still have a DR of poor make, but with 4 sets of barrels, and I have a TCR '83 with (now) 7 sets of barrels. I wouldn't pick either of them, both because the Steyrs will do things that only magazine repeaters can, and because a pair, or 2 pair, or 3 pair of barrels is NOT a pair of rifles. With the TCR or the DR, if something breaks in the action, the whole 7 barrels are useless until the action is repaired.

That doesn't mean I don't admire multi-barrel guns. Obviously I do, or I wouldn't have them myself. Heck, I've even got bolt guns with as many as 8 dedicated barrrels for one action, but the same thing still applies All those barrels are more or less "junque" with just one broken extractor.


SO, yes we admire your Blasers, et. al., and understand the concept QC barrels represent.

BUT before we go there in another thread, IF you have any pairs of rifles, what are they, and WHICH lone pair would you keep if you could only have one pair?

(And if you have two Blasers or such and even 19 barrels, each of which will fit both your actions, which PAIR of your barrels would you pick to make yourself a pair of rifles you'd keep? I know it's a hard choice, but you can do this. if you have a pair of blasers and more than two barrels, I'm betting you're an adult who is used to making hard choices.

Only thing I have pairs of is Enfield rifles, Swiss K31', and AR 15's. I do have a commercial Mauser in .257AI and a K98 action I built a .308 out of. I could get by with just those two rifles if need be but would miss my other ones.

the only pair of rifles that i own and dearly love are a 270and 3006 J.C.Higgins Mod 50s that i restocked , three pos safety and timneys. they are not the classic small and large game coverage calibers but i do love them and have taken and lot of game with them.

I have two pairs that I enjoy.

First, a pair of Rem 700's in 270 Win and 338-06. Carried them a bunch, and put on alot of good miles and venison in the freezer.

Second, a pair of 9.3x64 Brenneke's. One a VZ24, cerakoted, synthetic stock. The other an Argentine, quarter rib, rust blued, nice walnut, barrel band, grip cap.

A pair of Weatherby Ultralights, 270 Win and 30/06. Deer and smaller the 270, deer and bigger the 30/06.

Two Ruger MKII stainless syt stocked one in 06 the other in 416 taylor.

M70 blue/walnut
7mm-08, 300H&H, 375H&H

I may have the 7mm-08 redone as a 7x57 just because.

M70 stainless/synthetic
.270, 300 WM, .338

I have a pair of Sako Forresters. A .243 and .308. The 243 will be a 358 Winchester one day. Packy

I don't have pairs exactly.
'94, '96, '98 action Swedes, From 6.5x55 to 9.3x57, no two are alike though.

quote:

Originally posted by buffalobreath:
the only pair of rifles that i own and dearly love are a 270and 3006 J.C.Higgins Mod 50s that i restocked , three pos safety and timneys. they are not the classic small and large game coverage calibers but i do love them and have taken and lot of game with them.

Nice pair! Good solid Mauser actions with American barrels & stocks.

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Originally posted by SDhunter:
I have two pairs that I enjoy.

First, a pair of Rem 700's in 270 Win and 338-06. Carried them a bunch, and put on alot of good miles and venison in the freezer.

Second, a pair of 9.3x64 Brenneke's. One a VZ24, cerakoted, synthetic stock. The other an Argentine, quarter rib, rust blued, nice walnut, barrel band, grip cap.

I salute your choice on the Remingtons. The 700 is a good rifle and has prooved itself in the field for 49 years now. Although a lot of folk don't mention them where they smell a sniff of snobbery, I'll bet I know more folks with Remington pairs than any other kind except maybe Model 70s.

I have to ask, though...of your two pair, which would you keep if you could only have ONE pair?

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Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Two Ruger MKII stainless syt stocked one in 06 the other in 416 taylor.

Now THAT is an interesting set! A guy could do danged near everything in the whole WORLD with it, eh?

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Originally posted by Jpat:
I don't have pairs exactly.
'94, '96, '98 action Swedes, From 6.5x55 to 9.3x57, no two are alike though.

Yeh, but I'll bet you could find a nice pair of Mausers in there that pretty much all of us would want to keep...and would keep us safe and well fed, too.!

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Originally posted by packrattusnongratus:
I have a pair of Sako Forresters. A .243 and .308. The 243 will be a 358 Winchester one day. Packy

Nice set, Packy....

Do you notice a trend here? Looks like guys find a rifle which meets their first need (probably hunting some kind of deer), and as their opportunities to hunt change or grow, they go back to their tried and true in a different size or chambering.

Seems like good, practical thinking to me....maintenance, handling, safeties, feel, etc. all pretty much the same. Just with a cartridge better suited to the new job.......

Alberta thats the idea.

Except for varmints it well do every thing. Nicely.

I could have thrown my 338 wm ruger MKII in there by I kind of like the idea of the 06 and the 416.

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Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:

quote:

Originally posted by packrattusnongratus:
I have a pair of Sako Forresters. A .243 and .308. The 243 will be a 358 Winchester one day. Packy

Nice set, Packy....

Do you notice a trend here? Looks like guys find a rifle which meets their first need (probably hunting some kind of deer), and as their opportunities to hunt change or grow, they go back to their tried and true in a different size or chambering.

Seems like good, practical thinking to me....maintenance, handling, safeties, feel, etc. all pretty much the same. Just with a cartridge better suited to the new job.......

I do have a matching set of M77 SA .300 SAUMs in stainless with synthetic stocks. Humm… I must be doing something wrong here. All M98 Mausers are in pieces…waiting for parts…