I have been having the quality vs quantity discussion in my mind for some time. I have 30 or so rifles (I'm 33) right now. Some I love and some I bought because I read an article by a gun writer. I am thinking I need to thin things down and sell some.

Questions:

Do I sell some guns and go on a hunt that I can't afford?

Do I sell some guns and buy a couple really "classic" rifles?

If you had to have 3 small bore, 3 medium bore and 1 large bore classic rifles what would they be? I like walnut and steel!

Thanks

I too recently went through the why do I have so many guns, so I dumped a few and bought a Blaser K95 in 7x57R.
I'm very happy to have done so.

Your still young, and your going through a stage in your gun life that has effected all of us..I have bounced back and fourth in your delima no less than 20 times in my gun life, so see what you have to look forward to, and each time it will be an education and add to your overall knowledge..Do it! and enjoy every minute of it, do it all, life is too short to miss the excitment!

Sell guns, go hunt.

keep a 338 winmag if you have one, a 30.06, and a 270.

large bore:
personally i think the .505Gibbs and .500Jeffery is to much.
and since there were no rimless .45's prior to 1956, i'll go down to the large-medium category, my pick would be .404Jeffery or a .416Rigby.

and i can really see no need for 3 small bore and 3 mediums, but since you asked...

medium bore:
since we already have a .416/.404 i don't see a need for a .375, so i pick the 9.3x62 as the biggest medium.
i would pick a .318WR as the smallest medium, or the .333Jeffery if you prefer that(.338-06 or .338Win Mag if you want to be practical about it).
and since you want 3 rifles i'll just add a .350Rigby Mag.

small bores:
a .300H&H Mag or a .30-06.
then to the small gun, if you hunt varmints go for a .220 swift.
if you would like a rifle exclusively for small game , go for a 6.5x55.
if all these 7 rifles are intended for big-game my pick would be 6,5x55/.270Win/7x57/.275H&H Mag.



since i think 7 rifles is more than anyone need, here is my ideal battery:
.275H&H Mag
.375H&H Mag
(however i have a softspot for the .318WR, and would like to get one some day.

if you want something more than .375 for hunting big five:
.416Rigby
.318WR
.275H&H Mag

Always be careful about selling guns. They generally continue to increase in value if well cared for. Therefore, if you decide you want another like the one you sold, you will have to ante up more than you got for it.

Occasionally,it is good to assess a collection and cull out duplicates and hangar queens. When you do sell the common ones and keep the class.

We clearly have differing views of what constitutes a big bore on this forum, but I would have a 458Win or 416Rem or 404J in the big bore category; I'd have a 375HH, 9.3x62 (9.3x74 if you can afford a Chapuis double), and a 308 magnum of some type in medium bore; and in small bore I'd have a 257 Roberts, a 22-250 or .223, and 22LR. Kudude

Sell a bunch and go on some hunts. To me a rifle doesn't start to "shine" until it's been hunted and knows use, giving it history. Unless it's something you've put together for/by you or one you love. I don't think a gun has soul til she's been hunted hard.So if you're not hunting them ,sell them.

quote:

We clearly have differing views of what constitutes a big bore on this forum

if you referred to me, i just use Taylor's definitions:

large: .450+
large: medium:..400-.440
medium: .318-.375
small: smaller than .318

There are a plethora of fire arms I wish I had never sold and it has little to do with investment value. The other part of that trauma are the ones I didn't buy when I had the chance. Really be selective if you do sell some. roger

For a battery I'd choose:

A good 22 rimfire rifle
.223 bolt or AR15 semi or a .22-250 bolt rifle
.264 Win Mag or .270 Win
.308 or 30-06 bolt rifle
.338 Win Mag bolt rifle
9,3x74R double rifle or 9,3x62 bolt rifle
a .375 H&H or a .416 Rem or Rigby
a .458 Lott or AR

I like M70 Winchesters or 98 Mausers.

Doesn't quite fit your pattern but will handle about everything on the planet nicely. With the exception of the last two they can be moderate in weight as well.

Then I'd go hunting: Piggies in Texas, deer where ever you live, Elk, black bear, elk, Africa for anything I could afford!

I won't get into what I have in inventory... but I am in favor of thinning out what I have in my gun cabinet.. actually I consider them my son's property at this point... everything will go to him anyway...

but I am looking into and learning to make the ones I really like into switch barrels.. which really isn't that hard, adds versatility, and allows one ot keep the firearms that they like the best...

for instance, a model 70 varmint in 243, has an after market trigger, a great stock that is glass bedded etc...I am adding barrels for it in 250 Savage, 260 Rem, 7/08 Rem and 308 Win...the 250 Savage might even get dropped from the plan...

however I have another one in 22/250 with a custom barrel already on it... that one may end up with a 250 Savage Barrel on it...

Doesn't take long to change the barrels once you get them head spaced etc, and have the right stuff to do so, which is not overly expensive...

Weaver bases and rings are allowing me to have scopes for each barrel... of course I get rid of a bunch of rifles, I'll have scope coming out my ears, so it won't be an extra expense...

so to me, this route is a way to obtain both quantity and quality...

also horsetrading off for another Savage action or two...I don't know why more guys don't follow this route... isn't much harder than changing a tire.. and you don't need to do it daily...

Wow! A lot depends on what you want to do, I guess.
I would second bartsche in his thoughts on the subject, but if I had to do it, my choices would be:

#1. 22lr.
#2. 223 Rem.
#3. either a 270 or a 7x57.
#4. either a 300 or a 338 Mag.
#5. either a 375 H&H or a 416 Rem.
#6. a good 12g.
#7. Up to you, but a good 30-06 is hardly ever a mistake.

Actions? The arguments between CRF and pushfeed have been hashed out ad infinitum on the forums, I'd suggest you go with whatever you are comfortable using.
JMHO.

QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY



i dont see the point of having 30 firearms. nor do i see the point of having 2 in the same chambering.

generally when you go hunting you only take 1 rifle, and one gets take more often than the others and a bond is formed with that rifle. I hardly see the point of having 10 rifles that all do the same job.

all you need a a shotgun, a rimfire, anything up to 6.5mm for varmints, 6.5-338cal for deer and elk, and 338 up for anything larger.

thats 5 rifles, ill be kind and let you have a spare for each so thats 10. more than enough to kill anything that moves.

Quality! If I had it to do over again, I'd have a 222, a 7x57, 9.3x62 (or 35 Whelen or 338-'06), and 404 Jeff.

If I really, really think about it, I'd have a 222, an '06, and a 375 H&H & spend all my time and money hunting instead of building rifles.

I really appretiate the information! i do have multiple guns in the same chambering and am begining to say Why?

It is nice to hear that some of you have gone through the same thing.

So far I have decided to keep a 22 I have had since I was 9.
Sako Vixen in a 222
Kimber Custom 22-250
Biesen 98 257 Roberts

After that I'm not sure.

Thanks again

May be too late to effect your decision, but I tend to agree with bartsche. I have regretted selling almost every gun I've ever sold. It's not that I felt I really needed the guns, it was just that I have such a love for guns and shooting that I generally missed looking at them and shooting them. I, too, have regretted passing up some opportunities to buy guns.

I have throughly regretted not buying certain gunss and I have regretted selling one, but I needed the money. If I sell any guns they will be guns that don't shoot as well as I would like or guns that don't have alot of collector value. When I start to widdle them down I'll ask for opinions.

I really enjoy all of your imput.

Thanks

Quality, I am slowly getting there, but there are some rifles I will never sell.

I currently have:

22-250
257 roberts
270 win
300 win mag
338-06
348 win
9.3x64
416 rigby

Seriously considering getting rid of the 257 roberts, 300 win mag, 338-06, 348 win.
Those would go along ways towards a hunt.

Leaving me with:
22-250
270 win
9.3x64
416 rigby
444 marlin

Gee, you forgot the finest factory rifle ever made the Savage 1899. The guy who help design it grew up on coffee plantation in Jamaica. Just remember the finest guns ever made were designed with help of folks who knew nothing about guns.
I have just two rifles .300Sav and 9,3x62.
PS. The next presidential election is just around the corner so you better hustle up laddie.

Guns are fun but enough is enough and now I´ll start using the gun money for hunting! I wouldn´t want to part with any I have though even if I was thinking about selling my handguns...

Go hunting. That story about "whoever dies with the most toys wins!" is bullshit. You're still dead.
Why do you need three rifles in each niche? Or is it a security blanket thing?

.223/22-250
30-06/.300winnie
.416

save your favorite 7, sell the rest and buy a double...

Oops, I forgot. I also carry one on my belt. It's a .454 made by small outfit in the Wyoming Territory. Despite it's puny 7.5" barrel it's about equal to .30-30Win, so it qualifies as a rifle.

Start this gently.

Your above list of "keepers" show some class.

Pick out 3 or 4 ordinary / average rifles that you don't use much. Trade them in for one really good rifle in a standard medium bore - I would suggest a Sauer 202 (but a Blaser would work) in 270win / 30-06 / 7mag. Buy it a really good scope - 2.5-10x42 Swaro for example.

Hunt with this rifle pretty much exclusively for the next two or three years and then re-think the whole process.

I guarantee you will have different opinions on rifles and glass after that time.

The idea of keeping the right battery of fire arms to use at ,whatever is primary. It does not ,however, end there.

The list of fire arms I still lament;An octagon barrel mod.92 in 32-20, G43, Pristine Mod. 98, 7x57 Mod. 95 in primo codition,a 1953 Mod. 760, 30-06, Mod. 96 6.5x55 Obendorf, parade rifle,7.62 Mauser w/ wood scabard stock and leather absolutely mint.9mm Luger w/ all matching numbers. 6.5 Carcano that I sporterized for 5 to 6 years. 6.5 Carcano that I sporterized and re chambered to 6.5x55.an absolutely mint 03a3, sporterized, 4 groove barrel pistol grip stock. a mint K22 masterpiece, a Whitney lightning., a McGowan 22 Varminter. a chromed steel barreled 6.5 Arasaka really rare.a 6mm X.270 IMP. and thi is the short list.

Once you sell the rifle and go hunting all you have is the memories or photos of the hunt.

I'd rather have the desire and the rifle. JMHO roger

I would first ask what do you now hunt ?.

What kind of a Hunt do you wish to go on ?.

What do you consider are your most accurate guns ?.


A 22 rimfire is almost mandatory as is a small bore center fire . So you have those already in .222 and 22-250 .

I really appretiate the information! i do have multiple guns in the same chambering and am begining to say Why?

It is nice to hear that some of you have gone through the same thing.

So far I have decided to keep a 22 I have had since I was 9.
Sako Vixen in a 222
Kimber Custom 22-250
Biesen 98 257 Roberts

After that I'm not sure.

OK ; Now comes the medium bore store .30 cal or 7 mm Ultra mag or .280 or 7mm-08 or 300 mag ?.

Next comes .30 + bore .338 win mag. .30 378 .35 bore or .375 H&H or RUM .

Then Big bore ; I consider anything in .400 - .750 in that category .

As I'm older now I choose the .416 as the largest in my arsenal Pleasureful pain escapes me now !.

I have a .375 H&H that shall follow me into Hell or the after life !. In my case it may very well be one in the same !.

My medium large bore favorite in my .338 Win mag . I use this for anything North America has to offer .

I have 06's and .308's .300 win mag but seldom use them much any more .

The Exceptions are a couple of M1's & M14's and a sweet .308 Savage bolt gun which all piles ammo into nice tight groups !.

I love my 7 mm Rem Mag near as much as life it's self . All my 7 mm's are some of my most accurate rifles . As is 6.5 mm Swede .

Then come my most accurate of all .222 .223 22-250 Bolt & semi Auto's .

I also have a .22 Ruger 10/22 which I bought brand new for $29.95 from the May Company more years ago then I care to remember .

Oh yea another 10/22 SS converted to .17 mach 2 .
The squirrels and gophers dislike it , almost as much as my Air Arms .177 cal. air rifle !.


So many others of various calibers , I'd have to find the list to account for them all .

Then there is my Military collection , some day they will go . However that day isn't here yet !.


What stays with me for as long as I can shoulder them !.

10/22 - all my small bores , 7's for sure , .30's for near positive .338 and .375 H&H absolutely .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

For me, the problem was or still is complex.

On one hand I like the idea of owning lots of guns and being able to hold off the Red Army, ATF, Clintons, etc,... for at least a few minutes.

On the other hand, as has been said, more than one 30-06? several .243's? A .375H&H, .375 Ruger, .416 Remington, .458 Winchester, .458 Lott, and a .460 Weatherby? No need.

To keep it safe and not point fingers, we all know way to many relatives and neighbors that claim to be broke and yet are drowning in "stuff" around the house. Tv's in every room, boxes and boxes of items in storage never seen or used, multiple boats or cars, or in our case, guns we have no use for, are repetitive, and claim all our spare change.

Ask yourself, how much money could I put together in a massive yard sale, getting rid of all the "stuff" I really don't need? Lets say hypothetically we all could make $5k in the above scenario. That $5k in addition to the future monies added from the ending of the frivilous spending can put together several very good hunting trips.

It seems reasonable to me to retain two varmit rifles, two medium game rifles, two heavy game rifles, three shotguns and perhaps four handguns. Ok, three assault rifles. The rest of the money can go toward using the outdoor gear.

I don't know about you, but a lot of my firearms come with memories.

Most of my hunting rifles belonged to my grandparents on one side or the other. This was great for starting out, but this means that the rifles themselves are not perfect and it makes building a proper minimal collection impossible.

d,

Yours is a different scenario from mine. I have no firearms from my family.

The question remains, do you want to look at/ polish/ admire the stuff in the gun rack or do you want to use it? What will be more meaningful to your children and grandchildren, the five, ten or twenty firearms you inheirited from your grandfather and gave to your grandkids or the one or two rifles your grandchildren inheirited from you that you used to hunt Argali sheep/ Tanzanian elephant/ Montana elk?

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
Really be selective if you do sell some. roger

X2.

Roger is right, after is too late to change your mind. Been there, done that.

This is a little hypocritical as I would NEVER limit myself to this list, but YOU asked...

416 Rigby or a 458 WinMag

.338 WinMag
30-'06 or a 300 WinMag (30-'06 is better)
308 light mountain rifle

6mm Rem or a 243win (6mm is better) coyote gun
22-250
.223 AR or a REALLY accurate bolt gun

at least one good 22LR bolt
and one 22LR semi (10-22) for fun


I was almost ill making this list. I must go lie down next to my gunsafes in the fetal position for awhile...

---Mike

Like Ray said, I've been through this same drill many times, and I'm going through it again as I type. And, I'm 74 years old.
I have WAY too many 22 Rimfire rifles that I just don't shoot any more, so I'm selling off a lot of them, as well as some centerifre rifles.
My lastest attraction is collecting old Remington Model 722 rifles. I've never been a collector in the sense of collecting for the sake of having rifles sit in the safe. Rifles I have are for shooting, and hunting.
My first centerfire rifle was a Remington Model 722 in 300 Savage that I bought in 1949 from money I saved shoveling snow and mowing grass for everyone in town.. . As a dumb kid, I traded that rifle two years later for more POWER. So, I then had a Rem 721 in 30-06. I thought I had THE ultimate rifle back then. But, I later sold it to get a 7mm Ackley Magnum built by PO himself.. And, the beat went on.
I've been kicking my own butt for ever getting rid of the 722 in 300 Savage. So, when Alen Glore had a 722 in 300 Sav for sale about 9 months ago, I hopped on it like a fly on crap.. I made the decision at that point to get a 722 in every caliber 722's were made in. So, money from selling 22 rifles is going into funding 722 purchases.
Who knows, maybe in a few years I'll have another rifle mountan I want to climb...

Don

P.S. I could get hooked on Sagave Model 99's in a half a heart beat...

The choice is simple: Sell the guns, go on the hunt, and leave the kids some picture albums or tapes.

or, don't go on the hunt and leave the kids a bunch of guns which they can sell for 10 cents on the dollar in memory of old what's his name.

I've never looked at my gun purchases from a collectors standpoint. Most of the rifles I have are wildcats or limited factory ammo, like my 404j. If you are a rifle crank & enjoy tinkering w/ diff. calibers, keep them. If you want to go, say to Africa for a maybe once in a lifetime hunt, sell some & go. In the end, your stuff will likely end up in an auction going for 50c on the dollar (if custom). The experience of the trip of your dreams is worth more than the rifle. You can always buy more stuff, but you can not make more time.
Most of my rifles are wood & steel. The hunting rifles can all do double duty for antelope to moose. The 404j being the exception. You could do quite nicely w/ a 270/280, 300/338winmag & 375h&h (or sub any number of others) for all big game anywhere in the world. Throw in a 223, 22-250 or 243 for varmints & away you go. So you could trim down by half, take the trip/trips & you'll probably be happy. I have a buddy that has only had one rifle, an old Browning FN 06. He's hunted moose, black bear, elk & deer, he has no regrets.

If you can afford it, keep all your guns and go on safari.

If you need money to finance your safari find something else other than guns to sell.

If you have guns that you are not particularly fond of or just doesn't fit you right trade them rather than sell them.

Don't buy or keep guns just because everyone else says you have to have that particular gun in your battery.

I think, if I had to, I can get by with 2 guns for Africa (.416 or .470 and a .375), 1 for Alaska (.338), 1 for the lower 48 (.308 or .30-06), 1 shotgun (12 ga), 1 defensive handgun (.357), and 1 plinker (.22 LR).

I'll be 85 years old in 20 years and then I might consider retiring from hunting, or at least slow it down a bit. Then I'll keep just a .357 mag revolver and give the rest to my kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.

Namibiahunter

I sold every gun and reloading tool I owned twice, once because I was in hard times and had to. The other because I thought I was tired of them and the hobbie ( dumb ass me ).I got back into them 10-15 years ago and now have 30 plus rifles and pistols and my reloading tools again. I learned one thing it cost me alot more than money to get back into a sport I really love.I will not sell my collection again I have bought or built guns that are limed runs or wildcats and built a nice collection of shooters no hanger queens or wall hangers.I make a point to shoot them all and try to hunt with a different one every time. If I had to slim down, Lets hope I never have to get to that point again. It would be these 358 STA,38-56 WCF,280 REM.,257 WBY.,220 Swift,45 Long colt,22 LR, 17-223.

Hoeram

quote:

Originally posted by Scott King:
d,

Yours is a different scenario from mine. I have no firearms from my family.

The question remains, do you want to look at/ polish/ admire the stuff in the gun rack or do you want to use it? What will be more meaningful to your children and grandchildren, the five, ten or twenty firearms you inheirited from your grandfather and gave to your grandkids or the one or two rifles your grandchildren inheirited from you that you used to hunt Argali sheep/ Tanzanian elephant/ Montana elk?

Assuming you can not afford to go hunting AND keep your collection.
Build a perfect 4-6 gun set for your self and each of your kids.
These don't need to be pretty, but they need to work.
Then go hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by trouthunterdj:
I have been having the quality vs quantity discussion in my mind for some time. I have 30 or so rifles (I'm 33) right now. Some I love and some I bought because I read an article by a gun writer. I am thinking I need to thin things down and sell some.

Questions:

Do I sell some guns and go on a hunt that I can't afford?

Do I sell some guns and buy a couple really "classic" rifles?

If you had to have 3 small bore, 3 medium bore and 1 large bore classic rifles what would they be? I like walnut and steel!

Thanks

Well, it depends on whether you are more of a hunter, or more a shooter/gun fancier. If you want to fill a trophy room, sell some and go on a good guided hunt with a reputable outfitter so you can bring home some really nice sheep, antelope, bear, lions, mountain goats, etc. Being 33, you are still plenty young enough to go on some real hunts. Like for Marco Polo sheep on the roof of the world, ibex in Spain, etc.

If you are a real gun fancier, at age 33, you have the years left to reduce the size of your arsenal and go for quality now. You can add the trophies later, and have the equipment to do it well!

I am now 70, didn't do either one, and all I have left is a safe full of guns of various quality ranging from Heym and J.P. Sauer doubles to Mosin-Nagants, and a few decent trophy deer, elk, caribou & black bears. Should have done more hunting when I was more able!!

My current calibers include 6mm/284, 6.5X54mm M/S, 7X57mm, 7mm Rem. Mag., .30/40 Krag, .30/'06, 8X60RS, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, and .45/70; 20 & 12-ga. shotguns.

Thanks again for all the info! I do have alot of other rifles but none that I am really attached to.

Remington 722 257 Roberts
Winchester 70 257 roberts
Remington Mod 7 260
Wincherster classic fwt 270
Remington 721 custom 270
winchester pre 64 270
weatherby ultralight 280
Ruger 77 7x57
Brno 21h 7x57
Remington 700 308
Winchester classic stainless fwt 30-06
FN 30-06
Winchester pre 64 30-06
Winchester classic 338
Remington 700 35 whelen
Winchester 94 44 mag

So I have alot of overlap and guns that I bought spur of the moment or after reading the reviews from a gunwriter. After reading alot of these posts I would like to sell off some of the ones that will never be a collector gun or that don't have sentimental value and buy a couple really classic rifles.

What do you think?

Which rifles do I buy?

Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by trouthunterdj:
I have been having the quality vs quantity discussion in my mind for some time.

I vote "quality." That's why I never bought a Rooger.

I firearms collection is like a harem. Since I shoot different shooting disciplines, I need them all. With my harem, it's like partying with a different love everytime I go shooting. I enjoy the history of old military rifles, the craftsmanship of custom firearms, and the nostalgia others. I, too have lost interest in some firearms, sold them, made a profit, but then found a yearning for them a couple of years later on only to pay a lot more to replace them. As for hunts, drive your old car, pay it off, then continue to make payments to yourself to finance your hunts!