All the discussion about the short mags or new redundant calibers got me thinking. I am sure we will all agree even the most avid hunter and shooter can get by very well with only a few rifles and in most cases many of us should have bought 3-5 quality rifles and scopes and been done with it.

Wait did I say that? What fun would that be? That being said the manufacturers keep providing us with the latest and so called greatest then we pick them apart. So in light of that I decided to post where they left me down.

With the WSM craze I was really wanting a .257WSM. Was wanting speeds at least close to .257WBY in a short action and cheaper brass.

I was also hoping for a 6.5WSM and in my opinion that would have negated the 7mmWSM and the .270WSM. Would probably chose it over a .257WSM also if it came out first.

I think the .260 Rem was a great idea and think it should replace the .243 for a deer caliber for those wanting a small easy recoiling rifle.

The .338 Federal? Yep I would like one in a Browning BLR or Remington 7600.

So that is just some of my thoughts.

quote:

Originally posted by Donald Nelson:
I am sure we will all agree even the most avid hunter and shooter can get by very well with only a few rifles and in most cases many of us should have bought 3-5 quality rifles and scopes and been done with it.

I most certainly DO NOT agree with this. Have as many as you care to have.

as for the rest, i made the FIRST spec drawing 257 WSM wildcat (received reamer 4 days after drawing of 300 wsm was released) - and have made more wildcats that your self limiting bevy of rifles.

so, no, i don't agree - therefore, we can't all agree.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:

quote:

Originally posted by Donald Nelson:
I am sure we will all agree even the most avid hunter and shooter can get by very well with only a few rifles and in most cases many of us should have bought 3-5 quality rifles and scopes and been done with it.

I most certainly DO NOT agree with this. Have as many as you care to have.

as for the rest, i made the FIRST spec drawing 257 WSM wildcat (received reamer 4 days after drawing of 300 wsm was released) - and have made more wildcats that your self limiting bevy of rifles.

so, no, i don't agree - therefore, we can't all agree.

Don't get me wrong I have a safe full of rifles my point was we don't need them we want them same as with all the over lapping calibers.

Should and Will are about like Need and Want in their relationship.

I agree right now that I should have bought a few (15?) really top quality rifles and spent the rest of my money on ????

But by the time I hit the sack tonight I will have changed my mind again.

I also agree I Should sell at least 100 of my current rifles, but so far I jut haven't been able to bring myself to sell hardly ANY of them in the last 5-10 years. Will I ever? Gawd only knows, and she ain't telling.

I have bought calibers/rifles I thought I "had" to have and then sold them without shooting them. I realize now I need very few and try to use those more often. 2 different 300 WSM 1 270 WSM sold without shooting. Some I shoot and them sell like a 204 ruger and a 17HMR.

Oh by the way I have 2 on order now that I am thinking I will keep. One a 7MM rem mag that is being converted to a 300 win mag because I deceided after buying it I never really liked 7mm guns. Gave the last 7 I had to my brother. The other is an AR because I do not have a "black" gun and my buddy says everyone has to have one.

Oh Well

BigB

As usual I did not get my point across. I am not actually saying we should not buy more rifles. My statement was meant to say that no one will always be happy with what calibers are put out there. We always talk about redundant calibers and over lapping ones.

My statement was more about the two calibers I would have liked Winchester make during the WSM development and two calibers that are loved or hated.

Was hoping others would chime in with what they would have liked to see.

Need vs. Want.

(basis presented for understanding. I currently own a .257 Roberts Remmie, a 7x57 Ruger #1, a 300 H&H Pre-64, a 375 H&H Montana '99)

I NEED a 30-06. It will cover the continental 48 States and Grizz IF I need it. Heck, it will cover Africa (sub Big 5). It's the "perfect" caliber...

And yet, I don't own one...(Qualified: I do have a Garand but...)

I WANT a .257 WBY. Have absolutely no interest in WBY's work...except in the .257 caliber. Dunno why. Don't really matter.

Needs and wants...in the USA most do not live in the world of NEED. Most of us live in the world of WANT.

Fact is, NO CALIBER actually fits the NEED category of life. It's far cheaper for me to walk to the grocery store than it is to feed a hunting habit in Southern California.

On the other hand I wouldn't have the satisfaction of pissing off the greenie loving peta peckers that line every street corner.

My wife wants a deer head on the wall. Pardon me if I feel the WANT to buy another rifle to make it happen...

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
Need vs. Want.

(basis presented for understanding. I currently own a .257 Roberts Remmie, a 7x57 Ruger #1, a 300 H&H Pre-64, a 375 H&H Montana '99)

I NEED a 30-06. It will cover the continental 48 States and Grizz IF I need it. Heck, it will cover Africa (sub Big 5). It's the "perfect" caliber...

And yet, I don't own one...(Qualified: I do have a Garand but...)

I WANT a .257 WBY. Have absolutely no interest in WBY's work...except in the .257 caliber. Dunno why. Don't really matter.

Needs and wants...in the USA most do not live in the world of NEED. Most of us live in the world of WANT.

Fact is, NO CALIBER actually fits the NEED category of life. It's far cheaper for me to walk to the grocery store than it is to feed a hunting habit in Southern California.

On the other hand I wouldn't have the satisfaction of pissing off the greenie loving peta peckers that line every street corner.

My wife wants a deer head on the wall. Pardon me if I feel the WANT to buy another rifle to make it happen...

That's more of what I was looking for! And everyone NEEDS a 30-06!

quote:

Calibers we want vrs. calibers we need.

Damn what a question! It just hit me, I got what I want!!!

I never made enough money to buy many rifles.
If I bought it...I had a use for it.

I have a 24 or 26 gun safe with 8 or 10 rifles and 1 shotgun in it with no want or need to add to it.

I say on numerous occasions, I'm just one rifle away from being satisfied with my collection.

GWB

I've only got two rifles right now (my two sons have absconded with the rest, actually I gave them all to them), a stainless/synthetic Rem in 375 Weatherby and a CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery. I'd like one of those new Vanguard sub-MOA 300 Weatherby's, but I really don't need one. If I wasn't going to Alaska, I wouldn't have bought the 375 Weatherby. The 500 Jeffery does what I need.

It'll take time to formulate my thoughts on this one. roger

What do I really want right now to add to my mess of rifles?

Well, I'd like to have some take-down factory-built American repeating rifles (other than Savage) made in 9.3/.376 Steyr wildcat, .40-90 Sharps Straight, .35 Winchester, ,33 Winchester , and an Austrian Steyr Professional (NOT SBS) in .325 WSM.

I'd actually kind of like a .338 Federal in a CRF bolt action too, but I'd want the Steyr .325 WSM first.

Oh yes, and I'd pay well for a factory built Ruger No. 1-S in .303 British, complete with a proper 25" or 26" lightweight barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by Geedubya:
I say on numerous occasions, I'm just one rifle away from being satisfied with my collection.

GWB

I'd have to ditto that.

I want my riflesmith to finish my 6.5x47 Lapua

Modern calibers leave me cold. As far as I am concerned there have been no advances worth a bucket of warm spit since 1950 and probably since 1930. I don't need to shoot to the other end of a bean field and don't want to. I don't need to start avalanches with the muzzle blast and don't want to. I don't need to get knocked on my ass to prove what a stud I am and don't want to.

So, needed?

6.5x55, .375

wanted?

.318 WR, .404 Jeff, .450 Rigby

got?

all of the above.

Additional want?

Well, if I suddenly came into a fortune, I'd go looking for a hammered .450 NE.

Everything else is marketing.

I used to own only one rifle. I managed and if I had to do it again I could be well served by a number of different calibers, but it would probably be a 30-06 or 7X57. Maybe a 280.

I keep thinking I have too many rifle projects and need to cull the herd. Ive reached the point where Im spending more time working on rifle projects than shooting them. That is an ailment I mean to remedy.

I have some overlap when it comes to deer rifles. I have a 257R, 6.5x55 & 7mm-08. For Texas, they all do the same thing on deer and hogs. I tend to look more at the platform than just the caliber. The 257R is Kimber 84 Select, the 6.5 is a Full Stock CZ, and the 7mm-08 is a new 70 Featherweight. I love the rifles and tried to match the caliber to the platform.

Want vs. need. Currently my arsenal has everything I need to take any game on the planet. So, according to my wife I have everything I need. If I only shot what I "need" then I would own a 30-06, where’s the fun in that? I don’t think that owning just one or two rifles is adequate to every hunting situation. here is my 'want' list of calibers:

500 Wyoming Express- Freedom Arms
22-250 AI- Custom build
270 WSM- Custom build
338 Norma Mag- Custom build
6x47 Lapua- MOA Maximum
38 Super- Limcat Razorcat
45-75- model 1876
8x63 S- Blaser R8
358 STA- Montana rifle Co
500NE- Bailey Bradshaw double
600 OK- ?
458 Hand of God- 50 BMG shortened, necked down and 37.5 degree shoulder angle.

quote:

500NE- Bailey Bradshaw double

Hey, the line forms behind me!!! :-)

having thought it over I feel I am well blessed. Can't think of anything I want or need in fire arms. If I find that there is I'll probably figure a way to get it. But than I have simple tastes. roger

<chuckle> Sure ... in North America I could probably get along with three or four rifles. But I do enjoy fiddling with different chamberings and actions.

So I'm having a good time building the basic collection that my son's will enjoy. They believe diversity is good. Wonder where they got that idea

This thread did really make me think...I have a feeling that I have all the rifles I need and I want them all, so I am happy. I'd like a .308 (because, similar to what one of the contributors said in a message above about ARs, 'everyone should have a .308'), but I don't need it. 7x57, 6.5x55, 6mmBR, .204Ruger, .17HMR and .22LR (plus a couple of shotguns and airguns) do all that I ever want to do in terms of shooting. Oftentimes I wondered what on earth would I do if I had 100 rifles. I do not need them, and I am pretty sure that I don't want them either. And you can bet all your paychecks that I can't afford them either

best wishes,

Finman

Is there anything walking on the planet that could not be hunted reasonably and responsibly with a battery of

243
30 06
375

????????????????

I'm mostly with Roger on this one. I think I have everything I need. I have two in 30-06 and can't remember the last time I shot either of them. I have a couple 308s, same thing. The ones that get shot the most are in 6.5 something or other. And I still need to finish the stocks on the 7x57 and 6.5-284 (this one because my daughter grew up, not because I didn't use it).

I have all I need for any and all hunting I might ever do.
12G sxs AYA
22LR Kimber
20VarTarg Rem XR100
7x57 Custom 1908 DWM
404 Jeffery Custom FN

But I would like something in the 318 WR -9.3x62 and a 6.5 Grendel.

Von Gruff.

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
<chuckle> Sure ... in North America I could probably get along with three or four rifles. But I do enjoy fiddling with different chamberings and actions.

So I'm having a good time building the basic collection that my son's will enjoy. They believe diversity is good. Wonder where they got that idea

+1 . I've already given each son a vintage Rem 700 BDL in 270 (one LH one RH), a Kimber Crimson Carry and Springfield LongSlide, a Browning 22 rifle and a Ruger 10/22, a Marlin 336 30-30, it goes on and on. They let me keep the 500 Jeffery because they don't like to shoot it! I think I broke the code...

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
<chuckle> Sure ... in North America I could probably get along with three or four rifles. But I do enjoy fiddling with different chamberings and actions.

So I'm having a good time building the basic collection that my son's will enjoy. They believe diversity is good. Wonder where they got that idea

+1 . I've already given each son a vintage Rem 700 BDL in 270 (one LH one RH), a Kimber Crimson Carry and Springfield LongSlide, a Browning 22 rifle and a Ruger 10/22, a Marlin 336 30-30, it goes on and on. They let me keep the 500 Jeffery because they don't like to shoot it! I think I broke the code...

Chuck are you looking to adopt a 48 year old son?

With the 4 I currently own (243, 300WM, 375 H&H, 404 Jeff) plus a 20, and 3 12 ga shotguns the only thing I could say I "need" would be a 22. I'm in the process of sporterizing some VZ-24's into a 7x57, and a 9.3x62. Don't really "need" them and the whole point of the last 2 is to have a DIY project.


I could make a really great case for an air rifle though. Got some possums that keep getting into the garage. 20 gauge or a 22 could take care of them easy, but don't really want officers responding to a shots fired call at my house.

My first rifle, that I could not afford, a 30-30 Marlin 336, nearly cost me my soul mate on the front of my marriage. I survived that and went next to a .308 Browning lever action and used it for years on Deer. Got a chance to go Elk hunting and went to a .300 Winny which I used for years with great satisfaction. Went Brown Bear hunting and got a 91/2 footer but ran into 3 more mad as hell Bears at the same time and my next trip to Big Bear country saw me armed with a .340 Wby which I used for years and still do. Started getting a grandsons by the half dozen and then my son starting to Elk hunt with me and we accumlated a .338 Lapua, two .358 STA's, a 7mm STW and a .257 Wby. Went to the Selous and hunted Buff with a .416 Rem but liked the Rigby and got one for grins and giggles. Then Winchester decided to do the .270 WSM and had always admired the old .270 so had to have the WSM and ended up with four. You know it is funny, somehow I needed all those badly and I probably I will need one for a great grandson just to be fair. Well you get my drift, when I am gone hopefully they will have something to remember me by. Good shooting.

If one were Australian, British or Canadian he could shoot the world with a .303 and a .404.

An American can do the same with a 30/06 and a .375.

Anything else is just a toy, speaking as one with an assortment of toys.

I wouldn't be to upset if I had to hunt the whole planet with a 30-06 and given a handful of solids I could do that very handily..

But I love fine guns, so as a rule I don't do that, In my misspent youth I almost proved that I could do that, but it was only a trick. I did satisfy myself that if condition were right the 30-06 with a 200 or 220 gr. strongly constructed bullet could kill any creature on this planet..I did not shoot elephant or hippo albiet I have witnessed such and I know many elephant have been killed with the .308 on culls.

The problem with the 30-06 and its ilk is animals like Cape Buffalo tend to go 200 to 400 yards before they begin to stumble, wobble, beller,and expire, even with well placed shots. Buffalo shot with the 338, 9.3 or 375 tend to go 100 to 200 yards stagger and go down, and with the 40 calibers they tend to go down pretty quick at about 25 yards and on ocassion they may go up to 100 yards, but that is rare and can even happpend with a 500 N.E....I figure based on this if they choose to come my direction I prefer the 40 caliber to sitting in a tree until things sort themselves out.

My choice for DG is the 404 or .416 Rem. however. If I had to pick one caliber to hunt the whole world it would probably be a 375 H&H. It's a bit light for DG and too big for light game, but it'll do on anything..

Don, I've taken a side trip recently in caliber interest. I'm now getting into some of the European calibers, and they have some really neat stuff!...9.3x62, 9.3x64 Brenneke, 9.3x74R, 7x57 Mauser, 8x68S RWS, 6.5x68, and 7.5x55 Swiss. There seems to be less of an emphasis on velocity, and more on shootability, bullet weight, and overall balance.

Need vs Want?
You're not gonna show this thread to my wife are you???

I seem to be heading in a different direction now than I once was. I am trying to simplify my loading bench and reduce the required inventory that it takes to keep the family hunting. Thing is I've noticed that I have one of a few calibers and so I'm stocking way more than I would if I can share components between several different rifles / shooters.

My want is a M70 FW in .308, another .270, a .300 win Mag or maybe skip that and get another .338 Win Mag.
I need to dump my 7mm mag or rebarrel it to meet the above. I should dump the one .270W and replace it with an '06 or .308.
I have doubled up on the boys's 20ga, .223, & .243W

Having one rifle of a caliber isn't appealing! -Nate

quote:

in most cases many of us should have bought 3-5 quality rifles and scopes and been done with it.

Amen to that.....but there's nothing wrong with twentyseven quality rifles with Leupold glass!

quote:

Amen to that.....but there's nothing wrong with twentyseven quality rifles with Leupold glass!

only 27????? what a piker you need to add a 1 in front of the 27 just to catch up

I have the following: .22LR Bolt action rifle
12Ga Beretta O/U
7x57 CZ
375 H&H Magnum
BUT what I really NEED is a 6.5x54 MS

Biebs,
I have been a fan of the metrics for years. After shooting them all I settled on the 7x57 and the 9.3x62 as my choices. My favorite is the Brno 21 or 22 in 7x57 and I have an absolutley lovey 1930s commercial 9.3x62 with factory French walnut and old world rust blue, its a dandy rifle. The rest of the metrics had little to offer to me other than the 10.74x68 which IMO is the unsung hero of big bores, its light, recoil is moderate about like a 375 but it kills like a .416 or 404. Its only draw back is its a pain to find brass sometimes and to reload for in that every chamber is bit different as are the reamers so you might have to fire form the cases.

I NEED to buy another safe because the one I have is full and I WANT to buy some more rifles.