Oh the dilema of gun nuts! I recently bought a S&W 329 44 Mag. It's the airweight version. I bought it with the idea of carrying it as a "finisher" if I needed it on game. I don't like to use the rifle up close. Not a bad gun, but I'm not a handgun person. I haven't had to "finish" an animal in years (lucky I guess). Anyway, here's the issue; there's a new Remington CDL in 7mm-08 that seems to be calling to me. I already own a Classic in 7x57, a Weatherby that's been rechambered to 284 Winchester, and a whole bunch of caliber rifles that would and do duplicate the 7mm-08 performance (6.5x55, 260, 270 etc.). Should I trade the handgun away to get this rifle or look the other way? I know it's not an earth shattering problem, but one other rifle nuts will relate to.

Bob257

Which will you shoot more? I've gone from being primarily a handgun person to a rifle person. I haven't bought but one new handgun in the last ten years. Guess I got plenty. But, I seem to get a new rifle every month.

Take my latest, a CZ527 in 7.62x39. I already have rifles in .30-30, .308. .30-06 and .32 H&R Mag. So really it fills no void but what the heck. It's one I don't already have. And it just looks so ugly, lol.

I would keep it. That .44 will always make a lightweight trail companion for hunts in Grizzly country. Of course being from Pensylvania you got black bears.

You may never ever need to finish an animal but I would hate to not have a gun when immediately handy when cleaning an animal and a bear showed up.

5 or 10 feet away seems close until you need it real bad.

When money is a concern impulse purchases can eat up the reserve. A friend who likes to buy and sell does it on his terms and only does a trade when the value is in his favor. He has owned lots of guns but does not loose money.

So take it easy on that 44. There are credit cards however for the 7mm-08!

I used to carry a pistol all of the time when game hunting. Now I can just about carry myself around so I leave them at home.

I owned a wad of pistols and handguns over the years, carried a few in the woods. Never really had much use for them. I don't wander around in the woods with my rifle leaning against a tree 30 yards away either, maybe that's why. All I have now is a pre war Colt Woodsman, unfired and in mint condition. Most likely it will remain that way.

My wife doesn't question the list in the closet but secretly she thinks I have enough iron. I respectfully disagree.

Get rid of it, dont buy the 7mm-08, buy a new scope some brass, new reloading tools/equipment, some bino's, and or use some money for hunts. Get out and shoot a bit more.

Get rid of the pistol, get the rifle. You'll sleep better at night. I'm surprised you'd even angst over an easy decision like that.

Thanks for the input. I'll see what kind of deal I can make on the handgun before I do anything. I think I can make it an even trade. The handgun sells new for $715 the rifle, $595. I know they need to make some profit. As long as I don't have to sell my soul...

Bob257

I have never seen much logic in packing a pistol hunting..Whats wrong with shooting a downed animal in the neck with your rifle, I mean whats the difference? and based on that I would trade.

sometimes I pack a pistol hunting to shoot grouse with for elk camp, its a 22 L.R. shooting shorts in a S&W kit gun. I like it for that and it would perform the coup de grace as well as a 44 mag. I suspect.

My dad and I carried Woodsmans because he was a top shooter in competition. So we shot at squirrels with them and used them for signaling. This was in the 50's before there were radios.

Once I shot a deer that ran and I could not load my rifle again. I got up to the buck fast and shot it in the neck with a 37 HP and the bullet broke it's spine and logged under the skin on the far side. The deer would have died anyway but......

I would be a lot easier to do what Ray said or if you must carry a special load for the rifle.

Bobby,

Maybe you don't want to be that pecunious. When we were in parents kitchen long ago he was flipping a nickle heads and tails and dropped it. My lab jumped up, chased the rolling coin down and swallowed it!

I was laughing too hard so he asked my dad for a nickle. I would not let my dad pay him. I bet he kept after that nickle and got it from my dad later.

Here is a tip you can really use. When going into a gunshop always look behind the counter first. Ask about guns back there. Sometimes they are for sale but not priced yet. He found a almost mint Krag carbine that way for $400.

I don't know if you'v shot that .44 much, but from what I hear it is a painful experience with full power loads. I'd shoot it enough to get a personal opinion on that.

Now, I don't know about Mr. Atkinson's Idaho, but here in WY it is illegal to finish off a big game animal with a handgun cartridge that is not of legal hunting caliber. So, although the .22 is a great pot gun, it potentially could be a liability. .44 shot shells could expand that smiths' potential.

Personally, I'd try to keep the S&W since you have so many similar caliber rifles and knowing big greens lack of QC these days.

Good luck,

Gary