Now Leon, let us not become so gauche as to discuss the cost of our habits..err... ahh...I mean our hobbies. Besides our spouses may read this thread . In any case, you have already seen my motley assemblage of toys, so I will plead the fifth amendment .

Jim

There's a big range of differences in what folks are willing to pay for their thunder sticks. For some, that limit may be $500 for a Charles Daly or used CZ in "out of the box" condition. For others, it may be ten grand or more for a custom, double square bridge Mauser with a piece wood to die for.

Then there's the REAL wallet busters: Original "Classic" double rifles and "antique" magazine rifles, like the Holland and Holland, Rigby and Purdy, which can run into five figures in some cases.

I would venture that there is no relationship what-so-ever between price and performance in the field. So the justification for spending thousands of dollars on a rifle lies somewhere else. For many of us, the reasons behind what we are willing to pay are as peronal as the reasons we choose who we marry.

In my personal case, I own two big bores: a customized Ruger M77, Mark II, RSM in 404 Jeffery, in which I have a total of $2,700 invested; and a Browning FN (long extractor).375 H&H, with custom Bishop stock, which I picked up for $1,500 on the internet. I have my own reasons for buying each of these rifles (which I won't go into here)and represents the absolute maximum I'm willing to "pay to play", but, I'd be willing to bet that my investment is in the low/middle range of what most of you have in your rifles.

So, I'm curious: just what do you have in your big bores? I totally understand if this is the kind of information you are not willing to share.

BTW, If you have a rifle worth 25 grand or more, go ahead and give your address, too. My friends "Snake" and "Lefty" are out now and need something to do!

Custom Rem 700SA chambered in 450 Marlin, Bansner stock, Talley mounts, Kahles 2x7x36mm scope somewhere just over $1K.

About the cheapest you can get away with for a custom big bore mauser is $1500, and I have a couple of those, as well as some nicer ones.

Way too many handguns and rifles. Way too much money for all of them. I figure I could buy a couple of Hummers if I was paid what I put out for them.

Not enough...Ed.

For about 10 thousand [US] you will be able to find a very good British double rifle to hunt with. You could get lucky and find one for a thousand or two less, right place right time of deal. For a new double, the figure will be similar.

One of the best buys in double rifles are the various 9,3x74Rs. Around 5 thousand should get you a good one.
Well worth the money IMHO.

My urges are nullified once a price tag crosses the 5 grand mark.For now. Thank goodness.
I think I still have things on a scale from my early semi-auto days when a Spas-12 was a 'fine' weapon at the upper limits


Karl.

My least expensive big bores are the ones I shoot and enjoy in the field the most (Whitworth, Brno 602 & pre-64 M-70, bought for $480-$650 each).

Well there is different types of money... I have theoretical money, borrowed money, plastic money (which is theoretical, but not always "borrowed" with binding intentions) non-Euclidean moneys... which do not exist in real-space/time but exist in some circumstances,...... and then there is REAL MONEY, which I have none.
My loans for school and my wifes loans for med school as a rate per year probably exceed most peoples incomes on these boards unfortunatly, but it will all come togeather.... right?
Now days I will almost NEVER buy a factory rifle, and my av cost per is up, but thats ok I have thinned half the guns I had so I could buy ones I really felt good about. I do much of the cosmetic/sight work/ feeding/ finish/ stock work myself though and that saves some.

Just the big bores? Ok, I have 650 in the winchester classic safari in 375. The 45/70 on the No. 3 I am many wouldn't count (although you can get a 45/70 rocketing out of a ruger falling block). My 458 Lott, in the works right now, has a price tag that has gone over 1200 now (350 inital cost barreled action and stock, 450 sunk cost in taking to the wrong shop and having botched job). And I still have much to pay for in the way of metal work and finishing, and then it needs wood still. I am afraid to even think about the eventual price tag. But this is the only time I have gone over the 650 mark, and may be the only custom ever, so what the hell?

Red

At the moment ,I havent spent much at all. Try me again in 4 years and the answer will be $30000+. I,m getting a top quality 458 Lott custom gun built soon and plan to get a lower priced Kreighoff,Merkel or Hyme double in 470NE soon as well.
If you include smaller guns, its way over this already.

The taylor I just built on a ruger action stainless with new trigger,scope ect I'll well have right arount 1200 in the finished rifle.

I have over $2k invested in my 500A2 and it is not finished. My 416 Rem Mag cost just about $500.00,my 458 Lott is still in the beginning stages,so far about $400.00
The Big Bore affliction is not as expensive as women however 45nut

I really hate to admit how much I have spent on these beasts in the last five years. After the smoke has cleared a little over 40,000.00. If any of you ever tell my wife, I will be living with the snitch. Keep me a bedroom open!

Clearly, not enough..............

RobertD

Far more than I am willing to admit publicly. I was glad to see that some of you do make me look like an amateur.