quote:

I do not hesitate to use my rifles and guns. It is what they are built for.

Now now, I agree with you- that's not what I believe. I have no use for a safe queen. Just tossing it out there.

And for that matter I don't have "toss aways" for "difficult" hunts. All of my non .22 LR are customs (why I don't post in any customs in the fields threads)....besides who the fk on this site hunts with an OEM anyways........

Probably many on this forum are not familiar with Howard Knutson. Howard was a guide in the Wrangells and in the Brooks Range during the golden era of sheep hunting. You might say that Mr. Knutson probably knows more about Dall Sheep than any person living(biologist or otherwise).

Howard used one rifle as a guide during this time period. A bespoke 300 HH commercial mauser made by Holland and Holland. It has wonderful wood and is blued.

While those living in the Panhandle might discuss the hard conditions there. The evidence from the guides from around the state that I have talked with and my own experiences seem to suggest that the notion that rust-blued wooden stocked rifles are as delicate as a mountain flower is a bit over stated.

A rifle is a tool but one that is crafted to you with the very best parts is quite likely to perform in the worst possible conditions.

Sincerely,
Thomas

I don't make enough money to buy any rifle I won't take afield hunting or just shooting.

Example: I just bought a Shiloh (Farmingdale) Sharps in 45-90 with the SN:EK100. Elmer Keith.
I have provenance from his son and grandson.

I will be firing about 200 rounds thru it in the next three months, getting ready for the Quigley Rifle Match in June. By time I get home, it will have more than 500 rounds thru it.

Bolt action or DR?

Big difference.

I will gladly hunt my Merkel 470, but wouldn't spend the same on a bolt gun.


I voted 5K, but 3-4K is really tops for me.

A M70 with good glass and $1000( plus add stock if you want synthetic) max of gunsmith work is my definition of a top quality working rifle.

I would have to chime in with the majority here that my level of comfort is the same as what I am comfortable paying for a hunting rifle. Currently that lies around a couple of grand although I suspect that will change rather soon as I think a double is in my near future (after this years Africa trip). So depending on whether it will be a Merkel 140 or a Searcy my revised level will be just below or a few grand above 10k.
My salvation is that I'm drawn towards older, well used quality guns that for some reason or other just don't fetch a lot of money. That, and of course my wife who brings me back to reality and more pragmatic spending habits from time to time.

I put a figure of $5,000 but could justify spending a bit more on a good quality double rifle. Personally I like and enjoy good quality, that's why I use a Heym sr20, and a Joseph Hambrusch built combination gun and in shotgun an Aya Coral and a WJ Jeffery side by side 410. They are all 2nd hand, the youngest is 30 yrs old and are used, but not abused ( save for he 410 which had abused in a former life and really needs sleeving, and has been repaired at the hand at some point - but that's all part of its charm). To my mind a rifle or shotgun is a fine tool to be used, but also looked after. I want to spend my money where it counts - on then barrels, on the action, it's fit and finish and also on good optics. But what I don't need are gold plating, fancy engraving or over specked scopes.

Well I just came back from the gunsmith, I'll have to revise my two grand to four now. Still, couldn't be more content.

The limit is the one I can't afford, anything I can afford I hunt with. I think the most I have paid is for a new Merkel 470NE. And I definitely hunted with it. I cannot imagine anything I would buy for absolutely any amount I would NOT hunt with. To me a firearm loses it's utility when it either doesn't shoot straight or otherwise perform correctly as to feed and such. Price is absolutely irrelevent. If I could afford it I'd use it period.

If you can afford it, then you should use it....

No limit - as my best friend, a retired Marine always says:

"Have you ever met a woman too pretty to kiss?"

Same goes for rifles. If you have a nice one, hunt with it!

subsailor, I like that one.

But a kiss doesn't equate to taking her home and putting her in the safe!

quote:

Originally posted by subsailor74:
No limit - as my best friend, a retired Marine always says:

"Have you ever met a woman too pretty to kiss?"

Same goes for rifles. If you have a nice one, hunt with it!

If they're all made up sometimes they don't want you to kiss them.

I have never met a woman too pretty to kiss or to take hunting.
but I have seen plenty of both that were either too fancy and delicate or totally useless.

In 1969 the Old Man had a custom rifle built for him on a BSA action with a beautiful walnut stock and hand polished metalwork. It was his only rifle for many years and he spent a lot of time banging around Northern BC in the Granisle country. That rifle wasn't babies and even though it has a few marks on it (surprisingly few actually) I think that it's one of the most beautiful rifles I've ever seen. I used it two years ago to take a Saskatchewan whitetail doe during my "Year of the Mauser". I have no idea what he paid for it but I do know that a dollar went a long way in 1969. I guess it serves to illustrate that if you buy quality things that you take pride in owning and using then you will get enough pleasure out of it to justify the price.

I still hunt with 25-35 and 30-30 Win. that sold back then for $14.50..I love those old guns and they are as deadly now as they were in in 1894..

I also have hunted a lot with $15,000 double rifles and $6500 bolt custom bolt guns..

I loved every damn one of them and if I ever catch 458 asleep by his Lon Paul 06 I will hunt with that one if I can just make good my escape before he wakes up..

Its not about money, it about the individual and no place in the world will you see different folks with different strokes than you will on a gun blog with a question like this..