Too Pretty to shoot? Collect it or hunt it....need your opinion!

[City Boy]

We were all old school hunting in my family ..... all good, old rifles in wood stocks. We hunted in thick brush a lot ..... they are all scratched up no matter how careful you were and the oldest rifles have seen the worst of it. Unless you're hunting in wide open territory, it will get scratched up, but that's why we never got newer rifles when the old ones are pristine on the insides and of higher quality than today's low end rifles anyways.

I'd probably keep it in the safe, but if you have a full safe, it might get a ding even in there lol.

In the end, what is the rifle for? .... for keeping and not using? .... to hand down to your kids? I've found that sometimes items that are used the most, have the most sentimental value.

 

[Mumbles Marble Mouth]

Why would you hand down a rifle to your kids that only has a story of "It sat in the safe for 20 years. Once in a while I looked at it." ????

 

[Why not?]

Is that a BSA action?

Yes, Sir, it is! BUM's dad had a real ringer built for his hunting pursuits that still will deliver the goods as well as anything being produced today.

Ted

 

[MackForce]

This may not sit well with the wood blued fans... But if I was worried about the stock getting beat up on the hunts.. I would purchase a decent synthetic stock and store that wood stock? Maybe? Who knows. Its a unique piece, but not my cup of tea.

 

[NL-Hunter]

True ....... But you don't have two wives. He does own two 358s. One working model and one beauty.

Ba dum tsssh... Why install the spare if you do not have a flat.

 

[propliner]

Why would you hand down a rifle to your kids that only has a story of "It sat in the safe for 20 years. Once in a while I looked at it." ????

Those are the ones I cherish the most. Preserved as new from a past era. My buddy has some brand new Cooeys in the box that wouldn't be unique at all if they were used.

 

[Rob]

I have met good guys who collect hunting (and other) guns and don't even own any ammunition , much less ever go shooting, and even less ever go hunting...and that's fine with me, even though I like to do all three. With hunting, a lot of it has to do with where you live or where you hunt. I have lived all across Canada, including on the B.C. coast and I know that if you want to hunt there you have to learn to hunt in the thick forest in the rain. And your rifle needs to be more or less waterproof. And the rifle needs for that type of hunting are hard to understand for a prairie hunter who shoots at much longer ranges in brilliant sunshine everyday, and etc. Learn to make your own decisions based on your own needs.

 

[tjhaile]

The basket-weave isn't really my cup of tea, but guns, even nice guns, are meant to be used. Get some collector plates if you want something to collect and not use.

 

[BigUglyMan]

True ....... But you don't have two wives. He does own two 358s. One working model and one beauty.

You want a 50 year old virgin? Or Mrs Robinson?

 

[BigUglyMan]

Is that a BSA action?

Yes it is.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Yes, Sir, it is! BUM's dad had a real ringer built for his hunting pursuits that still will deliver the goods as well as anything being produced today.

Ted

Not exactly a common choice (maybe it was back then) but she will shoot.

 

[hoytcanon]

You want a 50 year old virgin? Or Mrs Robinson?

Do you want a satisfying stream or a lot of burning...?

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Are you really that much of a klutz that you can't use a rifle without damaging the stock? One of my hunting buddies has hunted his prize 77 Ruger for many, many years... the stock still looks great.

I'm all about using my rifles fer hunting and plinking and if I get some little wear marks on the stock or metal, a little touch-up every 10 yrs or so brings 'em back up to snuff.

 

[hoytcanon]

Are you really that much of a klutz that you can't use a rifle without damaging the stock? One of my hunting buddies has hunted his prize 77 Ruger for many, many years... the stock still looks great.

It isn't checkering...

You know your being a d!ck when you are getting "smiley faces" from Chuck...

 

[DTM5]

Why would you hand down a rifle to your kids that only has a story of "It sat in the safe for 20 years. Once in a while I looked at it." ????

It would be a gift, for them to make their own stories with, should they choose to do so.

 

[Superbrad]

It would be a gift, for them to make their own stories with, should they choose to do so.

I could see this if the rifle was given now........ but I can't see this "down the road".....

I am a big Ruger fan and I collect them..... and have a few rare variants, but this is like the Frankford plate collection of rugers.... and that is not meant as an offence to the OP.... if you love it that much and it means that much to you, then it holds value with you..... and that is what is really important.....

 

[t-star]

put a sock over it- that way you don't see the amazing

 

[Mumbles Marble Mouth]

It would be a gift, for them to make their own stories with, should they choose to do so.

"Hi can I help you with something?"
"Yes I have this rifle my dad gave to me and I want to sell it."

 

[chuck nelson]

You know your being a d!ck when you are getting "smiley faces" from Chuck...

I'm agreeing with him.

 

[colonel3006]

I say use it, but that's just my opinion. It is a very nice looking rifle though.I remember my dad telling me quite a few years ago about a guy that hunted with them buying a really nice weatherby 257 mag. Dad said it was a beautiful rifle. Anyway it raining and they were pushing a swamp and this guy was blocking. The guys pushing got right to the end of the push and put up 3-4 deer( 1 of them being a pretty nice buck) and the deer ran straight at this guy. Dad said he watched as they ran right past this guy within 40-50yds of him and not a shot was fired. Because of the rain he had put his rifle in the case and everything happened so quick he wasn't able to uncase in time to get a shot. Needless to say he wasn't the most popular guy in he gang after that.