When your new rifle is too beautiful to use for hunting!!

[wallz]

I think the best part of a nice rifle is actually using it, and shooting game with it!

Makes for some great conversations while on the hunt, and even better ones in the photos of game you have shot with it. That is what its all about in the end isn't it? The conversation!

That maple stock on the M70 is nice, but not even close to even thinking about not using it out in the field!

Like a custom knife you have made, and then never taking it out and using it. Its way better getting use and creating the conversation that comes with the use of it.

Some awesome looking rifles pictured above!!

 

[geologist]

Not new but beautiful.

 

[Suther]

IMO there is no such thing as too pretty to hunt with. Too expensive to hunt with MAYBE, especially if I had plans to flip the gun in the future or bought it as an investment or something.... But never too pretty.

 

[Thunderhog]

IMO there is no such thing as too pretty to hunt with. Too expensive to hunt with MAYBE, especially if I had plans to flip the gun in the future or bought it as an investment or something.... But never too pretty.

This!......

 

[bluelynx]

I have a few nice rifles in the safe, stuff that could look better and be worth more if I didn’t use them… I also have a custom rifle coming soon(I hope) and that will be the most expensive and the most beautiful rifle I will ever own, and you can be sure it will follow me in the bush, will I be cautious, for sure but not to the point of not taking it out even in harsh condition! Life it too short to hunt with a ugly gun! Take care of your rifle but take it out hunting, that is what it was made for!View attachment 860462View attachment 860463

I hope that beautiful dog of yours is not a "safe queen".
Look at those eyes. That is one smart puppy.
I hope you take your puppy out for a lot of adventures.
Cheers.

 

[DGY]

I hope that beautiful dog of yours is not a "safe queen".
Look at those eyes. That is one smart puppy.
I hope you take your puppy out for a lot of adventures.
Cheers.

Actually that dog is Bailey Bradshaw’s dog, the pictures are from him before the rifle was shipping!

 

[CLW .45]

I'm guilty of a beautiful rifle that will likely never hunt while I still own it......(meaning before I pass it on to an heir).......have slowed down my hunting enough that I can't bear to risk a scratch...it's worth more than all the vehicles I owned in the first half of my life....

View attachment 860587

Hope that you are young, or that rifle may never be used for hunting.

 

[Bad Bob]

So what does one do with guns that are "too beautiful to hunt with", just stare at it?

 

[Valiant]

So what does one do with guns that are "too beautiful to hunt with", just stare at it?

Years ago you could display your collection and it was like artwork on your wall. Now with storage regulations you can't really even do that unless a flintlock because the trigger lock or other locking devices wreck looks of it.

 

[.22LRGUY]

Hello

3 months ago, I bought a Winchester 70 30-06 super grade Maple.

I went deer hunting in November and I realize that I am too afraid of damaging it.

Has it ever happened to you to almost regret it because you don't want to damage it!! Or is it too bad, it will be part of the history of the rifle?

Podz

Yep, I once ordered a Cooper in 204 to make myself feel better about having to sell my fishing boat. lol Spectacular rifle/wood (and great trigger) but between summer heat/humidity, sweaty hands...risk of thunderstorms in S. Ontario...I was literally checking the forecast before deciding if I was going to hunt groundhogs with the Cooper 204, or Savage .223. Savage won nearly every time, then I just admitted to myself that I liked hunting with guns I don't have to worry about. Sold the Cooper after one season/4-5 outings probably.

A few years back, I had the option of upgrading the stock on a Wingmaster with a new/high gloss, well-figured set. The set on the gun was literally missing the finish in lots of places, scratches etc....and even though the pretty set was basically a no-charge upgrade at the time, I decided against it. Never regretted that decision either.

A gun "too pretty to hunt with" is an idea I've tried to beat out of myself btw. Last attempt was grouse hunting in early December a few years back with my nicest shotgun. 30 minutes away from the truck and the light rain started. Figured "wet is wet" and saw the hunt through. Didn't shoot a grouse, but the tear-down effort when I got home=still memorable. lol

 

[Dmay]

So what does one do with guns that are "too beautiful to hunt with", just stare at it?

Shoot them. In my case anyway. Target shooting, the odd coyote...I just don't take it into the bush hunting.

 

[Bad Bob]

Shoot them. In my case anyway. Target shooting, the odd coyote...I just don't take it into the bush hunting.

Good. Like having a great hot looking girl friend but never using her.

 

[Grain]

Good. Like having a great hot looking girl friend but never using her.

Or like not asking your hot girlfriend to unplug your toilet.

 

[westcoaster]

I have a few nice rifles in the safe, stuff that could look better and be worth more if I didn’t use them… I also have a custom rifle coming soon(I hope) and that will be the most expensive and the most beautiful rifle I will ever own, and you can be sure it will follow me in the bush, will I be cautious, for sure but not to the point of not taking it out even in harsh condition! Life it too short to hunt with a ugly gun! Take care of your rifle but take it out hunting, that is what it was made for!View attachment 860462View attachment 860463

Not really on topic but your dog's interested look when you are handling a rifle reminds me of my pup in his younger days. When
I went to my reloading room he would with great interest follow me in. If I pulled a rifle and a pack out he would start dancing with joy because he knew we were going for a walk in the forest and maybe there would be some raw gobbets of flesh flying his way. He is 16 now, can't see to good, a little deaf, and he sleeps a lot....

 

[DGY]

Not really on topic but your dog's interested look when you are handling a rifle reminds me of my pup in his younger days. When
I went to my reloading room he would with great interest follow me in. If I pulled a rifle and a pack out he would start dancing with joy because he knew we were going for a walk in the forest and maybe there would be some raw gobbets of flesh flying his way. He is 16 now, can't see to good, a little deaf, and he sleeps a lot....

This is not me handling the rifle but Bailey Bradshaw himself and one of his dog.

 

[hunter-4-life]

Im guilty of this…..

My main rifle was a Weatherby Lazerguard in 257 topped with a VX3. I carried it around last year and felt bad. They don’t make em anymore, and I didn’t wanna beat it up this year bush whacking. So I went and grabbed a plain jane X-Bolt in 7 PRC and it’ll be the go to if there’s a chance it’s gunna get beat. I know everyone says their tools and what not, but there’s a fine line. When you work hard and save up your penny to own your dream rifle, the last thing I wanna do is scratch it all up and beat it up, you busted your ass for it, try n keep it in tip top shape. And it ain’t always easy to do when you’re after a big buck or bull and you gotta get movin in a hurry, or take the rougher way to get a shot.

 

[track]

This past spring I hunted black bear with my Merkel double rifle, worth $15,000. I have other high-end rifles which I hunt with as well, but they won't sit in the safe.

 

[savagefan]

I had a #1 in 7RM, dinged it on the first hunt. Steamed and re-oiled the ding , looked pretty again. Sold it. Nice thing about a Savage, I don't care about its looks, it's ugly to begin with but shoots laser-accurate (Especially with my JC Custom Barrel).

 

[catapult]

I uses my show room xbolt maple only in an open field with no rain.

 

[mephisto002]

I have a few nice rifles in the safe, stuff that could look better and be worth more if I didn’t use them… I also have a custom rifle coming soon(I hope) and that will be the most expensive and the most beautiful rifle I will ever own, and you can be sure it will follow me in the bush, will I be cautious, for sure but not to the point of not taking it out even in harsh condition! Life it too short to hunt with a ugly gun! Take care of your rifle but take it out hunting, that is what it was made for!View attachment 860462View attachment 860463

that's an interesting rifle, care to elaborate?