Building a Hunting Battery

RDS -

Considering the calibre restriction - here's what i'd do.

You got yotes. So that's done.

You got all the birds - so that's done.

Except for one thing- you wanted to do something for upland game - i'd get an 'uplander' style sXs 20 guage.

Now - we got that out of the way.

Here's my take on your 'main' gun - Like claven (although i think he should shut up about it for now :) ) i'm a HUGE traditionalist - passing a gun forward is a very special thing in my family. It SUCKS all your grandad's guns were scoffed.

So - time to start thinking legacy for the next generation.

Your grandfather was a bright man. And you can still pay homage to his tradition and have something to pass down to your kids.

I would buy something classic in a 30-06. A nice remmy 700 or a winnie if you prefer.

I would top it with quality glass. Leupold or the like.

I would get a reloading kit - becuase frankly you can make that gun do damn near ANYTHING with the right load. And 'anything' includes light loads to teach your kids on, when they're old enough to have the thrill of getting to fire 'daddy's gun'.

I would spend some time getting that gun to shoot perfect. Then i'd hunt with it and take lots of pics of the kills.

Someday, when your kids are old enough, you can sit them down and tell 'em - Kids, i can hunt anything i want with this gun. It's a quality gun, and i've taken good care of it. The scope is quality too. Your great grandfather used the same cartridges for many years to take game. Someday, you'll be able to use this gun to hunt, and maybe have it to pass to your kids, and it'll be just as good at putting food on the table then as it is today, and as your great grandfather's was. I just wanted you to remember - in this day and age where everything is 'new' and 'disposable', there are still some things where quality and tradition pay off as well or better. Take pride in what you own.

now - who wants to help daddy clean the gun? :lol:


If ontario's restrictions make it better to buy a 270, then maybe that'd be better - but get one nice gun, and teach your kids you don't need 50 things or disposable gear or the latest wssssssm cartridge or whatever to get things done - sometimes what's old is always new again.
 
Foxer said:
RDS -

Considering the calibre restriction - here's what i'd do.

You got yotes. So that's done.

You got all the birds - so that's done.

Except for one thing- you wanted to do something for upland game - i'd get an 'uplander' style sXs 20 guage.

Now - we got that out of the way.

Here's my take on your 'main' gun - Like claven (although i think he should shut up about it for now :) ) i'm a HUGE traditionalist - passing a gun forward is a very special thing in my family. It SUCKS all your grandad's guns were scoffed.

So - time to start thinking legacy for the next generation.

Your grandfather was a bright man. And you can still pay homage to his tradition and have something to pass down to your kids.

I would buy something classic in a 30-06. A nice remmy 700 or a winnie if you prefer.

I would top it with quality glass. Leupold or the like.

I would get a reloading kit - becuase frankly you can make that gun do damn near ANYTHING with the right load. And 'anything' includes light loads to teach your kids on, when they're old enough to have the thrill of getting to fire 'daddy's gun'.

I would spend some time getting that gun to shoot perfect. Then i'd hunt with it and take lots of pics of the kills.

Someday, when your kids are old enough, you can sit them down and tell 'em - Kids, i can hunt anything i want with this gun. It's a quality gun, and i've taken good care of it. The scope is quality too. Your great grandfather used the same cartridges for many years to take game. Someday, you'll be able to use this gun to hunt, and maybe have it to pass to your kids, and it'll be just as good at putting food on the table then as it is today, and as your great grandfather's was. I just wanted you to remember - in this day and age where everything is 'new' and 'disposable', there are still some things where quality and tradition pay off as well or better. Take pride in what you own.

now - who wants to help daddy clean the gun? :lol:


If ontario's restrictions make it better to buy a 270, then maybe that'd be better - but get one nice gun, and teach your kids you don't need 50 things or disposable gear or the latest wssssssm cartridge or whatever to get things done - sometimes what's old is always new again.
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Foxer...that was probably the best post so far. And, I'm not ashamed to say it made me cry a little bit. Grandpa's been gone 6 months now and he's still dearly missed.

Thanks for your input.
 
I can't beleive that teh 7mm RemMag has not been suggested. Its a great caliber, good for everything from deer to elk, shoots flat and if you get into reloading you can move up to 190grn bullets

get something with wood on it, everyone needs al least one gun thats not all synthetic and stainless.
 
Foxer...that was probably the best post so far. And, I'm not ashamed to say it made me cry a little bit. Grandpa's been gone 6 months now and he's still dearly missed.

Thanks for your input.
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They don't just hand those Yoda avatars out to just anybody, you know. :wink:
 
"pre-64 Model 70 and 94"

You seem to feel your grandfather's opinion carried alot of weight - why fight it? Learn from his choices.

The model 70 is probably best served by .30-06 or .270 and the 94 should be in either .30-30 or .38-55 to be true to its roots IMHO.
 
Claven2 said:
woodchopper said:
synthetic and stainless.
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Shudder.... I feel dirty! :?
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Yes I was looking at my pile of guns the other night and I have 3 synthetic stocked guns and one is stainless and synthetic.

However my main hunting rifle is an older Ruger M77, in 7mmRM, blue and wood, some of the blueing has rubbed off but its still my favorite.
 
Also before you get to carried away head down to a few gunstores and look at the price of ammo for said rifles. For me a Rifle that costs $1.00 per Cartridge to shoot is as effective, and more likely to get used then one that fires $5.00 (and up) Cartridges.

But if you don't care about money consider buying a Charles Daly 'Empire Combo Rifle' (second from the bottom):

http://www.charlesdaly.com/html/products/firearms/shotguns/ou/oempire.asp

Price starts at around $1.500 USD :mrgreen:
 
Calum said:
Also before you get to carried away head down to a few gunstores and look at the price of ammo for said rifles. For me a Rifle that costs $1.00 per Cartridge to shoot is as effective, and more likely to get used then one that fires $5.00 (and up) Cartridges.

But if you don't care about money consider buying a Charles Daly 'Empire Combo Rifle' (second from the bottom):

http://www.charlesdaly.com/html/products/firearms/shotguns/ou/oempire.asp

Price starts at around $1.500 USD :mrgreen:
Click to expand...

Or buy a reloading press and never worry about ammo costs again... :oops:
 
Well here goes, this is all opinion of course.

1. Everybody needs a 22, who cares if it is old, bolt action semi or whatever, just have a little fun. I like my brothers BSA target bolt action
2. Upland, 20 gauge or 16 gauge pump, the pump is more reliable than the semi and I am partial to the sweet 16. If you want to go back in time then get a double side by side.
3. 303 Brit, every Canadian Gun owner should have one, if you hunt with it or not, the older the better :D
4. Vermin - .223 or .222, 22-250 is nice as well in a good solid bolt action gun, older Remington 700 or Winchester 70
5. Deer and like size game - 6.5x55mm I love this caliber, I have a surplus gun but Sako is something I would look into.
6. Larger game - depends on range of course, if you don't mind long action why not the 375 H & H
7. Bison - go old school 45-110 or 50-90, ya in a single shot reproduction.
8. 12 gauge, just like the 22 this is a must, will do anything if called on

9. I know this is way over the top but those 700 Nitro Express guns, it would sure hurt but that would be an experience.

As stated many times before the gun that fits you is the gun that you should use. My father uses a 7600 30-06 bought over 20 years ago, he upgraded the scope last year but he seems to be able to hit anything even with his eyes closed. For a shotgun he picked up 2 870's one in 20 gauge and one in 12, he loves the action and it does what he wants. I would say try to find some people who would let you shoot their guns and test as many as you can. Have fun, I know the feeling of being in school and watching things go by. It does not matter what anyone says, your grandfather would be more happy that you are getting back into the hunting game then what happened to his guns.

Good luck, have a good one
 
Okay, so, it's not a Winchester 94, but, I did happen across a Marlin 336SS that I liked the feel of. Thanks for the (constructive) responses...

(Scratch that...SIR backorder blues...)
 
Since you got yourself a good deer gun now, I would buy the following:
- 17 HMR semi-auto (varmint and paper punching)
- Winchester 70 in 30 06 for your family heritage
- Weatherby Vanguard in 300 win. mag. for XL game...or mark V Deluxe in 460 wby. mag. if you come into some extra money (for those bison and water buffalo hunts) :D
 
I've recently finished :wink: :wink: my battery. It consists of:
-7mm RM for larger game and/or longer shots
-Win 94 in 30-30 for the bush
-12ga pump for just about anything
-.22 semi for fun.

As far as my wife knows, my collection is complete. :lol: :lol:
 
mine is done too

~ 223 for small game and plinking

~ 25-284 for long range deer

~ 260 for usual deer hunting

~ 30-06 for moose, bear, elk, etc


as it stands today I'm done. ask me next week :roll: :mrgreen:
 
I am currently trying to build my own battery. Hunting skipped a generation in my family too. Unfortunately for me, any firearms that were passed on passed on long before I arrived.

Its my experience that the vast posibilities that are out there make it too easy to get into something you either don't need or cannot use effectively.

For what its worth, I agree with some of what's been posted so far. My collection is not large, and I don't have much of a budget, but I try to buy quality pieces that I know my kids will be able to use and perhaps pass to their kids as well. Some guns are admittedly not high quality, but their for my kids right now and I'll sell them later to buy another quality gun.

I like my 7mm Remington Magnum for just about everything. It has collected most of your list already.

A 12 ga. can overpower in some upland situations, but its all I use. Choose your ammo and your shot accordingly. If you want a 20 ga. that's good too. regardless, I'd recommend at least one semi-auto, backed-up by either a double barrel (SxS or O/U) or quality pump.

Having stated my preferrence for the 7mm RM, I think that if you are to start with a do-everything rifle, you would be hard pressed to beat it or even the .270, or 30-06.

If you are limited to .270 that's okay, its a fantastic calibre. Up where I live people use it for just about everything, even Bison. A well placed shot, with a good quality bullet will always do the trick.

Wood, blued, synthetic, laminated, stainless steel, its all a matter of your personal preference, and how much effort you want to put into maintenance. I think that you will handle your firearms in a manner that respects the intergity of their components.
 
I've been building a battery, and me thinks I will be for a while yet.

So far, enough to start a small army, but hardly enough to satisfy my addiction. :mrgreen:

No black guns though really...
Until I get an SL8 (well grey gun)
 
Claven2 said:
I can't help but thinking had you not sold your Grandfather's heirlooms you would have all the guns you need RIGHT NOW. Yes, I said heirlooms as he probably loved and cared for those insurance guns as much as the ones that went missing and the fact that he left them to you instead of the estate says something about his mindset in that he thought they were going to a good home - oops! I know if my kid sold off my guns and then turned around and bought other basically equivalent guns I'd return from the grave and wipe that smile off his smart-ass disrespectful face pretty F-n quick :shock:

Sorry for taking off the kid gloves, but this kind of thing REALLY gets me going. :evil:
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:roll: :roll:
 
Here goes....

- A good .22lr will serve you well what ever happens and a Ruger 10-22 wouldn't be a bad choice.

- You already have the .22-250....it'll look after any small game you want to hit from a distance so forget blowing money on anything else small.

- A 7mm-08, 6.5x55 or if possible, a 7x57, would be great deer rifles.....low recoil and very flexible; consider a CZ or for a really nice "heirloom rifle" go a Ruger No.1.

- I'm a sucker for for the old Brit so I'd say find a good .303, say a really nice Winchester 1895 or maybe a P14 sporter in .303 Epps if you want an authentic Canadian gun; again both are great heirloom rifles.

- The final choice, well, for high powered functionality, the .338 Win has been described as the all-around North American hunting cal. Personally I'd buy another more interesting a cartridge like 9.3x62 and .375H&H is also great but unless your aim is grizzlies then the .338 is enough gun and offers a huge array of factory ammo. And make it a REALLY nice Winchester.

- And for the shottie, if you can't make your 12 guage work for you then you aren't using the right ammo.

Much as I feel Claven has got the wrong end of the stick in most of the other things he said he is spot on about reloading.
It's cheaper, opens up your options and FUN!!
BTW, Foxer, a battery means LOTS of guns, not just a 30-06... :roll: :mrgreen:
 
I got a set of .308 dies with my Lee hand loader press, and then bought some .303 dies to reload my Enfield...now I know I'm going to have to get some kind'a Rifle in .308 someday...just for the dies of course. :mrgreen:

So I think one more often then not ends up with a totaly different set of Rifles then they planned on. 8)
 
RDS,

Whenever you post something here, you are going to get a lot of opinions. Some you will like, some you won't. I've done it and felt the "sting", much like you did today.

If you don't want opinions, phrase your post carefully and be specific as to what you want. That way, if someone strays from the topic, it will show. I understood your story, but this is a national site and you have god-knows-who reading your post. You will get all sorts of insights, wanted or not. I'm not trying to be a knowitall, but "snowdog" gave me this advice when I first came to this site, so I share his wisdom with you.

As for the intended portion of your post, I think you would do well to add a .30 cal rifle to your collection (you said your grandpa was fond of the 30-06, perhaps that would be a good choice)

You already have a great scattergun and a varmint rifle.......maybe a good reliable .22long rifle might be a good addition too.

Not much you can't do with a four gun collection like that..... :D

I know "outdoors" has a beautiful pre 64 3006 for sale that would make anyone proud.....fyi
 
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