Does anyone else have a rifle that is just too nice to hunt with?

hoytcanon said:
I do collect guns... but I collect shooter's, not NIB dust collectors... that is not to say, I enjoy abuse inflicted on a nice firearm... I don't... it makes me cringe... and when conditions are bad, I choose my firearm accordingly... I do my best to protect them... but I use them... some never do see the field, but that is just due to constant trading for interest... they are all intended for the field.
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I'm in the same boat. I'll tinker on them to sort out any mechanical & sighting issues, then start right into load development for whatever the woods or range I intend the arms for. Shoot 'em often & maintain 'em right.
 
My problem is getting around to shooting all the firearms in my collection. I go to the range once, maybe twice a week and I usually bring 3 different pistols and 3 different longguns each time. You know you have a problem when there are guns you have purchased three years ago that you have not gotten around to shooting yet.
 
I have several really nice rifles and shotguns and they all have been hunting and were blooded. If I own a gun it does get shot and go into the field. They get little character marks on them and that's just the way it is. I do not abuse my guns but I do use them. Someone went to a lot of effort to make the gun I figure it's duty to compliment the effort by using it.
 
If it isn't good enough to hunt with it isn't living here. As for hunting making a gun blemished, I don't get it. The only marks my guns have received have been from handling in and out of the dam safes.
 
Not sure why you can't shoot your 94? Running bullets down a barrel does hurt it.
I get collecting beautiful guns, but it's not for me. The conditions and area I hunt determine which gun goes out. Fair weather for my model 70 featherweight and 700cdl. Nasty weather for the stainless tikka and model 70 ultimate shadow stainless.
 
snip Just wondering if anyone else has a similar problem with a rifle that they just can't bring themselves to shoot or hunt with?[/QUOTE]

Nope! Why the heck would you want a rifle that you wouldn't shoot? If you are concerned about marking it up, that is a person problem , not a rifle problem. I have a couple of custom rifles that cost well over 5K new with fancy wood and I hunt with them regularly. They still look like new.
 
I did but...after long contemplation, decided to sell my grandfathers M1917 unmolested Canadian lease lend 30-06. Approx 60-70 % Winchestor.
Was to good to see the light of day, had to clean it 3-4 times a year...corroding away in the safe. Given to me by my father to continue on caring for it, who I had lost just 5 years earlier.

This has a good ending, just months after I had made up my mind ( and through no advertising or actively looking for a buyer) one of our retiring Canadian military (also a collector) posted an add looking to pick one of these up. It is in his good hands now and wow what a beautiful collection he has.
 
I take care of my tools, my car, my truck and my guns.......

But when I need to use my tools, my car, my truck and my guns I use them........ Then when I am done using them I take care to ensure they are in good shape and ready for the next use........

If the weather is forecasted as crappy, then I break out an all weather rifle and leave a fine walnut specimen for a better day.....

On the crappy day, I take pride in fighting the weather for my game and having the right tool for the job and relax and enjoy myself......

On a nice day, I take pride in enjoying the weather and relish hunting with a fine rifle......

Win win in my books.......
 
I shoot all my guns , some more than others. The only one I won't take hunting is the Big Boy my wife just got me for Xmas... it's too purty .. plus it's heavy, I have my Rossi 92 for a pistol caliber brush lever.
But generally all mine go in the bush at some point.
 
I'm a collector and a shooter. I have some very nice collector items that are new/newish that I never shoot, but I also have shooters of the same that I shoot with.
 
No, as I don't think any rifle is too nice to hunt with. As I see it fine walnut can be recheckered and refinished, and steel can be reblued. So why not hunt with a beautiful piece of art in my hands and hand it down to the next generation, refinishing it when need be. Although I don't mind hunting with a more utilitarian rifle either as I can't afford too many fancy guns.
 
I have guns that I don't hunt with... but just because I have one or two that I prefer to hunt with. However, they have all been hunted with, or have at least made many trips to the range.
 
If you buy a collectible firearm as an investment, it'seems a whole different matter. At that point, would you even consider it a gun? I mean, if you got your hands on Wayne Gretzky's hockey stick, would you play hockey with it? Or use a Daily Vinci notebook as a scratch pad?
 
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