If you could do it all over....

GMC403

GMC403

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Lots of threads about: advice on first rifle, cartridge vs cartridge, what one rifle if only one.

How about?, "If you could do it all over all again". Of all your rifles that have come and gone, you've liked or disliked, wanted vs needed. What rifle (past or present) would have fit your hunting bill if you just bought it in the first place, and nothing else.

Sure, you'd have a lot more money, but a lot less fun......
 
Huh, good question.
I like my bolts, but now these BLR's have been pestering me to tag along.
Depends on the hunting area and critter.
One shouldn't be stuck with only one shooter.
 
One of my first posts on here, I was looking into finding info on some inherited rifles. I got a few from my grandfather who was a marksman (invited to the Bisley Shooting Competition in England during his years in the Military) and a great hunter. Among the many sporterized milsurps he had a 30-06 Mauser action he had fitted into a Browning stock. I wasn't that interested in a 30-06 at the time, was more of a 308 guy. I gave the rifle to a family member, as he needed a hunting rifle and its not too far away if I want it back.

Having done it all over, I would have definitely kept the rifle! The thing is a tack driver and hes an avid bear hunter and big game hunter. The thing is a laser and will shoot ANYTHING he feeds it. Ive been buying and selling for years finding the "perfect" hunting rifle, when all I needed to do was hold onto that old girl and move on with some fun target rifles....

I find out later, that was my grandfather's "go to" hunting rifle. The thing was ugly but now I understand why...

One day, she will be home
 
If I had to do it all over again I would have just got a 308 Scout rifle - Jeff Cooper was right.
 
I would have bought a Winchester Model 70 FWT in. 30-06 and had the stock shortened to 13" and topped it with a Leupold VX-III 1.75 x 6. Unfortunately, in 1992, they didn't have the CRF FWT, I don't think. That being said, I have bought and sold a lot of rifles over the years and am honestly addicted to the feeling of opening a newly arrived gun box. I just can't get enough of that.
 
I'd of followed my grandfathers advice and not bought a "fancy new cartridge"....which at the time was 270WSM and instead bought an old faithful. After 3-4 years of the WSM I ditched it for a 308 Winchester and havent regretted it for a second.
 
First of all you need to define your requirements. The most versatile rifle I've ever owned is my custom Brno 602 carbine in .375 Ultra. It was as accurate as a varmint rifle, shot as flat as a 7 magnum out to a quarter mile, it was legal and suitable for hunting the largest game on earth, yet, with the correct load, could put a ptarmigan in the pot with little more damage than from a hi-speed .22. While certainly not as cheap to shoot as a .308 or a .30/06, it was compact and portable, it was the most powerful rifle other than a .416 Rigby that I could shoot effectively from all field positions. The downside is that a novice learning to shoot with a rifle of this magnitude is expensive, requires judicious handloading, and he might be tempted to run it full throttle on the first outing, which would have predictable results. But if you are already a recoil hardened marksman, and want one rifle for hunting the world, the .375 Ultra or a .378 Weatherby would be hard to beat from the standpoint of versatility and legality.
 
I would have had Bill Leeper build my single shot Ruger in 303 Brit a lot sooner is the only change I would make if I could do it all over again
Cat
 
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Don't think I'd change anything... I've had fun learning from my mistakes and I'm not a fan of "one rifle that can do everything" anyway. I do see the long term financial advantages though.
 
Bought a Rem. 788 in .308 scoped, from Sears a long time ago. All the gun I would have needed for my hunting needs.
Replaced the scope with a good used Redfield and later sold it to my cousin in White River.
Many moose and deer later, it's still going strong for him.
 
I like my 336, no regret.
the K31 was a wall hanger so I traded it for a SKS. Now that I see GP11 surplus available in the local store I have a small regret. (the rifle was great looking)
The .22 is, was and will always be as much fun as shooting a bb gun...which means close to none. I keep it just for my wife.
the M305 is fun to tinker with. Most fun rifle to shoot that I own along with the 336. Expensive to shoot tho.
 
The Remington Model 700 in .308 Win that I still own.

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Instead of my first 300wm when in my ealry 20's I should have gone with a 338wm for my elk gun; less recoil and more downrange energy with about the same trajectory. Other than that, I'm happy. My 450 marlin blr is about the best moose gun I could imagine, a 30-06 for deer/bear, 243 for coyotes. 300 purchase instead of 338 is the only thing I'd change in my hunting guns.

(of course I've tried many different calibres over the years, and still do but that's part of the shooting hobby)
 
Like many I've had many, in the end my fav hunting gun is a Ruger 77v in 280. It is heavy but is a tack driver. Shotgun is a workhorse Baikal auto. The gopher gun is a Rem 541s. These are not the most $$ guns I own but they work very well for my needs. My advice for anyone is a good gun that is accurate will keep you happy. Do not cheep out on a 22, I shoot far more shells from my rimfires than ant other gun. A good one will last a couple lifetimes.
 
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