The big game chambering with the longest uninterrupted reign in your safe

Up until 6 months ago, it was 45-70. I only started hunting 3 years ago, and carried for bear in the mountains.

Switched to a bolt for bear defence because I don't want to have to remember which gun I'm carrying if lightning strikes.

In 15 years I'll say "6.5x55" because that's the caliber I shot my first buck with, and the instant I pulled the trigger, that rifle became the property of my son Ben. Can't sell it, it's not mine!

Need to use a different rifle for my next hunt. Nat is going to need a rifle too.
 
In1986 I picked up a pre '64 Model 70 featherweight in 30-06. The Model 70 is still my go to gun. It sees more time in the field than anything else I have.
 
I've used a 303 Brit since 1974 , not the same rifle , but have never been without one . I've had a 30/06 since the same year in one form or another , currently a Remington 725 I got off of Rembo ( thanks brother ) and three incarnations of 350 RM's since 1979 .Now I think about it , I've hunted with a few different makes of 45/70 since 1980 . I have an amazingly accurate Remlin 1895 that is big step up from my old JM stamped 1895 in accuracy and feeding ( I'm sure I'll get flamed for that comment ) ........... After reviewing the above , I now realize I'm an old b@stard lol .
 
.308 Win. I have had so many guns in this caliber... going on over 15 years in this caliber. The longest caliber I have had in general is .223 Remington over 18 years. Not really a big game caliber but I have used it on deer so technically it counts?
 
300 savage lever action 33years
browning 30-06 blr 22 years
6.5x55 Swedish mauser 20 years
7mmstw Remington action 18 years
45-120 on ruger #1 action 18 years
lee enfield #4 parker hale conversion 18 years
husky 270 featherweight , converted to 9.3x62 18 years
 
I've suffered for YEARS with A.D.D. and , like the O.P. , have flipped my entire safe several times over. The only ones that have stuck for longer than 3 years are my:
Ruger Alaskan in .375 Ruger. I've had it since they were introduced and will never sell it. 7 years
My Howa 1500 Lightning in .300winmag. 9 years. Both guns wear Hogue stocks and see severe duty up North here. I love how they both fit me and I've never wanted for more while dispatching an animal.
I probably own about 30 different chamberings between my rifles but most ,if not all, are merely show pieces when my friends come over. Plus there are not really any "small" game animals up here (no deer) so any animal I hunt is bigger. (moose, black bear)
 
1899 said:
7mm RM - going on 28 years
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I almost always have an elk tag when hunting WT or MD, can't be beat for mixed bag hunts. 10 years now.
If it were a pure deer rifle I'd likely drop down to more pleasant shooting cartridge.
 
30-06 since 1961. 54 years now. Most of the time, I have had 2 or 3 of these.
308 Norma Magnum since 1967. 48 years. [I dare not tell how many of these I own ATM, lol.]
222 Remington since 1968. 47 years
7x57 since 1968. 47 years.
6mm Remington since 1971. 44 years.
220 Swift since 1980. 35 years.
 
Dave, other than the aught six, every other cartridge you listed is in my top ten favorite list. You have great taste!!
 
Sniff ... .30-06 What would we do without it, sniff ...

Almost forgot my old .303. Inherently inaccurate, last time I shot, retired for close combat Bear Defence at cabin.
 
Model 71 43 Mauser has been in our family since my grandfather picked it up sometime before WW2. Bought with my own coin would be a 30-06 Model 70 I bought new in '76.
 
I'm far from geezer status. I have had a 30-06 in the safe, in one variation or another, for 22 years. The only thing close to that is the 45-70 which has been around for 13 years.
 
.243 win, model 700 ADL....

Handed down from my dad, he bought it in '73 used. It's was manufactured in '71.

It's on its second barrel (wore out the first one) it is now a 243ai.... It bears no resemblance whatsoever to its original config.

Shot my first deer with it, and 20ish after that. Too many coyotes, steel targets and paper to count, It came to live with me in 1994!

It is promised to my son, but it's still mine....
 
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