Variety or familiarity?

[Ontario Hunter]

I'm not a gun collector. Don't see much point in it. Let's see ... one Winchester shotgun (my first gun), three Browning shotguns, two converted military hunting rifles, one Remington pump hunting rifle, and a collectable Marlin non shooter. Wait ... forgot about the retired 870 magnum goose gun. Well ... maybe I am a gun collector after all?

 

[HWL]

Once my wife asked me, how many rifles do we have?
My answer was, we do not know.....

HWL

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bonk
You have to keep the 25-06. Everyone needs a good fast 25.
Bob

I'm more of a hoarder than a collector. I have more rifles than I need in more calibers than I need. I'm going to do what @Bob Nelson 35Whelen did and reduce the number of hunting rifles I own by a significant margin. I can hunt everything I want to hunt with a 30-06. Therefore my .223, 25-06, 7x57, 7x64, 308, 300H&H, 9.3x62, 9.3x74R, 375H&H and 404J rifles are all on the chopping block but I reserve the right to change my mind about one or two of them.

I don't relish having to do it but I know I'll be glad when it's done. Trying to decide what goes and what stays was tough but it had to be done. I'm tired of owning guns I rarely (if ever) use as intended. I like them all but liking them and using them are two different things.

I've also decided I won't be traveling to Africa to hunt. I plan to keep hunting but my hunting will be limited to subsistence hunting in North America. Please don't read into that. It's a personal decision. As I've grown older I tend to look at things a little differently. Neither good nor bad. Just different. This was decision a long time in the making and I know it's the right one for me.

 

[7x57Joe]

I'm more of a hoarder than a collector. I have more rifles than I need in more calibers than I need. I'm going to do what @Bob Nelson 35Whelen did and reduce the number of hunting rifles I own by a significant margin. I can hunt everything I want to hunt with a 30-06. Therefore my .223, 25-06, 7x57, 7x64, 308, 300H&H, 9.3x62, 9.3x74R, 375H&H and 404J rifles are all on the chopping block but I reserve the right to change my mind about one or two of them.

I'm always in the mood for a 7x57 or 7x64 so let us know when you are doing the deed please.

 

[Inline6]

Recently took all my guns out for a yearly inspection and cleaning. I didn't do this conciously but realized that other than shotgun gauges and 22 lr none of my guns are the same caliber, manufacturer, or model. Is this normal? Or am I just an outlier?

Neither. You are you as long as you are happy, anyone else's opinion is just that.

Now if you had reasons for owning certain rifles or shotguns for certain tasks, we could start down a complex rabbit hole that not many will agree upon and happy to dish out advice.

Most of my rifles/pistols/shotguns have roles to fill. Some manufacturers do it better than others. That's my opinion and it works for me. That is the beauty of choice and we are lucky enough to live in America where we have plenty of choices.

 

[Bonk]

@Bonk
You have to keep the 25-06. Everyone needs a good fast 25.
Bob

Way ahead of you. I'll probably keep the 25-06.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Felt the same until I saw the results for 300WM. The only overlapping caliber I have now is 12ga which is pretty understandable.

22LR
44mag
30-06
.308
300WM
.223
8mm
7.62x39 and the list goes on

300WM is the only rifle I'll repeat a caliber on. Pretty much everything on earth can be taken with 3 calibers. Just depends how much you like guns. I love them. Just don't have room right now for all of the ones I want.

 

[BeeMaa]

Felt the same until I saw the results for 300WM. The only overlapping caliber I have now is 12ga which is pretty understandable.

22LR
44mag
30-06
.308
300WM
.223
8mm
7.62x39 and the list goes on

300WM is the only rifle I'll repeat a caliber on. Pretty much everything on earth can be taken with 3 calibers. Just depends how much you like guns. I love them. Just don't have room right now for all of the ones I want.

Did you mean caliber or cartridge when talking about the 300WM? I only ask because you have 4 rifles in .30 caliber with a 308WIN, 30-06, 300WM and 7.62x39.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Did you mean caliber or cartridge when talking about the 300WM? I only ask because you have 4 rifles in .30 caliber with a 308WIN, 30-06, 300WM and 7.62x39.

@BeeMaa
All those 30 cals what a waste.
You could rebore the 30-06 to 35 Whelen and get rid of the ought sux and 300. That way you have a REAL hunting cartridge seeing as you sold all your hunting rifles to get an R8.
The little 308 with a nice 150gn accubonds at 2,900fps will fill your 30 cal itch. You can load it down to 7.62x39 or up to almost equal the 06.
Ha ha ha ha
Bob

 

[Woodcarver]

Need?!? Need?!? Why does this word keep popping up in discussions on why we have, or should have, or want to have, a particular rifle/handgun/cartridge. Want, desire, lust, crave, longing; these are words to describe the next to join the fraternity at the house. Need should only be used in the context of the first to be brought home; as in, you need a gun if you have none. It's also acceptable to use "need" when referring to the next one, as in, I need another gun. I can even see the use of that word if there is a need to explain to the monitor of the purse strings as to why one needs another; by all means, use the hell out of it then, perfectly acceptable.
As to having duplicates in either caliber or form, both are completely acceptable and even encouraged (especially in this crowd). Just trying to do my part to help anyone from succumbing to that evil word.

Recently took all my guns out for a yearly inspection and cleaning. I didn't do this conciously but realized that other than shotgun gauges and 22 lr none of my guns are the same caliber, manufacturer, or model. Is this normal? Or am I just an outlier?

The only deficiency I see, is that you only have duplicates in 22 and shotguns. How do you know if the one you have is actually better than the other 10 models in any given caliber until you have brought them home and carressed shot them? Live, man! Get out there and experience them all!

 

[Bonk]

Need?!? Need?!? Why does this word keep popping up in discussions on why we have, or should have, or want to have, a particular rifle/handgun/cartridge. Want, desire, lust, crave, longing; these are words to describe the next to join the fraternity at the house. Need should only be used in the context of the first to be brought home; as in, you need a gun if you have none. It's also acceptable to use "need" when referring to the next one, as in, I need another gun. I can even see the use of that word if there is a need to explain to the monitor of the purse strings as to why one needs another; by all means, use the hell out of it then, perfectly acceptable.
As to having duplicates in either caliber or form, both are completely acceptable and even encouraged (especially in this crowd). Just trying to do my part to help anyone from succumbing to that evil word.


The only deficiency I see, is that you only have duplicates in 22 and shotguns. How do you know if the one you have is actually better than the other 10 models in any given caliber until you have brought them home and carressed shot them? Live, man! Get out there and experience them all!

I get it and tend to agree but, speaking for myself, I've experienced a lot of rifles and many different calibers. I've enjoyed them all but at some point I had to say it was no longer satisfying to simply have them. Sticking something in the back of the safe without really using it seems like a waste to me. There's a balance in there somewhere. Pride of ownership and appreciation for a nice gun are good things. OTOH, keeping something without using it as intended doesn't sit well with me these days. Time to let some of them go.

 

[MS 9x56]

I get it and tend to agree but, speaking for myself, I've experienced a lot of rifles and many different calibers. I've enjoyed them all but at some point I had to say it was no longer satisfying to simply have them. Sticking something in the back of the safe without really using it seems like a waste to me. There's a balance in there somewhere. Pride of ownership and appreciation for a nice gun are good things. OTOH, keeping something without using it as intended doesn't sit well with me these days. Time to let some of them go.

I think the same. Which is why I put my guns in a rotation that I have documented as my memory is shorter than my nose. Once the gun has taken game it gets cleaned and returned to the safe. Then it’s next gun up. This is sometimes adjusted for specific hunts for specific species. All my guns are happy and I can honestly tell my better half that I use and need all my guns.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Did you mean caliber or cartridge when talking about the 300WM? I only ask because you have 4 rifles in .30 caliber with a 308WIN, 30-06, 300WM and 7.62x39.

You're right. Bit of word-parsing but you're right. I did say caliber. There's an M1A SOCOM, M1 Garand (Korean war issue), AK pattern, etc. Lots of "diversity" in my safe.

I should more specific and said "round" or "cartridge". When you look at the ballistics of a 7.62x39 vs 300WM (far opposite end of spectrum), yes they are the same caliber, but it is apples and oranges a world apart.

Truth be told: If I had a ton of money and a huge house to put a ton of safes...I would have a lot more rifles and firearms than I currently have. Someone said it. It's more of a want than a true need. At the end of the day you can kill anything that walks or flies with 4 "rounds":

12ga
Something in .22 pattern, even LR.
300WM
375HH

And really it's what you are proficient with, as stated.

 

[BeeMaa]

You're right. Bit of word-parsing but you're right. I did say caliber. There's an M1A SOCOM, M1 Garand (Korean war issue), AK pattern, etc. Lots of "diversity" in my safe.

I should more specific and said "round" or "cartridge". When you look at the ballistics of a 7.62x39 vs 300WM (far opposite end of spectrum), yes they are the same caliber, but it is apples and oranges a world apart.

Truth be told: If I had a ton of money and a huge house to put a ton of safes...I would have a lot more rifles and firearms than I currently have. Someone said it. It's more of a want than a true need. At the end of the day you can kill anything that walks or flies with 4 "rounds":

12ga
Something in .22 pattern, even LR.
300WM
375HH

And really it's what you are proficient with, as stated.

Hard to argue with you on buying more rifles. Probably a better investment than the stock market in this economy.

BTW - The rifle calibers and shotgun bores you listed are exactly what I have!