How many different hunting guns?

[Axis II]

Just curious who has multiple hunting guns and why? I am starting to think I should ditch some of my stuff to make room and well not collect dust.

I have 2 inline ML. Ones a $100 piece of crap someone gave me. Just cant seem to get rid of the cheap one.
12GA Mossberg pump I have only used maybe 2 times in the last like 3yrs.
20ga O/U. Only use is rabbits and pheasant.
2 deer rifles in different calibers.
1 cantilever scope mount slug barrel with no scope. Haven't used it in 5yrs.
2 savage axis 223rem rifles. One is my pride and joy with lots of upgrades and the other is a standard barrel/trigger and I justify it by saying its my coyote gun or backup to the better one. The better one went in the savage shop for about 3 months a few years back.
2 savage mark II 22lr. One is a nice HB with a target scope and the other is wood stock, standard barrel with heavy trigger and $20 scope.

I just cant seem to get rid of these copies of guns or guns I don't use because I tell myself its a backup or what if someone else goes with me and needs a gun?

Anyone else in the boat?

 

[earlthegoat2]

I could do all the hunting on this continent with a 450 Bushmaster a 12 ga shotgun, and a 22 Mag. Maybe a longer range gun for out west like a 25-06 or some such. I’ll buy that one if I am ever going to hunt out there when the time comes.

As it is I have the 450 BM, 44 mag rifle, 444 Marlin, 30-06, 20 ga shotgun, and 22 mag as my hunting guns.

I want to consolidate more but I just love the 44 and 444 too much. I will get rid of the 30-06 in time.

 

[Patocazador]

I am starting to think I should ditch some of my stuff to make room and well not collect dust.

If you want to sell the 20 ga o/u, PM me with make, model and asking price. I'd like to have one if affordable.

 

[Axis II]

If you want to sell the 20 ga o/u, PM me with make, model and asking price. I'd like to have one if affordable.

A year ago it would be gone but my hunting buddy just bought rabbits dogs and now the 20ga has come back to life.

 

[buck460XVR]

I just cant seem to get rid of these copies of guns or guns I don't use because I tell myself its a backup or what if someone else goes with me and needs a gun?

Anyone else in the boat?

Do you ever plan on having kids? Back when both boys were young, I found that it took three pump shotguns to go turkey hunting and/or pheasant hunting. As they got older and got into turkey hunting, they bought their own dedicated turkey guns. They, like their ol' man, decided they likes doubles for pheasants instead of a pump. So now I have a bunch of pump shotguns. Can't make myself get rid of them altho I know I should. Got grandkids getting into hunting. Their first year or two deer hunting the boys used whatever I didn't use. Once I knew they were deer hunters, they got gifted a nice deer rifle. I have some guns because they were Grandpa's or my Dad's. Don't use them a lot, but still do use them. Will never sell them, they will become the boy's sometime. Sometimes' it's a personal thing or a memory. Like the deer rifle I bought from my Brother-in-law that passed to young. He was more like a brother to me. Can't get rid of that one.

 

[Axis II]

Do you ever plan on having kids? Back when both boys were young, I found that it took three pump shotguns to go turkey hunting and/or pheasant hunting. As they got older and got into turkey hunting, they bought their own dedicated turkey guns. They, like their ol' man, decided they likes doubles for pheasants instead of a pump. So now I have a bunch of pump shotguns. Can't make myself get rid of them altho I know I should. Got grandkids getting into hunting. Their first year or two deer hunting the boys used whatever I didn't use. Once I knew they were deer hunters, they got gifted a nice deer rifle. I have some guns because they were Grandpa's or my Dad's. Don't use them a lot, but still do use them. Will never sell them, they will become the boy's sometime. Sometimes' it's a personal thing or a memory. Like the deer rifle I bought from my Brother-in-law that passed to young. He was more like a brother to me. Can't get rid of that one.

I am in my early 30's so probably no kids. I have nephews and my GF has a son but he wants nothing to do with anything outdoors.

 

[MCgunner]

I ain't selling ANY of my weapons and I have quite a few. I can't hunt with 'em all at one time, though. I've heard the line over and over, "Beware the man with one gun, he knows how to use it." I never figured the logic in that. I know my rifles and pistols and shoot them well. The rifles, and one Contender barrel, I have trajectory tables for and know 'em well enough to hit with 'em out to 500 yards, the rifles, 200 yards for the .30-30 Contender. I don't have a 500 yard range, so I don't get a lot of practice at extended ranges, but I do shoot a lot having my own range. It's just limited by trees to 100 yards. Same techniques of shooting, though, even with a rimfire to 50 yards. I handload everything I own except, of course, rimfires..

I bought a 7 mag in the early 90s so I'd have something for elk. Only centerfire non-milsurp I had over a .257 Roberts that had belonged to my grandpa was the 7. Then, I won a nice little Remington M7 stainless in a gun raffle at a gun show. After I'd fired it, I lost all though of selling it. I killed my first elk just this year with the 7, so that one could go, really, but I hang on to it. I don't sell accurate rifles even if I only use 'em ever dozen years.

I collected a few milsurps in the early 90s because I had a FFL for a while and the guns were cheap fun. I haven't sold any of 'em. I just like having 'em. I don't really care if I don't hunt with 'em. There's more to gun ownership than hunting. It's right there in the constitution, my RIGHT to keep and bear arms. I turned a $75 SKS into a hunting gun and eventually a night hunting hog gun and it's quite a killer of swine. Don't need no stinkin' .300 Blackout. That gun shoots 154 grain stuff into 2 MOA. That's useful at 50 yards. My AR pattern gun I got to put the finger to the gooberment with shoots MOA, but I'd rather toss that 154 grain bone crusher than a piddlin' .22 caliber bullet.

If I were to sell any of these, probably be the 7 mag, but it's too accurate to sell. Just a cheap Savage 110, but it's accurate and gets the job done if the animal is elk sized and distant.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I have a .54 caliber flintlock rifle. This is my deer rifle. Never taken a deer except with that.
870 pump 12 gauge. This was my high school waterfouling gun. Later I got an extra, old school (well it wasn't when I got it) smoothbore slug barrel with rifled sights. It was to be the backup for the flintlock, but I figured out how to make that flinter work well, so never had to resort to that during deer season.
20 gauge SxS, caplock, black powder upland bird gun, 'cause I like black powder hunting of upland birds
16 gauge SxS upland bird, modern shotgun, 'cause I like the nostalgia of the gauge
.22 single shot rifle originally for squirrels and rabbits.

I have some additional firearms, but they are either vintage guns that are fun to shoot, or they are not vintage guns, but are fun to shoot.

EXCEPT RIGHT NOW IN MY STATE, THERE IS NO "FUN" SHOOTING...




LD

 

[Patocazador]

I've got a bunch that I should hunt with but don't. Most of my hunting in the last 20 years was done with a 7x57, a .25-06, a .50 Hawken, or a 20 ga. semi-auto. The rest are just pretty ... or not.

 

[jmr40]

If my house were to burn down and I lost everything I could easily be happy with replacing everything I now own with just a handful of guns. But over a 40 year period I've owned a lot of different guns. Most of them have gone on to other homes, but I still have quite a few. Most are rarely used anymore, but are earmarked to go to my kids or grandkids someday. I won't wait till I die, I want be able to see them use and enjoy them. My kids have already been given several but the grandkids just aren't old enough yet.

 

[Johnm1]

I wish you hadn't asked that question. If I have to justify them, I'm done for.

- 270 box store package el cheapo Remington 700 - the most accurate rifle I have ever shot. Killed my first Arizona muley with it. Oldest got their first muley and 2 javelina with it. I'm going to put that one in a nice wood stock I found. This one actually belongs to my oldest but they aren't interested in hunting anymore.
- 1898 Krag Carbine Sporter - Love that rifle. Killed a nice muley and a bob cat with it last year/year before.
- Interarms Mark X .458 Win Mag - in case a rouge elephant breaks loose in downtown Mesa Arizona. I need this one like I need a .458 hole in my head. But it was $300
- Ruger 10/22 w/4x Scope - can't be without one
- 22 LR bolt action - can't remember the name on it but it is accurate but doesn't fit me. Killed many tree rats with it while my oldest used the 10/22
- 22 Magnum bolt action - can't remember the name on it either but it is accurate. Cut a few tree rats in half with it. Never really liked it. Kept it for bobcats/coyote
- Savage 22 LR pump action 1914 - love this gun. it will replace the 22 LR bolt gun this squirrel season
- 22 Magnum semi-auto - Kodiak 260 - Accurate and I like it very much. Working through a second round jamb issue. It will replace the 22 Mag bolt action
- TOZ 17 22 LR bolt action - really nice rifle. I need it like a hole in the head. Got it cheap because it didn't have a magazine and they were unobtainium at that time. Took 5 years but finally found a magazine. It will be a nice squirrel gun. I will take it out this season.
- Rhino 357 Magnum revolver as a hunting sidearm. It was a gift. I wouldn't pay that much for it. I love the darn thing just for its quirkeyness
- IJ Supershot 22 top break 8 shot revolver - rabbit chaser if I can ever get it to shoot right. Working on it. It was designed for me, so I want this one to work.
- 1901 vintage Marlin 32 colt lever action I'm working to bring back to life. It will be a rabbit chaser.
- 1920's era Colt Police Positive 32 Long - use this to chase rabbits with. The rabbits have to be in a full run or I can't shoot. I have never hit one, but it is a lot of fun. The area I hunt has rabbits with back legs twice as large as the rest of the state from being chased by a 32
- Fox Sterlingworth 12 ga SxS - dove gun - love this thing
- Fox Sterlingworth 20 ga SxS - dove gun - love it. Can't hit a thing with it. It should go, but it swings so nice
- S&W 916T takedown 12 ga pump with 28" full choke for turkey and 26" modified choke for birds. My first shotgun. I can hit birds with it.
- Mossbert 410 bolt action shotgun w/two chokes F/M. It is used when I bring new/young hunters squirrel hunting.

The rest are really curios. I have visions of taking the Remington Rolling Block in 7mm deer hunting and I suppose I could put a scope on the K11 (no drill). But I wouldn't call them hunting guns. Although the oldest did take my 1861 Springfield rifled musket javelina hunting. But again, it isn't really a hunting rifle.

Do I need them all. Well, yes. OK, no I don't. Will I/have I used them all for their intended purposes. Yes. At least once. Maybe only once though. I could get rid of all but the 270, 10/22 and the 12 ga pump and do everything I needed to. But what fun would that be.

 

[FL-NC]

Sure, I got multiples:
1- Rem 700 in 243. My favorite rifle for white tails for over 20 years, not really worth much as a used gun
2- RAR in 6.5 CM, which I can use for any critter in the lower 48, amazingly accurate rifle at just over $400
3- Mossberg 930 12 gauge with 28" and 22" barrels, used for doves, ducks, and turkey. A great shotgun for anything with feathers.
4- Remington 870 express magnum, with 28", 21", and 20" (with iron sight) barrels- same as #3, but kicks more, plus the 20" smooth bore with Remchokes and iron sights can function as a deer shotgun with buck or slugs, or for HD if needed.
5- Ithaca 37 12 gauge with 28" MOD and 20" cyl barrels- can't do a thing that the 930 and 870 can't do better, but too nice of a gun to get rid of.
6- Ruger 10-22. Haven't hunted anything in forever with a 22, but everyone needs a 10-22
7 Remington nylon 66- not near the gun that the 10-22 is, but just too cool to get rid of.
8- Mossberg 20 gauge bolt action- dad bought this thing at a yard sale for like $40. No idea why I still have it.
9 & 10- Remington 870 LW wingmaster in 410 and a Remington model 17 20 gauge- my first guns from when I was 10. Dropped hundreds of doves in my youth with them. They are oiled up and cased at dad's house, where they have been since I was a teenager and started using a 12 gauge.
I also have an AR-15 and a Mossberg MVP , both in 223, both suppressed, which have killed turkeys and deer, but mostly hogs at night.
Finally, I have a RAR in 300 BLK suppressed that has killed a deer and some foxes. It has essentially been commandeered by Mr. Fl-NC as her deer rifle.

 

[Aim1]

I have a bolt action deer rifle, bolt action deer .20 gauge shotgun, muzzleloader for deer hunting, and 2 new pistols for deer hunting. I'm set.

I actually have 3 older T/C Omega muzzleloaders from when we muzzleloader hunted a lot.

Giving one of them to a friend or enjoy and keeping at least one of the other ones as a back up/spare gun for friend to use.

 

[Axis II]

Would you guys hang onto the Slug barrel of gift it to a friend or someone who cant afford one?

 

[horsey300]

Would you guys hang onto the Slug barrel of gift it to a friend or someone who cant afford one?

Keep it, may need a loaner gun, saves you the hassle right there.

 

[Axis II]

Keep it, may need a loaner gun, saves you the hassle right there.

I have 2 Centerfire deer rifles and a Muzzeloader. lol. I think I have the loaner gun covered.

 

[skeeterfogger]

3 standard calibers for hunting. 243, 270 and 3006.
12 or 20 shotgun.
Covers pretty much hunting needs.

 

[horsey300]

I have 2 Centerfire deer rifles and a Muzzeloader. lol. I think I have the loaner gun covered.

Now you're just being unAmerican!

 

[horsey300]

Just curious who has multiple hunting guns and why? I am starting to think I should ditch some of my stuff to make room and well not collect dust.

I have 2 inline ML. Ones a $100 piece of crap someone gave me. Just cant seem to get rid of the cheap one.
12GA Mossberg pump I have only used maybe 2 times in the last like 3yrs.
20ga O/U. Only use is rabbits and pheasant.
2 deer rifles in different calibers.
1 cantilever scope mount slug barrel with no scope. Haven't used it in 5yrs.
2 savage axis 223rem rifles. One is my pride and joy with lots of upgrades and the other is a standard barrel/trigger and I justify it by saying its my coyote gun or backup to the better one. The better one went in the savage shop for about 3 months a few years back.
2 savage mark II 22lr. One is a nice HB with a target scope and the other is wood stock, standard barrel with heavy trigger and $20 scope.

I just cant seem to get rid of these copies of guns or guns I don't use because I tell myself its a backup or what if someone else goes with me and needs a gun?

Anyone else in the boat?

You need a different gun for each of the following reasons:
Hd
Sd
Hd/sd
Rabbits
Squirrel
Chucks
Yotes
Crow
Pheasant
Grouse
Turkey
Quail
Dove
Fox
Raccoon
Possum
Skunk
Bucks
Does
One day out west
One day out west dangerous game
One day in Texas
One day in Alaska
One day in Alaska dangerous game
One day in Africa
One day in Africa dangerous game
Camp defense
Hiking defense
Zombie defense (zmax bullets not required)
A handgun for each hunt listed above as eventually you'll have to try it
Loaner guns for at least 3 other people for each scenario above.

Based on given data rather than downsizing, it appears, good sir, as though you're WAY behind, GET WITH THE PROGRAM!

 

[Chuck R.]

I view hunting guns, kind of like golf clubs.

You can get by with a putter and a driver, but why would you want to?

The game and terrain dictate, so I have woods and open country rifles. Deer rifles and elk rifles. I also take advantage of seasons, so I've got a couple MLs. I have quail guns, rooster guns, duck guns and goose guns; OUs, SxS, Autos.

Small Game (Prmarily Squirrels);
Ruger M77-22
Ruger 10-22
Mossberg .410 Bolt Gun

Varmints:
REM 700 XCR Tactical in .223
Rem M7 in .223
Aero AR15 Home build in .223 Wylde

Deer:
Rem Mod 7 in .260 Rem
Steyr MOD M in .270
Nosler M48 in .270
.45 ML
.50 ML

Elk +
REM 700 in .300WM
Steyr Mod S in 8x68
Rem M7 in .350Mag

Quail:
A.H. Fox 20GA SxS
SKB 20GA O/U

Pheasant & Prarie Chicken:
Parker Bros 16GA O/U
Browning 12GA O/U

Waterfowl:
REM 11-87 12GA
Benelli SBE 12GA 31/2 (also Geese)
Browning BPS 10GA

Then there's 43 others that take care of the non-hunting needs.

 

[Chuck R.]

I am in my early 30's so probably no kids. I have nephews and my GF has a son but he wants nothing to do with anything outdoors.

Be careful! I said that once, then at 43 BAM!

Now it's either he's keeping me young or killing me.....

 

[troy fairweather]

Nearly all my guns go hunting, I kinda like using the weird stuff better then normal guns.

 

[Meeks36]

I have three multiple 22s pistols/rifles, 12ga 590, and a 629 44 mag. That will handle anything around my woods.

 

[LoonWulf]

You need a different gun for each of the following reasons:
Hd
Sd
Hd/sd
Rabbits
Squirrel
Chucks
Yotes
Crow
Pheasant
Grouse
Turkey
Quail
Dove
Fox
Raccoon
Possum
Skunk
Bucks
Does
One day out west
One day out west dangerous game
One day in Texas
One day in Alaska
One day in Alaska dangerous game
One day in Africa
One day in Africa dangerous game
Camp defense
Hiking defense
Zombie defense (zmax bullets not required)
A handgun for each hunt listed above as eventually you'll have to try it
Loaner guns for at least 3 other people for each scenario above.

Based on given data rather than downsizing, it appears, good sir, as though you're WAY behind, GET WITH THE PROGRAM!

Agreed!

I have 2 rifles I use regularly.
My .280 Ridgeline, which replaced my much beloved 7Mag(s), and my .375 Ruger Abolt. Those two go more because I enjoy them than because I have any real need for either.
Ive got a 1/2 dozen other rifles, that are also in consideration as "hunting" tools.
I do take out my other rifles from time to time (just hunted with my 527 last week).

My .22s are at best pig in trap guns, or for shooting at very close range and where noise is an issue....Still I have 3 of those.

I have 3 handguns that I have taken hunting a few times, but never got a shot off......They are for when I have another shooter, and dont need any meat.

Ive got a Nice o/u 12ga, and a decent Semi 12ga. I MIGHT fire two or 3 shots a year right now, so I cant honestly say i NEED either of those.

1 muzzle loader, since i gave away my spare, and it comes out once every year or two.



I feel no NEED to justify owning any of them, and I also no qualms about letting any of them go should something interesting come up. I also wont sell or trade them just to "clear space" unless i REALLY need that space.
IMO, if something DOSNT interest you, move it along. If you LIKE something even if it dosent have any real reason, well, keep it untill something you DO like comes along.

This is of course all personal opinion...but I mean heck, im pretty sure MOST of us have range only guns.
Ive got a keltec p32, that is effectively a 1.5 finger gun for me, I keep my 10mm, or Canik on me when im home....Its go no reason for existing except I LIKE it.

 

[jmorris]

I have multiple because I don’t have one that will do all that I want done. Same reason I don’t have just one pair of shoes.