How many different hunting guns?

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I could cover all of my hunting needs with my 30-06, pump 12g, and semi 22lr, but where is the fun in that?
I like my 450 bushmaster for light and short in the thicker woods where close ranges are expected
I like my 6.5 grendel for, well just about anywhere in the Appalachian foothills
I like my 30-30 for hunting with a vintage piece
I like my 300 blk for my kids to hunt with
I like my 7.62x39 bolt gun for within 200 yards and wanting something very light
I like my single barrel 12g pardner for squirrel when the leaves are on, and its light and short

If I had to justify the ownership of my firearms based on needs or application, I wouldn't have very many firearms.
 
Almost all of my long gun use over the past twenty five years would be covered by my 8x57 mauser : moose, deer and bear, and probably the same for the foreseable future. It is my usual rifle, shoots well and reliably and has history to it. That aside, I have another round dozen rifles suitable for big game in one caliber form or another, not to mention 4 .22s and 6 shotguns that almost never get used. But I have little invested in most of them and enjoy shooting them. My biggest problem is storage space.
 
beeenbag said:
If I had to justify the ownership of my firearms based on needs or application, I wouldn't have very many firearms.
Click to expand...

I have always viewed "That's cool" or "I want it" as plenty of justification.
You only live once, and you can't take your money with you.
Buy what makes you happy........within reason of course.
 
Axis II said:
Anyone else in the boat?
Click to expand...

I used to be, I had 2 m110 savage rifles in 3006 and an m1 garand all killed game, 2 12 ga pump shotguns as well as a 50 cal Flint lock.

Now I have a 556 Ar that went on the hunting trip, but chose my m11 223 because it had a better sighting system, a 7mm08 rem 700 sps that I shot out 2 deer with this past season and a newly acquired m11 in 243 that I will loan to my 16 yo granddaughter to hunt with. If I had to I'd hunt with my 58 cal muzzle loader and loan out the other rifles to friends, or family, to hunt with.
 
Oh man, where to start?
Savage axis II in 6.5 creedmore (brand new less than 20 rounds through it)
Thompson center compass in .270
Ruger american in .308
Savage 110 in .270
Stoeger m3500 12 gauge
Winchester 1200 in 12 gauge
Remington 1100 12 gauge
Marlin Goose Gun 10 Gauge
Cz 513 22lr
Marlin xt22 22lr
Ruger 10/22 22lr

Recently retired:
Mauser 98 sporterized to 30-06
Savage axis I in .223

All of them see the light of day but I have to do rotations on what goes with me.
 
Though I'm not an "avid" hunter, I have hunted before, and will again.
For my area, most hunting that's not varmint related boils down into two basic categories.

1. Squirrel. For this I have a 77/22. I also have a 12 gage, but not my first choice.
2. Deer. For this I have a Rossi 92 in .44 magnum (most shots are in the woods at close range) For hunting fields, I have a .243. Again, I have that 12 gage & slugs, but not my first choice.

That said, every single gun I own can serve as a "hunting" gun. Just depends on what it is I'm "hunting", and if I'm the "hunter" or the "hunted".
 
All of my long guns are hunting guns, When I get ready to hunt squirrels, the hard part is deciding which one of my 5 squirrel rifles do I take. Same with doves, which of three 20ga shotguns do I take? Or should I take a 12ga instead? Which one? Then there is prairie dog shooting. How many varmint rifles do I take? Which ones? I really do love this dilemma. For all of my adult life I've had to work hard for every dime and could only afford one squirrel rifle, one good shotgun, etc. As my career advanced, I made more money and became more comfortable buying what I want. For the last 15-20 years I've been able to buy what I want and it's really fun.
 
No duplicates and I rotate through my guns so they all get used regularly. Bundle all your duplicates and trade them for something you really want or need.
 
Any of my guns except the compact .45 and the snub .38 could be used for hunting guns. Or self-defense. The only other gun I would not hunt with unless desperate is my Ljutic trap gun. I don't see that happening.
As for selling guns, I try to avoid it. I have given several guns to each of my sons, however.
 
I have many multiples and each one has at least one memory attached to it. Hopefully when I pass my kids will share those memories too. And with the way the federal government is going, that may all that I will have to pass on to my kids. I hear that if one gives the kids cash on your death bed, the IRS or Medicare may ask for that money back. So, they don't know what my "man cave" looks like.
 
I have multiple hunting guns for a few reasons.

"Need:"
Stoeger M3000: Heavy waterfowl gun capable of shooting non-tox goose loads and functioning in apalling conditions and serving as a backup canoe paddle or push pole.
Mauser 98 .280 Rem: General big game, capable of longer ranges. I could hunt all big game with this but it's a bit long and heavy for the brush. See below.
Norinco JW15 .22LR. Poor mans CZ452, purchased back when I was poor and the iron curtain was still up. General small game and varmints.
In reality, I could get by with just these 3, but I choose not too.

Supplemental:
Ruger BH .41 magnum: Tight cover deer hunting "just for fun."
Taurus M66 .357: Woods carry and snowshoe hare hunting with 158 SWC low velocity. I enjoy the challenge of hunting these animals in the winter with a sidearm.
Ithaca M37 FWT 12GA IC. A tight cover shotgun for grouse and puddle jumping ducks. A dream to carry in the woods, quick to shoulder, points like lightning. I could cover all shotgun bases withthe Stoeger, but I love the M37 for it's niche
Big Game rifles: I am a casual collector, more of a variety shooter, of centerfire rifles including vintage military and sporting. I enjoy carrying the odd rifle in the deer woods on a sunny day. These include a Savage M99, a sporterized M17, K-31, Mosin M44, Mosin M39, I've even carried a Romanian PSL on the power line a couple of days along with a fake slavic accent and a story about serving in the Bosnian civil war to intimidate some public land hunters that were getting a little too pushy with my wife. Lately I've added a vintage Rem 760 in .300 Sav that will be my new tight cover rifle going forward now that I am a land owner and the type of cover I hunt has changed.
 
All my guns are hunting guns. I am not a target shooter other than an occasional round of trap or skeet. For my rifles I check my sights before every season and use my 22 for practicing shooting positions.
 
That's the problem with Hunting Rifles, you can always think of a reason to own another. I keep the basics. 22, 17 HMR, Bolt rifles in .223, .308 and 300 Win. Levers in 45 Colt, and 45-70, and a couple shotguns. LIke Mr Morris said earlier about not having just one pair of shoes. Are these all I have for hunting, heck no.
 
webrx said:
All I need is a 12 gauge, 22. 22wmr, .243, and 30-30, I am pretty sure I have more than I need though :rofl:

My wife would say so also, so I avoid asking her that question.

Dave
Click to expand...

Mine too, however I did tell her that I had over 30 when we got together and I'm going to have at least that many again. I'll just add one at a time for the next 20 years and I'll be there.
 
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