If you had to start your gun collection over

[Wiley64]

I won’t bother to mention what I got right, but two things I got wrong and would do differently:

22LR instead of 22 mag for a pest rifle.
And 308 instead of 30-06 for general purpose. Both of those decisions are way to remedy with a switch, but I get attached to rifles and the history I have with them so restarting that is the

22 mag owner here- wish it was something else as well. It’s a fun rifle but I’m not sure what it’s for. I wish it made sense for the tiny 10

 

[MS 9x56]

Well I was quite late to buying rifles due to the fact my area of the state was shotguns only. So I had a pretty nice selection of shotguns. Then the state made muzzleloaders legal and I collected a few traditional sidelock muzzleloaders. I enjoyed them so much I bought a 32 caliber sidelock and began hunting squirrels and rabbits with it. Those experiences made me a much more deliberate shot. Finally the state legalized rifles and then the fun began in earnest. Started with a Winchester pre 64 model 70 in 243. After shooting 2 bucks that ran around my stand in a circle,Then died within sight but left no blood trails, I returned the 243 to woodchuck duty and bought a savage99 in 308. Great deer and hog rifle until I got into stillhunting in thick cover. That’s when I discovered the best stalking and stillhunting rifle ever made. The Mannlicher Schoenauer model 1905 in 9x56 MS pointed like an extension of my arm and came to shoulder with sights already aligned with where I was looking. That got me into a Mannlicher stock phase which led to a Ruger 77 RSI in 250-3000. Almost a perfect deer hunting weapon. Wanting something bigger I found a CZ 550 FS in 9.3x62 which quickly became my bear, elk and moose rifle. That CZ lead me into the wonderfull world of Mauser 98s. I have 2 pre WWII commercial mausers with side plate socks and half octagon half round barrels with full length ribs. One in 7x 57 with a 26” barrel and one in 8x57 with 24” barrel. I wouldn’t change a thing on my journey as each new purchase taught me not only good hunting lessons but good life lessons and a ton of history along the way. My collection is complete until the next beauty catches my eye. Good hunting!

 

[Wiley64]

I could have saved a fortune and my life would be so much simpler if I had just bought three bolt action rifles. One each in .22lr, 30-06 and 416. Add a pump 12 gauge shotgun and a Glock 19 and I could rule the world.

This 1,000%. It’s elegant, paradoxical, and yet… it works

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

If I had to start over

22 magnum single shot cheap and disposable my current one is a keystone cricket synthetic and stainless. They get abused dispatching animals in traps and around the slaughter house.

I’d try and get my hands on a 303 no 1 ruger and top it with the Leupold 2-7x33

Browning bps with field and smooth bore slug barrel for upland birds small game and stumble on deer in overlapping seasons.

Mossberg 510 20 gauge youth gun don’t tell carney but some of us Canucks like home defenders too , the 510 is short barrels and readily accepts Mossberg 500 pistol grips. Also less recoil should the wife have need for it when I’m on the water.

A .458 win mag of some sort in left hand topped with a 1-4x20 Leupold in QD rings with a the ability to attach a Leupold rmr to the same base.

I’d need a muzzle loader to round out the stable my current one is a Lyman Great Plains 50 but if I was forced to replace it I’d likely go with a nitro fire and scope it.

 

[BigGame]

No more than two and only what I'm using for next two seasons. If I'm not using in next two seasons then I'm selling. Otherwise, I'll end up exactly were we all are right now.... again

 

[Hedge774]

Wow. What a question. I can't think of any rifles or shotguns that I regret buying. If looking into hindsight, I would probably just focused on quality (think purpose, not brand name) not quantity. That being said, who has something cool that totally don't need for sale?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

My actual battery:
Dangerous Game Rifle- .375 Holland & Holland Magnum Remington Model 700 Kevlar Stock Custom
Plains Game Rifle- 7x57mm Mauser Churchill Gun Makers Model Deluxe
Shotgun- 12 gauge 3” Magnum Beretta Model 626E with 30” barrels (Full choked left & modified choked right)

I picked the latter two firearms by choice. The Remington Model 700 was gifted to me. It serves me well enough, but would not be my first choice for a dangerous game rifle (although it never gave me a chance to complain).

What I would like (and I’m limiting my choices only to firearms which are being currently manufactured):
Dangerous Game Rifle: .500 Nitro Express John Rigby & Co. Shikari
Plains Game Rifle- .338 Winchester Magnum Griffin & Howe Springfield Model 1903A3 custom sporter
Shotgun- Even though it’s not currently manufactured anymore, I have an incredibly difficult time ever imagining myself using anything other than my magnificent Beretta Model 6262E

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Just kind of a fun thought experiment if you had to start over knowing what you know now. What would you get.

Dg rifle
Plains game rifle
Rifle for europe
Rifle for NA
Small game 22lr or similar.

and shotguns
12
20
Or 28 gauge
pick 2

Most importantly why you made your choice. And any fun stories related to it.

And if im missing anything feel free to add on. Just kind of a fun thought exercise.

DG Rifle: House of Merkel .500 Nitro Express
Plains Game Rifle: M70 Classic .416 Remington
Rifle for Europe: Ruger No.1 9.3x74R
Rifle for NA: Weatherby Accumark .340 Weatherby
Small Game: Magnum Research Switchbolt .22LR
Shotty Gun: Winchester M23 SxS 12 ga with Briley 20 ga tubes

 

[ElevenBravo]

I'd probably be a lot happier with fewer guns...
DG: Left-handed Sako 90 in 375
Marlin 1895 SBL in 45-70
My left-handed 300 PRC
Savage 17HMR for plinking
One of my Mossberg 12ga pumps, probably the 590.
Other than that... everything else could go except my Shiloh Sharps Quigley rifle.

I've freed up *so* much space now.

 

[dgr416]

I got about every gun I ever wanted .I still want a 32 inch 338-378 weatherby but without caribou to hunt its about useless .I do still want a sxs 28 ga .

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

The Mannlicher Schoenauer model 1905 in 9x56 MS pointed like an extension of my arm and came to shoulder with sights already aligned with where I was looking.

That is precisely how they were designed.

 

[fourfive8]

I have the few I consider the core for any thing I might hunt or any shooting I may want to do. I have had two major sell offs over the years but still have quite a few too many. These are the core I have and the ones I would choose if starting over

Win M 52 B Sporter 22RF
Rem M600 222 Rem
Win M70 338-06
Win M70 375 HH
Win M70 416 Rem
Two 20 ga SxS shotguns, one single trig, one double

Older collectible guns are a different category. I have most US Military models from 1800s, flint and percussion.

 

[odonata]

I'm a fan of "what if?" type questions so I'll play along. It's always fun to not only reconsider my past choices but to see other people's responses as well.

When starting off with my original purchases, I was faced with a couple of limitations. First I was a right-hander who prefers to shoot left because of a bad right eye. So as an involuntary southpaw, I like ambidextrous single shots. They work really well for a lot of the hunting I do so I acquired four Ruger No. 1's and four 1885's. I was stuck in that enjoyable purchasing groove for a while.

Another thing that narrowed my choices was left-handed bolt actions come in a smaller selection of chamberings. Some desirable classics like the 257 Roberts, 7x57, 300 H&H and 35 Whelen (Ruger just announced one!) were never made in factory left-handed rifles. Left-handed DG rifles can be harder to find as well. Fortunately, I really like one of readily available options in the boringly dependable 30-06 Springfield which is why I own three. Setting up each one for a light, medium & heavy bullet, I can cover a lot of situations with this one cartridge alone.

But to answer the OP's original question, if I had to start over, the majority of my small collection would stay. I've never sold a rifle & I really like everything I have. One change I would probably make is I would have gotten a nice kipplauf rifle (e.g. Blaser K95, Merkel K5, Kriehoff Huberus) in a rimmed cartridge like the 7x57r or 7x65r with a neutral butt stock. Maybe add an additional barrel in a smaller rimmed cartridge like the 22 Hornet.

I'm not much of a shotgun guy but I would like to own a cast-on SxS for upland hunting like the Fabarms Autumn in 20ga. I do my waterfowl hunting with an ambidextrous Browning BPS 12ga but might consider upgrading to a left-handed semi-auto if I go goose hunting again.

My current rifle safe looks something like this:

DG Rifle: Winchester 70 Safari Express (LH) in 375 H&H, Ruger 77 MkII (LH) in 458 Win Mag

The workhorses: Remington 700 (with a Timney trigger), Sako 85M Hunter & Steyr CL II all in left-handed 30-06.

The 3 Amigos: Ruger No. 1A in 6.5x55, Ruger No. 1 RSI in 275 Rigby, Ruger No. 1A in 303 British. Each one is as good as the other for the deer hunting I do in the southeastern woods & I love them all. The Swede shooting 140gr Partitions has put the more deer in the freezer than any other rifle I own.

Straight Walls: Winchester 1885 Traditional Hunter in 405 Win & a Browning 1885 in 44 Magnum. My early primitive season choices for Arkansas, Louisiana & Mississippi.

Hog Rifle: Wilson Combat Protector Carbine in 300 HAM'R. Semi-auto speed with 30-30 power using 130gr Speer Hot-Cor's.

Varmint: Left-handed Cooper Model 22 in 22-250 Remington and a Browning T-Bolt (LH) in 17 HMR with a varmint barrel.

Small Game: I do most of my squirrel & rabbit hunting with a Weihrauch HW77 pneumatic. But my Browning T-Bolt (LH) Sporter in 22LR is very accurate as well.

My personal favorite stalking rifle: Ruger No. 1S in 9.3x74r with a Minox ZA-5 1.5-8x32 scope.

 

[Beck]

This is a difficult question, but I'll give it a shot. The Sako 85 Brown Bear Series would be my go-to for a DG rifle, but they are impossible to find now ridiculously expensive.

DG Double Rifle - Heym in .470 NE or .500 NE
Dg Magazine rifle - CZ-550 in .458 Lott would have to shorten the barrel, install a 3-position safety, barrel band sling swivel, etc. Or just a Sako brown bear in either .416 or .450 Rigby - no aftermarket work needed for the Sako.
Plains game rifle & NA antelope - Steyr Manlicher in 8x68S
Rifle for Europe - Heym double in 9.3x74R
Rifle for NA dangerous game - Sako Kodiak .375 H&H
Small game 22lr or similar - Sako 85 Stainless Varmint .22-250
Shotgun - Super Black eagle in 12 gauge
Shotgun - Browning Citori 20 Gauge

 

[Philip Glass]

I would likely have far fewer guns. The Blaser R8 combined with the .300 Win caliber in particular have made all posts and discussions about rifles boring to me.
The Kreighoff double with the red dot eliminates all wishing for other big bores. I would like a custom English double someday but who doesn't.
I do wish for and am shopping for a very accurate, very light mountain rifle.
Others that I can not do without here at he ranch are: Ruger American .223. 10/22, Sig .22 pistol, 9mm & .380 carry guns, & family heirlooms.
I can still wish but truly do not need any more rifles.

 

[uplander01]

If you had to start your gun collection over.……I would have bought 1 really good 375 hh for big game hunting everything and spent all the money over the years on hunting. Of course this is assuming a 22 lr isn’t counted, everyone has to have one of those if for nothing other than killing stuff around the house.​

 

[LimbNoMo]

I have been doing the very thing you describe. I sold off everything down to my .300wm.

My current plans are:

Anschutz 1710 D HB .22lr
Winchester French Walnut Supergrade .270
Winchester French Walnut Supergrade .300wm
Winchester Safari .416rm
AHR CZ 550 .458 Lott

 

[AZDAVE]

Well first in a second chance knowing what I know now.

First request is rifle stock that fit my LOP without having to add spacers and thick recoil pads!!! which equals a custom in most cases besides doubles.

Africa: Bolt guns-22 hornet, 300 H&H, 375 H&H doubles- 303 Brit, 500/416, 577NE
Europe and North America: bolt- 223, 7x64, 9.3x62 Doubles- 9.3x74, 405 WIN
Precision: Bolt guns-6x47 and 338 Lapua
Rim fire: Ruger 10/22, cz452, Anschutz anything, Rim X, Vudoo
General purpose: TC encore with a bunch of barrels
Shotguns: Win 97 12 ga, sporting clays with 28, 20, 12 barrels, English SXS's in 12 in 20.
Pistols: 22lr, 9mm, 10mm, 45acp, 44MAG

 

[Fatback]

I have contemplated this several times, especially here lately.

The first thing I would have done 30 years ago would be to buy left handed model 70s when they were being produced in each long action they made, 270 Win, 30-06, 7 Rem Mag, 300 Win, 338 Win and 375 H&H in the Safari Classic.

Then I would have had the Winchester custom shop build me left handed 416 Rem, 9.3x62, 35 Whelen, 7x57, 7mm-08 and 25-06.

By doing this I would have ended up right where I am at, minus the 7mm-08.

This would have saved me from buying and/or having built CZ 550s in 375H&H, 404 Jeffery, Model 70s in 458 Win and 404Jeffery, Ruger M77s in 25-06, 30-06, 35 Whelen, 7mm Rem Mag and Remington 700s in 270Win and 30-06 and Browning Xbolt in 300 Win Mag.

So, if I had to start selling from my current left handed model 70 collection I would sell the 25-06, 270s, 7mm Rem Mag, 7x57, 30-06, 338 Win and 9.3x62.

That would leave me with the following left handed model 70s.

African DG- 416 Rem
African PG- 300 Win
NA DG- 375 H&H
Everything else NA- 7PRC
Europe- 35 Whelen

I also have and would keep my left handed Ruger in 223 Rem for varmints, CZ 457 in 22LR and my Remington 870 in 12 gauge and my single shot 20 gauge.

Right now I enjoy having, shooting and hunting with all of my rifles. There will come a time, I am sure, when I do decide to sell some of my current rifles and use the proceeds to fund future hunting trips.

 

[jruby]

I would limit f myself to half a dozen rifles and a couple of shotguns. I would learn to shoot those rifles well. It would also reduce my reloading needs. I would find one good load for each of these guns and not change the load unless components were unavailable. Today I have three plus lifetimes of firearms I will never wear out. I have quite a few guns that may not be shot in my lifetime. The problem for me is that I have become attached to them I love nice wood and deep blueing. IMHO