- Messages
- 62
- Reactions
- 0
I recently did an inventory of my hunting rifles, just because I like to think about them. I typed in each make and model, chambering and my perceived "niche" for each rifle.
Ruger 77/22 22LR: Small Game
Ruger M77 Hawkeye 223 REM: Walking Varminter/Predators
Ruger No. 1A 7x57: Close to Mid-Range Big Game
Winchester M70 270: Open Country Deer
Winchester M70 30-06: Mid-Range Elk, Backup for 270 and 300
Remington M700 300 WM: All-Weather Do-it-all
Whenever I talk with my Dad about the merits of each rifle and their niches, he usually rolls his eyes or shakes his head.
At that point, I really started to think about it. When my hunts go wrong, its because I didn't scout enough or I didn't pay attention to the wind or I just wasn't in as good of shape as I could have been. Its never been my rifle's fault.
Also, in situations where I have missed, it wasn't because my rifle didn't shoot flat enough or didn't hit hard enough. I haven't even missed close enough to think that "If my rifle was sub-MOA, I would have made that shot". I once missed a shot at a buck standing broadside at 400 yards in a flat open field because I didn't think about the "gentle" crosswind. That bullet blew 12 inches with the wind and went right past the buck's chest and into a berm.
SO, instead of having all of these rifles and having a niche for each one, why don't I get rid of all but the ones that aren't completely redundant? Why not just keep the 22LR and 223 Rem for practice and their unique purposes and pick one, maybe two of the other rifles and get rid of the other two? This way, I have cheap practice and a good hunting rifle and a back-up. I could take the time I saved on reloading and tweaking each rifle and go out into the woods and become a better HUNTER. What do you guys think?
Ruger 77/22 22LR: Small Game
Ruger M77 Hawkeye 223 REM: Walking Varminter/Predators
Ruger No. 1A 7x57: Close to Mid-Range Big Game
Winchester M70 270: Open Country Deer
Winchester M70 30-06: Mid-Range Elk, Backup for 270 and 300
Remington M700 300 WM: All-Weather Do-it-all
Whenever I talk with my Dad about the merits of each rifle and their niches, he usually rolls his eyes or shakes his head.
At that point, I really started to think about it. When my hunts go wrong, its because I didn't scout enough or I didn't pay attention to the wind or I just wasn't in as good of shape as I could have been. Its never been my rifle's fault.
Also, in situations where I have missed, it wasn't because my rifle didn't shoot flat enough or didn't hit hard enough. I haven't even missed close enough to think that "If my rifle was sub-MOA, I would have made that shot". I once missed a shot at a buck standing broadside at 400 yards in a flat open field because I didn't think about the "gentle" crosswind. That bullet blew 12 inches with the wind and went right past the buck's chest and into a berm.
SO, instead of having all of these rifles and having a niche for each one, why don't I get rid of all but the ones that aren't completely redundant? Why not just keep the 22LR and 223 Rem for practice and their unique purposes and pick one, maybe two of the other rifles and get rid of the other two? This way, I have cheap practice and a good hunting rifle and a back-up. I could take the time I saved on reloading and tweaking each rifle and go out into the woods and become a better HUNTER. What do you guys think?