Powderburner
New member
Long post, but I do make a point.
I grew up in the northern great plains, and came of serious hunting age in the 1950's. My dad was an avid hunter of deer, pronghorn, and varmints, as well as upland game and waterfowl. His rifle battery at that time consisted of three rifles. He had a single shot bolt action .22 rim fire, a custom 22-250 on a surplus US Model of 1917 action (commonly called Enfield), and a Remington Model 30S, which Remington based on the same Enfield action. With that combination of rifles he successfully hunted anything available in our area.
My first rifle was a Remington Model 512 bolt action repeater that I bought while I was in high school. I still have and treasure it.
When I left home and the state, I started accumulating more rifles. First came a Browning .243 bolt action, and then a Browning 7mm Rem. magnum bolt action. With that combo I thought I was set for anything I was likely to hunt.
After that I accumulated a Remington 700 22-250, a Savage .222 Rem., a Ruger .223 Rem., a Remington 788 .223, a Remington Classic .35 Whelen, a Sako 30-06, and finally a Tikka .223.
Added to the mix were a few military surplus rifles; a Smith Corona 1903-A3, a Mauser 1898 in 7mm Mauser, and a US Model 1917. I did eventually part with four of the listed rifles.
I think I am coming full circle, following my father's example. Except for the .35 Whelen, I plan to keep only the .22 rim fire, the Tikka .223, and the Sako 30-06. With those, I am covered for everything from cottontails and prairie dogs to coyotes, elk to oryx. I will give the rest of the rifles to my son, and he will get the last four when I can no longer use them.
Maybe dad had the right idea after all!
I grew up in the northern great plains, and came of serious hunting age in the 1950's. My dad was an avid hunter of deer, pronghorn, and varmints, as well as upland game and waterfowl. His rifle battery at that time consisted of three rifles. He had a single shot bolt action .22 rim fire, a custom 22-250 on a surplus US Model of 1917 action (commonly called Enfield), and a Remington Model 30S, which Remington based on the same Enfield action. With that combination of rifles he successfully hunted anything available in our area.
My first rifle was a Remington Model 512 bolt action repeater that I bought while I was in high school. I still have and treasure it.
When I left home and the state, I started accumulating more rifles. First came a Browning .243 bolt action, and then a Browning 7mm Rem. magnum bolt action. With that combo I thought I was set for anything I was likely to hunt.
After that I accumulated a Remington 700 22-250, a Savage .222 Rem., a Ruger .223 Rem., a Remington 788 .223, a Remington Classic .35 Whelen, a Sako 30-06, and finally a Tikka .223.
Added to the mix were a few military surplus rifles; a Smith Corona 1903-A3, a Mauser 1898 in 7mm Mauser, and a US Model 1917. I did eventually part with four of the listed rifles.
I think I am coming full circle, following my father's example. Except for the .35 Whelen, I plan to keep only the .22 rim fire, the Tikka .223, and the Sako 30-06. With those, I am covered for everything from cottontails and prairie dogs to coyotes, elk to oryx. I will give the rest of the rifles to my son, and he will get the last four when I can no longer use them.
Maybe dad had the right idea after all!
