Where the heck is Elvis going with this one I hear muttered all across the globe
many times growing up I have heard tales of woe,folks had a good rifle and sold it for something else, only later to regret it .
some 23 years ago when my good wife had belly full of arms n legs (Toadlet) I went on hunting trip for a week and took enough tobacco to last 2 days....yes I was looking hard at dry tea bags by day 4 but cold turkey worked for me... with $$$$ I wasnt spending on smokes ,some $50 a week back then, I bought a brand new zastava mini mauser in .223
that wee rifle and I have been through a lot and if pushed I would guess its getting on for a thousand rounds now..Ive shot just about everything with it...a couple of red deer and about a dozen pigs,goats,countless wallabies,a few house muttons,hares n rabbits galore.
recently Ive been dallying with 22-250 but as its not suppressed I sort of have to be a bit cautious how often I shoot as houses are nearby...managed a couple of hares with it,one at 125ish and another at 15yards...hardly need 50 grn pill doing 3600fps for that...tonight I took my 223...rabbit showed its self at hundy and it was just too easy...I really love that rifle,its almost like extension of myself
so back to opening bit...
why do folks leave something so great and lust after something else?????
yes marriage partners fall into similar catagouries..... you dont know how good it is till its gone.
whats your "just work"rifle...only 1 or I would have to include the 270 as well

Well Elvis...I have every rifle and handgun I ever purchased. I have never sold any of them. My "go to" rifle is the one (my first) I bought when I was 18. I'll be 78 shortly and it's 71. You guest it. Winchester Model 94 caliber .30 WCF. It still hunts.

I can relate to that....funnily enough it was a 30/30 model 94 I swapped for the 270 many years ago when I was 17.....
they are a lovely reliable rifle...only reason for swap,I was getting into deerstalking and good mate was a pighunter who had the 270......it was logical at the time.

Well, I had to think about it for a second or a second and a half but it would be my second rifle. I got it when My dad passed but I started shooting it before I was ten. It has changed over the years but it still shoots nickel size groups at 100 yards. It's an old Remington 03A3 with a sporterized stock, a Timney trigger and a 4-12x50 scope. It may someday be replaced with the 257 Roberts but not for a while. It still zeros in on game like a part of me and I often feel my dad's presence when I shoot it. My first rifle was a Winchester pump 22RF 62A. I gave it to my son ... he traded it for a transmission. It cost me $5 and I put an extended magazine tube on it. I do have a replica but I miss the old one.

I’m with you Bushy...I still have every rifle I’ve ever acquired over the years. Why...because each and everyone of them has some sort of hold that makes me not want to part with it...oh yeah, then there’s the “bower bird” factor.

My “go to” favourite rifle generally depends on the desired use. For bunnies and other small game it is definitely my Krico .22 rifle...the first rifle I bought, in 1969 (that makes it 51 yrs old). I won’t part with it...even after many thousands of rounds have gone through it, and it’s as accurate today as the day I bought it. The only improvements I’ve made are to refurbish the stock, including adding chequering, bedding and recrowning.

Apart from that, I wouldn’t like to try and pick a favourite because there are points I really like about each one, although I will admit to a real soft spot for my Weatherby .243 and my Winchester Model 94 in 30.30 (a much loved calibre combination).

For me, a Winchester 1300 Turkey gun.

Everything else in my gun cabinet comes and goes, but that stays. and likely will till I die.

Had it for 30 years.

Mine would be my first centrefire, Remington 788 in .222.
Bought second hand in 1979, still damn accurate and very nice with the timney trigger that replaced the std lawyer one.
Only short comming is knocking over rams at 300yd in field rifle, i get the "ding" but the buggers dont fall down like they do when hit with .223.

My go to gun is my 3rd 270 Winchester in a Remington 700. I just finished a new paracord sling that turned out quite nicely.

I've had a few I wish I had kept .. Unless it's a "classic" , to me it's just a tool .. There have been a few that "just worked" for me and I have kept a few because they were down right beautiful pieces ..

My CZ 550 458 Lott "just works" , got it after the fire in 2007 when I lost all my life long collection ..

Lost a No 1 375 H&H bought new in 1978 , rifle just worked and had some of the prettiest wood I have ever seen ..

Lost a 1927 Westley Richards 500 double , sweet varmint gun indeed ..

Ones I sold I wish I had kept ?

1974 ish 700 Rem 7mag , bought new , tack driver , nice small bore ..

1977 ish Super Black Hawk ..

My H&R 45/70 Buffalo classic would be almost the only gun I use these last few years for large games.

I'm tempted to add a .375 Ruger barrel, bolt & magazine to my stable (switch barrel Schultz & Larsens), as it's easier to load & at least as fast as .375 H&H.

Just need to know I'll be able to actually get to Africa before I put down the $$$$...

Mike, if you put it on the calendar you'll be able to go.

Nothing happens unless you make it happen.

PaulS wrote:

Mike, if you put it on the calendar you'll be able to go. Nothing happens unless you make it happen.

The current, mandatory quarantine on return to the UK & its $2,000 cost is a tad off-putting...

I can wait another year to see if the world gets over its "sickie".

What I DO want is to be able to get to the US this October & see my mates - it'll be 2 years since my last visit, compared to my usual 2-3 trips over every year.