Is it silly for non-hunter to buy nice hunting rifle?

[788Ham]

bushmaster,

Go get whichever one you want! Just because you buy a Colt SAA .45 doesn't mean you're going to try to be the next Johnny Ringo! If you want a good rifle, JMHO, try a Savage '99 in .308, nice handling rifle, nice shooting. I've got two of the '99's, one in .300 and one in .250-3000, they are both good shooters. They don't get as much fresh air as I'd like them to get punching paper, but they still know how to hunt when the time comes too. Like the gun collection Charlton Heston had in his basement, no, he didn't get the Browning water cooled SMG's out every weekend, nor the huge collection of BAR's either, but they were there if he decided too! Get yourself whatever trips your trigger{ no pun actually intended!}, punch paper, or spend hours shining the barrel and action, its your right? An American freedom to do as you choose.

 

[SwampWolf]

I'm a shooter/collector and hunter who someday would like to own a fine, big bore, double rifle appropriate for hunting cape buffalo, elephant and such. And I have no illusions of being able to afford a safari in Africa any time soon.

 

[sansone]

you know our answer is gonna be.. buy it / collectors buy guns that NEVER get shot

 

[JDGray]

By hunting rifle, you mean thin barrels, wood stocks with super pretty grain, lightweight, kick like a mule? I personally wouldn't enjoy shooting 60-100 rounds out of one in one setting, but you go ahead I like my black on black heavybarrel paper punchers, but don't like carrying them to far. If I hunted, I'd go balls out on some lightweight gear, but for now my R700 LTR .223 is my lightweight, at 9.0 lbs.

 

[brotus2]

I don't hunt either, but when the wife is out of town I sleep with them.

 

[sappyg]

this thread needs a pic. don't get any ideas brotus2

 

[brandon_mcg]

get what you want! i have a .308 VTR that i love to just take out and shoot. its my primary hunting rifle but its such a fun gun that i shoot FMJ's out of it a good bit.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I gave up hunting almost 33 years ago but I have acquired guns that are plenty capable of doing it because I admire them, I enjoy shooting a variety, and also maybe just because I could at the time. At almost 51 yrs old I am now saving up for my first EBR.

To me the only thing silly about it might be spending money you don't have and putting you and your family in a bad way. Outside of that have at it and have a ball!


.

 

[saltydog452]

Its no sillier than to buy a vehicle capable of speeds in excess of 75 MPH, diamond rings, or a 200$ skillet hawked by a nationally known cook.

salty

sappyg,
That wouldn't just happen to be in 35 Remington would it?

sd

 

[sappyg]

SD said:

sappyg,
That wouldn't just happen to be in 35 Remington would it?

it's a 300 savage. the bore needs a good scrubbing but i can't bring myself to clean it from the muzzle. i've always been fascinated by the savage 99.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

This may not be quite the answer you are looking for, but I was not a duck hunter. Hence, I only owned several pump shotguns. Then one day a friend invited me to go duck hunting, the first time I used an 870. This shotgun and myself were not a matching pair for ducks. Now I have added an 1100 and an I-12 to the group and for a lack of a better way to say it, I should have already purchased a semi-auto. Sure your 223 is fine for hunting, should you ever go, but owning at least one "hunting rifle" is not a bad idea whether you hunt or not. As others have mentioned, you can derive pleasure from them in other ways, not just hunting.