If I were only going to have four. First of all I'd be very sad, then I'd get the following:
Before I give my list I'd like to outline my general underlining approach to my choices. In any king of one gun decision one must almost necessarily look to a compromise gun. That is to say a gun that must be able to do many things acceptably well, but as a result tends to not be the very best choice for anyone one task. Alternatively one can pick a gun that does specialize in what he or she will use it for the most and then accept its shortcomings in other areas. Lastly, if I am only going to own one gun I'm going to go all out so to speak. I would certainly want a very high quality gun and might be less concerned with price. I'd also like something kind of neat that offered "pride of ownership" if it is going to be the only one I have. I blend these approaches in my choices, sometimes opting for the generalist and sometimes picking a specialist because that is what I realistically would use the gun for most of the time.
The List:
1.Caesar Guerini Ellipse EVO 12 guage Shotgun
I was tempted to pick a Benelli auto loader as a gun that could do it all from clays, to upland game, to water foul and Turkey. However, what I like to hunt the most is upland game, pheasants in particular. As such, I'd get a gun primarily for that. If I'm only going to have one shotgun, a nice O/U seems to be fitting. The Caesar Guerini Apex Sporting is not cheap. However, it is very well made, a great shooter and simply a gorgeous gun. Budget choice would be a browing Citori.
2. Custom .22-250 with a Schimt and Bender Scope. I would need a Varmint gun. I would be very torn between a Larue OBR and a custom 22-250 bolt gun. Most of my hunting would be for yotes or jackrabbits. I'd probably get the 22-250 simply because I love the cartridge and have some what of an emotional attachment to it as well, my father used to hunt with one and it was the gun he taught me to shoot and hunt with. The scope is really needed because yotes are often hunted when the light is low. Plus if one is only going to have a couple rifles there is no reason not to have really good glass on them.
3. Pre 64 Winchester M70 in 30'06 with a Schimt and Bender scope. My NA big game rifle This was my grandpa's deer gun. It is still very adequate for everything I have ever hunted and the vast majority of what I am likely to ever hunt. Although there are newer, fancier, more wiz bang, calibers and guns this will realistically do everything or very nearly everything I need a big game rifle. Plus its was my grandpa's (although if I was starting from scratch I'd be really tempted to get a 6.5x55 Swede).
4. An M70 Chambered in 375 H&H for a Big/Dangerous game rifle. Some day I might choose to go hunt in Africa or hunt big bears or the like in NA. This gun would cover anything I might ever hunt. Plus I just have always thought they were neat guns. I could use it on Elk etc, and not feel absurd. When I get serious about buying one of these I may choose a different rifle when I really research it out we will see.
Before I give my list I'd like to outline my general underlining approach to my choices. In any king of one gun decision one must almost necessarily look to a compromise gun. That is to say a gun that must be able to do many things acceptably well, but as a result tends to not be the very best choice for anyone one task. Alternatively one can pick a gun that does specialize in what he or she will use it for the most and then accept its shortcomings in other areas. Lastly, if I am only going to own one gun I'm going to go all out so to speak. I would certainly want a very high quality gun and might be less concerned with price. I'd also like something kind of neat that offered "pride of ownership" if it is going to be the only one I have. I blend these approaches in my choices, sometimes opting for the generalist and sometimes picking a specialist because that is what I realistically would use the gun for most of the time.
The List:
1.Caesar Guerini Ellipse EVO 12 guage Shotgun
I was tempted to pick a Benelli auto loader as a gun that could do it all from clays, to upland game, to water foul and Turkey. However, what I like to hunt the most is upland game, pheasants in particular. As such, I'd get a gun primarily for that. If I'm only going to have one shotgun, a nice O/U seems to be fitting. The Caesar Guerini Apex Sporting is not cheap. However, it is very well made, a great shooter and simply a gorgeous gun. Budget choice would be a browing Citori.
2. Custom .22-250 with a Schimt and Bender Scope. I would need a Varmint gun. I would be very torn between a Larue OBR and a custom 22-250 bolt gun. Most of my hunting would be for yotes or jackrabbits. I'd probably get the 22-250 simply because I love the cartridge and have some what of an emotional attachment to it as well, my father used to hunt with one and it was the gun he taught me to shoot and hunt with. The scope is really needed because yotes are often hunted when the light is low. Plus if one is only going to have a couple rifles there is no reason not to have really good glass on them.
3. Pre 64 Winchester M70 in 30'06 with a Schimt and Bender scope. My NA big game rifle This was my grandpa's deer gun. It is still very adequate for everything I have ever hunted and the vast majority of what I am likely to ever hunt. Although there are newer, fancier, more wiz bang, calibers and guns this will realistically do everything or very nearly everything I need a big game rifle. Plus its was my grandpa's (although if I was starting from scratch I'd be really tempted to get a 6.5x55 Swede).
4. An M70 Chambered in 375 H&H for a Big/Dangerous game rifle. Some day I might choose to go hunt in Africa or hunt big bears or the like in NA. This gun would cover anything I might ever hunt. Plus I just have always thought they were neat guns. I could use it on Elk etc, and not feel absurd. When I get serious about buying one of these I may choose a different rifle when I really research it out we will see.
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