Estate Sale Advice

[Domino00]

Hello all, I'm in search of some expert advice on making a few key purchases through a friend. I believe I've narrowed the field down based upon intended use and semi-uniqueness but would appreciate some outside advice.

I've only just begun acquiring long-arms. My first was a Rock River LAR-8 X1 (.308) that is primarily used for targets up to 200 yards and secondarily Whitetail in the Southeast one or two trips a year. In essence, any new rifles would be 80% paper, 20% hunting or perhaps a dedicated one for purpose each.

My first cut at the list was the: 30-06 Gre-Tan L61R and .270 Sako 85M. The full list is below. The accompanying glass is a bonus but not necessarily the deciding factor. Please disregard the numeric and alpha-numeric characters at the end as they are for inventory purposes.

Thank you in advance.

6.5 Creed-Barrett SWFA SS 3-9x42 MCM Green Comp 19

6.5x55 SW Tikka T3 Swarovski-Habicht 3-9x36 MCM Comp. BLK SPEC 14

6.5x55 Tikka T3 Kahles Helia CL 2-7x36 comp blk 7

6.5x55 Tikka T3 Swarovski Z3 3-10x42 grn-grey spec 8

7-08 Tikka T3 Zeiss Conquest 4x32 wood satin 4

17 Mach 2 Kimber Classic Varmit Leupold VX-2 3-9x33 wood 25

22 IFB Khales 2-7x36 Walther wood 24

22 LR Kimber Classic Clearidge Ultrra RM 3-9x32 wood 22

22 LR Kimber HS K22 Leupold VX2 4-12x40 Wood 29

22 LR Kimber Hunter Kahles 2-7x36 Wood Stock 23

22 LR Ruger American SWFA SS 6x42 Comp OS2

22 LR ULA Clearidge RM 3-9x32 McM comp. GrN CAMO 28

22 Mag RF BRNO Clearidge RM 3-9x32 wood 26

22 Mag RF Marlin Leupold 2.5-8x36 Wood OS1

22 Mag RF Ruger American Weaver 6x42 Comp OS3

25-06 Tikka T-3 Leupold VX3 4.5-10x40 wood satin 6

30-06 Gre-Tan Rifle L61R Kahles 3-9x42 MCM tan-green spec 16

50 TC BlkPwdr Leupold 3 or 6X Comp OS6

222 E.R. Shaw L461 Leupold VX3-2.5-8x36 wood gloss 9

222 MAG Vixin L461 Kahles 2-7x36 wood gloss 10

222 MAG Williams Arms Swarovski Z3 3-10x42 wood satin 11

223 Steyr-Daimler-Puch Luepold 3-9x33 Wood stock 27

223 Tikka T3 Leupold VX2 3-9 x 40 Comp OS5

223 Tikka T3 Leupold VX2 3-9x40 Comp OS4

223 Tikka T3 SWFA SS 10x42 HD MCM brn-grn spec tri-pod 13

243 Sako Forester Leupold VX2 3-9x40 wood gloss 12

260 Gre-Tan FLUTED Leupold FX 11 6x36 Comp. blk spec 1

260 Sako 85 S Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x42 Comp. blk swirl 2

270 Sako 85M Zeiss Classic Diatal 6x42 McM comp black 17

270 Tikka M695 Zeiss Diatal Z 6x42 MCM-black brown 15

270 Winchester Mod 70XTR Zeiss Conquest 2.5-8x32 comp brn-lt brn 18

308 Sako A II Swarovski Z3 3-9 x36 comp drk-grn 5

7-08 Ed Brown Cust. Swarovski Habicht 3-9X36 Comp blk 3

22 WMR SAVAGE M93 SIMMONS 3-9X32 DUP N3

264 WIN MAG WINCHESTER MOD 70 LUEPOLD 3-9X36 N5

270 WINCHESTER MOD 70 FEATHRWEIGHT N4

17 CZ 455 CLEARIDGE 3-9X32 DUP N2

17 CZ 527 AMERICAN BURRIS 4 PLUS 30-06 3-9XQ N1

 

[ZGunner]

It all depends on what you want to do with them. That list looks really, really nice to me. I would buy all I could afford, also depending on the asking prices. I am definitely a Tikka fanboy!!

The 260 Sako and one of the 6.5x55 Tikkas would probably be near the top of my short list.

 

[Gordon]

7-08 Ed Brown Cust. Swarovski Habicht 3-9X36 Comp blk 3
6.5 Creed-Barrett SWFA SS 3-9x42 MCM Green Comp 19

 

[DannyLandrum]

"Hello all, I'm in search of some expert advice on making a few key purchases through a friend. I believe I've narrowed the field down based upon intended use and semi-uniqueness but would appreciate some outside advice.

I've only just begun acquiring long-arms. My first was a Rock River LAR-8 X1 (.308) that is primarily used for targets up to 200 yards and secondarily Whitetail in the Southeast one or two trips a year. In essence, any new rifles would be 80% paper, 20% hunting or perhaps a dedicated one for purpose each.

My first cut at the list was the: 30-06 Gre-Tan L61R and .270 Sako 85M. The full list is below. The accompanying glass is a bonus but not necessarily the deciding factor. Please disregard the numeric and alpha-numeric characters at the end as they are for inventory purposes."

I was unable to discern a specific answerable question in that - read it 3 times.

But the decedent had excellent taste in firearms. RIP.

 

[cdb1]

I’d like, in order of preference:

22 Mag RF BRNO Clearidge RM 3-9x32 wood 26
243 Sako Forester Leupold VX2 3-9x40 wood gloss 12
270 Tikka M695 Zeiss Diatal Z 6x42 MCM-black brown 15
7-08 Ed Brown Cust. Swarovski Habicht 3-9X36 Comp blk 3

I noticed many of the rimfires have Clearidge scopes. Clearidge Rimfire scopes are excellent.

 

[jmorris]

For 80% target any of the .22’s will be the cheapest and if your hunting tree rats, rabbits and such, it will cover the 20% hunting part too. Lots of good stuff in that list though.

Just a note to you guys that have collections. If you have friends or family you would like to leave specific firearms to, let that be known. Otherwise they will just sell at estate sales for cheap. Some of my best firearm deals have come from estate sales. Remember you can’t take stuff with you but you can pass on memory’s.

 

[AlexanderA]

Absolutely nothing on that list would interest me.

I don't understand what theme the deceased gentleman was pursuing in his collection. It looks like a random accumulation to me.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Noone can tell you what you are interested in.
Just like my collection, he has a tool for a wide variety of uses.
Decide what holes you have and fill it.
For me, rimfire hunting/target. Varmint control/target. Whitetail/target.
Each one has to be comfortable to target shoot with or it's gone.
Cartridge choices very by person. If you don't reload, ammo cost is critical.

 

[someguy2800]

Your friend had excellent taste in firearms. Go pick up all of them and some of them will whisper in your ear that they want to go home with you.

 

[someguy2800]

Absolutely nothing on that list would interest me.

I don't understand what theme the deceased gentleman was pursuing in his collection. It looks like a random accumulation to me.

I guess you better not go to the sale then.

 

[Dr T]

I agree with someguy. First decide which cartridges or bore diameters you want in your collection (Say, how many 6 mm, 6.5 mm, 270's, 7 mm, 308, etc) then go fondle them. Some will fit better than others, some may have a trigger you like better. Shoulder the guns and see which ones point naturally (while holding the gun at rest, pick a target, focus on it, then raise the gun to your shoulder and see how close the crosshairs are to your point of focus). Everyone has their own priorities. Mine are pointability, fit, and trigger in that order.

All of these things become the je ne sais quoi of how the gun whispers to you. When you find that some grab your hands and won't let you put them down, you have to buy them.

The thing is, buying guns after this type of examination is less of an intellectual exercise than a visceral one. But you, or at least, I, tend to be more satisfied with the purchase.

 

[cdb1]

Absolutely nothing on that list would interest me.

I don't understand what theme the deceased gentleman was pursuing in his collection. It looks like a random accumulation to me.

May not be your cup of tea but there are some very nice rifles in the collection. If nothing else the collector knew quality. Are you familiar with the Sako Vixen? They are some of the best production rifles ever made and are known for their incredible accuracy. I would love to have one in .223. He also had excellent taste in optics.

 

[Art Eatman]

Odds are that the Sako Forester .243 would work well for deer and paper--particularly with handloads. My Forester carbine (19") has always been sub-MOA. Some two-dozen tagged bucks.

Oughta have a .22 plinker, as well.

 

[Beach Bum]

Domino....that is an impressive rifle collection.....makes me kind of wonder what his handgun collection looked like.....

 

[Walkalong]

I'm in search of some expert advice on making a few key purchases through a friend.

You need to explain this. As it reads it sounds illegal.

 

[jmorris]

I don't understand what theme the deceased gentleman was pursuing in his collection. It looks like a random accumulation to me.

That would pretty much describe what I am after, one of everything. Who needs a “theme”? One of everything is a theme to me.

 

[jmorris]

You need to explain this. As it reads it sounds illegal.

Could be an executor of a will or friend of the family helping out a widow, that is selling off a collection. I have been a “go to guy” on a few both before and after auctions. Just depends on how they assess values. Have paid top dollar for some and picked up the scraps from others.

Not a “straw man”, rather a “contact” to facilitate a legal transaction.

 

[Domino00]

Could be an executor of a will or friend of the family helping out a widow, that is selling off a collection. I have been a “go to guy” on a few both before and after auctions. Just depends on how they assess values. Have paid top dollar for some and picked up the scraps from others.

Not a “straw man”, rather a “contact” to facilitate a legal transaction.

This describes it. It’s my friend’s family. All on the up and up as they are the trustees.

 

[Nature Boy]

But the decedent had excellent taste in firearms. RIP.

And scopes too

 

[redneck2]

He had absolutely outstanding taste. There are some awesome rifles there

BRNO, Ed Brown custom, Sako, Zeiss, Swarovski, Leupold. Most excellent.

 

[bannockburn]

What a fantastic rifle and scope collection! I would be primarily interested in some of the various Tikkas and Sakos.

 

[R_P_K]

Absolutely nothing on that list would interest me.

I don't understand what theme the deceased gentleman was pursuing in his collection. It looks like a random accumulation to me.

His "theme" was apparently nice firearms. Not everyone collects 50 similar firearms. If I went to an estate sale and the collection was 50 AR's or Glocks etc I would find it boring.

 

[jmorris]

This describes it. It’s my friend’s family. All on the up and up as they are the trustees.

This is the “tight rope” for me and the ones that I paid “top dollar” (and then some at times) to help out friends or when they couldn’t get rid of things at what they thought they would bring, picked them up on the cheap.

How good of a friend you are will guide you.

 

[someguy2800]

That would pretty much describe what I am after, one of everything. Who needs a “theme”? One of everything is a theme to me.

The theme of my collection is “Oooh that looks neat!”

 

[cdb1]

I’m seriously thinking of becoming an avid collector and noted expert on Remington 770s and custom Carcanos.