I have two guns my FIL gave me before he passed. If I were to split with his daughter, her grandsons would get them immediately - they should stay in his family. I was honored to receive them. If fact, when he decided to give away much of his collection a few Christmases back, he called me to come help him choose who got what. Kind of PO'D his son at the time, but he wanted to give each male relative something to remember him by and tell each the story behind it. We shot a lot of squirrels together, so he gave me his prized .22-250.
How do you stack up?
- Thread starter BobWright
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Old Dog
Member
Can hardly remember how many I've had of each ... and by the way, I didn't take the OP as suggesting one is not a "real man" unless he owns or has owned one of each of the calibers named in the OP.
First .30-30 was of course a 94 (which harvested a few whitetails). Latest is a Marlin 336. First .38 was of course a Model 10, latest a Model 15. First .30-06 (and last) a Winchester Model 70. First .45 was a Colt Government Model. Strangely, so was one of my latest.
When I was growing up, though, most families I knew had multiple long guns but no handguns ... and it seemed everyone had a 12-gauge and a .22 (we had an Ithaca and a 1918 Stevens Favorite).
First .30-30 was of course a 94 (which harvested a few whitetails). Latest is a Marlin 336. First .38 was of course a Model 10, latest a Model 15. First .30-06 (and last) a Winchester Model 70. First .45 was a Colt Government Model. Strangely, so was one of my latest.
When I was growing up, though, most families I knew had multiple long guns but no handguns ... and it seemed everyone had a 12-gauge and a .22 (we had an Ithaca and a 1918 Stevens Favorite).
morcey2
Member
At least he didn't try to expedite the "until death do us part" clause.
Quentin
Member
I bought three of the four in my first few years of buying firearms. Never bought a 30-06 but do have two rifles in .308/7.62x51 which is plenty good enough.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I'll be a contrarian.
No thanks on a .38. I have multiple .357s and load SWCs to .38 pressures for fun, but I like having the extra capacity of the .357 case and the versatility of the more powerful cartridge.
.45 ACP. Had a Springfield Armory for a while. Nothing wrong with it, just didn't float my boat. Much prefer my .40 S&Ws.
.30-30? My first centerfire rifle. Have owned a couple, but no longer. The cartridge is perfectly adequate for its purpose, but I prefer higher pressure rifle cartridges. If I'm going to shoot a lever action, make mine a pistol cartridge ... .357 or .44 mag.
.30-06? Have owned several, but don't currently. The .308 does everything I would use a .30-06 for (YMMV), and if I'm just shooting "way out there" for the fun and challenge of it, I prefer the .260 Rem or even a .243.
So I meet the requirement that "A man needs to have owned at one time or another a .38 revolver, a .45 automatic, a .30-30 and a .30-06 rifle," but none of them currently exist in my modest collection.
No thanks on a .38. I have multiple .357s and load SWCs to .38 pressures for fun, but I like having the extra capacity of the .357 case and the versatility of the more powerful cartridge.
.45 ACP. Had a Springfield Armory for a while. Nothing wrong with it, just didn't float my boat. Much prefer my .40 S&Ws.
.30-30? My first centerfire rifle. Have owned a couple, but no longer. The cartridge is perfectly adequate for its purpose, but I prefer higher pressure rifle cartridges. If I'm going to shoot a lever action, make mine a pistol cartridge ... .357 or .44 mag.
.30-06? Have owned several, but don't currently. The .308 does everything I would use a .30-06 for (YMMV), and if I'm just shooting "way out there" for the fun and challenge of it, I prefer the .260 Rem or even a .243.
So I meet the requirement that "A man needs to have owned at one time or another a .38 revolver, a .45 automatic, a .30-30 and a .30-06 rifle," but none of them currently exist in my modest collection.
cmb3366
Member
Got the .38 covered with my S&W centennial, though I prefer to shoot my 357's loaded from mild to wild for fun or effect. Never owned a 45, and doubt I ever will, though a 38 super is in my future. Own one 30-06 Browning BAR; I much prefer my 30br for accuracy, 308 for efficiency, and 300mag for effect. Never owned a 30-30, I grew up in a 35 Remington family, and I am on my second, a Marlin 336 Texan.
As a gun nut, I think life is too short to spend much time shooting the plain-jane vanilla stuff.
As a gun nut, I think life is too short to spend much time shooting the plain-jane vanilla stuff.
entropy
Member
Yup, owned 'em all.
Buzznrose
Member
I guess I'll second the contrarian view.
- Only owned 7 revolvers in my life...all were either .22LR or .44 magnum (loved to shoot .44 spl ammo out of them). Don't currently own any revolvers at this time, but were I to buy one today, I would likely be a .22, 9MM, or another .44
- Owned two .45'ACPs, but neither was a 1911 (Glock 21 & Springy Xdm). Didn't care for either. I'm looking at adding a .45 ACP to my modest armory, but torn between a Glock 30 and a Sig 320
- I've never owned a 30-30, but killed several deer with a loaner from a friend when my only rifle at the time was stolen. I would dearly love to buy one but it's just another "want" not "need" at this time.
- Never owned a 30-06 either...all my bolt hunting rifles have been either .308 or 7MM rem mag.
I never bought into the whole "you have to own THIS or THAT if you are a red-blooded American". Certainly, I appreciate the rich history and legacy many iconic firearms hold, and understand why they are popular firearms. But just like I dislike people telling me what guns I CANNOT own, I don't need them telling me what guns I SHALL own.
When anyone asks me what gun(s) they "should own" today, it is almost always someone who doesn't currently own a gun, and wants to own one for other than hunting purposes. And I almost always give them the same two answers: a reliable 9MM pistol and a reliable AR15 rifle, because both are easy to shoot and proven to perform extremely well in home defense/shooting sports roles.
Sorry if I took this thread in a wrong directions.
- Only owned 7 revolvers in my life...all were either .22LR or .44 magnum (loved to shoot .44 spl ammo out of them). Don't currently own any revolvers at this time, but were I to buy one today, I would likely be a .22, 9MM, or another .44
- Owned two .45'ACPs, but neither was a 1911 (Glock 21 & Springy Xdm). Didn't care for either. I'm looking at adding a .45 ACP to my modest armory, but torn between a Glock 30 and a Sig 320
- I've never owned a 30-30, but killed several deer with a loaner from a friend when my only rifle at the time was stolen. I would dearly love to buy one but it's just another "want" not "need" at this time.
- Never owned a 30-06 either...all my bolt hunting rifles have been either .308 or 7MM rem mag.
I never bought into the whole "you have to own THIS or THAT if you are a red-blooded American". Certainly, I appreciate the rich history and legacy many iconic firearms hold, and understand why they are popular firearms. But just like I dislike people telling me what guns I CANNOT own, I don't need them telling me what guns I SHALL own.
When anyone asks me what gun(s) they "should own" today, it is almost always someone who doesn't currently own a gun, and wants to own one for other than hunting purposes. And I almost always give them the same two answers: a reliable 9MM pistol and a reliable AR15 rifle, because both are easy to shoot and proven to perform extremely well in home defense/shooting sports roles.
Sorry if I took this thread in a wrong directions.
rider1046
Member
Owned them all, plus a few others.
ny32182
Member
.38 revolver - None
.45 auto - Two 1911s, both taken off prize tables, neither have ever been fired
30-30 - None
.30-06 - None
I guess I don't "stack up".
.45 auto - Two 1911s, both taken off prize tables, neither have ever been fired
30-30 - None
.30-06 - None
I guess I don't "stack up".
Magnuumpwr
Member
I do not own a 30/30, never peaked my interest enough to acquire one. All other bases are sufficiently covered!
win71
Member
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- Feb 8, 2005
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- 694
What a great thread
50 years ago I was gifted a Colt Officers Mod. target .38 special. It had a 71/2" barrel. Single action it would kill everything from butterfly's to deer. At about the same time, with the help of an uncle, I got an NRA Remington Rand .45 1911A1. About two years later I got my grandfathers 1942 Mod 94 30-30. I finally ended up with a pre war 70 in 30-06. Some of these are gone over the years and have been replaced.
When I was growing up these were the calibers, period. As young teen agers we talked about .218's, 219 zippers 30-06's, 45's and of course .38's.
Today I have two 38 officers mod. target 71/2' barrel revolvers, the original .45 Remington Rand, two 30-30's, one standard and one long barrel take down, and the pre war 30-06.
50 years ago I was gifted a Colt Officers Mod. target .38 special. It had a 71/2" barrel. Single action it would kill everything from butterfly's to deer. At about the same time, with the help of an uncle, I got an NRA Remington Rand .45 1911A1. About two years later I got my grandfathers 1942 Mod 94 30-30. I finally ended up with a pre war 70 in 30-06. Some of these are gone over the years and have been replaced.
When I was growing up these were the calibers, period. As young teen agers we talked about .218's, 219 zippers 30-06's, 45's and of course .38's.
Today I have two 38 officers mod. target 71/2' barrel revolvers, the original .45 Remington Rand, two 30-30's, one standard and one long barrel take down, and the pre war 30-06.
ol' scratch
Member
How is an M1 not a 30-06? That is what it is chambered in. I will never own a 30-30. That doesn't make me less of a man.
Red Wind
Member
I've owned all except the .30-30, but have had a Marlin .35 Remington 336C, its very close cousin, since 1977. A very fine nostalgic inducing thread.
Thank you, OP.
Thank you, OP.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
How is an M1 not a 30-06? With a focus on the M1 Garand (not the M1 Carbine) it is not a 30-06 when it is chambered in for example 7.62 x 51 NATO (308 Winchester) or any of several other calibers they can be chambered in. I have one in 7mm-08 Remington.
Regarding the 30-30? As I mentioned earlier I have had several pass through my life and it's a cartridge I just never warmed up to. I would add another 308 Winchester before I went with a 30-30 Winchester. Alas, to each their own.
Ron
Sauer Grapes
Member
Never have owned a 30-30. Every once in a while I get tempted to buy one just because. How bout a 32 win special.
The rest, been there, done that.
The rest, been there, done that.
Panzerschwein
member
I haven't owned a .45 auto, a .30-30 OR a .30-06... but I have owned and still own some .38s!
Someday soon I will own a Colonel Colt's Automatically Reloading Belt Pistol of Army Caliber, AKA M1911A1, AKA greatest fighting handgun in human history.
Someday soon I will own a Colonel Colt's Automatically Reloading Belt Pistol of Army Caliber, AKA M1911A1, AKA greatest fighting handgun in human history.
danknificent
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I've only got 9x19 and 22LR, so I'm definitely behind the curve.
jim in Anchorage
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And what needs do you have that a .308 fits that a 30-06 dosn't?
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Fair question. For me, I wanted a carbine length rifle with a short action for woods carry. While there is little difference in the terminal ballistics of the .308 versus the .30-06 (at least with bullets under 200 grains), rifles that shoot the .308 can be noticeably more compact than rifles chambered in .30-06. I much prefer my Model 7 in .308 to the 700 in .30-06 that I no longer own.
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