Nature Boy
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Do you have a .223 bolt gun? If not, it might change your mind
Least favorite rifles/cartridges you’ve owned?
- Thread starter someguy2800
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Do you have a .223 bolt gun? If not, it might change your mind
Obturation
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Least favorite is an easy one for me, sorry if you're a combloc fan...
Mosin nagant, holy moly. I know there are decent ones but the ones I've had were just terrible. I used to buy them for under $100 and a big can of ammo for about the same.
Why so bad?
They're just so crudely constructed and ugly, super long and awkward to shoot, corrosive ammo and doesn't do anything any other 30 cal rifle can't. Just hated the guns and the ammo, by the time I could afford better the couple I had were gone.
Boggles my mind what mosins go for now, I honestly feel like $100 was over priced back then but it was the cheapest rifle around.
Yes, they work and can be accurate but I find the mosin to be probably the worst rifle I've ever handled. Not sure if this is an unpopular opinion or not .
Mosin nagant, holy moly. I know there are decent ones but the ones I've had were just terrible. I used to buy them for under $100 and a big can of ammo for about the same.
Why so bad?
They're just so crudely constructed and ugly, super long and awkward to shoot, corrosive ammo and doesn't do anything any other 30 cal rifle can't. Just hated the guns and the ammo, by the time I could afford better the couple I had were gone.
Boggles my mind what mosins go for now, I honestly feel like $100 was over priced back then but it was the cheapest rifle around.
Yes, they work and can be accurate but I find the mosin to be probably the worst rifle I've ever handled. Not sure if this is an unpopular opinion or not .
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someguy2800
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I had a Savage model 12 bvss in 223 but I didn’t really care for it. I swapped out the bolt head to a 308 bolt face years ago. I think I would like a mini bolt action like the CZ or a zastava mini mauser in 223, but I can’t think of anything I would use that for that I wouldn’t rather use an AR15 for. Even then I think I would rather have a 221 fireball, 20 practical, 6x45, 6mm tcu, ect…
Well, heck, my memory must be going south. I totally forgot the Winchester 1994AE Trapper 357 Magnum I had for a real short time. I didn't like the rifle at all. I don't think those new 1894 rifles compare well to the 1894 of old. Also, I'm a Marlin man. I didn't like the 357 mag chambered in it because that cartridge is really too short for the 1894, plus I like the classic carbine cartridges too much. I'll stick with the 357 mag in revolvers, thank you very much. So, make that FOUR rifles that I have departed company with over the years.
Ditto on the AR. They aren't good looking rifles at all. I carried one enough in the army to suit me. That being said, I do own a token and it's not a 223.
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I prefer the 22-250. I have one 223 because sometimes I don't want to make a bunch of noise or burn a bunch of powder. The 223 is pretty cheap to load if you don't load it up with match components. If I had gotten into the gun game earlier, I would own a 222 right now, but 223 has pretty much taken over.
The ONLY reason I can see for owning one is if you are a military collector. I'm not, but plenty of others are now and more power to them.
BigBlue 94
Member
I cant say I have a least favorite rifle. Maybe the "Stevens Favorite" 22mag re-released in the early 2000s. And only because its just so tiny and edges are sharp. The only gun I could think of that i will not own is a Mossberg 500. They are just so clanky and loose compared to the 870s ive used.
Again, I guess my least favorite cartridge is not a hated one, but one with an annoyance. 22 savage high power and only because of its .228 caliber bullet being tough to source.
I like to hate on 6.5 Creedmoor, but really only because of the fanboys.
Again, I guess my least favorite cartridge is not a hated one, but one with an annoyance. 22 savage high power and only because of its .228 caliber bullet being tough to source.
I like to hate on 6.5 Creedmoor, but really only because of the fanboys.
Nature Boy
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My feelings as well toward the 270 Win - The Dodge Caravan of rifle cartridges
So, somebody else owns one of those new Stevens Favorites. They pale in comparison to the originals, but they work okay. I picked one up for my Grandson when he was little, and it is still sitting in my safe. They were obviously made for kids.
BigBlue 94
Member
Yup, grandpa got it for me when they first came out and i was maybe 12 or 14. It functions and looks neat but is less comfortable than my red ryder. The 22 mag aspect was neat though. I preferred the stevens 22/410 for my squirrel stalking back then.
That there is funny. Thanks for the chuckle.
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someguy2800
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My father in law sings about the 270 winchester at church. He thinks it is the killingest cartridge in existence and the most perfect hunting cartridge ever conceived. I won't give him the satisfaction of me buying one and it doesn't do anything for me anyway.
I have one I bought a couple weeks ago in 22 mag. I like it well enough but I didn't pay much for it. I don't think I would like it if it were 22 lr or if I intended to use it for any serious hunting task. Too fiddly to reload for just a 22 lr and they have pretty terrible ergonomics for sure.
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My grandson is into electronics like most of his generation, so that rifle will most likely stay in my safe. I thought about shaping the stock and polishing/re-bluing the metal to a really high shine just to make the gun semi-interesting, but I actually have things I would rather do.
The 6.5 Creed was trendy like a designer purse, but the PRS pros have already moved on to 6mm and left the 6.5 Creed sitting by the side of the road.
Varminterror
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I’ve been pondering this thread for a few days, and fortunately, I’ve not been able to readily identify any rifle or cartridge I have had which I hate. I’ve been blessed with a curiosity and knack for objective analysis, and a philosophy of purpose-driven design, so I have rarely found myself buying anything which isn’t well suited for its purpose, and rarely found myself chasing applications which don’t truly hold my interest.
I suppose those I have owned and since parted ways - with no intent to return - have been Mil-surp bolt rifles, combloc cartridges, Ruger Mini’s, AK’s and SKS’s, and I suppose Winchester 94’s. I bought most of these when I was younger, didn’t have money for something else, or was enamored with some romanticized notions of historia, but growing up and glowing up, I just don’t find interest in them. There are a few which I still enjoy but also know I’ll never own again, like 7x57 Mauser, M1 Garand, and a handful of others, but I don’t harbor any negative sentiment towards these.
I suppose I really don’t enjoy the M1 Carbine, nor the 30 Carbine which it fires. When they were inexpensive and ammo plentiful and even more inexpensive, they were fun, but those days are long passed.
I suppose those I have owned and since parted ways - with no intent to return - have been Mil-surp bolt rifles, combloc cartridges, Ruger Mini’s, AK’s and SKS’s, and I suppose Winchester 94’s. I bought most of these when I was younger, didn’t have money for something else, or was enamored with some romanticized notions of historia, but growing up and glowing up, I just don’t find interest in them. There are a few which I still enjoy but also know I’ll never own again, like 7x57 Mauser, M1 Garand, and a handful of others, but I don’t harbor any negative sentiment towards these.
I suppose I really don’t enjoy the M1 Carbine, nor the 30 Carbine which it fires. When they were inexpensive and ammo plentiful and even more inexpensive, they were fun, but those days are long passed.
Catpop
Member
On rethinking the original post, I guess my answer should be all the new tangled calibers and plastic/metal rifles. I do own a plastic/ metal rifle, but I really have absolutely no use for it. And all the fancy new calibers and again I can’t see any real use for them either.
Does anyone else, besides me, find the older they get the more they seem to revert back to liking old school. “My” old school being 22 RF, 30-30, 32-40, 35 REM, 38 WCF, 300 HH, wood stocks, lever actions, single shots, bolt actions, receiver sights, etc.
Don’t pay any attention to me, maybe I’m just coming full circle.
Does anyone else, besides me, find the older they get the more they seem to revert back to liking old school. “My” old school being 22 RF, 30-30, 32-40, 35 REM, 38 WCF, 300 HH, wood stocks, lever actions, single shots, bolt actions, receiver sights, etc.
Don’t pay any attention to me, maybe I’m just coming full circle.
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someguy2800
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I love and have always loved lever actions, single shots, and receiver sights, but I’ve pretty much grown out of my affinity for blueing and walnut. I have a few pretty rifles I can admire, the rest of them I just want to be able to use without fretting over them getting wet or scratched. Don’t need any more high maintenance stuff in my life. I never thought I would say that but here I am.
.308 Norma
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Now that I'm older, I'm sort of like that, Catpop. But not exactly. I've said many times that my favorite rifle is my custom 308 Norma Magnum, and it was my retirement gift to myself 11 years ago. However, it's stainless with a synthetic stock - because I ordered it that way.
Now while the 308 Norma Mag might be considered "old school" because it was around before the 300 Win Mag, it's certainly not as "old school" as the 300 H&H. On the other hand, the 308 Norma Mag works in a 30-06 length action, while the 300 H&H won't.
That's not to say I like the even more modern "short" and "super short" magnums. I don't hate them though. I just think they were invented to solve non-existent problems. Besides, they're ugly!
.308 Norma
Member
Yeppers. Kind of off-topic, but a couple of months ago I had a basil cell cancer removed from my nose. Two operations later, my nose is cancer free, but it has a nasty scar running down the full length of it.
The doctor says he can do something called "derm-abrasion" in a year or so if I want. He says that will hide the scar, but I'm thinking, "WHY?" I mean, I'm 73 years old - one way or the other, I'm not going to be wearing that scar for long!
Now if I was in my 20s or 30s, I might consider having some of that "high maintenance" (and high dollar) derm-abrasion stuff done to my nose. But "scarred for life" doesn't exactly mean the same thing to me now that I'm in my 70s.
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I have owned a pile of .300 mags in various flavors. .300 WM, .300 Weatherby, .300 WSM, and .300 Dakota. No offense to .300 Mag owners as they are all wonderful hunting and target rounds. It’s just that if I need more than a .308 or an 06 I move up in diameter and weight. Because I can shoot my little .308 as far as I need and kill stuff as big as elk at those ranges with no drama with a .308 Win. If I want more thump I move up to a .375 H&H.
We (my family) killed 3 elk last year all with .308’s and all three were at over 500 yards, 524, 572 and 547 yards to be exact. If I want more horse power it isn’t about reach, it’s about angles and penetration thus the .375.
I know I’m a weird rifle looney but I just can’t get too cuddly with .300 Mags.
We (my family) killed 3 elk last year all with .308’s and all three were at over 500 yards, 524, 572 and 547 yards to be exact. If I want more horse power it isn’t about reach, it’s about angles and penetration thus the .375.
I know I’m a weird rifle looney but I just can’t get too cuddly with .300 Mags.
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someguy2800
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I’ve always seen 30/06 as being the most well rounded 30 caliber. The bigger ones are just range extenders, which is not practically useful for me.
I didn't have to get old for that. I have always liked old school. My mother and father were always into antiques and fix it yourself.
skfullen
Member
.270
I even had a custom 98 built. Just never saw the need for it - having grown up with 30-06 and coming into the .308!
I even had a custom 98 built. Just never saw the need for it - having grown up with 30-06 and coming into the .308!
adcoch1
Member
I can't say that I've owned any specific ones I hate, other than a hi point 9mm carbine, and it's not that I didn't like it, it just had a broken extractor. No functional reliability.
I do have a few cartridges I don't like. 270 win, light projectile 223, 8mm Mauser, etc. None of these are bad, but I don't really care for them. I do like a LOT of the guns they come in though. I am rethinking 223 with light bullets now that I have a 223 bolt gun.
I do dislike a few rifles, but haven't owned them, the Savage axis comes to mind... And the Remington 700...
I do have a few cartridges I don't like. 270 win, light projectile 223, 8mm Mauser, etc. None of these are bad, but I don't really care for them. I do like a LOT of the guns they come in though. I am rethinking 223 with light bullets now that I have a 223 bolt gun.
I do dislike a few rifles, but haven't owned them, the Savage axis comes to mind... And the Remington 700...
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