Rifle Retirement

So last deer season was the first time I actually felt bad carrying the ol' 600 in the field; I spent time wiping the sleet, rain, snow off of it rather than actually keeping my head up as I still hunted.

No family connection behind it (bought it a few years ago), not thinking I can put it away, sell it years from now and be rich, but actually feeling maybe it should, at this point, become a sunny day range queen vs. a Vermont deer season, and all the weather that entails, "mountain" rifle.

Picked up a Model 70 Classic Compact this spring as her replacement; I guess I'm torn between keeping her as she sits now vs. using the rifle as it was intended. I'm not easy on my tools by any means (my truck, tractor and numerous chain saws can attest to that) and feel like the previous owner, wherever they might be, would get a kick out of knowing it's still in the woods.

Has the old Weaver V4.5 and oddball Bushnell Universal rings and mount, Pachmayr decelerator, etc.. set up as an excellent walking woods rifle.

How does one say "Goodbye"?

 

1 vote for usage...

Any hunting equipment I sell I make sure to tell them "THAT I AM A HUNTER" and it is a working model. I think that the folks buying my items are a like person. I haven't had any complaints & they seem to appreciate that it can get the job done, with let's say character...
JMHO

Also you may grab this Beauty every once in a while, nostalgically.

 

If you shoot it well, I'd not relegate it to a wall-hanger.

But you're too concerned about it to enjoy it the way it is now. So let's protect it and put your mind at ease. You're gonna remove the action and barrel, and coat the exterior with a thin layer of wax. That'll protect it from moisture and you won't give a hoot about rain, sleet or snow. The wood can be refinished if necessary someday in the future. Keep it as a back-up or alternative-use rifle to compliment the new Winchester.

JMHO, and nice rifle!

 

Check out Boeshield to protect your rifle--folks in the NW often swear by it.

 

I agree with both the "tools" and "special" argument.

I have some guns that amount to $3000 hammers and others much less expensive that spend more time locked up than in use.

 

I believe you should leave instructions for is retirement in your Last Will and Testament. Until that time, you should endeavor not to waste what you have been given. Keep using it as a rifle.

 

"How does one say "Goodbye"?"

I wouldn't. Maybe put it in a safe place and say, "See you soon!"

 

Sell it if you don't use it. Those rifles have gone past their peak in value and you're not gonna get rich in a few years. Money in the bank will increase in value faster.

 

Man, don't sell that 600. I just overhauled one for my father. There couldn't be a better hunting Carbine made. Ours is in 243 caliber and has taking many deer. I put a timney trigger in it, resealed and waxed the stock, installed a new scope and it shoots 1 inch at 100 yards. It's lightweight, has virtually no recoil in 243, and has a classic 60s styling!

 

OP, that's a sweet 600.

What caliber?

 

Nice looking 600 .

I semi retired my Browning A5 that my dad gave me over 40 years ago . It has been my only shotgun until 3 years ago and my favorite firearm that I own .

 

You bought another wood stocked rifle to "replace" your current wood stocked rifle?

Head-scratching.

Huh?

Why not have a stainless synthetic setup for poor weather & KEEP the 600 as your fair weather setup?

 

Keep it and get a Model 7 stainless in HS stock.
I just about bought a minty 660 in .243 last month.
Oh so tempting. Had a couple of 600's and a 660 when I was a kid.
Cool little rifles.

Had a M7 stainless, bbl contour a little lighter than I like. Looking back I should of kept it and had it re barreled. They sure went up since I got that one

 

aegagner

I have always had a certain fondness for both the Model 600 and the 660. If it were my rifle and was concerned about excessive wear and tear I would do as others have suggested and make it my fair weather rifle. No need to say "goodbye" to this hunting companion that has served you well in the field.

 

I have zero emotional attachment to the Model 70; it actually cost a fair amount more than the 600.

That being said, I have no idea why I have any emotional attachment to the 600, no real reason to. Maybe it's because they don't make them anymore, or that it sits as it was set up by the original owner, and I'm hesitant to change or damage in any way. I admit it's odd.

It's a .308 for whoever asked.

We will see where this season takes us I suppose.

 

Your old deer rifle is like an old hunting dog. You two have made many a trip into the woods. I would make sure it is sighted in every Fall and bring it into the woods once in a while.

BTW - carry my Dad's rifle in and use it for opening day of deer hunting ever year since he passed away in 2012. I switch to my rifle for the rest of the season. It's all part of the tradition. I would hate to see his old Browning BAR sit in the gunsafe as a relic.

Swanee

 

i have no idea how many game animals this win 76 in 45-60 it has put on the table since 1883, but i,m sure its a lot. i have killed deer with it and i plan to kill a few more god willing.we have a season for old gezzers and i take one of my old rifles then. none of my many rifles are going to be retired unless they become unsafe to fire. eastbank.

 

You have a very nice model 600. I'd keep it.

And that's exactly the caliber I'd want to have a 600 chambered in, unless I lived in Alaska, in which case I'd have it in the bear-stopping .350Remmy. I've always thought Rem's 600-series were super-cool guns and, as someone suggested, they were way ahead of their time design-wise.

I'm still kicking myself for passing on a 90% minty 600 in .308 on the used gun rack at the LGS. It was about a year ago ... story was, some widow showed up with about 7 of her deceased spouse's hunting rifles. Supposedly 2 of them were pre-64 mod 70s. Those were long gone when I was there and spotted the 600.

'Course, when I came back the next week to haggle it was gone too.

 

i'd have a hard time saying goodbye to that, if you don't care about re-sale value just coat it, dura coat or something.

 

how are you going to get more pleasure out of it?.....by getting out and using it?.....or by letting it sit in a safe?


unless you are plunking down some serious coin for a rifle, buying them as an investment is not the best way to make money...guns hold their value well compared to other things.......but there are safer and higher yield options for your money.

the gun was built as a hunting gun......you bought the gun as a hunting gun........use it as a hunting gun.

its wood and steel...if you take care if it, its not going to turn to turn to dust just because it got some weather on it.

 

Ah, hell NatureBoy, my post is nothing more than a ramble. I hear ya...

I will be keeping her regardless, and I definitely don't think that I'm looking at a windfall if I were to sell it down the road.

I'm sure she'll get out for a day or two this season, just have to pay attention to the weather.

Thanks folks.

 

^^^ This

Or hand it down to a close family member that will shoot it ... Are you open to adopting a 60 year-old man?

 

I have a dry weather rifle and a wet weather rifle for deer hunting.I love them both and will use both for the rest of my hunting days.