spending big $ on hunting guns?

[Sunray]

"...and still am..." You're not alone either. Mind you, commercial hunting rifles are pretty much all the same.
"...$400 on the gun..." Gunbroker. There's a used one(used is not an ugly word) with QR sling swivels at $270 with 4 bids and 24 hours left.
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/666949285

 

[Axis II]

Well guys ive had all day yesterday and today to think about it and i actually went a messed with the cva this morning and its apparent that its a cheap POS. I purchased a boyds for my axis rifle and ended up returning it cause it didn't fit but i told myself im spending $200 on a stock for a cheap rifle so why not save the $200 and get a better rifle.

 

[Milt1]

I own a few low dollar & a few high dollar rifles. But when it comes to glass ,open terrain requires good glass thick woods not so much but buy quality glass for whatever use . The Marlin , well if you lived close or I knew you I'd help you buy it if you really wanted it.
If there is a will there is a way.
Sleeping with my wife is not a need but it is worth all the work & time I have , to be able to.

As outlawjw has stated, "if there's a will there's a way". In my younger days I had a serious operation and ended up with a high medical bill that me and the wife had to pay on an already very tight budget. Luckily it was close to Christmas time and I got a nighttime job at a big box store selling electronics with a commission. I made enough money during that month to completely pay the medical bill. So, if you want it bad enough there's a way to get it.

 

[Axis II]

As outlawjw has stated, "if there's a will there's a way". In my younger days I had a serious operation and ended up with a high medical bill that me and the wife had to pay on an already very tight budget. Luckily it was close to Christmas time and I got a nighttime job at a big box store selling electronics with a commission. I made enough money during that month to completely pay the medical bill. So, if you want it bad enough there's a way to get it.

I have the extra cash but the truck could use linex on the wheel wells, rockers, etc. shocks, etc but that isn't getting done for a month or so. I was just reading the post about plastic junky stocks and stuff and after a year or so i end up hating the gun and being ticked off so my sanity might be worth the money.

 

[badkarmamib]

Well guys ive had all day yesterday and today to think about it and i actually went a messed with the cva this morning and its apparent that its a cheap POS. I purchased a boyds for my axis rifle and ended up returning it cause it didn't fit but i told myself im spending $200 on a stock for a cheap rifle so why not save the $200 and get a better rifle.

In the end, the question you have to ask yourself is, "What is going to make me happy?" Some things it is okay to skimp on, some things it is better to skimp on, and some things it is worth it to spend more (within your means, of course).

 

[Jackal]

Hunting is a lot like fishing. You can have a multi-thousand dollar rig and catch nothing. Meanwhile, a redneck with a $15 garage sale rod/reel is landing lunkers. Gear is about 10% of the equation, knowledge is the other 90%.

 

[Jason_W]

Hunting is a lot like fishing. You can have a multi-thousand dollar rig and catch nothing. Meanwhile, a redneck with a $15 garage sale rod/reel is landing lunkers. Gear is about 10% of the equation, knowledge is the other 90%.

Yeah, but it's not a lot of fun to have a cheap walmart reel come apart on you at the worst possible moment. I speak from experience, not arrogance.

I'm of the mind that it's better to go cheap than not go at all, but regardless of the activity, cheap gear can be really frustrating.

 

[Pudge]

Life is short as long as your bills are paid I say get the Marlin!

But it seems longer when you're sitting in a deer stand not seeing deer. So, anything that'll get you doing that more should pay dividends!

 

[browningguy]

Matching belt knives?

No, but I do carry a stag handled Damascus steel skinning knife on my belt.

 

[MCMXI]

My experience is that most don't push a rifle to it's limits so they only think that their cheap rifle will do everything that a more expensive rifle will do. Many types of hunting set a low bar in terms of what is needed to do the job, but when you push a rifle to its limits you start to see problems, and sometimes a lot sooner than that. I took a 2-day "sniper" course a few years ago and I was surprised at how many budget rifles and even custom builds choked under stress. I competed in a safari rifle challenge a couple of years ago and 95% of the competitors had to lower the rifle to work the bolt because they couldn't run the bolt effectively with the rifle shouldered. Many "safari" rifles suffered malfunctions during the stages because they were being run under stressful conditions which served to highlight the weaknesses of each design and/or execution. That's not a good thing when you're hunting dangerous game and it makes sense that many prefer a double rifle for 2nd shot reliability! A well built rifle should be a joy to handle and shoot, it should work when it's wet, filthy, freezing or baking in the sun. If there's a detachable magazine it should be easy to insert and easy to remove. Working the bolt should be smooth and fast without having to lower the rifle from the shoulder, the rifle should be both accurate and precise, the point of impact relative to the point of aim shouldn't depend on what day of the week it is etc., and that usually costs money. I expect all of my hunting rifles to strip, chamber and extract like the Talkeetna in the video below and typically you have to pay for that kind of function and reliability. It's not that hard to build an accurate rifle, it's much harder to build one that is easy and comfortable to carry, easy to operate under stress, functionally reliable under stress and under a wide range of conditions. I've never encountered a budget rifle that will run like the Talkeetna shown below which is chambering, extracting and ejecting rounds loaded with 300gr bullets.

 

[eastbank]

well i killed my first buck with a surpluse 303 british army rifle in the late 50,s that i paid a fantastic 9.00 for and sawed about 4 pounds of extra wood and metal off and loaded 170gr bullets at 2200 fps, up untill then i used a J C higgens bolt action 12ga and had only shot doe,s. over the next few years i killed quite a few deer(bucks-doe,s) with the factory peep sights out to 150 yards and they were just as dead as the later ones i killed with my remington 760 in 3006. eastbank.

 

[MCMXI]

well i killed my first buck with a surpluse 303 british army rifle in the late 50,s that i paid a fantastic 9.00 for and sawed about 4 pounds of extra wood and metal off and loaded 170gr bullets at 2200 fps, up untill then i used a J C higgens bolt action 12ga and had only shot doe,s. over the next few years i killed quite a few deer(bucks-doe,s) with the factory peep sights out to 150 yards and they were just as dead as the later ones i killed with my remington 760 in 3006. eastbank

I worked with an engineer at Remington who many, many years ago killed a deer with rock! He'd run out of ammunition and his knife was so blunt that he couldn't cut its throat. Like I said, much of hunting is a very low bar. I have deer on my property I could shoot and kill with a Ruger KLCR revolver or possibly a suppressed .22LR pistol ... so what.

 

[LoonWulf]

No, but I do carry a stag handled Damascus steel skinning knife on my belt.

Very nice!

 

[1911 guy]

Comes down to why you want the rifle. If it's for the sake of the rifle itself, that it would be nice to own one of them, then go for it. If it's because you think somehow it will make that one week a year more productive or enjoyable, that's an open-ended debate that only you can answer.

 

[Robert]

I paid for the rifle I wanted. It was not the cheapest, but it was also not the most expensive. I have shot it out past 500y with great accuracy. It's a bit heavy but that helps soak up recoil. Buy what you want, save until you can afford it and don't worry about the other guy.

 

[Captcurt]

You do what you gotta do. I didn't see anything wrong with your inventory. They work, they're paid for and they're yours. I have never seen a game animal impressed by pretty wood, nice blueing and a high dollar price tag.

 

[Axis II]

You do what you gotta do. I didn't see anything wrong with your inventory. They work, they're paid for and they're yours. I have never seen a game animal impressed by pretty wood, nice blueing and a high dollar price tag.

I'm guessing your right! I do like the esthetics of the Marlin and it seems to fit me a little better. if that cva didn't have that goofball stock I'd like it even better but the little voice says get the Marlin cause you've always wanted one and I've been down this road about 2 times before in the last 3yrs but the $500+ price tag always made me run but now it's $400 out the door. The good voice says keep what ya got cause it's only used once a year and maybe once I begin reloading for it and shooting it more I won't hate it as much. It shoots well but it's just heavy and bulky. Same length and weight of the Marlin just thicker.

 

[alaskan9974]

I have guns that I paid thousands for, and I have guns I paid hundreds for, one of the most accurate I own, I spent $480 on new. A remington 700 varmint in 308 I cut down to 19". I have seen them used for just a couple hundred. Any bolt .308 or similar caliber is a good all around rifle to own. I don't have a valid excuse why I buy this or that when it comes to guns, other then it is an enjoyable pastime.

 

[.308 Norma]

I don't have a valid excuse why I buy this or that when it comes to guns, other then it is an enjoyable pastime.

IMO, "enjoyable" is a valid excuse.

 

[Biggs300]

I am not wealthy by any stretch but, I can probably afford to purchase more expensive rifles than I currently own. However, the cool head of my finance manager (wife) keeps my purchases in check. All of my hunting rifles were purchased on sale, or used at a reduced price, and I've only spent more than $1,000 on any rifle a couple of times. I currently have more rifles than I need, but my favorite is a Ruger M77 Hawkeye All Weather that was bought for $459. A good shooting, cheap hunting rifle, scope, etc. makes me much happier than when I spend more, and realize that it's performance was no better than less expensive gear I own. Happy hunting!

 

[CraigC]

IMO $600 is a lot of money for a gun especially when its only used 1 week a year. what do you guys think?

I think perception is everything. I don't see $600 as very much at all to spend on a rifle with mounts and optics. There's very little you can even buy and outfit these days for $600 unless you opt for an entry-level, budget-priced rifle like the Ruger American and very modestly priced optics. Rifles like the American have their place and I have three that I enjoy but simply don't fool with cheap optics any more.

No offense intended but you're not much of a shooter or hunter if you're only using your rifle a week for the year. I would feel very ill-prepared if I spent that little time with 'them'. I say them because I hunt with multiple guns every year, including blackpowder, cartridge rifles and handguns.

We all have varying levels of interest and commitment but budget doesn't play as large a role as some seem to think. IMHO, most folks are able to "afford" what they want to and the big deciding factors are commitment, interest and discipline. It comes down to priorities. That said, it seems to me that it's quite fashionable for those with less (and a sizable chip on their shoulder) to make judgments and generalizations about people who spend more money on this sport but the reverse is never socially acceptable.

 

[Dr T]

The way I look at it, there is a huge difference between inexpensive and cheap.

One of the most accurate rifles I own was also one of the most inexpensive (Remington 788 in 6 mm Rem).

When I was a starving student, that rifle kept starvation at bay.

It also set some very high expectations on the performance I expect from a working hunting rifle. There are several aspects: Accuracy (consistently sub-MOA), "Point-ability", handling, reliability, and general lack of what I regard as unnecessary geegaws (like tactical turrets on the optics, fancy reticles, built in laser rangefinders, etc).

I guess, if I were to sum it up in one word, I like my working hunting rifles to be elegant. They should have the correct bits and pieces I think that they need and do what they are built to do well.

If you are fortunate, this can be done without spending a lot of money on the basic rifle. However,....

The problem comes if you are extremely fortunate and are able to leave your starving status far behind. Then you can spend a lot more money to get something better. The question is, how much better is it? When I was developing technology for a living, it was very easy to observe that you would spend about 90% of the project eking out the last 10% of performance. I have several good examples of this in my safe.

Often it comes down to a trade-off between time and money. But you have to start with a rifle that has good bones.

One other observation: You can buy a rifle that is very accurate, but you will not be accurate with it unless you invest your time in practice. While you are thinking about investments, you may want to add a thousand rounds of 22 lr to run through your Savage.

 

[LoonWulf]

I'm guessing your right! I do like the esthetics of the Marlin and it seems to fit me a little better. if that cva didn't have that goofball stock I'd like it even better but the little voice says get the Marlin cause you've always wanted one and I've been down this road about 2 times before in the last 3yrs but the $500+ price tag always made me run but now it's $400 out the door. The good voice says keep what ya got cause it's only used once a year and maybe once I begin reloading for it and shooting it more I won't hate it as much. It shoots well but it's just heavy and bulky. Same length and weight of the Marlin just thicker.

Your trying to talk yourself out of the marlin again......
You know you dont like the stock on the cva, you know you dont like the handling on the CVA, which is much more important than how it shoots on a short range rifle like that, you KNOW you want the marlin.

Go buy it, take the hit on selling your CVA, hell if i could id offer you a decent price for it. If you feel bad after buying the gun, dont buy the scope for a while.

 

[horsey300]

I'm guessing your right! I do like the esthetics of the Marlin and it seems to fit me a little better. if that cva didn't have that goofball stock I'd like it even better but the little voice says get the Marlin cause you've always wanted one and I've been down this road about 2 times before in the last 3yrs but the $500+ price tag always made me run but now it's $400 out the door. The good voice says keep what ya got cause it's only used once a year and maybe once I begin reloading for it and shooting it more I won't hate it as much. It shoots well but it's just heavy and bulky. Same length and weight of the Marlin just thicker.

If you shot it more often, you might notice that goofball stock fits a solid grip nicely. I'm not saying don't go for the Marlin, (personally I think you should) I'm saying that that Cva has a good fit to it and knocking it won't make the price of the Marlin easier to swallow. I don't defend all cheap single shots, but the Cva isn't cheap, it's affordable, reliable, and straight shooting, customer service is top notch, and it's a great way to get into shooting or a particular cartridge without spending much and still get a lot of bang for your buck.
I've got rem700s, 770, 788, win70s, a Cva, savage 11, had a couple hipoints I loved, and am working towards a custom build, I don't discriminate based on price. The 770 is by FAR the worst one of the bunch, still, it shoots straighter than everyone I've loaned it to. I don't like anything but the barrel on it. But I don't have to bash it to justify my custom build. I just want specific features now that aren't offered in a production rifle. Honestly, most hunters don't need anything more than a plain old savage axis package gun, they'll never use it enough to know what they're missing. This is evidenced by your self proclaimed lack of use of your current hunting gun. Just for giggles, lob a few loads out of that 45-70 at your chucks and get some real time in on that puppy before you write it off so quickly, in the meantime go buy the Marlin too .

 

[Captcurt]

I have owned some pretty nice guns over the years. In 94 I found a Remington 700 Classic in 6.5X55. It was one of the few that had nice fiddleback on both sides. Absolutely gorgeous. I left it in the box for 4 or 5 years waiting to see the price go up. It didn't so I worked up a load and took it to the woods. I put a chain on stand up with screw-in steps and then banged the stock off of one of the steps while pulling it up with a rope. When you do that with a piece of plastic it isn't bad. When it is a work of art, it is something to bring tears to your eyes. Inexpensive guns have their place. Like 20 feet up in a tree.