MacTech
Member
I have a minimalist/functional mindset and don't like having a bunch of different calibers/guns just to have them...
...thing is, I've been getting a little "scattered" in my focus, and am starting to accumulate more guns just because I like them and/or they were a good deal, I'm starting to get disorganized and lose focus, so I think it's time to trim down and get back in focus and on target
Here's my caliber footprint;
.22 (S, L, LR) (Marlin 25, Marlin 39, CZ 452 Trainer, Ruger 22/45)
.17HMR (Savage 93R17-GV)
20 gauge (H&R Topper Deluxe Classic and Pardner Compact)
12 gauge (Rem 870 Express Supermag)
7.62X39 (Yugo SKS)
.45 Colt (Ruger NM Blackhawk .45 Convertible)
.45 ACP (Kimber Custom II)
and I'm planning on adding .30-30 (Marlin 336)
I know right off the bat I'm missing a full-power caliber like .30-06/.308/.45-70, but I don't see a need for one of those for my purposes
I live on a farm in southern seacoastal Maine, we have 50 acres of land, the field is planted with Timothy and Alfalfa hay, and our neighbor cuts and bales it 2-3 times over the summer/fall, we get first choice of the hay for the horses we board in our large stable, we have chickens, laying hens, a few outdoor cats for rodent/bird control, and a couple small dogs, our neighbor just up the road raises beef cattle
Wildlife on the property consists of songbirds, pheasants, foxes, racoons, skunks, woodchucks, a family of white tail deer (5-6 animals) and feral coy-dogs (coyote-dog hybrid)
Currently, I don't hunt, but I do control the varmint population, the largest animal I may have to bring down is a white-tail deer, and the longest shot I would feel comfortable taking is no more than 200 yards, 150 would be pushing it, most shots would be between 50 and 100 yards on deer, closer for varmints, that's mainly why I don't currently feel the need for a full-power rifle like the .30-06/.308, I just don't need the performance when an intermediate caliber would do just fine
So, here's the situation....
I want to cut down on the number and types of commercial ammo I have to stock, as well as trim down my firearm selection to a few truly *good*, functional pieces
As far as reloading components go, I'd like to share as many components as possible, on the reloading side, .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .30-30 and 7.62X39 all use Large Rifle Primers, the .45's can use the same types of powder, and can even share bullets (200 Grn LSWC, 230Grn LRN/FMJ/GDHP), and the 7.62x39 and .30-30 can use the same powders for some loads, all I'll have to do is stock two different width bullets
As I peruse my collection, there are a few guns that will *NOT* be traded off, due to either difficulty in replacing them, sentimental reasons, or price to replace
keepers;
Marlin 25; my first rifle, given to me by Dad at age 16 (sentimental)
Marlin 39A; hard to find, expensive to replace (expensive to me is any firearm over $350, due to limited play-toy budget)
CZ-452 Trainer; discontinued, hard to find replacement, has 1 Lb pull YoDave trigger kit
Yugo SKS; expensive to replace, getting hard to find a good one, cheapest .30 cal centerfire to shoot with Russian milsurp ammo
H&R Topper Deluxe Classic 20 gauge; hard to find replacement
Ruger NM Blackhawk .45 Convertible; hard to find replacement (mine is 98% of new)
So, that leaves tradeable stock;
Savage 93R17-GV; .17HMR is too expensive for punchin' paper or 'sploding expired canned goods/produce, .22LR just as good for close in varminting on woodchucks/raccoons/skunks, I'm really not seeing a *purpose* for it here, I can dispatch the same varmints as effectively with my .22's, it's an insanely fun gun, no argument there, but for my purposes, it doesn't do anything my .22 rifles can't do
H&R Pardner Compact; bought it as a training gun for my nephew to use, only to discover it has a nasty bite even with clay sports shells, and with defensive rounds, fuggeddaboutit, it tries to squash your face, recoil is too excessive for a child, don't want to have him develop a flinch, he does just fine with my TDC 20G anyway
Kimber Custom II; I don't have a CCW permit, I live in a low crime area (nonexistent crime, actually), so I really don't need to use it as a PD weapon, it's a range toy, nothing more, but then again, any collector worth his salt should have at least one 1911 in the collection, just for completeness
Ruger 22/45; a fun gun, a great gun to introduce new shooters to handgunnery, but other than that, serves no real purpose other than being a fun gun, that said, Mark II series 22/45's, which this one is, are rare and owners tend to hold onto them due to the lack of "lawyer-features" and "nannyware" on the Mk III series
So, here's the question, where can I "trim the fat" as it were, the only guns I truly would not miss are the Savage .17HMR and the H&R Pardner Compact, both are easily replaceable.
Plus, trading in both of them would get me very close to an even-swap for that Marlin 336 levergun I'm wanting (used but in good shape pre-safety model 336 with excellent bore and crisp trigger), and I'd be replacing expensive-to-stock and non-reloadable .17HMR ammo for slightly less expensive *AND* reloadable .30-30 ammo, which is capable of reliably and humanely putting down a coy-dog (or white tail deer) with one well placed shot, wheras .17HMR is borderline iffy for coy-dogs and definitely inhumane for deer
what say the hunters?
...thing is, I've been getting a little "scattered" in my focus, and am starting to accumulate more guns just because I like them and/or they were a good deal, I'm starting to get disorganized and lose focus, so I think it's time to trim down and get back in focus and on target
Here's my caliber footprint;
.22 (S, L, LR) (Marlin 25, Marlin 39, CZ 452 Trainer, Ruger 22/45)
.17HMR (Savage 93R17-GV)
20 gauge (H&R Topper Deluxe Classic and Pardner Compact)
12 gauge (Rem 870 Express Supermag)
7.62X39 (Yugo SKS)
.45 Colt (Ruger NM Blackhawk .45 Convertible)
.45 ACP (Kimber Custom II)
and I'm planning on adding .30-30 (Marlin 336)
I know right off the bat I'm missing a full-power caliber like .30-06/.308/.45-70, but I don't see a need for one of those for my purposes
I live on a farm in southern seacoastal Maine, we have 50 acres of land, the field is planted with Timothy and Alfalfa hay, and our neighbor cuts and bales it 2-3 times over the summer/fall, we get first choice of the hay for the horses we board in our large stable, we have chickens, laying hens, a few outdoor cats for rodent/bird control, and a couple small dogs, our neighbor just up the road raises beef cattle
Wildlife on the property consists of songbirds, pheasants, foxes, racoons, skunks, woodchucks, a family of white tail deer (5-6 animals) and feral coy-dogs (coyote-dog hybrid)
Currently, I don't hunt, but I do control the varmint population, the largest animal I may have to bring down is a white-tail deer, and the longest shot I would feel comfortable taking is no more than 200 yards, 150 would be pushing it, most shots would be between 50 and 100 yards on deer, closer for varmints, that's mainly why I don't currently feel the need for a full-power rifle like the .30-06/.308, I just don't need the performance when an intermediate caliber would do just fine
So, here's the situation....
I want to cut down on the number and types of commercial ammo I have to stock, as well as trim down my firearm selection to a few truly *good*, functional pieces
As far as reloading components go, I'd like to share as many components as possible, on the reloading side, .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .30-30 and 7.62X39 all use Large Rifle Primers, the .45's can use the same types of powder, and can even share bullets (200 Grn LSWC, 230Grn LRN/FMJ/GDHP), and the 7.62x39 and .30-30 can use the same powders for some loads, all I'll have to do is stock two different width bullets
As I peruse my collection, there are a few guns that will *NOT* be traded off, due to either difficulty in replacing them, sentimental reasons, or price to replace
keepers;
Marlin 25; my first rifle, given to me by Dad at age 16 (sentimental)
Marlin 39A; hard to find, expensive to replace (expensive to me is any firearm over $350, due to limited play-toy budget)
CZ-452 Trainer; discontinued, hard to find replacement, has 1 Lb pull YoDave trigger kit
Yugo SKS; expensive to replace, getting hard to find a good one, cheapest .30 cal centerfire to shoot with Russian milsurp ammo
H&R Topper Deluxe Classic 20 gauge; hard to find replacement
Ruger NM Blackhawk .45 Convertible; hard to find replacement (mine is 98% of new)
So, that leaves tradeable stock;
Savage 93R17-GV; .17HMR is too expensive for punchin' paper or 'sploding expired canned goods/produce, .22LR just as good for close in varminting on woodchucks/raccoons/skunks, I'm really not seeing a *purpose* for it here, I can dispatch the same varmints as effectively with my .22's, it's an insanely fun gun, no argument there, but for my purposes, it doesn't do anything my .22 rifles can't do
H&R Pardner Compact; bought it as a training gun for my nephew to use, only to discover it has a nasty bite even with clay sports shells, and with defensive rounds, fuggeddaboutit, it tries to squash your face, recoil is too excessive for a child, don't want to have him develop a flinch, he does just fine with my TDC 20G anyway
Kimber Custom II; I don't have a CCW permit, I live in a low crime area (nonexistent crime, actually), so I really don't need to use it as a PD weapon, it's a range toy, nothing more, but then again, any collector worth his salt should have at least one 1911 in the collection, just for completeness
Ruger 22/45; a fun gun, a great gun to introduce new shooters to handgunnery, but other than that, serves no real purpose other than being a fun gun, that said, Mark II series 22/45's, which this one is, are rare and owners tend to hold onto them due to the lack of "lawyer-features" and "nannyware" on the Mk III series
So, here's the question, where can I "trim the fat" as it were, the only guns I truly would not miss are the Savage .17HMR and the H&R Pardner Compact, both are easily replaceable.
Plus, trading in both of them would get me very close to an even-swap for that Marlin 336 levergun I'm wanting (used but in good shape pre-safety model 336 with excellent bore and crisp trigger), and I'd be replacing expensive-to-stock and non-reloadable .17HMR ammo for slightly less expensive *AND* reloadable .30-30 ammo, which is capable of reliably and humanely putting down a coy-dog (or white tail deer) with one well placed shot, wheras .17HMR is borderline iffy for coy-dogs and definitely inhumane for deer
what say the hunters?