What Is Yours?

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wanderinwalker

wanderinwalker

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Okay, I saw the revived "just for fun thread" and decided we need something on a similar vein but with a different approach.

The question is: What rifle do you have for no specific reason at all?

This is the place for all of the impulse buys, odd trades, inheritances, gifts, etc, that you can't get rid of and aren't exactly sure what you were/are going to do with them.

For example, I'll go first:

I have this neat little Marlin 1894PG .44 Magnum. Bought it last Christmas time on a whim, really. Didn't need it for anything in particular, but it felt right and just looked proper. So $430 and a 4473 later it was following me home.

Through the past summer I have fired it and modified it and tried numerous things and variations to see what I liked the best. Of course, it was all done with no particular reason or theme, in all honesty. At one point it had a red-dot sight on it as a sort of "tactical lever action" thing. Then I decided I didn't care for anything that was dependent on batteries, so it came off and I went back to shooting it as-issued. After a while I decided the stock sights really, really weren't getting me anywhere so it now wears a Williams WRGS reciever sight with a Firesight on the front. Best mod yet! :cool:

Now, I'm still not sure what it's "for" exactly. I'll deer hunt with it come November. With my normal plinking loads it will drill neat holes in grouse, soda cans, paper targets and pine cones. Loaded with .44 Specials it would be fine sitting behind the bedstand. It is useful for teaching recoil-shy shooters how to handle centerfire rifles. It complements my 629 nicely, if the pair are a bit heavy for really going any distance on foot in tough terrain. And it just flat out looks good. :D

But none of that is why I bought it! And even after sitting here typing and thinking, I still couldn't say why now, 10 months and 1300 rounds later. :scrutiny:

So what is YOUR story?

Edited to add: And it's a pistol caliber carbine, but if ft.-lbs. of energy are your thing, it beats an AR-15 handily. IMO, it would make a dandy short-range black bear gun with a good, solid bullet. Whitetails are certainly a non-issue; it'll do.
 
My friend was trying to thin his herd after buying several new rifles over a month's span. He offerd me a good price on a Win. '94 in 45 Colt. I bit. I didn't need it, I just wanted it. It's a great shootin handy little carbine. I like it, but have no particular need that it filled. It's just a great little rifle to keep around.
 
people at work or wherever who have ever learned what I have or something I have...and they are not into shooting or collecting that question always spouts outta their mouths..

"but why do you NEED that anyway?"

or

but why do you NEED THAT many anyway?"

so I answer,because I wanted them so therefore there was a reason for them,or that. !:scrutiny:
 
Well, a good friends father died a while back, and left her and her brother with some old guns. I volunteered to get a reasonable idea of value for her, and clean them up as best I could (Sadly neglected for the last 30 years). Not really try to "restore" them which would be nearly impossible (except for big $$$$)but just make them look ok, get the rust off, and make them operable, if possible. She's not really interested in ever shooting them, just keeping as family heirlooms.

In return, she said I could keep the Model 8 Remington (the least valuable) in .35 Remington. Like the others, not in the best of shape...No real rust, but virtually no bluing either. Some kinda problem with the magazine, as it won't feed the last shell, no matter what--maybe just need the mag spring. Follower was stuck in bottom of magazine when I got it, as well--can't be good for the mag spring. Anyway, I took it to the range, fired about 12 rounds, and gave up as the recoil was killing me(it just has a plastic or metal buttplate on it). Additionally, I was lucky to keep all the shots in an 8" circle (at 50), with the standard sights. (Vision problems, all my other rifles are scoped). Looked around for a scope mount for it, and they cost more than the gun is worth, and THEN they only take a LONG OBSOLETE scope that's even MORE expensive. There are also tang mounted peep sights, which I can use pretty well, but they're still relatively expensive, IF you can find one.

And we can't use rifles for deer around here, so what am I ever gonna use it for? Beacause it was a gift from a very close friend, I don't wanna sell or trade it (although I'm sure she wouldn't object), but it just wouldn't seen right to me. So, I guess its gonna be a wallhanger....

Now, had I been dishonest kind of person, I could've scored big. While 2 of the remaining 3 guns have no great value (espectially in the condition they'll be in, even after I clean 'em up), the fourth was an 1898 L.C Smith A-1 model shotgun (738 produced between 1892-1898). This was in reasonably good shape, although it needs a full on professional (Doug Turnbull) restoration. But this thing is a true work of art....There isn't a single piece of metal on the gun (including the screw heads) that's not hand engraved. The only other A-1 I could find for sale had an asking price of $18,000 (in mint condition, didn't specify if it had been restored or not). But of course I'd never cheat anyone, friend or other wise (which usually gets me screwed:banghead:) , but will hopefully get me into Heaven:D
 
The only specific reason I have for any of the firearms I own is that I wanted them at the same time I could afford them.
 
I have no need for a $3k semi auto Ohio Ordnance 1918A3 slr, but wow I'd like to have one. Hey there's always the lotto...

I also had no need for the Czech Mauser I was recently gifted, but it's a pretty cool old bolt gun.
 
Hmm. I don't think I have anything I didn't buy for a specific reason. I have an SKS and an AK, and some could argue I don't need both, but the SKS was bought as a truck gun, and the AK is my SHTF/home defense weapon of choice.

The problem for me is that I have a very limited budget. Purchasing a firearm requires I save for quite a while, and this gives me lots of time to think about what I need next, ponder my options, and research the advantages/disadvantages of each. So by the time I make the purchase, I know exactly what I want (or think I want), why, and where it fits into my collection. So while I only have about half a dozen firearms, they all have a purpose they were bought for.

My next purchase will almost certainly be a battle rifle of some sort, a FAL or either a Fulton or LRB M14. I keep going back and forth between which of these I want. Ideally I'd end up with both, but with our government and my bank account being what it is, I'll have to pick one by the time I get the funds in order. There is also a slim chance I might get a Glock 29 or 30 for CCW beforehand, as well.
 
Man, I have too many to list, so I'll just use my latest one, a CZ 527 carbine (18 & 1/2" barrel) in .223. I love the mini-mauser action, set trigger, barrel boss for the rear sight, and just the general "European-ess" of it. I have a mini-14, and an AR so another .223 definitely wasn't needed, but ain't it cute:
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Still trying to decide which scope to put on it.
 
I have a Rossi .22wmr pump that is just plain fun. I don't even need this gun.
My 2cnd gun that I don't have a use for except fun is my .357 Blackhawk.
 
Would probrobly be a Bren gun. Since I fired them a few times I become hooked and would be nice to have one for British ww2 reenactment and for range appeal though at a price of over $2000 for a massive heavy gun like that it serves little purpose but cool factor.
 
I have a FAL modified to fire .45 ACP from 30 round grease gun mags.Put a Bushnell Trophy red dot on it.Lots of fun,but couldn't figure out what it was actually good for.Then it dawned on me.Zombies and killer clowns.Balance is restored.
 
Remington 710. I have no use for this rifle. Ill probably never go hunting. I dont even know why I bought it.. maybe cause it only cost 330 bucks and i thought it'd be cool to have a bolt-action rifle with scope. I took it to a 100yd range and it was pleasingly accurate. The recoil is punishing and the action isnt too smooth though.
 
Yugo 24/47. Had zero use for it and I've hardly shot it in spite of the fact that I got a case of ammo with it.
 
After years of study and preserverance, I am a master of justifying the purchase of every firearm I have ever bought. Sometimes it's a stretch, and sometimes I'm not totally sure that the DFO buys it, but I've never had to sell one or take one back, so I must be pretty good! :) SC
 
Had a Saiga AK sporter in 7.62x39. Used it to remove a virus from my old computer. :) That cimputer never gave me another problem after that.
I've like a .357 lever gun....
 
".416 Rigby. If the elephants come (to Orange County) I'm ready."
________________________________________________________

I thought Orange County was one of the very few places in southern CA where elephants (Republicans) were welcomed!
 
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