You are Reaching Retirement: What one Rifle.......

[SharpsDressedMan]

would you pick to spend the REST of YOUR life with? Let's say you are 60-70 years old, depending on where you view yourself as retired, and possibly thinning down your guns, so that you keep that one rifle that gives you the most pleasure, or challenges you the most, etc, or that you are the most sentimental about, or the ONE that you want to hand down to someone after you are gone. What is your choice, and why? I think I would have to go with either my custom Remington 700 or my Shiloh Sharps .45-70.The Remington, converted to 510 Whisper, is so unusual, and versatile, that I'd have to think hard. It can fire cast bullets, or any of the 50BMG projectiles, and is a hoot to shoot with AP Incendiary bullets at rocks at long range. Brass never wears out, as it operates at a lower pressure range. However, the Sharps is a classic, and a tribute to pure riflemanship. I'm glad I don't have to decide yet. Anyone out there know what they might choose, or possibly some have already...........

 

[Zeke/PA]

It would have to be my Pre-War Model 70, a rifle that has treated me very well over the years.
Time was when you owned A rifle, A shotgun,A plinker .22 and MAYBE a handgun.

 

[aka108]

Being that the future is unknown I'd have to stick with a rifle that is not my favorite, not the most pleasurable to shoot, not the most accurate or the most sentimental. It would be my Arsenal SA M7S. Quick handling and totally reliable with a round suitable for almost everything in a survival situation. Doggone sure far from my most favorite, etc but the very best for where the rubber meets the road.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Presumably by then i'd be past the point i'd have to worry about getting rid of guns.

 

[Hangingrock]

I’m traveling that path. I’ve basically gotten out of hunting and backing out of a cross the course rifle competition. After selling off a 375H&H and 416-Rem I’m down to 30-06 and 30-30 in hunting rifles. Target rifles a 308-Win and .223-Rem remain.

Only one center fire rifle most likely a bolt action, good optics and proper rate of twist in .223-Rem.

 

[mac66]

I retired last September and have been thinning the herd a bit since then. I would guess that the very last rifle to go would be my Winchester Mod 70 308 bolt action carbine. On the other hand I don't plan to get rid of very many other guns and will pass most of what I have to my kids and grandchildren.

 

[shotgunjoel]

Probably a nice bolt action .223, or a nicely stocked Ruger 10/22. That way you'd have a low recoiling rifle that's cheap to shoot.

 

[BullRunBear]

The wife and I retired recently. We're not faced with this but if we were it would be the Marlin 39 22LR lever action. It's fun, accurate, and inexpensive to shoot. The non-rimfire would be a custom flintlock I'll be ordering later this year. There is no end to the fun and challenge of a good flintlock.

Jeff

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Why would you sell your guns because you're retired? Is that like a death sentence? I would buy more. But I always do

 

[jiminhobesound]

I am seventy, I am unable to hunt, a 9mm pistol or a milsup semi rifle to plink with and provide defense. Pistol is the best choice.

 

[Art Eatman]

As long as I could get a wheelchair to the benchrest on my front porch, I'm not going to give a hoot about "Just one". Some things are just not anywhere near consideration. Coming 77, but no wheelchair, yet...

 

[RX-178]

Probably my PTR-91. Don't have much in the way of non-evil-black rifles in my selection at the moment, but I might fix that sooner or later.

 

[flip888]

I would go with a bolt action in .556 with good optics. I don't have this rifle yet but eventually plan to. I'd rather go with 30-06 but at that age the recoil might be an issue and
556 is a lot cheaper. I was thinking a 22lr bolt gun might be better but 22lr gets real boring real fast IMO.

 

[A_Matthew]

I would keep my home built AK-47. There is something about a semi-auto that has always intrigued me.

Not to mention all the labor I put into it...

 

[bhk]

I am in my 60's, recently retired, and can't think of any reason in the world to slow down with my shooting or anything else in my life. Actually, things keep getting better. If you can believe statistics, folks in their 60's are happier than at any time in their lives. A point of interest: My wife is about my age and started doing triathlons just five years ago, after never doing anything athletic in her life. She had planned on doing 6 triathlons this year, but severely broke her wrist (requiring surgery) and messed up her ankle in a biking accident last week. She might miss a few events, but she will back at them by late summer. You are only as old as you feel (up to a point, of course).

If you are younger than me, keep your body and mind in good shape and you will be good to go when you are far older than I am. Keep smiling, pulling that trigger, chasing your bird dogs, and looking for nice antlers.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

There is no way I'd "thin down" my guns -- they will only increase in value, and you don't have to pay income tax on a private sale.

 

[MMcfpd]

One of my ARs, but I'm not sure which one.

 

[joed]

I've thought about this for years. For me the answer is easy, my first centerfire, a Rem 700 VS in .25-06. It was so good that it was my only rifle for 25 years.

This rifle and cartridge could cover just about any use I have, and it did for 25 years.

 

[Hocka Louis]

Did U Say Rifle or Safe!?

I might thin it down to one safe. But RIFLE? U r evil and I hope to never be that old. Sort of easy answer tho.

A man needs to be prepared for when the SHTF. If I hunted big game still then it would probably have to be an M1A, but, chances are it would be...

A BCM stainless mid-length AR carbine.

 

[Legionnaire]

That's a tough one. Early 50s and I'm happy with my modest collection. If I planned to continue hunting, it would probably be a Remington 700 BDL in .30-06. Since I reload, it could do for most everything except small game. Were I giving up hunting, I'd probably hang on to my Remington 541T .22LR. Figure I can plink with that long after I quit the deer woods.

 

[jmstevens2]

Hmm, not sure if it would be my M-4 or my .30-30, I would always keep a .22 though.

 

[caribou]

The M-39 is it. Yep....

though a .22LR alone might actually be way more practcal and versatile, the M-39 is wicked accurate and "Mine"

 

[NCsmitty]

I'm already there, and can think of no better caliber than the 6.5x55 Swede in a modern action. It's very moderate recoil and the ability to penetrate deeply due to bullet design, is the key to it's success.



NCsmitty

 

[mr.trooper]

Something moderate that I could do most anything with. A dozen guns could meet those criterion, really.

A nice 30-30, or a 223, heck if I'm REALLY old a 22mag or 22 hornet.

 

[DM~]

I bought mine long before i retired, just because i knew it would be the most useful firearm i'd ever own. Why not buy it as soon as you can and use it to, and through retirement???

It's beautiful, extremely well made, light, very accurate and most of all, it is the most useful firearm i've ever fired! It's also my "go to gun" that i love to hunt with and have taken everything from moose and bear on down to all kinds of small game with it.





I've spent weeks at a time with it in the Alaskan bush, keeping myself fed, and collecting much big game with it for my freezer!



Now that i'm retired, it just keeps on keeping on!



DM