It is habit forming
First off, I have been fortunate to be able to do what I have done with firearms. I do have many firearms and Most have a purpose. Preface: After the military, I lived overseas until 2001....long time where you could not have firearms. I grew up with them. I was and am making decent money and decided to make up for all I had forgone for all those years. I will attempt to answer your questions.
How did you select the rifles that you now have?
First rifle in 60's was a plain jane Rem 700 ADL .270 , 84 bucks from Nagels Gun Shop in San Antonio,and needed something to hunt dear with. It was one of the most accurate rifles boxed or custom I have ever owned. Since I have been back to good ol USA, I have purchased more guns than god allows. Only about 4 were for a purpose, the rest just fantastic deals, auctions..estate sales etc. Guns are one of the things I live for.
How do you choose witch of your rifles to take hunting?
Choose for what and where I am hunting. On my lease near Del Rio, I usually took several. Each for a specific task. One of which was my 1947 Ithaca 37 12 ga. full choke feather weight for Turkey and Sand Hill Crane. Never without the .17 Marlin or Golden Mounty .22 for, usually, the task of clearing squirrls and Grackles around the owners ranch house at his request. Brush rifle was a Savage 99 .284 for close in hogs in the brush. AK also served that purpose when taken...don't discount them for quick aquisition shots. .243 Sako L-579 for varmit work...Long range deadly. Rem 700 Classic, 7mm Rem Mag for stand work clear areas. Was my favorite most reliable rifle. Now is custom rifle 7mm STW. .300 Ultra Mag, Sako 75 SS Syn. was for the really big hogs at some really long ranges, 400-700+ yards across the fields, flat shooting and great for incliment weather. Then either my Glock 23 or 36 whatever caught my fancy that day for bad things really close...Hogs busting out of brush. Primitave conditions and stayed usually 2 wks at a time.
Who & why selects the rifle based on the game intended to be hunted?
Me. See above plus I will add that accuracy and reliability a must.
Who & why selects the rifle based on the area they intend to hunt?
See above.
Tell me the story behind your rifle selection.
Old Rem 700 Classic, serial number check showed one of the first run of this caliber, 7mm Rem Mag was bought in Live Oak gun show right after I came back from overseas. Great looking rifle, great price, fit the bill. Shot it next day and could only get 4 inch groups....Blah. Took a week to get the copper out and daily could watch the groups shrink. With hand loads and proper cleaning, .75" was standard group.
Had the 10/22 bug and fell into one of them now replace by my old Golden Mounty from an estate sale, 99 %. Savage 99 same. These maybe easy questions for a fellow with only a couple of firearms, but they get tougher when you have to think about a bunch of them. Bottom line, some for purpose, some for investment and some Mausers, cheep, for later custom builds, which I have accomplished. That is another story. Some where on the forum are pics of my collection as of a couple years ago. Got no idea of where. Bottom line, I buy when I see a good deal then decide what to do with it these days.
Ken
