Author Topic: Ever get rid of a rifle that you wish you had kept? (Read 3211 times)

lilabner · « **on:** February 24, 2008, 01:19:46 PM »

I'll bet I'm not the only man who sold or traded rifles that he now wishes he had kept. That doesn't make me feel any better, though. Here's my list: Used 250-3000 Model 99 Savage takedown (early model with brass rotary magazine). JC Higgins 51L 30-06 (actually a Husquvarna with a High Standard barrel) bought used. Remington 700 Classic in 7mm Remington Magnum. Herter's U-9 in .257 Roberts. (actually a BSA)bought used. And, an early,tang safety Ruger M77 in .25-06 bought used.
The Savage is now a big time collector's item worth about 50 times what I paid for it. The Higgins was the most accurate '06 I ever owned. The 700 Classic was the second prettiest rifle I ever owned, a great shooter and elk killer deluxe. The Herter's .257 would shoot best handloads into tight little groups and made a series of one shot kills on mule deer. The Ruger would consistently shoot hunting handloads into 6/10 inch and was sudden death on deer and antelope. I've learned three lessons: 1. Don't be ashamed of rifles with names like JC Higgins or Herter's. 2. A used rifle may be a great rifle 3. A fool and his rifle are soon parted. Am I the only one, or just the only one who will confess?

SuperstitionCoues · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2008, 01:21:59 PM »

Yep. Wished I had never got rid of my first 30-06. 1986 Winchester Ranger Model 70, and boy could that thing shoot. Should have kept it and restocked it with something from Bell & Carlson. Foolishly traded it for a S&W .357 Magnum

wareagleguy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2008, 01:36:03 PM »

Too many times.
The two I remember are Savage model 99 in 243 and a Marlin 336 in 35 rem. Both were great shooters but young and stupid have no room for guns.

ms · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2008, 01:37:31 PM »

marlin 336 30/30.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2008, 01:42:02 PM »

Ruger .357 Magnum Flattop...I don't remember why.

LC Smith Field grade 12 gauge double, going into the service and gave the money to my mother.

Pre '64 Winchester Model 70 with a special order mid weight barrel from the factory. I was the second owner but it was like new, I needed money for the down payment on our home.

Winchester Model 71 in .348 Winchester, needed money for Christmas for the kids one year when they were young.

Please, I don't want to go on, it hurts to much....<><....

rbergum95 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2008, 01:43:15 PM »

short answer - every one i ever sold.

tn_junk · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2008, 03:05:09 PM »

Remington 788 in .243
Remington 788 in .44 Mag (yep, I really had one of those)
Handi in .30-30
Ruger Super Blackhawk, 12" Barrel, .44 Mag
Marlin 444

And I could go on..............

alan

buffermop · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2008, 03:58:36 AM »

A model 99 in .300 savage and a mossberg palamino .22 . both lever actions

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:14:19 AM »

yep !
it sat in a friends safe for ten years , then i got it back ! for same price , a good friend !

mountainview · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:02:17 AM »

+1 on the "every gun I sold". My list of sins includes a mint 1950's Mod 94, Rem 788, and a Savage 170 35 Rem.

charles p · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:38:34 AM »

My all time favorite go to rifle was an old Rem classic in 30-06 made before Rem went to one caliber per year for their classic. My riffle started shooting poorly and I thought it was warn out. I scrapped the barrel for a custom stainless match 280AI and completely rework (blueprinted) the receiver The result was the bean field rifle I thought I wanted. I thought. Turns out it is so long and heavy that I rarely use it any more.

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:01:41 AM »

I have sold very few guns, especially compared to the number I have bought.
Ones I should have kept

Springfield M2 in 22lr
H&K M3 Super 90 with factory folding stock, both pump and semi auto in 12ga
Colt rifle in 9mm WOW that thing would shoot so much faster than a 10/22!

I am starting to cry, gonna have to stop for awhile

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:56:22 AM »

1. Sako Vixen .222 Rem - Bought it when I was single. Traded it to a gun shop even up for a S&W 659 after I was married, had young children and no money.

2. S&W 659 - Sold it a few years later to help with a down payment on a Harley.

3. Winchester 1200 - One of the prettiest shotguns I ever owned/own. Deep blue, very nice wood. Traded to get something else. However, after realizing my mistake, I was able to go buy it back for the trade value. Whew!

4. NEF Handi rifle 7MM-08. Had gray laminated wood. Traded for something else, then like the 1200, bought it back. I still have the 1200 and Handi.

I've traded and sold others. Outside those above, nothing I've regretted.

Personal tip: I frequently buy inexpensive Marlin .22's . Often they require just a good cleaning to make them look very nice and function as they should. They come in handy for trade fodder when cash is low. Most repairs, if any, usually involve replacing minor springs and parts. I can't recall ever doing any worse than breaking even. Many times I'm ahead $10-$15.

Kurt L · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2008, 07:05:26 AM »

Thanks a lot for the post.
now I can kick myself in the arshole again!

Winchesters :
Teddy Roosevelt 30-30 octagon barrel nickle receiver, You know what it is.
375 big bore 94
356 big bore 94
a few 30-30s

and a custom 96 with Douglas 26" barrel in 257 Roberts with roll over
stock and maple trim.
But thats the fun thing of being broke and cash in your treasures for cash to get by.

dw06 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2008, 10:20:19 AM »

Sure have,
Remington 700 adl 6mm

S&W K22

Ruger 77/22 Hornet reamed to K hornet

Well thats all I'll admit too

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2008, 02:12:32 PM »

Just one, my first rifle - an Ithaca Model 49 .22 single shot levergun.

1marty · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2008, 04:30:12 PM »

springfield mod 1903 30-06; perfect condition; sold it many, many years ago for $75 to buy a '61 rambler which broke down after 6 months

Sweetwater · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:09:54 PM »

Recently? No, and I'm resisting the urge to donate from the gun rack to the pantry as it has been a tight winter.

However, somewhere in the dark past; a US Arms Abilene, my first 45colt, paid the down payment on my first divorce.
a Belguim Browning A5 Light Twelve paid for a couple months rent; a nickel-plated S&W Model 13 paid for a couple more months. That was a bad year.

Then there was a Remington Model 33 Ooops - it had been my Grandmother's pet 22lr. I hated the single shot, well actually the cocking piece was what I hated, and swapped it for an autoloader. Loved the autoloader, but lost a piece of the Family Legacy.

Swapped my first 6.5x55, a military surplus from the Husqvarna Fabinfabriks, across the board for my second guitar, my first guitar had been my Dad's. OK, I was 14 at the time, but that first 6.5 kindled a flame for the Swede that has lasted over 40 years. Just got my second 6.5x55 last year, a Ruger MKII. Gotta love it!

You know, recalling these events - none of which were ever reversible - makes me know the rest will stay until I'm gone. Then, I pray some of them will stay in the family. There's my great-grandfather's 73Win, my Grandfather's 94Win and Rem722, my Dad's Rem700, Rem722 and Custom MauserFN, my Mom's shotgun, my brother's Wingmaster, my Persian Carbine, my BB94 Win, my original 86Win, my wife's Marlin70HC, a host of handguns and 22rifles. Hmmm, my Grandson will be 2 years old just before Christmas. Think it's time for another long box under the Christmas Tree!

Regards,
Sweetwater

Bigbuck · « **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2008, 03:51:22 PM »

Yes....two just last year

One was a Remington 700 VSS in .22-250 and the other was a Winchester Model 70 HV in .243.

I also had a Remington Model 7 in .222 that I REALLY wish I had kept....

I'd tell you about a couple of others, but I'm afraid it would make me cry...

Freezer · « **Reply #19 on:** February 27, 2008, 06:39:10 PM »

NO! Lesson #4 Don't sell your toys!

jro45 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 27, 2008, 07:06:46 PM »

No, I keep every rifle I bought And now have quite a few. But I did sell a 410 bolt that I bought when I was 12 needed gas money when i turned 16

*ROCK-MAN* · « **Reply #21 on:** March 21, 2008, 10:57:42 AM »

Yep,It was a Rem in 308 that had a full lenght manlicker? stock which went all the way to the end of the barrel.Had a peep sight on it.Traded it for a colt 357.Don't remember what I traded the colt for but wish I still had that Remmy.
Rock

victorcharlie · « **Reply #22 on:** March 21, 2008, 11:23:43 AM »

Yep.....Remington 788 in .243......it was a great shooter and my dad gave it to me......

PartsMan · « **Reply #23 on:** March 21, 2008, 11:38:36 AM »

A NEF youth 20G and the other an old ugly bolt action 20g my step grandpa passed down.
I learned to shoot with them and I gave them up.

25-06 barrel for one of my Handis.

billy · « **Reply #24 on:** March 21, 2008, 11:40:14 AM »

YEP ,ruger m77 mark II in 280 with Bell and Carlson stock it was a tack driver.

ToadHill · « **Reply #25 on:** March 21, 2008, 05:27:12 PM »

I had an old 16 gage Mossburg bolt action that I sold to buy an Ithica Deerslayer. Guy my dad worked with wanted it, a week later he used it to commit suicide. I haven't sold any of my guns since and I don't think I ever will.

RaySendero · « **Reply #26 on:** March 21, 2008, 05:40:46 PM »

Yep! - Had a Remington Nylon 66 - Sold it for $35 in 1989 - Now its worth 10 times that.

warf73 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 21, 2008, 10:18:18 PM »

Yup just one an M1 Grand, was nothing special (part guns) but sure miss it. Can't even get close to buying one for what I gave for it then.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #28 on:** March 22, 2008, 01:47:23 AM »

Hin-sight will give you an ulcer. Back in the early 60`s I let-go of a Savage 99 in .300. Didn`t know what I had
or as somebody else said, young and stupid. Fact is I think I needed the money.
Oh, to get that 99 back!!
There were others but .......

Brithunter · « **Reply #29 on:** March 22, 2008, 03:32:27 AM »

Quote from: lilabner on February 24, 2008, 01:19:46 PM

I'll bet I'm not the only man who sold or traded rifles that he now wishes he had kept. That doesn't make me feel any better, though. Here's my list: Used 250-3000 Model 99 Savage takedown (early model with brass rotary magazine). JC Higgins 51L 30-06 (actually a Husquvarna with a High Standard barrel) bought used. Remington 700 Classic in 7mm Remington Magnum. Herter's U-9 in .257 Roberts. (actually a BSA)bought used. And, an early,tang safety Ruger M77 in .25-06 bought used.
The Savage is now a big time collector's item worth about 50 times what I paid for it. The Higgins was the most accurate '06 I ever owned. The 700 Classic was the second prettiest rifle I ever owned, a great shooter and elk killer deluxe. The Herter's .257 would shoot best handloads into tight little groups and made a series of one shot kills on mule deer. The Ruger would consistently shoot hunting handloads into 6/10 inch and was sudden death on deer and antelope. I've learned three lessons: 1. Don't be ashamed of rifles with names like JC Higgins or Herter's. 2. A used rifle may be a great rifle 3. A fool and his rifle are soon parted. Am I the only one, or just the only one who will confess?

Actually the Herters U-9 only used a BSA made action, the barrel and stock were US made and the actions were supplied in first rough polished state and not the finished polished state that BSA used in their own production. Herters it seemed didn't see the need to finish polish the actions and blued them over the supplied finish.