Utilitarian Reasons to Own Similar Rifles in the Same Caliber

[DillonG]

I’m a fan of multiple 12g shotguns. I can understand owning more than 1 AR or 22lr. I can’t see a reason in not owning multiple shotguns though. The shotgun is the ultimate “utility” platform.

 

[Beck]

I own a bunch of duplicates, or close to duplicates, and I have great reasons for all of them!

.300 Weatherby Sako AV & .300 Win Mag Sako 85
-Sako 85 built as a bean field rifle, 26" barrel, super heavy, not practical for walk/stalk
-Savo AV shorter barrel, lighter, great walk/stalk or hunt the world rifle

Summary: Strong argument


.416 Rigby Sako Brown Bear, .416 Ruger African, .416 Ruger Alaskan
-The Ruger African was purchased for my first Safari, and I needed a budget friendly rifle
-The Sako 85 because it is a nicer rifle - and they were getting rare
-The Ruger Alaskan because - well at the time you couldn't find them, and I wanted it - of course they are ubiquitous now

Summary: Starting to lose control

.375 Sako Kodiak, .375 Sako Brown Bear, .375 Ruger Alaskan, .375 Ruger Mossberg Patriot
-Sako Kodiak because it was my father's, but I took it on a memorable hunt, and now it's mine.
-Sako Brown Bear because I needed to replace my father's rifle
-Ruger Alaskan because I need that extra 100 fps for a brown bear hunt
-Mossberg Patriot because it was $300, and "fuck it why not"

Summary: You need to seek professional help


9.3x62mm Sako Black Bear, 9.3x64mm Mauser, and 9.3x66mm Sako Grizzly
-The 9.3x62mm to get you hooked, and I did end up killing a monster black bear with that gun
-The 9.3x66mm because they are super rare and I "may never see one again"
-The 9.3x64mm because it has the most horsepower, and "she'll never know the difference"

Summary: Please don't tell my wife

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Excluding rimfires I have few same caliber rifles. There was no real thought process to it - it's simply how it worked out. And I could see a few more, simply because of wanting a specific model rifle, and in a caliber I own already is the most likely outcome based on availability.

 

[meigsbucks]

I’ve always had several .22LR’s (handguns and rifles) and at least a couple of 12ga shotguns…. Four now. Other than that, I’ve never seen the logic in owning duplicate chamberings. However, due to advancing age and a crowded safe, logic dictated downsizing was in order. BUT I’m not logical. In the past three years, I’ve added a second .270, a second 7mm-08 and two additional .308’s (even though I’m not a huge fan of the round) and looking at adding a second .30/06.
I do also have some similars: 9.3x62 and 9.3x74R and a .375 H&H and .375 Wby and .458 Win and .458 Lott.

 

[Woodcarver]

Duplicates are necessary. Each rifle gets a specific load developed for that particular arm. Eliminates the need to re-zero a scope so you can use the same caliber with a different load for a different species hunt. Just grab the rifle sighted for the load you want for that hunt. Occasionally, I'll have more than 1 that doesn't care what I feed it, but more commonly they each have a preference. One of my 270s for instance, will not group 110gr or lighter, but is MOA or better with 130s and 150s. Another will stack 90s & 110s, and keep 130s under 1.25", but does not like 150gr pills. My favorite, a CZ550, will keep anything inside an inch, and even better, the different weights/velocities stay centered, just stack vertically. Have yet to determine what the latest acquisition prefers. Had another, traded to my brother, that would also shoot anything I fed it, so he's pretty happy with it. That trade added another 30-06 to that set of duplicates, lol. That 30-06 was also the rifle my Grandpa made for my Dad, so it has additional sentimental value as well as utility.
Besides that, more toys are always more fun, so, why not?

 

[PCC600]

Hi, @franzfmdavis

In an ideal world where I could pursue an unlimited number of African lions (my personal favorite of the African Big Five), I would totally love to own two .375 Holland & Holland Rimless Magnums:
1) A Magnum Mauser Oberndorf Model 98
2) A Westley Richards droplock ejector

Both sighted in/regulated for the 300Gr Nosler AccuBond factory load.

The magazine rifle would be wearing a Weaver K5 telescopic sight and employed for shooting lion over bait. The double rifle would be equipped with wide V Express backsights & an uncovered ivory bead foresight for on foot lion stalks and follow up work in the thickets.

This pairing would also make for an excellent leopard hunting setup. The magazine rifle would be employed for hunting leopard over bait. The double rifle would be employed for hunting leopard over hounds. And also for follow up work in the thickets. You can get away with employing a magazine rifle to follow up a wounded lion. But it’s practically guaranteed suicide to employ one when spooring a wounded leopard. Due to the immense speed of this game (combined with the close ranges at which a wounded one charges), your bolt action rifle essentially becomes a single shot weapon which you can practically never manage to successfully get off a second shot with before the leopard manages to reach you.

John Pondoro Taylor fantasizes about a similar pairing in his book “African Rifles & Cartridges”. But chambered in .425 Westley Richards instead of .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.

I am adopting Pondoro Taylor’s preferred battery later this year culling water buffalo. I will be using 2 WR 425 bolt actions - one with extended magazine ( and stripper clips ) , the other is scoped with a flush magazine and a borrowed WR boxlock double 425 . A lot of firepower but will only take 2 out at a time . The old 425 WR is a fantastic cartridge .

 

[CBH Australia]

I have 2 rifles in .308, similar but different.
I had 3 at one point because one was a target rifle configuration but it makes sense to use .308win in Australia where reloading components are available

 

[Challer]

I tend to live by one is none and two is one philosophy. Two R8, one in exhibition walnut, the other in plastic. Worst case I have spare parts for everything in the 2nd gun should spares be a problem. I also have 2 F3 s for sporting. Two BBF 97s as well because they don’t seem to be supported anymore. I’d be embarrassed to count how many P22X are in the safe or even just the 226s.

 

[Mwag]

In most instances at my place multiples are mandatory. If I purchase a rifle I need to plan on 2 of same caliber up to the very heavy thumpers. A his and a hers version....my wife likes to hunt and shoot as well. She has been with me on 3 of my trips to Africa and will be going with me to hunt New Zealand next year.

 

[PerH]

Yes, but I am to conservative for the Blasers, the only one I owned was a bockdrilling, the Blaser BD880, back then they were still all steel and walnut...the R8 while being a great concept is far to modern for my taste, I am more of Mauser M98 guy.

Voere LBW , have a look on them . Barrel swap system and regular bolt system .

 

[skydiver386]

I have owned several hundred firearms over my lifetime, and the older I get the more I lean in a different direction.

Rather than have multiple firearms in various calibers each with a specific purpose, I imagine a firearm with multiple interchangeable barrels.

A finely made firearm with multiple barrel sets is a wonderful thing.

 

[Bandera]

I have two rifles in 375 Ruger.
A left handed African and a left handed Guide Gun.
20” barrel vs 23” barrel. Walnut vs laminated stock.
The guid gun will most likely get restocked with… well I don’t remember if it was McMillan or H-S Precision that is making a left handed stock.

 

[Jack Stevens]

If by “utilitarian reasons” we can include “fun,” “versatile,” and “cost efficient,” then my Remington M600 carbine and M660 short rifle, both chambered in .350 Rem Mag, definitely qualify.

Arguably an odd ball hard-to-find cartridge, the .350RM was the world’s first short magnum, arriving on the American cartridge scene in 1968. For game not requiring magnum levels to put down, usable 35-cal bullets for this 2.800” cartridge - weighing 200grns, 225grns, and 250grns - can all be downloaded to .35 Remington speeds.

Thus versatility, but that’s just the cartridge. As set up, the platforms also add some versatility.

The 18.5” 6.3lb M600 carbine is run with iron sights (a large receiver aperture) for short-range work, which is essentially 100-yds max. For the typical hunting of midwest deer in thick timber from a tree stand, the reality is most shots are really 50yds or less.

The M660 short rifle, with a 20” barrel, is run scoped and zeroed for 200yds. Unloaded weight is about 7.8lbs.

Obligatory pics:

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have two 30-06 rifles. My go to rifle is the Springfield 03A3 Dad built in 1962 and gave to me when I started hunting in 1964.

The other is the Model 760 pump my mom's dad gave him a week after I was born in 1952, the first year Remington put that model in production. Dad brought it up here in the 1990s for me to hunt moose.

It's a great gun for heavy cover. Very slim and hangs tight to my body when slung. The Weaver 4x scope is detachable which is handy when hunting in snow or rain. Also the clip feed was more convenient in case I came on a moose while driving (in Montana it was and I believe still is legal to have a loaded rifle in the truck - not here). The Springfield fits me like a glove and points like a magic wand so there's never really been serious competition. Also Dad cut off the 760 stock for Mom and it was always a bit too short for me even with a slip-on recoil pad added. A few years back I picked up plastic for it at a gun show but by then had given up moose hunting here (gross mismanagement of the resource).