At what point do you sell a rifle?

[Xxtavixx]

I think guns are a great investment, they hold value. Your boots will be worthless in no time, a pack not as bad and then good optics will hold value. I would never sell a gun to get boots or a pack (well maybe for a pack) but I would for optics.

Don't do something you will regret in 5 years but you only need one gun to hunt. I think I would rather have excellent glass and pack then another rifle in the safe back home. Boots you just have to bite the bullet and buy and a shelter can really range in price, buy cheaper now and upgrade later when funds available.

I agree - i sold every gun and scope when i went to having swarovski scopes. Now, I think i have to fund the experiences by gearing up. The way I see it, a year is a long time but not a long time to test gear and condition with gear and still need to buy gear. Im not attached emotionally to any of my firearms. If Barret made a lefty fieldcraft id probably buy that - and thats what made me realize I need to be pragmatic. I love to hunt and Florida hunting is not the dream, having money tied up in firearms i wont use is in the way of living my dream. My savages wont ever be a collectors item.

 

[ATX762]

You need, well, maybe should, have a backup rifle you can use if your first gun goes down, gets dropped off a cliff, you lose a small part while field stripping it, etc. I don't really make any long trips without a backup rifle I leave in the truck. But I'm OCD like that. The backup rifle doesn't have to be nice, just something that allows you to continue your hunting trip.

You can replace a Marlin 336, even in 35 Remington, any day of the week. I literally bought one off Gunbroker 2 days ago.

I would sell the scope off the Marlin, then sell the Marlin. Replacing an accurate long distance rifle that you've worked loads up for is much harder. You are not just talking about the financial investment, it's the time investment as well.

That said I am all for selling shit you don't actually use. Just as a side note, I suspect that factory 130grain ammo in a 16.5" 270 will not be all that fast, maybe 2600 fps, and shouldn't be too much for FL deer.

 

[Xxtavixx]

You need, well, maybe should, have a backup rifle you can use if your first gun goes down, gets dropped off a cliff, you lose a small part while field stripping it, etc. I don't really make any long trips without a backup rifle I leave in the truck. But I'm OCD like that. The backup rifle doesn't have to be nice, just something that allows you to continue your hunting trip.

You can replace a Marlin 336, even in 35 Remington, any day of the week. I literally bought one off Gunbroker 2 days ago.

I would sell the scope off the Marlin, then sell the Marlin. Replacing an accurate long distance rifle that you've worked loads up for is much harder. You are not just talking about the financial investment, it's the time investment as well.

That said I am all for selling shit you don't actually use. Just as a side note, I suspect that factory 130grain ammo in a 16.5" 270 will not be all that fast, maybe 2600 fps, and shouldn't be too much for FL deer.

Not sure about factory, but I'm pushing the 140g accubond at 2820 fps with some room to grow. It's...it's unhealthy to shoot Florida deer with a 270. The 223 is better suited.

The "back up" rifle is actually what got me the 270. I wanted the rifles to be very similar. Same long action, same stock, almost same scope...Im a firm believer in having the "one rifle" feel

 

[ATX762]

Ah yeah. 22" 270 barrels in a lot of factory 130gr loads get around 2900 fps, generally, with the exception of the Hornady light magnums which hit around 3100 from a 22". It's a somewhat overbore cartridge (or getting there) so I'm guessing that from a 16" barrel you'll lose at least 200-300 fps. If you wanted to use your 270. But I've also killed whitetails and axis deer with a .223. It definitely works.

You could also sell the Marlin, scope, and the Swaro off your least favorite bolt gun, and put a less expensive scope on that gun and just have it as a backup. I was using a new Leupold VX-3i 2.5-8x36 in Alaska a month or so ago and with decent moonlight I could see well enough at full dark to make a shot at 200 or so yards, though I ended up not taking the shot. Glass just keeps getting better...

Or shit just sell it all and keep the 270, like you said...