Gun Consolidation Help

[passinggas33]

Fellow Roksliders I need your thoughts and opinions, and I’ll take them all! I’ve hit that stage in life where I’m trying to consolidate many aspects of my life, including my gun collection. I’ve got more guns than I can shoot, and it’s time I consolidate down to just a few. Half the time I go to the gun safe, I’m not sure which gun to even grab as they all seem to have overlap. So I need opinions from all of you on which guns you would move on to new homes. I hate to sell guns, but I also can’t justify all of them sitting in the safe never getting used (and my kids/wife don’t enjoy it), and I’d rather use the money for more ammo, more hunts, other things in life. I hunt deer, elk, bear, antelope, predators, anywhere from 10 yards to 800 yards (longest so far, anyway). Elevation from sea level to 12,000ft. Sometimes it’s a backpack hunt, but often it’s base camp based. All of them are suppressed and all have quality optics (passed the drop test), good stocks, so those aren’t a deciding factor. I also don’t want to reload (lack of time) so I’ll post what I’m currently shooting with it. Two of the guns I do reload for, but I have enough of those to last for quite some time, and by then I’ll try and find somebody to do it for me... I hope this isn’t just the winter blues making me want to do this. Anyway, please share which you would keep and which you would move on from, and why. Thanks to all!

- 223 Tikka - 54gr VMAX (8.5lbs)
- 22CM Tikka - 80gr ELDM (8.5 lbs)
- 6 ARC Howa Mini Customized - 108gr ELDM (6lbs)
- 6 CM Tikka (XLR Chassis) - 108gr ELDM - (9lbs)
- 6.5 PRC Tikka (HNT26 Chassis - 147gr ELDM (8lbs)
- 270 WSM Browning - 145gr ELDX (9.5lbs) - Only gun I’ve ever received from my dad so likely won’t leave my possession ever.
- 280AI Kimber Mtn Ascent - 160gr Accubond (7.5lbs)
- 280AI Custom - 175gr Berger Elite Hunter (9lbs)
- 300WM Fierce Firearms - 200 TA (9.5lbs)

Sorry for the long post, but would love to hear others thoughts as I look to people I respect for help in my thought processes! With all of this, if you think I should I should create this as a poll, I’m happy to do that as well. Thanks again!!!!!!!

 

[waspocrew]

Fellow Roksliders I need your thoughts and opinions, and I’ll take them all! I’ve hit that stage in life where I’m trying to consolidate many aspects of my life, including my gun collection. I’ve got more guns than I can shoot, and it’s time I consolidate down to just a few. Half the time I go to the gun safe, I’m not sure which gun to even grab as they all seem to have overlap. So I need opinions from all of you on which guns you would move on to new homes. I hate to sell guns, but I also can’t justify all of them sitting in the safe never getting used (and my kids/wife don’t enjoy it), and I’d rather use the money for more ammo, more hunts, other things in life. I hunt deer, elk, bear, antelope, predators, anywhere from 10 yards to 800 yards (longest so far, anyway). Elevation from sea level to 12,000ft. Sometimes it’s a backpack hunt, but often it’s base camp based. All of them are suppressed and all have quality optics (passed the drop test), good stocks, so those aren’t a deciding factor. I also don’t want to reload (lack of time) so I’ll post what I’m currently shooting with it. Two of the guns I do reload for, but I have enough of those to last for quite some time, and by then I’ll try and find somebody to do it for me... I hope this isn’t just the winter blues making me want to do this. Anyway, please share which you would keep and which you would move on from, and why. Thanks to all!

- 223 Tikka - 54gr VMAX (8.5lbs)
- 22CM Tikka - 80gr ELDM (8.5 lbs)
- 6 ARC Howa Mini Customized - 108gr ELDM (6lbs)
- 6 CM Tikka (XLR Chassis) - 108gr ELDM - (9lbs)
- 6.5 PRC Tikka (HNT26 Chassis - 147gr ELDM (8lbs)
- 270 WSM Browning - 145gr ELDX (9.5lbs) - Only gun I’ve ever received from my dad so likely won’t leave my possession ever.
- 280AI Kimber Mtn Ascent - 160gr Accubond (7.5lbs)
- 280AI Custom - 175gr Berger Elite Hunter (9lbs)
- 300WM Fierce Firearms - 200 TA (9.5lbs)

Sorry for the long post, but would love to hear others thoughts as I look to people I respect for help in my thought processes! With all of this, if you think I should I should create this as a poll, I’m happy to do that as well. Thanks again!!!!!!!

I'm in the same boat as you - I look at my safe and realize I probably have a few extra that I don't really "need".

Depending on if you handload for any of the cartridges, cost differences might not be as drastic for some of the overlap, so that might not be a deciding factor.

Between 223 and 22 CM: This is a tough one (as I enjoy both), but everyone should have a 223. Assuming it's an 8 twist, it will do everything the 22 CM will do with less recoil, ammunition cost, etc. You just give up a little effective range.

6 ARC and 6 CM: I'm going 6 CM on this. I rifles in both and while the 6 ARC is a soft shooter, the 6 CM really hammers game. Quite a bit more factory ammunition offered over the 6 ARC.

If keeping the 270 WSM (which I would for sentimental reasons), I'd sell the 6.5 PRC.

For the 280 AIs and 300 WM, you honestly don't need anything bigger than your 270 WSM, so you could free up funds by letting those go. Just my thoughts (which aren't worth much), but I'm looking at doing the same thing. Hard to sell firearms, but the funds can be used for better things like you had mentioned.

Good luck on your decisions!

 

[Caseknife]

Oh man, if you think you have too many guns, I am in trouble

I would sell the 22CM, the 6CM, the 6.5PRC, 280AI Custom and the 300WM, if I was forced to.

 

[passinggas33]

I'm in the same boat as you - I look at my safe and realize I probably have a few extra that I don't really "need".

Depending on if you handload for any of the cartridges, cost differences might not be as drastic for some of the overlap, so that might not be a deciding factor.

Between 223 and 22 CM: This is a tough one (as I enjoy both), but everyone should have a 223. Assuming it's an 8 twist, it will do everything the 22 CM will do with less recoil, ammunition cost, etc. You just give up a little effective range.

6 ARC and 6 CM: I'm going 6 CM on this. I rifles in both and while the 6 ARC is a soft shooter, the 6 CM really hammers game. Quite a bit more factory ammunition offered over the 6 ARC.

If keeping the 270 WSM (which I would for sentimental reasons), I'd sell the 6.5 PRC.

For the 280 AIs and 300 WM, you honestly don't need anything bigger than your 270 WSM, so you could free up funds by letting those go. Just my thoughts (which aren't worth much), but I'm looking at doing the same thing. Hard to sell firearms, but the funds can be used for better things like you had mentioned.

Good luck on your decisions!

I am pretty recoil sensitive (aka a sissy), so I really don’t enjoy shooting the 270WSM. I feel like it’s got quite a bit of “snap” to it, if that makes sense. I actually enjoy shooting my 280AI more than it, so it often just sits in the safe and reminds me of the old man.

 

[hereinaz]

If it has sentimental value, it’s not a rifle it’s a heirloom. Keep it.

Sell everything bigger than the 6.5, and I would sell the 6.5 too but swap the chassis.

I could thin down the small calibers too… What are the barrel lengths?

I personally have .223, 22 creed, 6 creed and —6— PRC and don’t feel the need for my 7 mag or even what I thought would be a little mag, my 25.

For fun I have 6 BR/BRA and 22 ARC, but that’s unnecessary.

 

[passinggas33]

If it has sentimental value, it’s not a rifle it’s a heirloom. Keep it.

Sell everything bigger than the 6.5, and I would sell the 6.5 too but swap the chassis.

I could thin down the small calibers too… What are the barrel lengths?

I personally have .223, 22 creed, 6 creed and —6— PRC and don’t feel the need for my 7 mag or even what I thought would be a little mag, my 25.

For fun I have 6 BR/BRA and 22 ARC, but that’s unnecessary.

The barrel lengths -
223 is a 20”.
22CM is 18”
6ARC is 20”
6CM is 21” (yes, it’s a random length my gunsmith decided to do…)
6.5 PRC is 20”

I have a hard time getting rid of the 6ARC because I shoot it well and it’s the lightest gun making it my gun of choice for my long hikes. But it definitely limits my range somewhat.

 

[RockAndSage]

- 223 Tikka - 54gr VMAX (8.5lbs)
- 22CM Tikka - 80gr ELDM (8.5 lbs)
- 6 ARC Howa Mini Customized - 108gr ELDM (6lbs)
- 270 WSM Browning - 145gr ELDX (9.5lbs) - Only gun I’ve ever received from my dad so likely won’t leave my possession ever.

I have a hard time getting rid of the 6ARC because I shoot it well and it’s the lightest gun making it my gun of choice for my long hikes. But it definitely limits my range somewhat.

My thoughts would be to keep the ones listed, sell the others.

.223 = Keep because of how cheap and plentiful its ammo is. Baseline gun to always have.
22 CM = Keep because it seems like you've got it dialed in, it gives you all the reach you could ever ask for, and will drop just about anything you could want to hunt.
6ARC = Keep because you like it, for the reasons you mentioned, and liking a gun a lot also usually means shooting it more.
270WSM = Keep because of meaning, and because it covers the use-cases of all your larger-cartridge guns you'd be getting rid of.

 

[RWT]

I was in a similar situation about a year ago. Hit laid off and was updating the spreadsheet. When I saw I had over 100 guns I realized I need to do something about it. I decided to narrow down to 2 calibers.
I wanted two 22 cal and two 6.5 cal
I am down to 223/556 as my 0-300
Deciding on my 0-600 22 cal. Either arc or CM
6.5 Grendel for 0-300 up to deer
6.5CM for 0-600 and everything else.

This lets me find a bullet I like and load it for both options. This will eventually land me down to two rifles as I slowly wind down the collection

I would sell everything bigger than the 6.5PRC as a start. Go with 3 calibers. Then over the next 2 or 3 years narrow it down to a single 22, 6 and 6.5. By keeping tracking of what you grab and when.

 

[83cj-7]

My vote:

Tikka 223 as long as it’s a fast twist.

270 WSM (as long as the sentimental value is high)

280ai custom because you like it and it will kill virtually any big game with the right bullet.

I can’t imagine you’d “need” more than those.

 

[keystone112]

223 Tikka
6.5 PRC Tikka
280 AI Custom

Nothing you can’t do.

Maybe keep some spare optics.

 

[Marbles]

Keep - 223 Tikka, though is this an 8 twist? If not, it still works, but I see it as less valuable.

Keep the 6 ARC Howa Mini, given you carry it a lot.

Pick of of the Creedmoors and sell the other. If you reload I would keep the 6 so you can use the same bullets as the 6 ARC.

Keep the 270 WSM because it was from your dad.

You could keep the 6.5 PRC, if you want something with a magnum bolt face. Personally I would keep both Creedmoors first.

Tikka stocks swap easy, so just keep the stocks you like even if you have to move actions around.

Sell the rest.

 

[Hthunter]

223
6 CM
Maybe add 308

 

[passinggas33]

Keep - 223 Tikka, though is this an 8 twist? If not, it still works, but I see it as less valuable.

Keep the 6 ARC Howa Mini, give you carry it a lot.

Pick of of the Creedmoors and sell the other. If you reload I would keep the 6 so you can use the same bullets as the 6 ARC.

Keep the 270 WSM because it was from your dad.

You could keep the 6.5 PRC, if you want something with a magnum bolt face. Personally I would keep both Creedmoors first.

Tikka stocks swap easy, so just keep the stocks you like even if you have to move actions around.

Sell the rest.

Sadly the 223 is an 1/10 twist. Which makes keeping it a little more challenging. With this twist rate and my lack of desire to reload, it really limits my options. That was why I built the 22CM originally, to “fill a gap”. Now realizing, probably not much of a gap there to begin with…justifying like I always do.

 

[hereinaz]

Sadly the 223 is an 1/10 twist. Which makes keeping it a little more challenging. With this twist rate and my lack of desire to reload, it really limits my options. That was why I built the 22CM originally, to “fill a gap”. Now realizing, probably not much of a gap there to begin with…justifying like I always do.

It will shoot the light bullets fast, which works close. Everything else can die from the 22 creed or 6 arc

 

[BreechFace]

If it were me I would cut the following:

- 223 Tikka - 54gr VMAX (8.5lbs)
- 22CM Tikka - 80gr ELDM (8.5 lbs)
- 6 ARC Howa Mini Customized - 108gr ELDM (6lbs)
- 6 CM Tikka (XLR Chassis) - 108gr ELDM - (9lbs)
- 6.5 PRC Tikka (HNT26 Chassis - 147gr ELDM (8lbs)
- 270 WSM Browning - 145gr ELDX (9.5lbs) - Only gun I’ve ever received from my dad so likely won’t leave my possession ever.
- 280AI Kimber Mtn Ascent - 160gr Accubond (7.5lbs)
- 280AI Custom - 175gr Berger Elite Hunter (9lbs)
- 300WM Fierce Firearms - 200 TA (9.5lbs)

 

[43.6N]

I'm in the same boat as you - I look at my safe and realize I probably have a few extra that I don't really "need".

Depending on if you handload for any of the cartridges, cost differences might not be as drastic for some of the overlap, so that might not be a deciding factor.

Between 223 and 22 CM: This is a tough one (as I enjoy both), but everyone should have a 223. Assuming it's an 8 twist, it will do everything the 22 CM will do with less recoil, ammunition cost, etc. You just give up a little effective range.

6 ARC and 6 CM: I'm going 6 CM on this. I rifles in both and while the 6 ARC is a soft shooter, the 6 CM really hammers game. Quite a bit more factory ammunition offered over the 6 ARC.

If keeping the 270 WSM (which I would for sentimental reasons), I'd sell the 6.5 PRC.

For the 280 AIs and 300 WM, you honestly don't need anything bigger than your 270 WSM, so you could free up funds by letting those go. Just my thoughts (which aren't worth much), but I'm looking at doing the same thing. Hard to sell firearms, but the funds can be used for better things like you had mentioned.

Good luck on your decisions!

I agree with this list and reasoning from @waspocrew . And just liquidate everything bigger than the 270wsm.

So you’re left with the 223, 6creed, and the sentimental 270wsm browning. That’s a pretty great quiver to draw from.

EDIT: after seeing the twist rate of your current 223 barrel: go buy a 1/7.5 prefit from @hereinaz lswild. Then you will truly cover all your bases with the above list.