How often do you change your rifle?

[wildfowler.250]

So the accuracy thread had me thinking, how often do folk change their rifles? Is it a buy once, rebarrel and keep forever? Sentimental? Or shoot and scrap?

Certainly some folk change their cars often and others run them until they break down.

I’ve had a sako 75 for years. The modification options of a tikka always tempt me. The blasers appeal. A smaller 6.5cm would probably get me the same amount of deer for less recoil. But the current .270 ‘just works’.

Interested to see how folk go about it

 

[VSS]

. But the current .270 ‘just works’.

This ^^^
I see no reason to change just for the sake of it.

 

[RCS Deer Management]

I shoot a tikka and re barrel every 3 years. Barrel tends to last 2500 rounds so 3 years culling and zeroing/drop testing ect. Just about cooks it

 

[sh1kar]

Hmm. I buy but don’t seem to sell except 1
S

 

[Dan Gliballs]

I’ve got tikka 243 that I bought in ‘98 and I’ve fired thousands of rounds through it and it’s still spot on. It’s just about to get retired to thermal duties.

 

[old 30-06]

I have my original rifles, (22lr, 222, 30-06). I have never changed them. I have never had them re-barrelled.

 

[Shootgun]

I had my Blaser R8 for 10 years and i'm on the 3rd barrel and 2nd stock

 

[Overlay]

I had my Blaser R8 for 10 years and i'm on the 3rd barrel and 2nd stock

Hi Shootgun
Have you the sauer yet

 

[Ratcatcher]

Had my Winchester mod 70 .243 20+ years still shoots spot on, mostly now use it for foxes, a friend died and I took his 7-08, and have recently got a 6.5 creedmore, do I need 3 rifles, no, but hey ho if I had to go back to the .243 it wouldn't bother me at all!

 

[Shootgun]

Hi Shootgun
Have you the sauer yet

No mate, initially was due mid June, then they said begginin of July, now they moved the goal post again, is due mid August...
Can't tell you how annoyed i am... I got the scope, mount, mod, slip, sling, ammo, the lot... but no rifle yet.

 

[Overlay]

Had blasers R93 and sako 75/85 changed these to all R8 pro gradually when it came out, R8’s have grown in number I have a as new weihrauch 22 hornet as a back up but a SD member may be wanting to give that a good home

So I’m full dark side now and love the R8 from 22 rimmy up to 308 won’t be moving now I’ve found the rifle I like


There is a sauer lurking

 

[Overlay]

No mate, initially was due mid June, then they said begginin of July, now they moved the goal post again, is due mid August...
Can't tell you how annoyed i am... I got the scope, mount, mod, slip, sling, ammo, the lot... but no rifle yet.

Ohh. Beggars belief

I had to wait 7 months for my 22 hornet barrel, bolt head and mag but got a 22 WMR complete virtually off the shelve

What’s advertised is sometimes not in the country to be sure

Good luck. Don’t forget the pic

 

[cjm1066]

Had a Interarms MK10 in 308 for 40 years, when the barrel went it didn't seem sensiable to rebarrel as its a cheap rifle, now replaced witha a Sako 85 which I like.

Tikka T3 & Ruger 77 sold, I didn't get on with th Tikka and the Ruger was no 2 to the Interarms MK10.

Brno No2 sold for a Anschutz 1422, which could get sold if I had an offer.

CZ550 375 - to much drop on the stock, restock or sell.........................?

 

[Tugmanade]

I had my Blaser R8 for 10 years and i'm on the 3rd barrel and 2nd stock

That sounds like Triggers broom

 

[lochty]

Bought my tikka lsa55 second hand in 1986. Now on it's third barrel. Bedding in nicely.

 

[Pedro]

Well, if you go on a couple of stalks a year and maybe a few trips to the range, then most rifles will last longer than their users.

But, except if you are a heavy user of your rifles, I'll bet most people change their rifles for aesthetic reasons (like they do cars, got to have the latest model) or because their shooting habits change, so that a different rifle would be more suited. I suspect there's not a great deal of difference in accuracy with rifle models manufactured now or in the last 40 odd years or so when new, especially for stalking purposes.

 

[cooksey]

Once it doesn't group well. And even then a rebarrel may happen if I really like the gun

 

[tonyshooter]

Unlike a car, i have never sold a rifle due to age or usage.

I have a .270 cal Tikka LSA65, bought from Arthur Turners ( Sheffield ) in 1979 and its still spot on after firing probably 3000 rounds.

 

[CBH Australia]

Had my Winchester mod 70 .243 20+ years still shoots spot on, mostly now use it for foxes, a friend died and I took his 7-08, and have recently got a 6.5 creedmore, do I need 3 rifles, no, but hey ho if I had to go back to the .243 it wouldn't bother me at all!

Do you need 3 rifles. Say, yes.
I thought you have a hard time justifying each addition in the UK.

I really like the 7mm-08 anyway but have others. I "need" them. I can have multiple without much fuss I wish I used them all more to justify this to myself.

 

[CBH Australia]

To answer the original question I have changed them at times or acquired another because I want a different chambering or want to configure it for a different use. I have a .,223 with an 8x56 for spotlighting but use a 3-9x40 on a different rifle for hunting and a different rifle set up as a lightweight just because I could .
Horses for courses.

I have a few Tikkas and some are rebarelled to reconfigure. One is a varmint rifle.

One hunting rifle of a suitable chambering could maybe last a hunter a lifetime but one can only hope to wear it out and acquire another.