Overboard with firearms?

[Hillbros_96]

So I was packing to leave for my 2 week hunting trip by myself and realized I have packed 5 guns. Have I gone overboard?

1- 375 ruger for moose and Grizzly bear
1- 270wsm for goats and cariboo
1- 17wsm for plinking around camp and shooting heads off gophers.
1- shotgun for defensive purposes
1- 22/410 for grouse around camp.

What am I going to do when there is just me? :icon_frow

[finngun]

No need17wsm gophers are sleeping:mrgreen:

[bcsteve]

I'd go .375 Ruger for big game, .270 WSM for longer range and back up and 22/410 for small game. Ditch the 17 WSM, you probably don't want to be plinking while hunting. Ditch the shotgun, if you can't defend yourself with the first three the shotgun won't help. My take on it anyway.

[.330 Dakota]

I would take along saaay a 338 as an extra....I always pack an extra rifle in a "do all" cartridge in case I have a damaged rifle etc...ie--friend of mine took a bit of a spill while goat hunting one year and dropped his rifle about 20 feet down on the rocks. I guess it hit pretty hard as the bolt handle busted off at the weld point, and his hunt was basically over as he ddnt have another gun.

[beeker]

if you already have them,why not take them! they won't do you any good sitting at home...especially if you decide that you need one after the fact!

that being said, i have been accused of taking too much gear before. nevertheless, i'd rather be over prepared than under prepared any time, especially when it comes to the outdoors.

[scottwh]

You should be able to do it all with the 375 Ruger!

[Buck]

Not to many guns i would just be worried leaving any unattended.

[lip_ripper00]

that being said, i have been accused of taking too much gear before. nevertheless, i'd rather be over prepared than under prepared any time, especially when it comes to the outdoors.

My buddies always rag on me for too much gear packed, but when something goes sideways they always come to me........" hey do you have" ....... lol.

[russm]

I personally would ditch the middle 3....

[gunpower]

The 270wsm will do it all. No need for any thing else!

[angus5024]

I don't know if you will want to eat any chickens shot with the .270 wsm!
I would take your favorite rifle, a backup (if your going more than an hour or so from home) and a chicken gun. anything else is just another thing to get lost, wet, stepped on or stolen.
I used to be a gear junkie and take 10 of everything, then I just got tired of the extra weight or bulk at slimmed it down to essentials.

[.30-06 camsavbc]

If you have them then you should bring them, useless at home! I hiked this weekend NE of Campbell River with my 06 and my 12 gauge. I don't think I would hike with just 1 gun unless that is all I had. On your 2 week trip you don't want to be wishing you had brought the 1, 2 or 3 guns you left at home. I also always bring enough gear in my truck to spend the night if I had to. My young son hiked with the scoped 22 LR, which saw all of the action this weekend (grouse) and carried the shotgun (loaded with a slug) when we came across a black bear at the top of a mountain. It was nearing sunset when it decided to peruse us back to the truck (3k). Too small (2-3 yrs) to waste my tag on it but we weren't sure if mummy was around as we heard other dead fall "snap". We make do with this setup as these are the only guns we have right now. I want to get him a 7mm-08 for his birthday so he can get in on the deer and bear action here on the island.

[Trekker]

Id take the 375 and 270.. good to have a backup rifle and bring the 22/410 for birds.

[markomoose]

You can never have enough firepower! Bring em all and feel good about it.Good luck

[Bugle M In]

Don't forget the Trip Wires and Cow Bells!!

[killer_shot]

There is no such thing as to many guns !

Remember when a cop looked up some info on me and said why do you have 11 guns registered under your name "ummm its not a sport stupid its an obsession"

[Hillbros_96]

Don't forget the Trip Wires and Cow Bells!!

Pack alarm has been packed. Considering I am 1 hrs from home and the bears are like flies up there I will feel much better I had my 300 win mag last year and the size of it made it cumbersome around camp and in the tent. My 300 was not big enough for the grizzly i saw at 40 yrd, the 270 would definitely not be my first choice. I just do not feel like hauling the extra weight of the rifle to climb a mountain which is why I brought 2 rifles.

[adriaticum]

You can lose the 17 hmr.
I am thinking about some kind of rack on the inside of the roof to mount the guns and keep them out of the way of other stuff.
You could also buy one of the seat gun racks that you hang behind your seats and probably put 3 guns on that.

[Sasquatch]

Just hire a gun bearer to walk behind you and your problems are solved. It's like having a caddy....

[MichelD]

I worry too much about leaving stuff like that in the truck while I'm away hiking all day. I might bring a disposable 410 for a 2nd gun and that's about it.

[Backwoodninjajunky]

Never to too many guns on a trip, unless you packing them around all the time, not harm in having the toys around.... Mind I hate leaving guns in unattended.... Bring the shotty, and a a rifle .....

[Ron.C]

personally, I wouldn't want to be switching rifles for multiple species on a big game hunt. I'd prefer to carry one that can cover everything, regardless of what I see. The exception may be a Griz. I'd be happy to shoot a moose with the same gun/bullet I'd be shooting a goat, deer, caribou, elk with. But to each his own.

And the .22 for birds is a must!!!!!

[Darksith]

your biggest problem is you don't have the "all around rifle" in between the .270 and the .375. If I was you, I'd go buy a .325wsm and then you only need to pack 1 hunting rifle and 1 plinker...either way the shotgun isn't needed. Personally I don't bring too many guns, I hate leaving that kinda stuff in camp or in a vehicle.

[Hillbros_96]

your biggest problem is you don't have the "all around rifle" in between the .270 and the .375. If I was you, I'd go buy a .325wsm and then you only need to pack 1 hunting rifle and 1 plinker...either way the shotgun isn't needed. Personally I don't bring too many guns, I hate leaving that kinda stuff in camp or in a vehicle.


You are probably right where I do not have the in between rifle. i thought the 300 win mag was it until last year, and it was the perfect one rifle answer for all of Alberta animals. The more I think about it, rifles are allot like boats, they really do not excel at everything but do their intended job well. Considering the distance I am going, only carrying one rifle scares me. No difference then maybe packing a spare scope. With the terrain and expanse of animals to hunt, one rifle does not do it all well.


Maybe I should skip past the 325 asm and go right to the 338 RUM. Oh time will tell.

[Darksith]

was just trying to find the excuse to buy another rifle for ya ;)

[180grainer]

So I was packing to leave for my 2 week hunting trip by myself and realized I have packed 5 guns. Have I gone overboard?

1- 375 ruger for moose and Grizzly bear
1- 270wsm for goats and cariboo
1- 17wsm for plinking around camp and shooting heads off gophers.
1- shotgun for defensive purposes
1- 22/410 for grouse around camp.

What am I going to do when there is just me? :icon_frow

You're clearly hunting in or around your truck cause if you were packing in anywhere under your own steam, you're only going to take "one" gun. Get a secure box to put your guns in and take them all. Little piece of mind and you get to play with them all if you want. As others have mentioned, I hate leaving a gun in the truck. So find a safe way to store them and take what you like.

[REMINGTON JIM]

So I was packing to leave for my 2 week hunting trip by myself and realized I have packed 5 guns. Have I gone overboard?

1- 375 ruger for moose and Grizzly bear
1- 270wsm for goats and cariboo
1- 17wsm for plinking around camp and shooting heads off gophers.
1- shotgun for defensive purposes
1- 22/410 for grouse around camp.

What am I going to do when there is just me? :icon_frow

No ! No ! You need a 243-25-06 for deer too ! :wink: RJ

[ruger#1]

A Ruger compact in 204 Ruger For yotes and other vermin.

[moosinaround]

Overboard, yup! 270wsm with a 130 TTSX, or 140 accubond! Or 375 ruger with a 250 gr TTSX or 260 accubond, 22/410 combo gun is perfect! No need for a shotgun if the 375 ruger is there! Leave the 17 at home! Nice to have choices though! Moosin

[REMINGTON JIM]

A Ruger compact in 204 Ruger For yotes and other vermin.

Yup your right he was 2 rifles short for sure ! :wink: RJ

[Hillbros_96]

You're clearly hunting in or around your truck cause if you were packing in anywhere under your own steam, you're only going to take "one" gun. Get a secure box to put your guns in and take them all. Little piece of mind and you get to play with them all if you want. As others have mentioned, I hate leaving a gun in the truck. So find a safe way to store them and take what you like.

Yes you are right, I am hunting out of a base camp with a locked trailer and the ones I am not using will be hid in it. Of course the trailer will be padlocked.

I left the 6mm and the 300 at home with a bunch of 22's to keep them each other company. I bought the daughter a 7mm-08 so it is also getting left at home, but I am looking for taking it out for a walk when she does not want to go hunting.

[Hitman0]

If the 375 doesnt handle your defensive needs the shotgun ain't gonna help. for me either the 375 or the 270 wsm would handle all the big game needs, with a 410 or 22 for chickens...

[kootenaycarver]

If you want something for plinking, as well as your hunting rifle, get yourself a Hammond Game Getter insert for your hunting rifle. About $45.00, work great on grouse or small game. Fits in your pocket, saves packing another gun.

[Looking_4_Jerky]

Yes, overboard. Regardless of the fact you have a lockable trailer, a hundred things could happen to your rig and/or trailer and/or guns. I agree that either, but not both, the 270 or the 375 should go, and for screwing around the 22/410. Have fun!