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Old November 14, 2012, 08:46 AM   #1
jproaster
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Can I justify another gun...no

...and the wife's general displeasure?

I have a general philosophy of gun ownership- obtain quality pieces for all reasonable scenarios. At this time I feel well covered. However in my reloading ventures I've recently obtained 308 dies thinking like other calibers that I'd shoot quite a bit. But my only 308 is a Ruger hawkeye, which is bolt.

So am I gonna shoot that much 308 bolt to justify reloading it?
Or, do I need to find a scenario to begin a 308 battle or sniper build? (I own a quality ar15 build now).

Any words of wisdom out there?

*****decided to leave it alone for now. Thanks*****

John
*dont know why I'm even thinking of guns or reloading; I work all the time-who has time to shoot.

Last edited by jproaster; November 14, 2012 at 10:24 PM. Reason: Made my decision
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Old November 14, 2012, 11:05 AM   #2
JimDandy
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Isn't saving money, and making better rounds reloading its own justification? And saving money would reverse that wife's displeasure scenario. Just don't tell her that means you'll use the money saved to make more reloads...
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Old November 14, 2012, 03:58 PM   #3
the rifleer
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Honestly, I think you should just be thankful for what you have. I was like this at one point, just focused on getting the nicest/coolest guns. Then i realized I hardly shoot the ones I have, so I started putting that money toward ammo. I'd way rather have a few gun and plenty of ammo/range time than have a whole bunch of guns and no ammo to shoot.

I've also realized that while multiple guns is nice, having any more than 3 or 4 calibers can be hard to stock ammo for.
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Old November 14, 2012, 04:07 PM   #4
Belve
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you can always justify another gun! if you get it at the right price it will never loose value. It can be used as a tool (hunting, self defense) or a toy ( looks great in the safe and even better when at the range) Either way thats how i justify a new one when the wife complains
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Old November 14, 2012, 05:05 PM   #5
PetahW
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Justify ? Wife's displeasure ?

My heart goes out to you, and others, living under like conditions.


I suppose, if I were in your shoes, I'd present wifey-poo the "package deal / bargain", I just ran across - the gun of my choice and a piece of bling (jewelry) that I know she'd like.


.
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Old November 14, 2012, 06:07 PM   #6
olddav
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Oh sure I'd buy another gun just to make sure that I didn't let a set of dies go to waste.
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Old November 14, 2012, 06:56 PM   #7
jproaster
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Well, I have my ar15 for basic self defense in a semi and I have a 30/30 for the same nd hunting; and I have th ruger 308 bolt as a decent reach out there nd touch something round.

Is there a situation that the above cannot handle well in which a person would be seriously desiring an ar10 or something similar?

Thanks,
John
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Old November 14, 2012, 07:10 PM   #8
allaroundhunter
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Well, an AR10 is great for putting a sounder of hogs in their place almost as fast as an AR15 and with more power...
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Old November 15, 2012, 04:46 PM   #9
McShooty
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Not sure what kind of shooting you like best, aside from hunting, but if you like to reach out and touch something the .308 is great to load for and play with. Here is an assignment. Shoot groups at 50- and 100-yards to see how your Hawkeye does. Investigate W748, Varget, RL-15, etc., or appropriate powder you have on hand if not these. Use 165-grain hunting bullets by the major companies, and also try Sierra's 168-gr Matchking for accuracy, but not for hunting. By the way, W748 also works great in the .30-30, and .30-30 round and flat-nosed bullets will also be accurate in the .308, so you can get double duty out of some of these items.
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Old November 15, 2012, 10:23 PM   #10
Valerko
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Easier to beg for forgiveness then ask for permission. That's my motto.
Plus , .308 you don't reload for savings , you do it or accuracy.
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Old November 16, 2012, 01:27 AM   #11
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My vote goes to an AR-10. But there are other rifles that may fill the niche. I am assuming you're thinking of a gas gun. The M1A is also a solid choice. It can be justified that in the event of WROL, a battle rifle with superior capabilities to a 5.56 may be needed. The way I see it, even the Marines have M4s and M1A EBRs in one squad. I own a gas and bolt gun in .308. It just made sense to me, though. I think given enough thought, we can rationalize just about anything
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Old November 17, 2012, 07:20 AM   #12
madcratebuilder
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PetahW
I suppose, if I were in your shoes, I'd present wifey-poo the "package deal / bargain", I just ran across - the gun of my choice and a piece of bling (jewelry) that I know she'd like.
The key to a successful marriage.

I have guns and the wife has diamonds.
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Old November 17, 2012, 07:32 AM   #13
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A man cannot have one too many guns!

Get an M1A.
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Old November 17, 2012, 04:47 PM   #14
TX Hunter
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Jp Roadster

The .308 is a wonderfull versitle cartridge. Components for them are common as dirt, and your Ruger Hawkeye is a very solid and would be well suited to handloading. I hand load for my Ruger Frontier .308 and love it. Took down nice Young Deer with my own hand load this morning and it performed beautifully. I recomend getting a good reloading manual do not go past recomended powder charges. Good luck
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Old November 17, 2012, 05:20 PM   #15
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what about a lever or pump action in 308? put a red dot on it and you got yourself some pig medicine with abit more punch than your 30-30
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Old November 17, 2012, 10:12 PM   #16
jmr40
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The only 308's I own are bolt guns. I shoot them enough to justify handloading. In fact you can do more handloading a bolt gun than any other. Loads that will easily function in a bolt gun will choke semi's and lever guns. The potential is there for much improved performance.
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Old November 17, 2012, 11:22 PM   #17
the rifleer
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So i feel like the outcast in this tread because i keep saying things that are different from what everyone else says, but when it comes to home defense you really want a single gun you can trust. Realistically from start to finish the entire event will last maybe a minute?
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Old November 18, 2012, 06:10 AM   #18
TX Hunter
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For all of you who want to Justify buying things, think about this, in our Current Economic Situation anything you purchase will help Stimulate the Economy.
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Old November 18, 2012, 09:09 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jproaster
So am I gonna shoot that much 308 bolt to justify reloading it?
That's a question only you can answer. However, the broader question is how to maintain marital harmony while doing the things you want to do. That is also a question wherein the answer must fit your situations.

I can remember years and years of raising kids on a limited income and every expenditure had to go through the filter of justification, simply to make sure that the bills were paid and the kids had shoes and were properly fed. It's a hassle, but it builds character. Now that my kids are grown and gone, the wife and I have more disposable income than we've had in years past. I don't have any trouble justifying a purchase, normally don't even discuss a purchase with the wife, except to let her know that the UPS truck is going to drop a package.

At this stage of our relationship we've got our own checking accounts, our own income flowing in, and don't worry nearly so much about money as we did in the past. She doesn't count rifles, and I don't count shoes. I consider myself the luckiest man in the world.

Now, as to your ammo question. There is no doubt in my mind that I can build much better ammunition than I can buy. I can take advantage of sales to stockpile supplies, and I can obsess on quality control if I choose. Currently, my .308 ammo costs me about 35 cents per bang and it shoots very, very well.
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Old November 21, 2012, 12:28 AM   #20
El Paso Joe
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I see that you have made your decision.

But, for what it is worth - I have been known to buy a set of dies because the price was really good. And then buy a gun or two to justify the dies. I am not sure there is ever a rational explanation for any of this...
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Old November 21, 2012, 02:57 AM   #21
youngunz4life
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don't forget about taking care of the wife too
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Old November 22, 2012, 09:40 AM   #22
mr.t7024
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Another Gun

My Wife asked me how many guns I need, Answer ."Always one more" I asked how many shoes, earrings or jewelry she needs,the silence was deafening! I do not drink,go out with the guys,she knows where I am 99% of the time! If a gun:tickles my pickle,flops my mop,paddles my canoe,amongst other things I buy it! Cliff
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Old November 22, 2012, 09:59 AM   #23
JWT
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A person does not need justification for another gun - just the cash to buy one.

When one follows me home my wife always asks if I need it and I always say need has nothing to do with it. Then I ask if she cares that I bought another one and she always say 'no'. Great wife.
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Old November 22, 2012, 11:06 AM   #24
TMD
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If you have to justify it to yourself then don't bother. You obviously have more important issues to resolve.
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Old November 22, 2012, 11:16 AM   #25
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Quote:
Easier to beg for forgiveness then ask for permission. That's my motto.
Yes, but I've found that forgiveness can be way more expensive than permission. My approach is just to buy it and don't tell her. Sometime later, I get her something special.
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