RE: the deal with the wife
I make no deals with anyone... Especially when it comes to my leisure enjoyments. When you make deals you make a bargain. That means the other side is expecting to gain something as well. If financially another rifle is not something you can afford to do, then you need to just forget it and hunt with what you have until you can afford it. Most the times the better half is a lot more cooperative then you think. Maybe Santa is going to surprise you this year....