Hard Choice
 

My greatest nightmare has hit. Because of finances, I need to trim down some of my guns. The hard choice is between my Remington 700 7mm Ultra Mag, or my Ruger MKII in .338 Win Mag. I love both guns, and want to keep one for out west hunting. The Remington is Laminated SS, and the Ruger is Stainless with a synthetic stock. I can shoot them equally well. It's a sad day, but I can only keep one. I would like to get all your thoughts on what rifle would better serve me for Big Hunting to include Mule Deer, Elk, Caribou, and maybe some day Moose or Bear. I need help......

latts

RE: Hard Choice
 

Sorry to hear about your situation latts. Just know that someday, whichever one you sell, everything will turn out and you will be able to get a new one. For hunting out west, I think I would hold on to the .338 mag, in case you ever decide to go after big bears, maybe elk or moose. The 7RUM will do it, but bigger bullets are a plus in my opinion. Hopefully everything will turn out good for you.

RE: Hard Choice
 

don't sell either. You'll regrete it later. sell the wifes jewelry or something. tell her it got stollen but don't sell you gun...........easy for me to say, huh.

There was two lines which all living husbands had to stand in. The sign that said all hen pecked men stand here was so long you could not see the end. The sign that said all "non"hen pecked men stand here. There was only one guy in it....

One of the hen pecked guys had to ask.....hey guy are you really the only "non"hen pecked husband in the world?............He says " all I know is my wife told me to stand here so that's exactly what I'm doin".

RE: Hard Choice
 

Keep the .338 Win. Mag. Good luck.

RE: Hard Choice
 

If you want to go for big bears and moose go with the 338, however if your gonna mostly hunt deer and maybe elk, go with the 7mm.

RE: Hard Choice
 

The 7mm mag with a premium 175 grain bullet is MORE than enough for moose and the big bears!!! Most people don't know that a 7mm mag with a 175 nosler partition will out penetrate many if not most of the bigger guns that are loaded with soft points!! (includeing the 338 mag)

Nothing wrong with a 338, but a 7 mag will also easily do the job, and has less recoil!!

Drilling Man

RE: Hard Choice
 

Many years ago I found myself in the same situation and was looking at my guns trying to determine how much each would bring to help me out of my financial dilemma.
I packed up every single one, took them to my parents house and put them in my dads closet. Told him to please take care of them and I would be back for them at a later date.

Went thru some damn hard times for 3-4 years but you know? I made it, without selling my guns. I now have every one of them back in my possesion and have aquired a few more to boot.
Thinking back now...If I had sold all my guns at that time or even just one or two it wouldn't have helped my situation that much and I would have been out of alot more than keeping them.

Good Luck whatever you do

Wes

RE: Hard Choice
 

I agree, don't sell them! Your only going to get a few hundred dollars for either of those rifles. There must be some other way to come up with that money. But, if you do absolutely have to sell one, I would hold on to the 7mm UM, it's a great round, and the 700 LSS is a tough, good looking gun. Good luck.

RE: Hard Choice
 

latts, if you're not gonna hunt any real big nasty critters keep the 7mm stw. If you wnat, I will hang on to the 338 for you and keep the dust out of the barrel.....

RE: Hard Choice
 

I have been in that spot myself a couple times. If you have to sell one, I think keep the 338. More flexible for big stuff and the Remington will bring more cash. After all is said and done I hope you are able to do what I have done, sell one and replace it eventually with a half dozen. It is a nice revenge against fate for having to sell one in the first place.

RE: Hard Choice
 

All I have to say is that I'm not hen pecked!!! I just have CHICKEN HOUSE WAYS!!!!!!!!:D:D


I think that I would have to choose the 338. Just easier to get ammo for and is a little more veristal. (ah hell keep them both. )

RE: Hard Choice
 

You might be able to find a friend or family member you can "sell" one of the guns too that will let you buy it back a few years later for the same amount. That way they get to use the gun and if you never pay them back they keep the gun. Might be a way to get a loan with collateral and no interest. I know people that have done this.

RE: Hard Choice
 

I was in same situation years ago. I ended up selling guns. I regretted ever since. Looking back, I wish I would have found another way. Either gun will serve your purpose I think equally. Kinda a toss up. If you lived the life out west and lived there, I would say keep the 338, but for the occasional trip, and you living in PA, i would keep the RUM. Maybe overkill for deer, but works just the same. And will easily fit your purpose out west.

RE: Hard Choice
 

I would keep the Remington-when you think about it, you really don't need the recoil associated with the .338WM to hunt the game you mentioned, the 7mm RUM is a much better choice...it's not hard to replace either one of these guns should you choose to do so again in the future, but I think you'll be happier keeping the "lighter" rifle for hunting.

RE: Hard Choice
 

you left out one more option... you could always keep both guns and get rid of the girl!!! j/k... tough one man, i do not envy your position!

RE: Hard Choice
 

I've thought about that before too. But then I know what I paid for those guns, and have a fair idea what they would sell for. And then when I want to buy them back I've got to pay top $ again. If you really need the money, get a 2nd job or something, but you'll regret selling your guns.

If I had to choose I'd keep the 7mm. For mostly muley's, elk, and caribou it's everything you need. If times are tight, you probably won't be going on a big hunt for moose or bear anyway, and if you do the 7mm would still be enough gun for them.

RE: Hard Choice
 

Keep the Remington. You can kill anything with it. One question for you is the Ruger have a tang safty? (I don't know much about when ruger changed the safty)

RE: Hard Choice
 

Words of Wisdom! I too have been in your situation a few times. I have sold many guns that I can NEVER replace. I didn't help my situation all that much either by selling my guns, I actually ended up selling them for under what the actual value was and it only costs more down the road to replace them. You don't usually gain anything by selling your guns. I know that looking around the house the first thing of "value" is a gun but find something else you don't really need and sell it!

Good Luck! Keep the Faith!

RE: Hard Choice
 

No one knows your situation like yourself, but if it were me I would be looking to sell off the lawn mower , chain saws , tools , dogs, tv's , etc, anyway good luck , hoping things get bettrt.

RE: Hard Choice
 

Don't sell them, you bought them, keep them. I've regreted selling guns that can't be replaced.

RE: Hard Choice
 

I have had to do the same thing in the past. First I get rid of guns I don't totally care for. Then i look at which gun is more versatile. Looks like for what you are saying you want to do, I would keep the 338. I do agree with the other guys, it totally sucks to have to get rid of guns, I would almost rather get rid of my truck than any of my guns!

RE: Hard Choice
 

Words of wisdom here.....

RE: Hard Choice
 

Don't sell! Do what it takes to keep both, you'll never be in the right position (as far is the wife is concerned) to replace it.