Thanks to the wisdom shared by members here, in the past few years my gun safe and reloading have both been totally transformed. I haven't bought factory centerfire ammo in years, and some of my guns have never seen a factory load. For the most part I'm all in on cast-friendly shooting and simple firearms. My needs, modest as they are, have been completely met.
- Concealed carry pistol: S&W Model 60 3" (Revolver, 357 magnum)
- Backup CCW/Plinking pistol: S&W Model 63 (Revolver, 22LR, with grip and sight identical to CCW)
- Suppressed pistol: Kel-Tec P17 (Semi, 22LR)
- General-use rifle: CZ-452 UltraLux (Bolt, 22LR)
- General-use rifle: Henry H015 (Break, 357 Magnum)
- Suppressed pistol: T/C Encore (Break, 357 magnum)
- SHTF Rifle: m59/66 SKS (Semi, 7.62x39)
- Varmint Rifle: Howa 1500 (Bolt, 223 Rem)
- Full Power Rifle: m91/30, K31, k98k (Bolts, 7.62x54R, 7.5x55, 7.92x57)
- Wife-friendly bedroom defense: Marlin Model 60 (Semi, 22LR)
- Shotgun: CZ Redhead(?) (Break, 20ga)
As a guy who generally doesn't hunt unless there is a problem to be solved, there is nothing I need to do which is not addressed by this collection. I have no interest in long range hunting, so the fact that my full-power rifles aren't scoped doesn't bother me. If for some reason I need to go to Maine and shoot a moose, I'm pretty sure any of those military cartridges would work with the right bullet at iron-sight ranges.
Each gun that I reload for has a bullet and load already determined. I can shoot them all reasonably well.
Despite this, my brain is constantly suggesting things that I need to change or buy.
- Should I have the barrel of the Henry cut down to 16" and threaded so it will accept my suppressor?
- Should the suppressor live on that gun or on the Encore?
- The deer in our area are so brazen that I could easily pop them with my Model 60 while doing outside chores, but my carry load for that is in the 38spl area, should I increase the power of the load I carry to address that possibility?
- Should I increase the power of the load I carry because the cylinder only holds 5 shots?
- Should I get a Kimber K6S 3" and go through the trouble to install adjustable sights so I have a J-frame sized gun with 6 shots?
- Should I get a CVA Scout in 45-70 and buy the dies/molds for that? If so, how heavy should the bullets be? Is there a point if the 35-245P mold for my Encore does the job on deer?
Part of me feels like this is God's way of telling me I have too much free time to think.