Thread: Our favourite ever firearms..

Raining in Christchurch and they say there'll be snow soon. Feels like it.. The fire's going and this veteran sitting quietly pondering the firearms I enjoyed most over a long career. Am not a collector - more an experimenter - but must have had 100 or so over the decades. If you've done a few years, you've most likely had a few firearms. Often we only find out what our favourites are after we've sold them!!

No accounting for what becomes a favourite - and no real need to. Can be any centrefire/shottie/rimfire that just pressed your buttons. Could be due to superb build quality, price deal, accuracy, rarity, classic value, effectiveness as a field shooter etc... If you've had a few arms, what are are the ones you liked most? - The ones that put a smile on the dial -the ones you'd like to keep, or have back in the closet? Pick say 3-4 and just add a line or too on each telling us why they're a favorite.. For me - I'd pick these:

* My favourite ever centrefire ever was a little Remington 600 (circa 1965), ventilated rib model, in 243. Small, light, deadly in northern bush conditions with its fixed power Leupold, and equally effective and accurate at NZDA competitions. Delightful little rifle - would love another in original condition.

* Winchester 9422 XTR lever action - had a brace of these in 22LR and 22WMR, and to be honest hardly put a shot through them. Beautiful wee rifles in classic american style, and appreciating collector pieces now. Just plain fun to play with and look at..

* SKB 12g under and over with early synthetic stock. This was the ideal shottie for me as a youngster doing 12g competition shooting back in the day. Light, nicely balanced for me, pointed beautifully, and not too hard on the shoulder. Did well with it - sold it - and then haven't seen one for decades.. Early Jap 12g and a favourite..

* Marlin model 60DL semiauto 22LR - played with about 10 variants but a couple in particular were superb wee hunters. 14 shots, match rifle accuracy, reliable (if run clean and dry), and very fast. Ideal for high volume and precise bunny control out to 100m, and much fun on the bench. When a little rifle shoots 1/4" on the range with hunting HV ammo, it gets your attention..

Some honorable mentions - My Winchester model 94 30-30cal levers, polished JWs which were so lethal in the field, Browning 12g under and over, and Norinco Em332 (best 22 I ever tested at 100m).

There are some from me - let's hear about yours. Rainy day topic..but a useful one