What is a good rifle to buy as an anniversary gift for my husband? He is an avid gun/rifle collector.?

Question

My anniversary is coming up and my husband is an avid collector - has about 50+ assorted rifles and restricted arms as part of his collection. I just recently bought him a 460 Smith and Wesson revolver, one that he'd been searching for for quite some time, and am getting him a custom made leather holster for it, however I would like to buy him a new rifle for the occasion. I am not as well-versed in guns, but try to keep an eye out for what he looks at and says he likes - however I am at a loss this time around. I know that he was looking at a large Ruger at Wholesale Sports - specifically for big-game hunts in Africa (something he plans to do) but the rifle was $3500 and I am looking to spend about $800 or less.

Any suggestions for a 'must-have' or a classy rifle that would be a good add to his collection?

Thanks! :)

Answer 1

I think your best bet is to buy him a really nice anniversary card, and in the card give him a gift certificate that you made. On it, say something like, "This certificate entitles you to spend $800 at Wholesale Sports on any hunting or firearm purchase of your choice."



Since he already has 50 rifles or more, including "restricted arms," I'd guess that anything we suggest may be wrong. Either he'll already have it, or he won't really want it. You might luck out, but gun sales are almost always final, so... Best to let him choose if you aren't sure.

Answer 2

I am kinda in the same train of thought as LGM. Might be throwing yo a curve, but, most of us buy guns, and buy more guns. But, we don't spend money on accessories that make our guns more pleasurable to use. A spotting scope, a good pair of Binoculars, or even a high quality rifle scope for his next rifle. ( you know there WILL be a next rifle )



OMG, you seem like a great girl. I hope you do enjoy shooting fun along with your lucky husband.



If you really want a new gun for him, $800.00 would put you in the used market to be able to get an amazing gun for him. Let's see, another option could be a real tack driver just for fun. How about a plain Jane out of the box Ruger 10/22, outfit it with a premium barrel, an over sized stock, and finish with a good scope to top it with. You know give him a whole pile of presents. He could sit and enjoy assembling all the stuff to perfection in his down time. And when done he has a cheap toy to play with, and the thing can hit thumb tacks at 50 yards.



See(?) you have guns that are OK, you have some that do not shoot as well as you want, and then you have a couple that are a real pleasure, because you can shoot Fruit Flies at 50'. An extremely accurate rifle is allot of fun. A Ruger 10/22 is a long know dependable rifle to max out by so many shooters. I have one, and it has paid for itself many times over at Sportsman's club shooting days, when wagers are involved. LOL, like taking candy from a bunch of babies. ( Gloating is bad form )

Answer 3

I'm in line with some of the others to look for something he wouldn't buy for himself. I'm also in line that it sounds like making a pick might be tough just because he has an extensive collection already. Plus, it also sounds like the two of you have reached a fortunate point in your life to where his and your budget for guns is not restricted to the penny pinching and saving that many of us have had to go through.



Still, here's something I would suggest - often people don't think to spend the money on a really nice .22 rifle. Particularly as you get older and can afford nicer guns the cheap .22 rifles, just aren't as much fun to shoot, but a nice .22 rifle somehow doesn't seem worth it ... but they are once you start shooting one.



So, here are a couple of suggestions:

1) A Browning Semi - Auto Grade 1 retails for about $700 MSRP. It is a classy gun with nice wood, some engraving work and is deep blued. Here's a picture:

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/imagepreview.asp?mid=021001

It's also a take down, so a great rifle to take along on those Big game hunts where you are after the day's hunt and are doing a little informal plinking or some small game hunting for the stew pot. There are a number of grades with gold inlay and engraving if that is his style that are more expensive, but you may be able to find used because .22 values can be a bit hit and miss.



2) A CZ 455 Varmint Evolution bolt action rifle - here's a picture:

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/455-Varmint-Evolution/

This is in .17HMR which is a nice mid range varminter caliber for things up to about coyote size. Great for praire dogs, rabbits, squirrels, etc. Again, something he might not get himself, but that he probably would thoroughly enjoy shooting. At your price point, you could even pair it up with a nice scope making it a great package gift.



Thinkingblade

Answer 4

If he has 50 rifles there is a good chance he owns the one I'd list. How about a scope? If he's into tactical carbines maybe an Eotech.



Or maybe a handgun.

Many people love 1911's.

Or maybe a Ruger GP100 Revolver. CZ new pistol the P-09 is out and since its new he may not have it yet. $800 get a good gun but nothing rare.

Answer 5

CZ makes a great Safari grade rifle, the 550 Safari or American Magnum,which have different stock profiles, and come in 375 H&H (minimum cartridge in many African areas) to 458 Lott. These are the same as a BRNO safari rifle which many pro hunters have been using for decades. While the retail price is $1200+ you can find them for less and even if it pushes the budget the quality of the rifle is worth every penny. They are built like bank vaults,have a classic Mauser controlled feed action (a benefit in dangerous game rifles) and the large bridge area makes the rifle solid and it comes with integrated scope mount (and rings) and with iron sights that make sense for shorter range hunting. CZ also has a very useable set trigger option so a shooter can use less trigger pull poundage for the actual shooting. I used my friends CZ in 375 H&H when taking American Bison (not hunting,purchased animals for meat instead of cattle),my friend did use it in Africa and even the guide was impressed with the selection and the rifle's accuracy.

Answer 6

Gift Certificates.. Men really do like them better. Than a wife taking even a honest guess at what gun things he might be wanting.



He may well have been looking at something that cost, say, $1200 but didn't want to spend the money. You give him a $800 gift certificate and then he only has to decide to spend the additional $400.

Answer 7

A M1917 Enfield. It's the second strongest action after the Arisaka Jap. It can, and has been re-barreled for 500 Jeffry. That can kill anything on Earth.



They are also very accurate (mine in 30-06 can put two bullets through the same hole) plus they are not too expensive. Around $400 bucks.



Get a Winchester made one, not a Eddystone or Remington made one. The Winchester ones were made to higher tolerances,.

Answer 8

First, if you ever get divorced, will you marry me?



The problem is that if he already has 50+ assorted rifles, none of us has any clue as to what he already has or where his interests lie. Does he have a specialty that he collects? Does he shoot regularly and what does he shoot? Does he hunt?



$800 is kind of a mundane amount. It is enough but a very good gun, but nothing special unless he there is something specific he has been wanting.



Some random thoughts...

Marlin 1894 Cowboy Rifle (in a revolver caliber that he owns)

Ruger SR1911 .45 ACP pistol

CZ 455 .22lr Rifle

WWII era collectable firearm such as an M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, Lee Enfield .303, Mauser Kar98K, Walther P38

Answer 9

Man... that's impossible to answer. We don't know what he's into. New guns? Old guns? Hand guns? Hunting guns? I knew a guy who had a small collection of guns, but it was every shotgun Remington produced. Why? Who knows but that's what he wanted. Anyhow, here are some suggestions.



New Gun: try a Henry Silver Eagle. http://www.henryrepeating.com/Henry-Silver-Eagle-Rifle.cfm



Hand Gun: something different like a 4 barrel pepper box pistol https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=3777&aid=76205&lid=19108216&title=Sharps-4-Bbl.-Pepper-Box-Pistol



Old Gun: Who knows.... it's what's available at the local gunshop or on GunBroker.



Honestly the best idea is to let him decide. It's the thought that counts.

Answer 10

$800 will not buy much in the way of a nice rifle. If he has that many guns then one more rifle might not be too exciting, especially for your budget. Perhaps a nice pair of binoculars would be a good gift.



You should pass on that worthless lowlife scumbag Russ and call me instead.

Answer 11

Why a rifle? You could get him a classy handgun and he'd be less likely to already own it.



And you can get a lot more for $800 in a handgun than in a rifle.



Specifically, you can get him another 1911 at that price point (he probably owns more than one, but 1911s come in so many varieties that having multiple is pretty normal).



You can get something like the Sig Sauer 1911 Nightmare for around $900. It is my favorite 1911 look, which is why I bought one.



http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=400769368



You can also pick up a nice Dan Wesson revolver at that price point. Dan Wesson revolvers are no longer made, but are, undisputably (at least, among people in the know, like competition shooters and collectors), the best production revolvers out there. They have the quality and triggers of a S&W, but the strength of a Ruger Redhawk. Nothing else can compete. I also love the look of them... which is why I bought one of those too.



However, because they are no longer made, you really have to keep a close eye out for them. Mine was a 6.5" .44 Mag in stainless, which I haven't seen one like it come up in a while.



http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=399987267



Here's a blued one in good shape, but from the pictures, you can't tell a lot about the condition. Looks nice though. You'll have to check gunbroker every day for a while until you find one you like.







Alternately, you could get him something a bit less classy and a bit more radical. I bet he doesn't have a Chiappa Rhino. The triggers aren't as nice as Smiths, and they aren't as strong as Rugers, and they are gimmicks, IMO, but a lot of people really like them and I hear the durability/quality is pretty good. Just not what you pay for them. But the looks and design... my goodness.



http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_962/products_id/80356/Chiappa+Rhino+357+RemMag+6%22+6rd+Wood+G







Anyways, if you are really set on getting him a rifle, I'd suggest something like the Henry Golden Boy:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_107_979/products_id/36648/Henry+Golden+Boy+.22+LR



If you had a few hundred more to spend, you could get him a custom-grade "Winchester" (Winchester is defunct, technically, it is a Browning) 30-30

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_61/products_id/61262/WGUN+534164114+M1894+OFW+3030+HIGH

Answer 12

I think something like the Remington Model 547 22 rimfire rifle, from Remington's Custom Shop might fill your need.

Answer 13

That Dan Wesson Revolver is a great idea! http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=400745993



I get moist just looking at them! A truly FINE revolver!

Answer 14

If he has nice rifles, what he probably needs is a really high quality spotting scope. That's the direction I'd go, were I you with the budget you have. It's probably not something he'd buy for himself, but if he likes to shoot at distance and is getting up in years, a good spotting scope is a "really nice to have."

Answer 15

Ask him...he knows what he wants...we don't. Ask and get him something he REALLY wants...( Wholesale Sports ?...Restricted?....you're a Canuck...aren't you ? lol. ) So am I.....if EYE was going to the Dark Continent and duking it out with the Big 5, I would get a fine Weatherby 460 magnum

Answer 16

I would look into a Winchester Classic Model 70 in 338 Win Mag or 375 H&H. The 338 for Alaska. The 375 if he will wind up hunting in Africa. So, in your price range, probably the 338. Let him pick his own 375.



It's harder to find an affordable control-fed bolt action, but they offer more reliable feeds for dangerous game. Not an area to save money. I consider the larger bovines dangerous when at close quarters or wounded, like moose, American buffalo, or Cape buffalo.



Some ideas...



Outdoor Life 50 Top Guns in Last 10 Years -- my picks

http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/guns/2011/05/best-hunting-rifles-decade

Browning T-Bolt 22LR $600

Weatherby Mark XXII 17HMR $950

T/C Venture Predator 22-250 $550, or Precision Hunter 22-250 $1,300

Ruger No. 1 Varminter 220Swift $1,400 (current cartridge)

Kimber Model 84M Classic 243Win or 308 Win $900

Tikka Whitetail Hunter 308Win $620

Browning X-Bolt 30-06 $850

Kimber 8400 Classic 30-06 $1,100

Sako 85 Finnlight 308Win $1,600 -- mountain rifle



Some reading if you like...



Hunting Guns: From Your First Rifle to a World Class Battery

http://www.chuckhawks.com/hunting_guns.htm



Heavy bovine game: .308 to .50BMG

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Heavy+Game+Cartridge+Overview.html



Bolt Action Rifles for Dangerous Game, The Rifle Stocks

http://www.chuckhawks.com/bolt_rifles_dangerous_game.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/grizzly_cartridges.htm



Recommended Riflescopes

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recommended_riflescopes.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/scopes_price_class.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_dangerous_game_riflescopes.htm



Prime Questions: list your priorities, rank them to your mission

1. How far is your target--max effective range

2. How tough is your target--remaining energy & bullet construction/type

3. How easy to feed the rifle, ammo & component availability

4. How easy to carry & move the rifle, weight, mobility

5. How easy is to make the shot, recoil, trajectory, wind deflection

Not important: lightest bullet with highest muzzle velocity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwG-D0HjCBQ



BrassFetcher: bullet performance in ballistic gelatin

www.brassfetcher.com/



Hope these help. ...such a thoughtful wife. ;)

Answer 17

Go with a ruger #1 in 416 rigby. I almost bet he doesn't have one and you could kill just about anything with this calaber. even in Africa.

Answer 18

I recommend a Remington 700. Very well-made gun with many purposes. You can get it in various calibers, my preferred is the .308.