First, I would find the person or thing that changed the rifle and kick them HARD. Then I would search long and hard for a rifle like I USED to have. If I could not find a similar rifle, I would probably keep the original, but would probably look around for replacement. That's just me. I am particular about the chambering itself. Each cartridge has its own particular ballistic advantages which is important to me, almost as much as the rifle's fit.
I would probably still use the original if it fit that well.

Ok young buck. This situation could have an up-side. In as much as I love every gun that I have. This freak change means I will have to buy another gun (or 2). And shopping for guns is almost as good as hunting with them (almost).
Now with the cal's listed
My Parker Hale 30-06 to a 308... fine both are good whitetail calibers.
My Rem 700 7mm to a 280... the 280 is a great cal but more than likely I would sell it.
My Rem 760 in 257 rbt's ... what is that turning to? My guess would be a 243? Not a big fan of the 243. I would sell it.
My Ruger Deerfield 44mag what is the drop there? 357 mag? Thats cool sounds like a fun little gun.
Now I need to buy a new 06 (because everybody should have a 30-06) and maybe a 338?

I have to agree with ya there. Buying a new rifle is almost as exciting as going hunting. Last week I killed my 14th deer but it was just the 3rd I have killed with a rifle. Though I give more thought and time to my rifles than anything else. I guess its just a time to get to play with my "toys". You wouldn't wan't to get rid of that 760 257 roberts would ya?

For an ungodly amount of money, you bet.

Yeah, everything ADKBEAR said. That was said perfectly.

I would love to get my hands on that 760 257 rbts also.

I used to have a Parker Hale in .308 cal and I would like to say that you'll find no better utility rifle. Wasn't pretty to look at but when the shot needed to count it was right there for me. I ruined it shooting FMJ's thru it at the range for kicks. I wished I knew then that it was destroyin the barrel.

[ This Message was edited by: JTapia on 2003-12-23 15:19 ]

What would you think?

I'd think that i should stop putting those magic mushrooms on my pizza and in my spaghetti. WHOOOO.... man.... the guns went and done shrunk.

Anyway, to dodge the intent of your post within that selection I'd say I'm still good to go because I have a 30-06 to choose from and it works for what I hunt.

To hit your point though, yeah if it shrunk too much, I'd probably wouldn't go hunt with it.

I don't think the question is: Will this cartridge kill? A 22 will kill, or for that matter so will a machete, but it doesn't mean that we should all go hunt with machetes or 22.

I think the question is: Will this cartridge kill a high percentage of the time for an average hunter? Defining an "average" hunter is a topic that would be interesting, but generally when I read somebody that say for instance "A 270 win 150 grain load is not sufficient for elk (geee i wonder where i pulled that from)", they are assuming that an average hunter will most likely not make a good shot and hit the vital area.

I'm not really sure what an average hunter does, but I tend to lean to the more pessmistic side, simply because of conditions and nerves.

That's another point I was trying to get at without being too lengthy. Suppose you have a .270 and shoot it well, and it is your "go-to" elk rifle...suddenly it becomes a .25-06. Will you still use it for elk? I wouldn't, but that's me. Then you talk whitetails...I'd probably rather have the .280 than the 7mm mag...so it all depends on what you're going after and your own personal comfort level with the cartridge itself.

I don't blame ya for hangin' on the 760, but it was worth a shot. I have an old Remington 722 in a 257Roberts but I'm always looking to add another Roberts to the collection.

Know what you mean about the 722, VA. I've got one in .300 Savage. Great deer gun. Probably the best pointing rifle I've ever had. It could change to many different cartridges and I'd still want it, as long as I was comfortable that it would cleanly kill deer like the .300 does.
I'm actually looking for a 722 in .257 or .244. I like them that much!

I think I'd need to go shoot it first but, then I'll take it hunting.
I use the 308 for everything. Shooting it just feels natural. For me its the most accurate and comfortable heavy round I have tried. I like the 06 too but, the kick on the 308 is more tollarable and in the east I have never had a shot past 140 yds. 90% are under 80 yds.