My grandfather built me a Rem 700 platform in a lefty version when I was 12 years old. 6mm Remington is the cartridge. I killed umpteen whitetail and muleys over the years with it, and just last season I shot my first Washington Blacktail.

She's never failed me, and I don't plan to leave it in the case any time soon. I turn 30 next week, so she's been mine for 18 years now.

The hope is that someday I will have a youngster of my own, or in my family who is an up and coming hunter who I will be able to pass the rifle on to. It would be hard to see it go, but hey, it was a gift to me anyway!