My first real collectable rifle, bought many years ago, was a 1895 in 30-40 made in 1902. Yes the big bores are nice but there is nothing wrong with the 30-40.

I lived in New Mexico at the time. I picked up the rifle from the gunshop and stopped on the way home and shot it to check the sights. It had one of those neat climbing Lyman peep sights, model 21 if I'm remembering correctly. It was a cold and snowy February day. On a whim I stop again and took a short hike with the rifle and a coyote call. I promptly called in a big coyote and dropped him with one shot. Not a bad way to start a relationship with a wonderful old rifle.