I always have at least one spare back-up rifle in camp as with an average of 5 hunters on each elk hunting camp its almost certain some guy will screw up a scope, a scope mount,a trigger or have the wrong ammo or some screwed up part, when your 2300 miles from home it pays to have a back-up plan, a spare rifle or at least a heavy caliber revolver to hunt with, and a few basic tools, theres always someone who gets something to break or looses parts or ammo, so having a camp back up rifle has saved many hunts over many years.
we had a 45/70 marlin many years and a 6.5mm Swedish military conversion/sporter bolt rifle some others, and my 35 whelen slide action as a spare on other trips, in fact the 35 whelen got used so often and successfully theres now several guys in camp that own one .
the idea is to have a back-up that works, effectively , but not one thats so attractive its always in use as someones primary rifle
we had a 45/70 marlin many years and a 6.5mm Swedish military conversion/sporter bolt rifle some others, and my 35 whelen slide action as a spare on other trips, in fact the 35 whelen got used so often and successfully theres now several guys in camp that own one .
the idea is to have a back-up that works, effectively , but not one thats so attractive its always in use as someones primary rifle