Modern Sporting Rifles?

[bedrockfred]

My marlin model 60 is a pig, a ar-15 is lipstick on a pig, why do looks matter? Both shoot the same, right?--bedrockfred

 

[FastEd]

I guess I'm from the old school. When I whip out my weapon I want it to look good. Sure it has to be accurate and efficient, too. I may not shoot it a lot but I still get a sense of security when I pick it up.
I still like to stroke it and smell it and look through the scope. These black weapons, rifles & pistols, do nothing for me. It's possible that someday I might have to defend my home from a Banzai charge but I think I could still get my share without having to tattoo the whole neighborhood.

All of my old hunting pals feel the same way. How ugly can they make a gun. If I showed up at the Range with an assault rifle they would laugh me right out of my Florsheim brown and white perforated loafers.

It's not just the assault weapons. I was in the local Walmart the other day just nosing around for something to buy. When I looked at the rifles in the showcases I couldn't believe what I saw. Plastic stocks with painted finishes even on the standard bolt actions. I was even afraid somebody would see me looking at them.

I'm glad I still have a few old pieces left that I can pull out and admire. When I pick them up they just feel like home..

 

[powder smoke]

Times change as we all know! Design of rifles is preference in my opinion.
All have a purpose and it is all good.
All that said I believe the quality in general but not all has headed downhill.
I like the older style and quality.

Every freedom loving Americans need a military style AR not my favorite
by any stretch just a must have. ps

 

[TinkerDave]

So, the Springfield Trapdoor, the 1898 Krag, 1903 Springfield, 1898 Mauser, 1917 Enfield, and all the rest are not nor should be called sporting rifles either? They did not start that way, but were quickly converter into sporters. The M-1 carbine has been modified into a whole raft of wildcat sporter cartridges. Is that not a sporting rifle? You can buy a M-1 Garand in 459 Win mag if you have the money for it. I think that there is not a single sporting rifle that did not start out as a military rifle at its roots. The Henry rifle was a military weapon, the falling block single shot rifle started out as a military rifle. Perhaps the pum action rifle did not start as a military rifle, but I am probably wrong there. Your Model 70 was based largely on the 1898 Mauser design.

I am not defending the use of the term Modern Sporting Rifle, but I do feel that if a term like that make will make firearms more acceptable to the general populace, then that is to the good. I love old guns as much as anyone, but most people today cannot afford to buy into a pre-64 model 70. Have you seen the cost of a new model 94 lever action? Look at Marlin. I have a model 1895 that is now worth triple what I gave for it six years ago. Just saying. TD

 

[willk]

Brenda Lea owns an old style Remington 700 in .243. She traded off my perfectly good Remington 660 in the same caliber. The reason, the wood on that old style BDL is absolutely gorgeous. Prettiest piece of wood on the place. That purchase was completed in 1975, it is still a beautiful firearm. I appreciate it everytime I take it out and we shoot it.

There is not a better looking firearm than a nice single action revolver with a highly polished finish in deep blue.

I carry stainless Rugers. Why? I can carry them and never worry about bluing loss. I am strange in that holster wear may be honest, but I already own too many with holster wear. I like em new.

I hunt with a brushed blued Weatherby Vanguard with a synthetic stock. Why? I can bounce it around metal deer stands, carry it through briers, in all kinds of woods and never worry about scraping or scaring a really nice wood stock or marring a bright, high polished blue finish. We own plenty of really nice firearms.

We use tools to hunt, we cherish prize firearms. Perhaps we cherish them too much.

 

[volshooter]

My favorite deer rifles are a Browning BLR in .308, Marlin .44 mag, .243 Rem., and a custom Mauser in 25/06.

I own several black riffles in .223, 7.62x39 and .308.
They are ugly, heavy and not user friendly.
They can get the job done within the caliber's limit.
They all are accurate. I can and do shoot steel at 300 yards with a Bushmaster at 6 inch steel.

I however enjoy the craftsmanship of bolt action rifles.
Yes, the ugly black rifle can be considered a modern sporting rifle.
Just because they are not pretty and can hold 30 rounds is no reason to ignore their potential.