Dave McCracken
March 28, 2005, 05:35 PM
For Shotgunners,THESE are The Good Old Days.....
Scoffers take note. A new Model 12 Winchester in 1912 cost $30. A new Ford cost $200. Now a new Ford costs a minimum of $14,000 and a new 870's MSRP is less than $500 for most models, and used ones under $200 can still be found.
While we have no great clouds of Passenger Pigeons for our sport and the days of 100 woodcock per gunner are gone, we have Ringnecks,Chukars,Hungarian Partridge and Sporting Clays to test our mettle and skill.
And we have marvelous shotguns, ammunition and accessories.
Possibly the greatest advance in the 20th Century for Shotgunners has been the plastic shotcup wad. Next, progressive powders for getting high velocity without gunbusting pressure.
Your Humble Scrivener has devoted some thought on what comes next for us shotgunners. Here's what my cranky and dim old crystal ball has revealed.
More and larger parts of shotguns will be made from synthetic and light metal materials. The Nova's plastic receiver/stock is the tip of the arrow. These materials will aid in lightening up weight while keeping costs in line.
Things like magazine caps,bolt carriers and stock bolts made from new materials will be available for tailoring balance and total weight to the wish and whim of users.
Synthetic stocks will have popon, popoff recoil pads made in various thicknesses so a better LOP can be had without major surgery. Some of these stocks will also have adjustable combs and be shim adjustable for drop, cast and pitch.
Steel, meanwhile, will continue to improve and better barrels made. Often, "Better" means lighter and stronger.Already Perazzi is making 34" O/U barrels that weigh less than their 30" barrels of a few years gone by.
Non toxic ammo will get ever larger a market share as new alloys and compounds are developed. Hevi Shot is just one compound, in 5 years I expect to see a dozen choices in waterfowling loads alone. Depleted Uranium is one possibility.
For life and death, "Serious" Shotgunning, I expect to see more semi autos on the market that are not carryovers from sport shotgunning. The Kalishnikov based Saiga is already here, and I'll wager the usual flagon of mead that the platform will evolve into a superb weapon.
For sporting use, expect to see more subguage models on the market, especially the 28 gauge. With modern technology that keeps more pellets in the pattern, the 28 has more muscle than some think.
Finally, I expect the hoplophobes and sheeple will continue to try and disarm those of us who understand that the 2nd Amendment is there to keep the others viable. It is of utmost importance that they fail.
In fact, it's a matter of life or death. Ours and our families...
What's your predictions?
Scoffers take note. A new Model 12 Winchester in 1912 cost $30. A new Ford cost $200. Now a new Ford costs a minimum of $14,000 and a new 870's MSRP is less than $500 for most models, and used ones under $200 can still be found.
While we have no great clouds of Passenger Pigeons for our sport and the days of 100 woodcock per gunner are gone, we have Ringnecks,Chukars,Hungarian Partridge and Sporting Clays to test our mettle and skill.
And we have marvelous shotguns, ammunition and accessories.
Possibly the greatest advance in the 20th Century for Shotgunners has been the plastic shotcup wad. Next, progressive powders for getting high velocity without gunbusting pressure.
Your Humble Scrivener has devoted some thought on what comes next for us shotgunners. Here's what my cranky and dim old crystal ball has revealed.
More and larger parts of shotguns will be made from synthetic and light metal materials. The Nova's plastic receiver/stock is the tip of the arrow. These materials will aid in lightening up weight while keeping costs in line.
Things like magazine caps,bolt carriers and stock bolts made from new materials will be available for tailoring balance and total weight to the wish and whim of users.
Synthetic stocks will have popon, popoff recoil pads made in various thicknesses so a better LOP can be had without major surgery. Some of these stocks will also have adjustable combs and be shim adjustable for drop, cast and pitch.
Steel, meanwhile, will continue to improve and better barrels made. Often, "Better" means lighter and stronger.Already Perazzi is making 34" O/U barrels that weigh less than their 30" barrels of a few years gone by.
Non toxic ammo will get ever larger a market share as new alloys and compounds are developed. Hevi Shot is just one compound, in 5 years I expect to see a dozen choices in waterfowling loads alone. Depleted Uranium is one possibility.
For life and death, "Serious" Shotgunning, I expect to see more semi autos on the market that are not carryovers from sport shotgunning. The Kalishnikov based Saiga is already here, and I'll wager the usual flagon of mead that the platform will evolve into a superb weapon.
For sporting use, expect to see more subguage models on the market, especially the 28 gauge. With modern technology that keeps more pellets in the pattern, the 28 has more muscle than some think.
Finally, I expect the hoplophobes and sheeple will continue to try and disarm those of us who understand that the 2nd Amendment is there to keep the others viable. It is of utmost importance that they fail.
In fact, it's a matter of life or death. Ours and our families...
What's your predictions?