Hokkmike
Member
This is another one of those "for older hunting duffs" threads - but anybody is welcome, of course, to chime in.
So the question is, how have hunting rifles changed since you have started hunting?
I became a serious hunter for the first time just after 1968, the bloodiest year of the Viet Nam War (thank you Veterans!). My FIRST rifle choice, not knowing anything about shooting was a Winchester Model 94 in .32 WS. It was a handy little gun with a small kick and a burr in the butt plate that kept ripping my cheap plastic jacket. I wised up and filed it off.
Back in the day:
1. A good hunting rifle could be bought for under $300 EASILY. My 94 for around $100...
2. Blued steel and good wood were the offerings for the time - pretty to shoot and look at, No plastics.
3. Few or none of the weirds calibers like the 6.5 Mongoose, or 7mm TV Channel, or any other of those high pressure over bores.
4. Fewer mountain rifles, floating rifles, or other "gimmick" guns were available.
5. No plastic butt plates.
6. No pink camo patterns.
7. THE cleaning agent of the day was Hoppes #9. (country girls used it for perfume where I lived)
8. We used stiff cleaning rods - no cables. (what is a "bore snake?"....)
Now don't get me wrong. Some of the newer stuff is great. Really great. I got a friend who bought a 6.5C package and he really loves it. Lightweight mountain rifles are the cat's meow. So, I am not slamming new stuff - juts reminiscing and having a little fun.
Feel free to add if you like.
So the question is, how have hunting rifles changed since you have started hunting?
I became a serious hunter for the first time just after 1968, the bloodiest year of the Viet Nam War (thank you Veterans!). My FIRST rifle choice, not knowing anything about shooting was a Winchester Model 94 in .32 WS. It was a handy little gun with a small kick and a burr in the butt plate that kept ripping my cheap plastic jacket. I wised up and filed it off.
Back in the day:
1. A good hunting rifle could be bought for under $300 EASILY. My 94 for around $100...
2. Blued steel and good wood were the offerings for the time - pretty to shoot and look at, No plastics.
3. Few or none of the weirds calibers like the 6.5 Mongoose, or 7mm TV Channel, or any other of those high pressure over bores.
4. Fewer mountain rifles, floating rifles, or other "gimmick" guns were available.
5. No plastic butt plates.
6. No pink camo patterns.
7. THE cleaning agent of the day was Hoppes #9. (country girls used it for perfume where I lived)
8. We used stiff cleaning rods - no cables. (what is a "bore snake?"....)
Now don't get me wrong. Some of the newer stuff is great. Really great. I got a friend who bought a 6.5C package and he really loves it. Lightweight mountain rifles are the cat's meow. So, I am not slamming new stuff - juts reminiscing and having a little fun.
Feel free to add if you like.