The only synthetic stocked long gun I own is an AR15. Everything else is blued steel and wood, most of them are walnut.
I also share the opinion that "blued steel and wood" are prerogatives when it comes to being a "proper" rifle. But I also have these impossible to defend, utterly subjective caveats: the "lines" and proportions of the stocks of a rifle (or shotgun) have to be "correct" in a traditional/classic sense; there can be no ornamentation (carvings, engravings, etc.) excesses; no bulky, "pancake", wrap-over cheek pieces and no radical pistol grip flares and fore ends, replete with white spacers. In other words, Al Biesen (or Ruger Model 77) configured rifles or their ilk.
Those are the kinds I was talking about! Might not be able to define "classic" definitively but I know them when I see them!
I appreciate blued steel and walnut, always have and always will, but I am strongly attracted to and now prefer for use stainless steel and synthetic/laminate type stocks.
I love rifles. Have had a bunch. But am gonna dump one or two. And one is blued steel and walnut. Never got around to shooting it, the Sako Forester. Have too much $ in my 700 w HS stock so am keeping it and dumping the "extra" .243 win. Was gonna be a loaner for a kid but am pretty sure none of my kids are gonna hunt. Can PM me for details/ pics
My great-grandfather sporterized this September 1918 Winchester-manufactured M1917 in .30-06. 100 years later, it is still quite the rifle and will absolutely hit MOA with 150 grain Core-Lokt (a major assumption is that the shooter, i.e. me, rises to the occasion). A heavy beast, but part of its charm and has taken game on both coasts. I have put a lot of meat in the freezer with this rifle and the Leupold VX-3 on top. Elk hunting the Oregon coast range with Mt Adams and Mt St. Helens in the background.
I kinda sorta think there a market for a .223 or .243 semi auto in sporter config. Not everybody wants plastic or an AR type of varminter. Too bad Remington dropped their 750. A 7400 type rig in .223 or .243 for sensible price might be of some appeal. I like the feel of those rifles way better than the BAR. Could be internal mag too. Just a 3 to 5 shot semi, that shoots good, for a handy walking varmint rifle. Or light deer rig.
I have carried a lot of different semiautomatic rifles none of which I would describe as light. I had a 750 in 35 Whelen that was a gem. Soft shooting g and more accurate than most others I have shot. Not MOA but pretty close.
I just finished fitting it- that is a 80's vintage 94 44 mag trappers model with the first run lighter barrel- it's a dream to carry.
