Great Mysteries of the Sporting Arms World

I went straight from the hospital and shovelled and wheelbarrowed three tri-axle loads of gravel onto the weeping tile of our new home I was constructing... paid for that for a week.

I went straight home (Via the swill store.) and hit the couch fer an evening of relaxed, drunken splendor. The next evening, I test drove me new junk on the missus without grief.

Workin' hard after a V-job will definitely make one pay fer a bit, but it beats the fook out of being stuck with another mouth in da house.;)
 
How about why do I keep buying "Black Rifles" only to turn around and sell then 2 days later for some sort of old lever action or something with walnut? As much as I think I want to be the ultimate Mall Ninja the inner Fudd in me says f@ck off:redface:
 
why when I was younger you could find any number of 110's, M12's and Wingmasters in the hands of AA shooters, and now they are only adequate as a "starter gun"??:p
 
why when I was younger you could find any number of 110's, M12's and Wingmasters in the hands of AA shooters, and now they are only adequate as a "starter gun"??:p

The sales hype was able to key in on the oldest weakness of the shooting fraternity--sell a highly advertised, expensive gun to a shooter, who will then feel superior to the ordinary folk still using Model 12s and 870s.
Of course, Joe and Bill don't want to feel inferior to a fellow shooter, so they buy a newer, greater model, of the expensive new gun.
 
True too Hitzy. Exploring that, why are irons almost impossible to find on a decent hunting rifle?!

I think that GOOD irons on most HUNTING rifles are mostly a thing of the past. I can see why...Scopes are far better aiming devices under almost all circumstances.

I like the irons on my 375 Ruger Alaskan, but they are far from the norm. And frankly, I would only use them in very limited circumstances. Most bolt action hunting rifles I wouldn't want irons on, anyway.

My 94 45 Colt Trapper- It has excellent aperture sights and I wouldn't have it any other way...:)
 
I'll take irons on absolutely everything, and if they don't have them, add them. Far tougher, essentially impervious to zero loss in rough travel once set, far lighter, much nicer to carry and use in thick bush, every bit as precise at all standard hunting ranges (for me), cheaper, more situational awareness... let's just say agree to disagree on the scopes being superior! But there is a compulsion to have a scope on a new rifle amongst most entering the sport, and glass has its place for older eyes and long tundra and mountain stuff.
 
I'll take irons on absolutely everything, and if they don't have them, add them. Far tougher, essentially impervious to zero loss in rough travel once set, far lighter, much nicer to carry and use in thick bush, every bit as precise at all standard hunting ranges (for me), cheaper, more situational awareness... let's just say agree to disagree on the scopes being superior! But there is a compulsion to have a scope on a new rifle amongst most entering the sport, and glass has its place for older eyes and long tundra and mountain stuff.

Oh, the memories that post brings back!
I have said on here before that I bought a Husqvqrna 30-06 as a Christmas present for myself, in December 1949. This was not my first rifle, as I had shot moose with a borrowed 30-06, then owned a cheap Savage bolt action 30-06 and shot moose and deer with it, prior to getting the Husqvarna.
But this was to be my pride and joy rifle. It came drilled and tapped for a Lyman 48 aperture and I bought the peep sight and installed it. This Husqvarna has (it is still in my gun room,) the best front sight post I have ever seen on a rifle.
I hunted on some of the best goat mountains in BC, using that rifle and sight combination. I shot some goats, deer, moose and wolves with it and killed every animal I shot at, except some misses on long range wolves and a scope would have been no help in guessing Kentucky range hold over. The rifle carried so nice without a scope.
One time two of us were coming off a mountain on some game path and we were just getting off the alpine into those waist high willowy plants and stunted evergreen scrub. There were a lot of grizzly tracks and of course we were alert. I was ahead with the rifle slung on my shoulder, with my left hand holding the forestock. Suddenly there was a commotion in the brush about twenty feet away, then a large rooster blue grouse came out of the scrub and landed on the trail about thirty feet in front of us. I had that rifle off my shoulder and in shooting position with the Mauser safety off, by the time the grouse landed. I quickly swung on his neck and shot his head off in one motion! (Good supper back at camp.)
No scoped rifle has ever been so nice to carry, nor as fast to get on game, as that Husqvarna was before I scoped it.
 
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I'll take irons on absolutely everything, and if they don't have them, add them. Far tougher, essentially impervious to zero loss in rough travel once set, far lighter, much nicer to carry and use in thick bush, every bit as precise at all standard hunting ranges (for me), cheaper, more situational awareness... let's just say agree to disagree on the scopes being superior! But there is a compulsion to have a scope on a new rifle amongst most entering the sport, and glass has its place for older eyes and long tundra and mountain stuff.

Add on irons are a far better option than most factory irons.

But there is no question that optics are better 99% of the time. They are easier to aim and faster than irons. Quality optics don't lose their zero from being bashed about.

Carrying a gun with just good irons is a real pleasure, no doubt, but I would prefer aq rifle that does it all. I've killed animals at 10 paces with a scope. Irons would have not helped. And wait until hit 45 years old....:)

And as much as this pains me to say it....For close range, a red dot is superior to iron.
 
Thanks for that, I'm with you, the ease of handling and use of an iron sighted rifle and its durability sell it for me. I shoot out to 1,000 with a match M1 and M14 on our abandoned runway range, and haven't found anything lacking yet. Most folks are startled to learn there is no difference between the capabilities of good irons in capable hands and a scope even at 500 yards in field conditions. I taught a coworker to shoot long over irons, he went in saying he'd seen amazing things, but watching 6"x12" steel being tipped at 500 with irons routinely was unbelievable. By the second day, he was hitting them too and all the mystery was gone. I should have let him think it was wizardry.

http://www.morrisonarms.com/2013/11/reaching-out-the-old-fashioned-way-iron-sights-to-1000-yards/
 
Add on irons are a far better option than most factory irons.

But there is no question that optics are better 99% of the time. They are easier to aim and faster than irons. Quality optics don't lose their zero from being bashed about.

Carrying a gun with just good irons is a real pleasure, no doubt, but I would prefer aq rifle that does it all. I've killed animals at 10 paces with a scope. Irons would have not helped. And wait until hit 45 years old....:)

And as much as this pains me to say it....For close range, a red dot is superior to iron.

Ain't no way a scope's faster- a red dot has its place but I hate batteries and stuff to rattle loose. I'm probably not terribly far from you these days, and I'd like to meet you we have mutual acquaintances, want to meet up for a friendly and do a speed shoot, irons versus glass with .375s? :) I'd put a few bucks on the irons.

I've seen loose mounts multiple times, and full out internal scope failure (Bushnell, so no not quality glass admittedly) on hunts. Worst I've had with irons is the rear sight Jack getting rammed all the way forward and I shot the wrong grouse! Kid you not and cringe to mention this part as it sounds like a stretch, but hit a grouse upslope and behind the one I was shooting at without meaning to. So I suppose irons still haven't failed me!
 
:confused:Why do I get a blank stare from younger hunters when I tell them I hunt with irons and cartridges that are considered obsolete because I LIKE to and no I don't feel inconvenienced by using them ??:confused:
Cat
 
:confused:Why do I get a blank stare from younger hunters when I tell them I hunt with irons and cartridges that are considered obsolete because I LIKE to and no I don't feel inconvenienced by using them ??:confused:
Cat

Because most of the younger generation grew up in the era of computers and other electronics that after a year they became obsolete to the next generation and the older the stuff got the less it worked with the current amd eventually it needed to be thrown out. This rationality has just migrated to encompass everything.
 
Haha good to know, I'm taking a 4 day weekend so hopefully that will be enough!

Longer is better. I got it on a Monday and was back in the saddle and on the range the following Monday for quals. Picking up brass was a pain in the balls but you know how people on the internet like to pillory groups that rent the range and don't clean up!
 
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