Did you ever buy a rifle not expecting much, but it became a keeper?
- Thread starter The Kurgan
- Start date
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
Indeed, nice 91 and good on you for keeping the old gal in the game.
It's actually always been the opposite for me.
People online post how great something is, really hype it up etc and I end up hating it.
I have learned my lesson many times that my expectations are a lot higher than others on this forum.
I picked one up in 7mm-08. Didn't need it, but the price new was too good to pass up. Haven't made to the range with this one yet & the tags are still hanging off of it LOL! Hoping for the same good results you & others have had. Read that one of the weak points are the scope rings on the combos?
Ruger Scout, synthetic stock, stainless, 450 BM, light short and handy for a walking/hiking rifle. Weatherby Vanguards series 1 or 2, I have 2 of each, 257wby, 300wm, 9.3x62 and 375 Ruger. Just nice solid rifles. Bought the Ruger on impulse now I can't see myself parting with it. First time I handled a Vanguard I did not like the weight or the fit, now I want a Weatherby type raised comb on most of my rifles and I appreciate the weight on bigger calibres.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
Thanks Kurgan & caramel. Mosins in good shape are beauty to dink with and more capable in performance than most folks realize. Slug the bore, then tune 'em with loads they like & they won't fail on ye. I have a Timney trigger on it's way for my one now along with the scope mount.
I did give the rifle a a Tru Oil finish & sealing inside & out for them days in damp woods though.
Attachments
I had no issues with the scope rings. I did have an issue with mounting the scope far enough back with the rings/bases that came with the rifle, had to buy a 1 piece pic rail for it to move my scope back farther, but I'm a small guy so bigger guys might not have that issue.
My rings sat on my Axis for the first ~3 years, then I bought a better scope/rings for it and the scope went onto the Mossberg ATR100 I mentioned earlier. When I sold the ATR100 the scope/rings went with it. A few hundred rounds, two different rifles, no issues for me.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Not really. When I went North I bought a Stevens 200 to use as a "beater" so that I wouldn't cry beating up one of my nicer rifles (didn't have that many rifles at the time, but a $300 beater seemed smart anyhow). The rifle surprised me. Ridiculously accurate. Light. Aside from the ugly-ass stock what more could a person want? Adjusted the trigger to smooth it out and it shot sub 1/2" groups. Took it North and used it to take a moose and a muskox. Eventually moved South and found myself with a couple other 30-06s in the safe and it didn't make sense to keep it. So down the road it went.
Now, if I had no other 30-06 I doubt this one would have gone away. But with a Pre-64 M70, a Sako, and a Garand I just couldn't make sense of it. Now, if I had a 22-250 or 223 in a 200 I'd have that rifle to this day but only because of its accuracy. Otherwise there was little more to recommend the rifle except price point.
Now, if I had no other 30-06 I doubt this one would have gone away. But with a Pre-64 M70, a Sako, and a Garand I just couldn't make sense of it. Now, if I had a 22-250 or 223 in a 200 I'd have that rifle to this day but only because of its accuracy. Otherwise there was little more to recommend the rifle except price point.
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
You are not wrong about that. I have learned to lower my expectations if I'm not prepared to open my wallet--but there are exceptions.
ALBERTA BOY
Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
1 - Winchester Model 70 XTR from 1981 270 win. Came with a bell and carlson stock and the original featherweight stock. Removed the B&C and replaced the beautiful factory stock. Fixed a feeding issue by getting a new follower spring from western gun parts. Wow! What a shooter! I've got CRF Model 70s but have always heard bad things about the push feeds. This rifle doesn't deserve that reputation. The bluing is beautiful, the wood is great and it shoots and functions just as well or better than either of my CRF model 70s. It came with leupold mounts and an old Leupold Varix-ii 2-7x32. Damn if it isn't just wonderfully clear and usable. Not a thing wrong with it. Sometimes we get to thinking we need the newest technology but it's not true.
2 - Mossburg patriot in cerakote 7mm'08. I picked this rifle up with my kids in mind and was totally shocked by its performance. What a shooter! The trigger does have a little creep before it breaks but at least it's only 2.5lbs from the factory. Bolt is just as easy to disassemble as the Howa/vanguard or Model 70 bolt. Easily field strippable with the added complication of the floating bolt head. I was impressed with its apparent reliability and accuracy. Maybe someday it will get a timney.
2 - Mossburg patriot in cerakote 7mm'08. I picked this rifle up with my kids in mind and was totally shocked by its performance. What a shooter! The trigger does have a little creep before it breaks but at least it's only 2.5lbs from the factory. Bolt is just as easy to disassemble as the Howa/vanguard or Model 70 bolt. Easily field strippable with the added complication of the floating bolt head. I was impressed with its apparent reliability and accuracy. Maybe someday it will get a timney.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Yeah, I bought a ‘43 no.4 LB sporter for $80 5 or so years ago because it was missing a mag and cheap. I had a mag and that was as good of an excuse as any to buy a rifle, it was filthy but other than a cut rear peep sight had a matching bolt. Once I started shooting it I fell for it, up until last season it’s been my main hunting rifle and took a couple WT a season. It actually felt strange not to carry it around last year, so much so that I’m going to use it for spring bear from now on. It’s such a joy to shoot and carry around, if I do my part it shoots 1”-1.25” 5 shot 100y groups.
A Marlin .22 mag with a tubular magazine. Mounted a Bushnell 1-4 on it and have had it around for 50 years. Never failed to chamber, lots of power, and I don't have to clean the bore every time I use it. I can't bring myself to sell it.
Excellent. Have you been able to shoot a pile of game with it?
I think you get the point.
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
My new Henry 010 in 45-70 is looking like it may be a keeper. Great trigger, smooth action, easy-to-use sights, handy size, and accurate. Overall, a quality rifle.
