What happened to the selection??

stefK

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Has anyone else noticed that the selection of rifles available to the general public here in Canada has gotten extremely thin? It seems no one has inventory of models with laminated stocks or wood. The only thing a guy can hope for is plastic with stainless if its actually "in stock". Where have all the nice rifles gone? Being held up at the boarder?? Even the local shop that seems to find what I'm looking for is in a drought of models this year. Any thoughts??
 
well...

Black synthetic is certainly cheaper than wood. The gun shops have to drop costs to remain competitive. Black Guns seem to be the "in thing" right now, and the traditional wood that we got so use to seeing from the 60's to the 90's , is vanashing. Hand guns, as well are being made from synthetics. Most of the aftermarket stocks and Etc.., are black plastics too. We have younger people buying as well, and they seem to like the "black and semi tactical" look. I too noticed how black the walls look at the gun stores. I kinda miss re-doing old guns and sanding the wood. Times are changing for sure.:cheers:
 
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This is why I buy older rifles, especially milsurps. More character, often better quality and that classic blued steel and wood look.
Absolutely! It would be great to see the MAS, KKWs and Mausers made new again. What do you got in the way of older milsurps? I'd sure like to see some?

MAU-603.jpg


MAU-602_detail.jpg


~GM
 
Further to my post about older rifles, my rimfire collection at the moment:

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Top to bottom:

CIL/Anschutz 310 w/ Bushnell 4200 4-16x40AO
Cooey Mod. 39
Cooey Mod. 75
Savage Mk.II that is in the middle of a transformation to a heavy barrel precision rifle
Mossberg 151M (one of my favorite rimfires)
Mossberg 140K, bought new in 1949 by my dad and passed down to me
Ruger 22/45


Mark
 
Or, there is the off chance that the wood ones they do get in walk out the door first, leaving the plastic fantastics.

I know it was a wait for a while to see a CZ452 full stock show up on a dealer's shelf and it was gone fast.

Blue and wood is beautiful, and IMHO there is still a market for it, but composite and stainless do lend themselves for easier upkeep, or at least withstand more abuse and don't show it.
 
To the poster's question~I think dealers are reluctant to keep allot of inventory but I would agree, there doesn't seem to be allot of choices when you show-up at your local gun shop. I was asking about a specific rifle at my local about a month ago, and was told that their shipment from that company was due in about a month +. I was also told that there would only be 1 of the rifles I'm after IN that shipment, so keep phoning-in. :( Seems like a weird situation to me. Demand for a product is clearly there, supply inconsistent...or held-up by the import process (?) and a VERY patient shooting community willing to sit for a month or longer with our hard-earned $ to buy the item. (speaking of those who prefer to buy AT a shop, not wait for a gun they've never held to show-up in the mail) As a manufacturer myself, knowing you have a willing customer sitting with money and NOT being able to get him product FAST is not a good situation. In fact, if you make it a habit, it's a recipe for disaster. Seems the norm where firearms are concerned.

On the wood vs. plastic~love the look/feel/tradition of wood stocks...and my best guns are walnut and blued steel. :) That said, I own 2 synthetic-stock rimfires and the .223 I hope to buy next spring has one as well. They don't hold a candle to the wood stocks aesthetics-wise, but I don't feel I need to baby them like I do my wood ones. Yeah I know...you don't have to baby wood stocks. :)

BTW, when I say "wood", I mean walnut...not colorful plywood. :D
 
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