Old guns

Cole

Cole

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Cranbrook B.C.
I was out with my BSA P17 sporter yesterday at the range where I shoot, testing out my first reloads for it and there were a few people there as well sighting in and just generally getting ready for the big day coming up.
Well, the only gun to group tighter than mine was a brand new Remington SPS Youth gun in 7mm-08.
I out shot a Sako AV 7mm Mag, a Winchester M70 .30-06, a Mauser 98 270 Win and a for God's sake , a Sako Fiberclass .300Win.
This , with opensights at 100yds yet!!! My groups were running at 1 1/2" for 3 shots, but they were all in the same spot on target, 2.5 inches high, dead center. These guys just could not get over the fact that a gun as old as mine would do so well against theirs. I shot 6 targets , 3 shots a piece, and the only gun to even come close was the Mauser 98 .270. I think there is something to be said for old iron. Don't count it out just because it looks like it has seen better days.
Or maybe these guys I was shooting against were just out of practice, I don't know, but man it was nice to hear how they were pretty much in awe of my old girl and the way she dropped rounds in on target time after time.
Any one else have an old gun that is a total sleeper out there???:canadaFlag::canadaFlag::canadaFlag::canadaFlag::canadaFlag:
 
Sounds like those guys don't know how to shoot, or are using poor ammo, or a combination of both. Any of those rifles are easily capable of accuracy on par or better than 1.5" at 100 yards:)
 
Inch and a half with open sights is good shooting. good equipment and ammo don't always make good targets. It's public sight in time at my range right now and some pretty scary stuff going on. When I see the balloons going up its time to leave.
 
BSA P17 Sporter .30-06...

That reminds me.... I gotta see how the one I bought awhile back shoots.... :eek: :redface:

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NAA.
 
Up till about 15 years ago "Turkey Shoots" were a common thing in both SW Ont were I grew up and the Bancroft area where I live now. Center fire rifles were only devided into 2 classes- open sites and scoped. Shooting was done at 100yds. One shot per competitor closest to center of target took home a turkey. These were mostly hunting type rifles. Some lever guns but lots of 222. 22-250 and 243 bolt actions (Rem 788 & 700's were poplular) I won more than my share(usually limited to 3 per event per shooter) with a M38 Swede in 6.5x55. I bought that gun in the early '80's from LeBarons for about $75.00. It would shoot consisent 1.5 inch groups with issue sights at 100yds with handloads it liked. Alot of guys were reluctant to shoot against my mauser with their bolt hunting rifles. I still have it as well another which is in better condition (almost mint) but just doesn't shoot as well as the original which is in somewhat worn condition( both bore and exterior).
 
I recently picked up a 1900 vintage Winchester 1894 in 38-55 at an auction here in Van. 26in barrel and open sights. The first time I shot it at 50m I got a 1in group. The second time I shot it I had a 1-1/2in at 100m and one shot nailed the cross hairs on the target. All that with 60yr old eyes. Apparntly they like cast and I can load up a bit so maybe this gets better. The sights on the older rifles are a lot better than some that come on the new ones though. The sights on the Winnie are really quite special and very easy to use. Or maybe it was just luck too...The old stuff is a lot of fun to shoot and get a lot of attention on the firing line to say the least.
 
Many years ago, "Guns" magazine did a test involving several shooters. They used both scoped and iron sighted rifles.
At the 100yd range, the iron sighted rifles and shooters did as well as the scoped rifles and shooters. At 200yds, the nod went to the scoped rifles and shooters.

Many people just don't know how well a shooter that knows how to use their iron sights are just as competent as scoped sighted rifle shooters at 100-150yds.

Nice shooting and nice rifle by the way. I really like the old enfields.
 
Old rifles are the cat's anus. I find few modern weapons that curry any interest from me. I definitely won't say that the old guns shoot better, but they are cooler in my eyes. However, look at how long it took for someone to take the title away from the .32-40, under .5" at 200, and that was like 1949! People shoot better with guns they like, I think. Besides, shooting can't be all about just getting the job done, it needs to be about fun. Why else would we get new hunting rifles, even when last year's rig did the trick?
 
Or taking a 110yr old rifle to the range and knowing it will perform just fine thanks. How Kool is that? And a 250gr bullet at 1700pfs is still a whack in the head...Gotta find a 250 Savage to play with now or a 35 Whelen. They just sound cool.
 
I enjoy taking a mix of my Winnies in 30-30, 38-55, 32 Special, 25-35 and 25-20 and shooting great targets at the range. A lot of the younger shooters have never seen nor shot a 75 -100 year old gun and it seems a thrill when they finally do. Especially when the gong has been rung at 200 yards with the open sights.
 
Copy that Winnipeg, especially when I look down the line of younger shooters and all I see is scopes. They take a lot of the challenge out of shooting. Iron sights can be a humbling experience but every shooter should be familiar with them. You have an enviable collection. Range day must be a hoot.
 
It's the guy behind the gun

Years ago in rural N.B. there were a lot of "Sports" who arrived from the U.S. every fall. They had informal shoots from the bridge in my grandfathers community upriver to a flat beside the river.
The Americans had the latest weapons available (Bolt-actions in .30/06,.270 and even .300 H&H) and the locals had .30/30, 38/55, 45/70,35 Rem., 32 Spl,
and the " powerful " .303 British.
The Yanks even had those new-fangled telescopic sights.
The distance was about 900 yards, the target was 4ft.x4ft.
Every year the locals won the money( small change for the Yanks, major cash for the locals.)
As the saying goes, "Beware of the man with only one rifle, he probably knows how to use it."
 
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