- Location
- Aaaaaadmontin AB
Awhile back I had to appeal to my moral and intellectual superiors here on the forum for help - for I was lost deep within Gun Geek Forest, searching for My Last Pistol. It never ceases to amaze me how this lifelong trip has worked out. When I was a kid I would look at guys like you with all your fine pistols in different calibers from different makers, tailored for certain missions and jobs - and I was green with envy. Fast forward 30 years (where in hell they went, I have no idea...), and now I find myself with MORE guns than some of you! And not a hope in hell of ever finding the time to shoot them all! It isn't a bed of roses either - my range bag weighs more than the HMS Titanic and is stuffed with ammo and mags for all kinds of different guns. To shoot them I need at least a full day on the range...and I still have to cut grass, or shovel snow and do chores too at home too - it eats into the weekend. When you start spending time like that on the range you feel guilty about the work you're shirking at home. When you are slaving away on weekend chores at home you wish you were on the range! Such is the life of the Grumpy Old Gun Geek.
It's time to simplify and downsize. It is time to face my addiction to guns and deal with it. I've tried before and failed. This time I AM going to do it! I got black rifles, black powder rifles, pistols, revolvers - wouldn't be surprised if there aren't a few grenade launchers and artillery pieces in in there somewhere too! Sheesh! I'm getting rid of it! I was happiest when I was a kid and only had a few guns: my centrefires for the big stuff and my rimfires for fun and the kids to borrow. The safe queens are slowly being sold off...and going forward, this will be my new ride for all my serious rifle work:
That's a Springfield M1A Loaded that I am fitting with a scope. That is a prototype cheekpad that I am making because nobody seems to sell the leather ones anymore. (Stop laughing at my arts n' crafts, damn you!!!
) Earlier this week she easily printed 2" groups in gale force winds and snow. The old soldier is a dream to shoot when I am going offhand, off my hind feet too.
A fine retirement rifle demands a retirement sidearm as well! And this is where you fellas came to my rescue! I needed an old school pistol to go with an old school rifle to be shot by an old fart! That means 1911 guns - and a consultation with some Canadian gun geeks that know their stuff! After I posted here I went to one of the shops for a quick hands-on tutorial on modern 1911's...and I thought I knew my stuff. But holy smokes - the manufacturers are all building match grade pistols right out of the box! The clerk showed me 4 guns, and all four of them had sweet, flawless triggers suitable for serious target work! And of course they all had lowered ejection ports, bevelled mag wells, extended ambi safeties, tilt steering, air conditioning, etc etc etc. Well jeez...I was looking at four guns any one of which would probably do...and the only distinction between them seemed to be cosmetic! I looked at Smiths and STI and a couple others...and there was NOTHING wrong with any of them. Things have changed a bunch since I bought my prized Auto Ordnance gem back in the late 80's. But I think I have my candidate for pistol work now... I think I am going to pull the trigger on the Springfield Armoury Trophy Match pistol. She is a little flashier than I like my guns to be, but she's a classic 1911 made with all the heart and soul my Springfield rifle is.
Ya know - the only guns we truly own are the ones we sell or trade. The best ones that we keep belong to our kids, or nephews or grandsons... When the next young man in my family sets off into the manky depths of Gun Geek Forest...I hope he takes these two old soldiers along.
It's time to simplify and downsize. It is time to face my addiction to guns and deal with it. I've tried before and failed. This time I AM going to do it! I got black rifles, black powder rifles, pistols, revolvers - wouldn't be surprised if there aren't a few grenade launchers and artillery pieces in in there somewhere too! Sheesh! I'm getting rid of it! I was happiest when I was a kid and only had a few guns: my centrefires for the big stuff and my rimfires for fun and the kids to borrow. The safe queens are slowly being sold off...and going forward, this will be my new ride for all my serious rifle work:
That's a Springfield M1A Loaded that I am fitting with a scope. That is a prototype cheekpad that I am making because nobody seems to sell the leather ones anymore. (Stop laughing at my arts n' crafts, damn you!!!
) Earlier this week she easily printed 2" groups in gale force winds and snow. The old soldier is a dream to shoot when I am going offhand, off my hind feet too.A fine retirement rifle demands a retirement sidearm as well! And this is where you fellas came to my rescue! I needed an old school pistol to go with an old school rifle to be shot by an old fart! That means 1911 guns - and a consultation with some Canadian gun geeks that know their stuff! After I posted here I went to one of the shops for a quick hands-on tutorial on modern 1911's...and I thought I knew my stuff. But holy smokes - the manufacturers are all building match grade pistols right out of the box! The clerk showed me 4 guns, and all four of them had sweet, flawless triggers suitable for serious target work! And of course they all had lowered ejection ports, bevelled mag wells, extended ambi safeties, tilt steering, air conditioning, etc etc etc. Well jeez...I was looking at four guns any one of which would probably do...and the only distinction between them seemed to be cosmetic! I looked at Smiths and STI and a couple others...and there was NOTHING wrong with any of them. Things have changed a bunch since I bought my prized Auto Ordnance gem back in the late 80's. But I think I have my candidate for pistol work now... I think I am going to pull the trigger on the Springfield Armoury Trophy Match pistol. She is a little flashier than I like my guns to be, but she's a classic 1911 made with all the heart and soul my Springfield rifle is.
Ya know - the only guns we truly own are the ones we sell or trade. The best ones that we keep belong to our kids, or nephews or grandsons... When the next young man in my family sets off into the manky depths of Gun Geek Forest...I hope he takes these two old soldiers along.
