Great posts guys.
It's fun to reflect back on your own evolution as you deal with this disease most of us seem to suffer from.
As a beginner I was all about magnums with 26" semi bull barrels and high mag scopes with bullets moving at Mach 9. Jeez, the first rifle I bought myself was a Ruger 77 300 Win Mag with the red "pad". Nothing wrong with that but probably not the best choice for a skinny kid that didn't weigh anything. Of course I couldn't have the wimpy 24" barrel, I needed a 26" semi-bull. Hell, in my know-it-all state I made fun of people who shot sensible rounds with fixed 4x's with tiny barrels and lots of wood. I would have never looked twice at a #1 RSI. Good thing we get a chance to grow up.
Don't get me wrong, I've not stopped playing with magnums or long range toys. I still play around plenty. But it ought to be worth something that I now have a bunch of single shots in the safe. Some guns I own simply because of their history. Hell I even have a 03-A3 in 35 Whelen being built as we speak. UNHEARD OF!!! And it even has open sights!
Thats why I love this game. The game doesn't change as much as we do. What phase will come next?
This is fun schitt. Scott
Scott,
I had to smile when I read the above post. As it certainly reflects maturity.
As I look back 30 or so years ago, I realize I was much the same way as you were. All I could dream of was bigger scope, longer barrels, more horsepower... etc...
I blamed my lack of success in hunting entirely on the firearm. 'Course back then, the annual success rate in Mich was about 12%. Now one can get a deer about any time one wants to. I've since taken several and passed up more than that.
Funny how our perspective changes... Now
HOW I take a deer is far more important than
IF I take one. I always have more venison in the freezer than I can eat.
I've not taken one with an ironsighted rifle as yet, but hope to soon. I've a custom bbl'd M-700 Remington in 9x57 Mauser. I shoot 50 yr old factory ammo. It is equipped with a recv'r sight. When I accomplish that, you can bet that the next step will be hunting with one of my Ruger #1's with an NECG peep sight. A sense of accomplishment is worth far more at my age than a trophy.
Live a little... Challenge yourself!
GH
