Reading through this post I can't help but grin at the tens of thousands of $$$ I have spent on rifles the past 40 years and yet.....the best hunter I know uses a 1970's era Remington 788 in 308 win. That gun has almost no bluing on the barreled action and the finish on the birch stock is worn to the core. He put a slip on recoil pad on it and he still has the original 4 power redfield wide field scope on it. He shoots a lot, keeps it very clean, but man that thing is beat up. I guess the old adage is true " beware the man with one gun, he probably knows how to use it"
