I've killed a couple truck loads of deer and other game with an iron sighted pre 64 model 94 .30-30 and an old JC Higgins 16 gauge side by side. That said I don't think it matters so much when a gun was made that makes it "old school" as what it is. For instance, I personally think a modern repro of a '73 Winchester is more "old school" than a scoped, walnut stocked Remington 700, regardless of date of manufacture.