I’m not telling you anything you didn’t already know, just thinking out loud. Has the Golden Age of bolt action rifles as we knew it come and gone?
Nothing desirable from Kimber (Montana, Classic, Classic Select). Ruger 77’s or Hawkeye’s have mutated into a techno/tactical version that doesn’t appeal to me. Remington 700’s are shipping in a few forms, but they’re just using up old parts. The new “Alpha” 700 has me interested, but no idea when they’ll ship. I don’t think stainless is an option either. No Barrett Fieldcraft’s for now and I don’t expect them ever to return in the same form. Winchester isn’t the old Winchester and they’re not shipping well either. Tikka still makes a good stainless hunting rifle, but shipments are far and few between. Christensen has done a decent job keeping rifles on the shelf. Proof has been shipping a few too.
I know all about the manufacturing challenges. Maybe I’m getting old? Not that I don’t think there is a place for the Ruger American or the Savage Axis, I just think there is a huge segment of the bolt action market that wants something better. It appears as if every manufacturer thinks dipping their stocks in some god awful camouflage and cerakoting the action is innovation.
I know I can’t be the only person out there disgusted with what’s currently available on the market?
You know you aren't the only person with this belief. One of the reasons I only look at used rifles these days. There are always great deals to be had in the used rifle market. You'd know that, if you sold some. Instead you sell brand new chidt.. And yes, most of it is by and large just that..
Negative. We sell tons of used guns. Thousands each year actually. I buy collections and take trades daily. I’d say we have an excellent handle on the used market. We get to see what the consumer expects to receive from his/her used firearm and we also know what the used firearm will bring.
I enjoy handguns and I really like shotguns,...but I love rifles!
