roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 1
Robert Rourke wrote : "Use enough gun!" There are many opinions on that statement. Over the past 50 years, I have seen the overall costs of firearms and optics rise at incredible rates. But, how many hunters need to spend $1500 and/or lots more, for a deer hunting rig or even a varmint rig? I wager that most of them could harvest just as much game without a hitch by using entry level equipment. Many arms manufacturers offer "package rifles" at very reasonable cost.
When I think of spending more on a firearm or optics, it is because I am investing in an expensive (for me) trip to Wyoming, Texas or Nova Scotia, etc. to hunt. On a trip like that, one wants to cover all bases in having equipment that save for extreme accidents or weather, will get the job done, without optics fogging up, scopes wandering off zero, or failures of the stock, action or barrel.
However, for the hunter who goes a few miles from home to hunt local game, the problems with long shot failures are not as critical. For instance, here in FL. there is a good population of white tail deer and wild pigs. Many local hunters never venture out of their home county to hunt. So, why would they need to spend more than what an entry level, already scope mounted package rifle cost? IMO, they do not. This especially if they are cash strapped.
Too many of the modern day hunters have been sold on the need to mount a scope that cost more than does the rifle. And, to get wood that doubles the cost of what the same rifle would cost in a plastic stock.
Certainly if one really wants the beauty of high cost wood with carvings and super deep blueing with engraving, and they can afford those luxuries, they should buy them with my blessings. I do not criticize anyone for spending money on what they want. However, I do take exception to the way that advertising has cowed many hunters into buying more than they really need and in some cases, more than they can afford. The hunters or newbies to hunting need to sit back, take a breath and focus on what they want out of a hunting rig and buy according to their set budget and not be pushed into spending more than they need to spend to get the job done.
Steven L. Ashe
When I think of spending more on a firearm or optics, it is because I am investing in an expensive (for me) trip to Wyoming, Texas or Nova Scotia, etc. to hunt. On a trip like that, one wants to cover all bases in having equipment that save for extreme accidents or weather, will get the job done, without optics fogging up, scopes wandering off zero, or failures of the stock, action or barrel.
However, for the hunter who goes a few miles from home to hunt local game, the problems with long shot failures are not as critical. For instance, here in FL. there is a good population of white tail deer and wild pigs. Many local hunters never venture out of their home county to hunt. So, why would they need to spend more than what an entry level, already scope mounted package rifle cost? IMO, they do not. This especially if they are cash strapped.
Too many of the modern day hunters have been sold on the need to mount a scope that cost more than does the rifle. And, to get wood that doubles the cost of what the same rifle would cost in a plastic stock.
Certainly if one really wants the beauty of high cost wood with carvings and super deep blueing with engraving, and they can afford those luxuries, they should buy them with my blessings. I do not criticize anyone for spending money on what they want. However, I do take exception to the way that advertising has cowed many hunters into buying more than they really need and in some cases, more than they can afford. The hunters or newbies to hunting need to sit back, take a breath and focus on what they want out of a hunting rig and buy according to their set budget and not be pushed into spending more than they need to spend to get the job done.
Steven L. Ashe
