New Bolt Rifles For 2022
BY Herschel Smith
1 year, 12 months ago
Peruse them as you wish. I’ll make several remarks.
First, I’m not a fan of the skeletonized stocks. I think they look strange and incomplete, and they’re simply not something I consider to be heirloom quality firearms.
Second, I and readers have remarks before on how the transition away from fine Walnut stocks has change the face of long guns, and not for the better.
Finally, I’m astounded at some of the prices. And you can’t convince me that these prices are necessary for the gun to shoot 1 MOA or better, even much better.
Maybe this is just a fad.
On May 1, 2022 at 10:13 pm, Bradley A Graham said:
I qualified sharpshooter my first time behind an M16A1 in 1980 at Camp Pendleton. We took the rifle range but the recruits in my platoon had varying degrees of success.
Colonel Jeff Cooper said ” The majority of shooters (myself included) cannot shoot up to their rifle.” As always it’s the man not the machine.
Nothing but boutique offerings, objects of desire and collectors items.
On May 2, 2022 at 12:18 am, Chris said:
im semi-uneducated o…
Get a Solid MOA weapon AND Ammo and/or Reload Recipe and components.
I dont care about… what is cool or isn’t, whats heirloom or what has great resell. Whats Fudd or whats Operator.
Does it work for you ??? on All your levels?? REALISTICLY???
.25 aint realistic for 85% of folks.
Yes??? Then….
Know it….KNOW IT !! Know it like you know …yourself.
I prefer not to be vulgar.
Know How it sends them, Know your Glass(if thats a thing for you) ,Know your Reticule, Know your DOPE and at 1000ft increment DA’z and How to Maintian it 95% of the way.
Buy ALL consumable parts NOW.
ALL springs, Ejector, Any and all Plungers, Extractor, xtra Trigger or Trigger Pack(Sears Wear dudes)
And if you can afford a spare barrel…Do it!
That may include parts that can work loose off your skeleton stock.
How bout Scope Mount Screws?? Got xtras???
Times…..
They are a Changin.
And Time is runnin short, for various reasons onmamy levels.
Thats my thoughts anyway
On May 2, 2022 at 11:19 am, Furminator said:
All these new guns are devoid of heart and soul, pure function without artistry. These days all it takes is a programmer with a CNC machine feeding a line of $15 dollar an hour Walmart retreads to assemble a rifle that shoots well but gives no satisfaction beyond that. I’ll take a cherry ’67 Camaro over a 2022 one that will outrun and out-handle it any time.
On May 3, 2022 at 1:07 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ Furminator
Re: “I’ll take a cherry ’67 Camaro over a 2022 one that will outrun and out-handle it any time.”
You and me both, pal! Do you have a cherry red 1967 Camaro for sale by any chance?? Count me in if you do! My older brother owned one of those cars back in the day and loved it.
Modern firearms are most-often commodities and not works of fine craftsmanship. There are exceptions of course, but that’s my take on it.
The good side of composite-stocked hunting rifles is that they perform well for the relatively modest outlay required to purchase them, and they bring the shooting sports to more people, which is in my view a plus.
Chassis systems are all the rage these days with the “Tommy Tactical” crowd, and the firearms industry learned some time ago that by apending the word “tactical” to a firearm or simply adding tacti-cool features, they could get away with charging significantly more money for their product.
It is not at all a new marketing strategy, though: Car makers have been selling cars for decades by the adage “Race ’em on Sunday, sell ’em on Monday.” The average guy who buys a sporty car will never drive like a professional race car driver, but he gets a boost from having something in common (or just the perception of something in common) with his heroes in NASCAR or whatever.
In the firearms world, makers have figured out that many folks look up to soldiers and the military, so they have added such features and touches to their products to appeal to that mentality. And it works, as the last two years of record-breaking sales can attest, and even well before that.
On May 3, 2022 at 8:03 am, Name (required) said:
A wooden stock is pretty, but it’s not very practical to carry for days in the rain.
On May 3, 2022 at 12:33 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ Name (Required)
Re: “A wooden stock is pretty, but it’s not very practical to carry for days in the rain.”
Maybe, maybe not….
An improperly treated stock would absorb moisture and become a boat-anchor, but decent quality wood treatments have been around for years, which are capable of rendering many woods effectively water-proof. Even as long ago as the Second World War, linseed oil was used and it worked pretty well. And the coatings and finishes available today are far better.
So, long story short, I hold that claim somewhat – but not completely – to be an “old wives tale,” in other words a myth. The American GI managed to fight WWI, WWII and Korea -plus a host of other smaller conflicts while armed with wood-stocked weapons. And few would question their performance or effectiveness in those conflicts.
I’m not denying the effectiveness of composites in the worst weather; merely pointing out that wood hasn’t done as badly as a lot of modern sources like to claim.
On May 3, 2022 at 8:17 pm, Name (required) said:
I used to live in the rain forest. An ’80s-vintage Remington 700 had the finish damaged from hunting in the rain, and the point of aim changed with the humidity. Wood and blued steel are great for looking at, great for fair weather use, not so much for anything else.