CLASSICAL HEIRLOOM QUALITY RIFLES
A great amount of "class" has drained from hunting equipment, especially rifles and scopes. It has been replaced with unnecessary technology, which has also become a substitute for skill. Fine bolt actions with wooden stocks are still the preferred choice of traditional hunters using a magazine-type rifle. For some on a dangerous-game hunt, especially in Africa, a double rifle defines class. And then there are those who prefer, at least at times, to do the job with a single shot.
One of the great hunters of our time, at least up until his death in the 1970s, was Jack O'Connor. Also a great gun writer, he influenced countless thousands of hunters and riflemen of all ages, including myself, through decades of writing books and articles, especially for Outdoor Life.
O'Connor became a resident of Lewiston, Idaho, after being raised and starting to raise his own family in Arizona. For decades, both O"Connor and Elmer Keith -- a resident of North Fork and Salmon after growing up in Missouri and Montana -- lived, hunted, and wrote on opposite sides of Idaho. Most readers thought the two were constantly at odds when it came to caliber choices for various game, but, for the most part, they were pretty much in line with common-sense choices. That fact comes to light in a DVD that I recommend: Jack O"Connor -- An Outdoor Legend, available from Safari Press at (714) 894-9080 or (800) 451- 4788. It's priced at $29.95, and will hopefully enlighten viewers as to what hunting and equipment was like during the mid-20th Century. Even today, after over 60 years of having centerfire rifles at hand, starting with a 30-06 in the mid 1950s, for hunting rifles I most often choose Leupold's VX-3 (current designation) in 1.5-5x20mm or 1.75-6x32mm as the variable-power choices, or their FX-II in straight 4x or 6x. The size and weight of any of these scopes seldom detracts from the overall balance of either the weight or the appearance of a fine rifle.
My comments here are not intended to downplay current bolt action rifle manufacturing processes or materials. Synthetic stocks have proven their carefree usefulness for years, in that they are not easily damaged in nasty field or weather conditions, and have a reputation for holding the impact point of the bullet through the seasons. I have many dozens of synthetic-stocked rifles, and appreciate their attributes. However, when it comes time for my finest rifles to be handed over to family and friends, I have chosen only those stocked in elegant wood. What I would like to accomplish with these words is to encourage readers to think many years into the future, in terms of heirloom quality, and spoil themselves with at least one fine, wood-stocked rifle during their lifetime. Perhaps many of you have already done that, and fully understand my point. For those of you who are ready to take the step, we are located only about a hundred miles south (and on the same road) of Cooper Firearms. Contact us directly, and we'll help you place your order for something very special. Typical delivery time is running about 12 to 14 months, and we request a 50-percent deposit at the time of placing the order. Most of the rifles we order for customers are priced somewhere in the range of $2300 to $3600. Deposits by credit card payment are accepted.
JDC