Stuck in the 20th Century

[pharmer]

Lately I have spent a large amount of time among the "under 35" age group. Most all are in agreement that I am firmly stuck somewhere in the 20th Century, mostly between 1969 and the ensuing 25 years. I doth protest; until today.

A gorgeous, cloudless, mid '70's, glad to be alive day. I resolved to set my "office" chair out on the driveway for a 2nd vitamin D helping (walked 4 mi in the am) about 4 pm, my trusty "NRA American Rifleman" magazine in hand and an open mind.

Huh, an assortment of "plastic, striker fired" guns in all shapes and sizes offered for sale. "F(eatures), A(ssets), B(enefits) abound, and you can screw on a suppressor. Unfortunately, I can't be trusted with a "real" gun, only exposed hammer DA/SA with decocker for this moron. The tool at the Florida Mall this weekend demonstrated "proper, striker fired gun handling etiquette," his GF, not skipping a beat, deftly picking up his (striker fired) gat off the floor after shooting it in his pants.

All kinds of "collector" coins, knives, and "Male blood flow enhancers."



Then there's a "lever action AR type" rifle that says "why?" to me. At least you can screw a suppressor on.

I'll stop at the "steel cased 7mm Backcountry" round that gives "m.o.a. groups out to 500 yds from a 20" barrel." I can barely see a locomotive at 500 yds, much less shoot something with a vital area about a foot and a half square. I'm 71 now and even 40 years ago I'm not shooting something that far away.

Although I might, if'n I had a "scope that interfaces with a smartphone through advanced Bluetooth technology." I guess I could dial up that distant bull elk and ask him to hold still for another 30 seconds.

Only spent about an hour before thoughtfully depositing the mag in the recycle, saving the planet and all. I guess I have become my dad, but seeing as he was a pretty solid guy, I'm in good company. Joe

 

[Tom S.]

I hope you took the ballot out of it and voted before you threw the magazine away.

 

[Mule Packer]

I know exactly how you feel.

I don't text. I have a cell phone that Miss Judy gave me because she didn't like me taking the pack string into the mountains by myself. I don't know the number. Most of the time, I don't even know where the thing is. I don't do Facebook or Instagram. I still have a land line.

A while back, my kids told Miss Judy, "We've got to get Dad into the 21st Century."

She replied without missing a beat, "I'd be happy if we could just get him into the 20th Century."

 

[DWalt]

I will reserve my comments about what I think of the 7mm Backcountry. But it is much the same as my thoughts about Remington’s now-extinct electrically fired rifle and cartridge.

 

[pharmer]

And seriously, a scope that talks to my phone??? I need one that talks to my bullets! Joe

 

[pasound]

...and shoots around corners.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Gee, I still think the 30-06 is a great round for fighting and hunting...
I must be old...

 

[Buford57]

I, too, find less worth reading in each new gun rag. Holosites, suppressors, AR builds and $3,000 scopes that link to cell phones don't interest me. I had a flirtation with SA/DA autos in the 80s when all the articles were either in praise of the new Wondernines or 9mm vs. .45 ACP. Then I reverted to updated 19th Century technology. But you and I are not the target of their advertisers.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

You guys and I are on the same page. I have taken more bucks with my old 30-30 than modern rifles. Guess i'm getting old or something. Got them all while hunting on my back feet not sitting in a blind with scoped magnum

 

[soFlaNative]

I am a revolving cylinder, bolt and pump action kind of gut but I would stand in a line for one of these

 

[dockmurgw]

Uh oh...you just admitted that you are, as defined by many...a FUDD. And I agree with you 101%

 

[Rat458]

Guess I am in the same boat.
Just downgraded from a smart phone to a Nokia flip phone.
And have not touched an AR style since I got out of the U S Army in the early 80's.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I've admitted to being mired in the late 20th Century for at least a decade now!

I do have an AR but rarely take it out, do some training with my S&W 15/22.

 

[chief38]

Well.... as far as guns go, I have not bought a model made in the 21st century, with ONE exception.... my Sig P365. I am not saying there aren't any innovative or terrific utilitarian guns made now days (there are), I just prefer traditional blued steel and Walnut, Goncalo Alves, etc. The new crop of Micro 9's are nothing short of fantastic, but I already have my P365 so I just don't need any more because other than utilitarian purposes, I'd much prefer to spend the money on an older beauty.

I am like this with many items and it usually costs me much more to get exactly what I want and not settle for what is popular today and being sold in the big box stores.

Almost all my tools and tool boxes are from the 20th Century and American made. It's just he way I am programmed.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

You guys have me feeling quite progressive. I have 4 guns with the word "Creedmoor " or "ARC " in its description. I regularly use in my smart phone in my Subaru for navigation. I own and carry polymer frame pistols.
On the other side of this, I still listen to 70s rock and roll, 80s and 90s country music.
My favorite guns in my safe are blued and have walnut wood on them.
My 4 most favorite guns were built in 1980 or before.
The best thing about being our ages is that we have so much to choose from. Pick what you like and enjoy it.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

A while back I mentioned watching Black and White TV.
My Granddaughter asked me why I was watching B&W?
When I told her that early TV was all that way.
Color came later.
She looked at me like I helped dock the Mayflower.

 

[Buzzzer]

I hear ya. I think as we get older we realize that the "latest and greatest" isn't much better than what we already have, as far as firearms go. Heck, my boys are all for the this new stuff and I'm glad they are. It keeps the shooting world going 'round.

Seems to me with age comes a certain perspective. We don't need the latest stuff including several thousand dollar scopes or cartridges that reach out to 500 yards. Good luck finding a range that offers that kind of distance. None around here, 200 max.

The "old" rounds, like the 30-30, still do very well as it always has. Red dot sights, lights and whatever else you can put on a handgun these days isn't much use at 3/7 yards where point and shoot is the rule in a self defense situation.

I told my wife the last couple of firearms I'll own will have 22 on them. I'll give the rest to my kids so I can see them enjoy them as much as I have, even though they're "old school"...

 

[tlawler]

“Unfortunately, I can't be trusted with a "real" gun, only exposed hammer DA/SA with decocker for this moron.”

Ha Ha! That is classic, Joe, I love it!

 

[alwslate]

I get the American Rifleman magazine. The publishers are tasked with filling every issue. Every issue doesn't have content that is ideally suited to my tastes. So what? I usually find something in each issue that is worth reading. Same thing with other magazines that I subscribe to. Membership in the NRA is cheap, well worth the money in my opinion.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have 16 S&W's. 1 was made in the 19th Centry and 1 was made in the 21st Centry.

I & the wife have a total of 4 polymer guns. Her Glock 19. My S&W M&P 9c, a LCP and a LCR 38 Special.

Whiz Bang new cartridges? I like 22 Hornet (1923), 38 Special (1898), 45 ACP (1909+/-), 45-70 (1873), 45 Colt (1873) 44 S&W Russian (1873), 30 Mauser (1896), 303 British (1888), 7x57 Mauser (1892). I shoot post WWII rounds too. 223 Remington (1957), 308 Winchester (1952). 6mm PPC (1971) 22 BR (1963), 221 Fireball (1963) & 450 3 1/4" NE (1895). The newest is 338 Lapua Mag (1983)

Gun companies make new rounds up to sell guns, Gun rags hype new rounds to sell Magazines. What we really need has little to do with real life!

Ivan