There is a lot of stuff in my life, sixty years worth and adding to that every day. Looking at some blogs I notice that one gun is better than another - or so some would say. I like my two forty-fives and if I am serious about shooting I will drag them out and wear them. I didn't feel they were concealed carry so I went looking for smaller and still troublesome to those on the other side of my pistol. Got me a 9mm, and it almost disappears - with a pocket protector with pens no one notices. Just have to watch the happy huggers. But I was reading about my pistol on blogs and I got all kinds of comment - good and bad.
So I take it to the range and shoot, and don't find any of the problems mentioned. It is double action, and I take up the trigger and look at the target and hit the target when it fires, just like I was supposed to... out of the box, into my hands with full metal jacket. It does everything I ask, if I care for it properly it should for a long time. That takes care of carrying, then the only question - as in all heroic things - is opportunity and stepping up when it knocks.
Lately I get an urge to have a military rifle (who me?) I like the M-14 (with a 10 round magazine), can use an M-16, and love the looks and feel of the M-1 Garand, and a Springfield '03 would fit me - I just know it. So I start to look and hunger and want to buy... but wait, I have two 30-30 lever actions, and a Model 70 in 30-06. What is the reason I was hungering for a military rifle? Because I could - there is no need in my life for one, I could be pleased just firing one once in awhile but don't even have to do that. Okay, maybe I NEED to have a semi automatic rifle, but you are going to have to sell me that real hard. I know how to use a machine gun and automatic fire in combat, defense or offense, but I don't need a BAR or any of the machine guns. Not until the war starts and I figure I will get all the bullet launchers and ammunition I need, because I will be more willing to step up than many... So I will fire my rifles like I fire my pistols - with love, care and affection. And they are all straight out of the box, and they all shoot straighter than I can aim them - but I don't need Olympic precision, I only need combat effective and until the lights go out, I will always have that... or so I seriously believe.
5 comments:
For most of us age 60 and older firearms are objects of whimsy, amusement and sometimes, but only rarely I hope, serious applications. That's not meant to be taken in a good or bad way, just a description of how we spend our idle hours.
The neat thing about owning military or military-style rifles is the history of such things and how they prod us to do above average research. Then we can sit in our lounge chair and caress this inanimate object and immerse ourselves in a period of time when things were not so comfortable for those who held such instruments.
I believe it's a sign of respect for their accomplishments and valor.
All The Best,
Frank W. James
How old is the newspaper(?) clipping? You look rather young in it.
Look at you, a winner! & one handed! (I need practice)
I've got more guns than I can possibly shoot, but I do try to exercise them once in a while. Mr. James pretty well covered why I, too, like old military guns. If only they could talk. Too bad I don't know German or Russian as well.
The picture was from 1978, the year I would take my young son and wife to Germany for four years. The reason I don't think too much about the M-16 is that it was my war(s) rifle and it took care of me and I it, but no chemistry. The historical love is for the M1 and '03, and I could go backwards from there. Then all rifles need care and affection, I don't have to own them, kind of like that mythical long legged red head. Love to shoot, if I shot better one would think I could be employed at it, but then I guess I was, wasn't I?
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