Re: Rifle Choice
IMHO, a fine piece of craftsmanship is a treasure and can be tailored to fit very nicely. By the same token, I cringe at the thought of taking something like that out and subjecting it to the vagaries and abuses that are likely to occur in a serious hunt. Its a matter of priorities for me.
Priorities of the hunt, for me, have nothing to do with aesthetics. They are about utility and reliability. I don't have to spend one penny for aesthetics to achieve that, and in many ways, the expendable implement is preferable.
For me, the mass market hunting firearm serves that market quite well, and economy holds no major functional drawback.
I could take my game very efficiently with a Rem 770 .30-'06, and feel no pangs over the dings and damages that Ma Nature disposes with dismal regularity.
Money well spent and not missed.
As it happens, my hunting firearms are family heirlooms and far pre-date the 710 and 770 that followed it. They consist of Winchester post-64 M70 .30-'06, and Ruger MKI .30-'06 and .280's, including a relatively rare .280 Varmint. I treat them with rather more respect, care, and hesitation than I would a 770, and maybe that's the point. I wouldn't need to worry about leaving a treasured legacy to the succeeding generations every time I'd be taking one out.
Greg
