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My experience is both city and country living. When I lived in the city ranges only allowed pistol calibers and shotguns, so I shot the hell out of my Glocks and Rugers. I actually put enough .45 acp through a used when I got it P97 (first handgun) to wear out the frame (I never kept count but it had to be close to 10,000 rounds), which Ruger replaced for free with a brand new P345 (Damn nice of them). With no place to shoot rifles except a friend that owned some country property maybe 1000 rifle rounds a year between an AR and Savage 110 was the most I would get. This is how it works for most in the city unless they take a class or know someone. Have most guys in the city pull their Glock and they can probably strip it and put it back together blindfolded. Have them do the same with their BM and they're tripping over their own d**ks in a well lit room.
When I moved to the country things changed drastically. A rifle was more useful. Hunting dear, pigs, varmints, predators, or just target shooting made the rifles my most used guns. Enough that I had to rebarrel a .30-06 Savage. I had to start reloading just to keep shooting. In just a year and a half over 4000 rifle rounds went down 2 barrels, that is not including .22lr (AR trainer, 10/22, bolt gun) which was probably double that. At 2 years I picked up another AR, and have closer to 6,000 rifle rounds, 90% being .223/5.56. From what I've seen living in both places guys get comfortable with what they can shoot the most, that includes myself. I really suck with a pistol now, I just don't shoot them much anymore.
Every gun shop in the city hocks BowelMovement and DumbPeoplesMonkeySh*t as just as good as or, I swear, even better than Colt. A new buyer knows little which is scary in the age of info at your fingertips. The shops can make more money on BMs and their ilk (wholesale prices are lower than Colts) from what my local "country" shop owner told me, he just won't sell them because he hates dealing with broken or malfunctioning weapons. More people live in the city, and almost every city dealer has a huge neon BM sign in the front window. Seeing something over and over breeds familiarity, so maybe they are the #1 seller. I could believe that. At least Colt was mentioned, I've seen plenty of articles and blogs expound the greatness of BM with no mention of Colt, DD, or BCM let alone KAC.
I hope this helps explain the why and how, it's just my experience though. Your opinions and results may vary.
Appeasement is never the answer in the face of naked aggression.
Regarding ammo pricing (then vs now); the box of Remington 00 Buck was purchased (IIRC) in 1987 for $3.57 at K-Mart (of all places). It kind of got lost in a stash and I found it in a box recently. The Federal Buckshot was purchased today at the local Wal-Mart for $4.77 per box.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Inflation Calculator, $3.57 in 1987 would be equivalent to $7.43 today. Something seems out of whack, or was ammo really that expensive "back in the day" relative to the value of the dollar at the time?
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I really wish there was a quality shop around here. Most of the people who work in our gun shops will spout the Oly, DPMS, Bushy is as good as anything bs. Asking about a BCM, DD or Colt usally gets the "you don't need one of those, take a look at this Black Rain, Bushmaster.." whatever they have on the wall. They're mil-spec, just as good if not better and cheaper.
Bill Tidler Jr.
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...We have long maintained that the only accessories that a 1911 needs are a trigger you can manage, sights that you can see, and a dehorning job. That still goes.
~Jeff Cooper
Until their dry, cheap, low round count AR starts to malfunction. Then... they blame it on the "inherent poor design" of the platform, sell it, buy an AK and then talk shit about AR's (often referencing Vietnam) for years. Never once considering that maybe they should have taken a class and learned how to run their gun wet, with good mags or purchased a well put together AR to begin with.
The guy at the gun shop did say that "all AR's are the same and buying colt or milspec is just silly. Its like buying organic food or a chevy instead of a GMC. Same exact gun, just cheaper without the 'cool guy' words like colt or milspec on it."
Can't argue with thatI'm in the same boat. Prices are getting better,but nothing to write home about yet. I just keep slowly adding to my centerfire stock pile and shooting less. Less because of a work related injury and the weather sucks,but I keep adding to my ammo stock when I find "reasonable" (for now) prices. I used to shoot once a week at the least when times were good. Needless to say,I DO reload everything too. Use to be reload all week and blast em up on the weekend. Slowed down,but still plugging away at it.
Give Me the Eyes of an Eagle.The Courage of a Lion and the Balls of a Combat Helicopter Pilot. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
That wouldn't be me. I field strip what I'm buying on the spot and check for any flaws or problems before I lay down my hard earned cash and the paper work is done. More so in the Big Box stores than the already trusted "Mom & Pop" LGS's. Then it's home for (read the manual),full field strip,clean the storage lube off and lube everything. Then out the back door to do some test firing and sighting in. ...LOVE living in the "Boondocks".![]()
Last edited by Maddmax; 05-04-14 at 16:34.
Give Me the Eyes of an Eagle.The Courage of a Lion and the Balls of a Combat Helicopter Pilot. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (519 BC – 430 BC) Power should only be given to those that want it least.
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