It's complicated because he shoots from the wrong side, limiting his selection in bolt guns and sending him in search of pumps and semi-autos. I've been trying to steer him away from autos, apparently not very successfully.
Last evening's exchange was about his newly discovered lust for a Remington Model 8 (!). I understand. It is admittedly a beautiful rifle in a findy sickle sort of way, so an admirable share of Gramps' penchant for tradition remains alive in the blood line.
I suppose that's balanced by an equal ratio of willfulness, so he may actually wind up with one despite my gentle suggestion that this JMB-design is now a better collector than it is a shooter. For instance, you need ammo in the midst of a mulie hunt down in the high Uncompahgre desert. Do you really think you can find a box of .25-.35 at the one-pump gas station, bar, and trading post over on the reservation
The discussion continues. I'll see what I can do about pointing him at a Remington 760 or the like while we look hard for a proper wrong-side bolt-action. Wish me luck.
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I like semi-autos just fine. I also like the ideas of (a) greater field dependability of hand-operated guns and (b) a young man concentrating on careful one-shot marksmanship before he gets too ratatattatty.
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EDIT: An astute reader questions .25-.35. It's a little obscure but the reference is ".25 Remington (also called .25-.35)..."