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As the title says, it's up to you to provide content for this post, either in the comments or on your own blog if you feel so inclined (in which case, please ping this entry with a big fat trackback to let me know. Or drop me an email if you believe trackbacks to be worse of a Devil's scheme than President Shrub's Evil Damninistration)Here's the pitch: my birthday is coming up, and since I'm hitting a new landmark in the History of Me — a two numbers figure with a zero at the end — I'm working out various ways to mark the event.
In the "it's now or never: live the instant" Department, I'm considering either taking a jump out of a perfectly working airplane, or a ride in a Lamborghini Murcielago — behind the wheel, and on a race track of course.
While that should fulfill my need for adrenalin, I'm also looking for something that will last longer, and I feel like offering me a boomstick to mark the occasion for the years to come — assuming the chute will open properly.
So here's where I put you to work: I'd like suggestions.
Guidelines as follow:
- I'm more of a rifleman than a pistolero, so let's leave handguns aside.
- It doesn't have to be a luxurious, expensive boomstick with gold and engravings all over the place. I'm a simple guy with simple needs(1), not one of Saddam Hussein's degenerate sons. Good rifle, at a good price for good value is what I'm looking for.
- Closely related to the previous point: I'm looking for a rifle that I will actually use, not just place on display in the living room. By "use", I mean (mostly) hunting big game by all sorts of weather (in a forest, and frequently thick and thorny underbrush environment). Usually at close range.
- Big game means adapted caliber. It doesn't have to be magnum all the way (as 1. Most European big game is not too big and 2. Size is not everything, I believe in bullet placement) but .22 is definitely a bit small and a bit slow.
- Rifles, not shotguns. Have enough shotguns, thank you.
- I like wood as much as composite. I like bolt as much as lever action. And semi-auto. Okay, I have just a slight preference for bolts.
Oh and if you don't know jack about guns, I'm thinking of having a few words engraved on my Rifle of the New Decade. Any idea?
Comments
Comments thread (90)
2663 - Civis Proeliator
Civis Proeliator
"To those of you who have skydived, what was the feeling like when you did it? Did you feel like you were falling or was it more like floating?"
Sister...it's hard to describe the free fall sensation. Don't know if you can compare it to either though "floating" would be a better description. You leave the aircraft (using the Cessna 182 as an example, other aircraft vary) at somewhere around 75 knots...approx. 86 mph...so you won't get the roller coaster, stomach-in-your-throat sensation as you build to terminal velocity which is about 120 mph.
2664 - tinga-tinga
tinga-tinga
Comment on dit "ARRG" et "AVAST" en francais? C'est le 19 septembre, bien sur.
2665 - floridasuzie
floridasuzie Florida
Changing my previous inscription suggestion a little:
Army of The Me - Fear The Frogman
floridasuzie
2666 - the dissident frogman
the dissident frogman France
Right, I didn't dare interrupting and just enjoyed reading your comments. I want to thank you all for a great conversation, and a lot of great advice.
But enough violin.
Lots of great, inspiring or amusing quotes. I'm surprised however that none of you honored readers and nonetheless friends mentioned King Leonidas' ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ... It's the ultimate cry of defiance against any enemy, foreign or domestic, and it's short enough.
I think I'll go for the Marlin 336C in 30-30 (or maybe the stainless one, the 336SS, not sure) as roughly half of you suggested. The Remington 700 is the stuff of legend, but it would be a crime to mount a cheap scope on such a beauty, and a Leupold or a Swarovsky can cost at least twice the price of the rifle - that's a bit steep for me at the moment. Plus, as far as bolt action goes, I'm really happy with my Sig-Sauer, and I fancy something different, just for a change.
The Marlin will come at some €800, and iron sights will do fine.
I'm still undecided between the sky and the tracks. I want both, but that would be too costly. I'll sleep on it for a while. In any case, I'll let you know the final decision.
Many thanks to all of you,
2671 - Don meaker
Don meaker
I would suggest a nice self-loading rifle in .30 caliber. You just about can't go wrong with a Browning Automatic Rifle, but .30/06 is a marvelously adaptable cartridge, suitable for shooting invading or retreating Wehrmacht, with lighter bullets suitable for smallish varments, and with heavy rounds up to the largest game.
Of c ourse Remington makes a slightly more economical self-loading rifle too, and has for over 100 years. I understand there is a French company, whose initials are V-C but I can't find a link to it just now. Darned things are pretty, but from what I recall of their price list, rather dear.
2678 - 2hotel9
2hotel9 Western Pennsylvania
.30, in all its configurations, is the caliber of excellence. And of knocking shit down. Sorry, I have seen people take .223 hits to the torso and keep moving. That ain't cool. Then again, it took 20 years to get me to carry a 9mm, and then only running 167gr jacketed hollowpoints. Uncouth, uncivilized and unrepentant.
2680 - SPQR
SPQR
For a hunting rifle, you can't go wrong with a Remington 700. Given that you are in Europe, I'm not sure of the regulations on ammunition you must meet, so either .308 Winchester or .30-06 ( long action version ) are probably your best choices.
If you want a fun target rifle, here's a unique suggestion: how about a surplus Swiss K31 rifle? Probably the most accurate as issued military service rifle. It would be in 7.5 x 55 but just pop over the Alps and pick up some. The Swiss GP11 issue round can be found in surplus form from the '80's and its still astonishingly accurate.
2704 - G.W.C.
G.W.C. Colorado
Well, I'm a gunsmith, and very opiniated, so here's my opinion.
If you go for a lever action i'd suggest the Marlin 336 in 30-30. If you go for a Winchester instead, try to get one that is older than 1964, or newer than 1984, Winchester changed a few things during that period(stamped sheet metal lifter for example), if you can't find one that old and have to buy a newer one, HAVE THE LIFTER REPLACED IMMEDIATELY!
Bolt action: Remington 700 or a Savage, enough said. 22-250 is a good all around cartridge, or a .308.
Automatic: Stoner AR-10 (SR-25) 7.62x51(.308).
But, all that depends on what they'll let you own there.
By the Way, I'd go with the skydiving.
2711 - G.W.C.
G.W.C. Colorado
Inscription: Nemo me impune lacessit. "No one provokes me without punishment." You gotta love Poe.
2716 - floridasuzie
floridasuzie Florida
Inscription: >Nemo me impune lacessit. "No one provokes me without punishment." You gotta love Poe.<
GWC,
Oohh, good one! I love Poe!