My AR's are new, built by myself. I also have a few new pistols. Other than that I prefer old guns, my marlin .30-30 has a hand stamped serial number. I also have various milsurp weapons preferring to buy wood and steel guns with deep blueing and parkerization. My shotgun collection are various Wingmasters bought when a good used one cost $250. Anyone else out there prefer shooting rifles older than you are?
New vs Old Guns
- Thread starter Rshooter
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.308 Norma
Member
My 20 year old grandson prefers using his dad's pre-64 Winchester 70, 30-06 for deer hunting, and his little brother (age 16) likes my wife's old (mid-80s) Ruger 77, 7mm-08 for the same thing. But as far as how old the guns are that I personally prefer shooting - no, I don't prefer shooting guns that are older than myself. But then again, I'm almost 70. Besides, my favorite rifle of all times is my .308 Norma of course, and I had it built as a retirement gift to myself in 2003.
ColtPythonElite
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- Jan 8, 2011
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Most if my guns are older and out of production models.
milemaker13
Member
Yes, I prefer older. Just something about holding a piece of history (I'm 37, so that's a relative comment)
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NIGHTLORD40K
Member
New guns (generally) suck.
I am planning to get my first new gun in, um, ever? The new 5.5" Ruger 8-shot .357 Redhawk. Should make an interesting comparison with my '70s Security Six.
The majority of my rifles date from 1898 to 1980. My Weatherby is probably an early 90s, as is my Norinco AK.
Although I didn't buy it new, my Taurus Carbine was only imported '13-15, so it would be my newest firearm.
My oldest handgun is my 1917 Luger, the newest probably my mid-90s M92 Beretta, the majority being early to mid 80s Smiths and Sigs.
I am planning to get my first new gun in, um, ever? The new 5.5" Ruger 8-shot .357 Redhawk. Should make an interesting comparison with my '70s Security Six.
The majority of my rifles date from 1898 to 1980. My Weatherby is probably an early 90s, as is my Norinco AK.
Although I didn't buy it new, my Taurus Carbine was only imported '13-15, so it would be my newest firearm.
My oldest handgun is my 1917 Luger, the newest probably my mid-90s M92 Beretta, the majority being early to mid 80s Smiths and Sigs.
.308 Norma
Member
It's not older than I am, in fact it was new when I got it, but yeah, I enjoy shooting the Model 55 Winchester my parents gave me for my 10th birthday. Of course that was in 1958, so I guess that might make that little .22 "older" than a lot, if not most people on this forum.
ChanceMcCall
Member
When it comes to Marlins, the older guns are of much higher quality than the new ones which likely explains why a 1951 Marlin 39 A normally sells for more than a brand new in the box one. The same is true of all their lever guns. I have a safe full of their lever guns but have zero interest in one made in the last 20 years.
S&W revolvers are, for the most part, in the same boat. I love my old Model 66, but am less enamored of the new models. I have four .44 magnums, all stainless but all from the 1980s or older. Their new revolvers do not interest me very much despite some innovations I wish the older ones had.
Now to Remington. I have an older 1100. Last year I bought a brand new Classic Trap. After two trips to a Remington authorized gunsmith, it finally worked correctly. The fit and finish were not as good. The bluing chipped in one place under the wood. I sold the gun at a loss and was glad to see it go. I still have the older 1100 which is now sporting a short barrel and a magazine extension and serves as a house gun.
My trap shotgun is a 1966 Winchester 101 trap bought new. My hunting shotgun is a Browning Citori bought new in 1987 to add to my pre serial number Stevens.
Don't even get me started on Colt when it comes to revolvers. Their long guns have improved drastically however.
All of my rifles are older. Some are as old as I am. My newest one is a AR 10.
Ruger seems to be one of the few that keep up the quality and continue to improve their guns, in my opinion at least.
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NIGHTLORD40K
Member
What's really funny is my kids. Ive tried handing them newish Marlin 60s and 10/22s. They hated them. They usually reach for my 1920s Marlin80e, 1977ish Mossberg 377, or 1918 Enfield .410 musket.
Wish they're give me my old guns back.....
Wish they're give me my old guns back.....
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theotherwaldo
Member
It's getting harder to find guns and rifles that are older than I am (I was born the day that Ike was re-elected), but I think that it is worth the effort.
My last three finds are an M1903a3, a Stevens Favorite Model 1915, and an M1903.
My last three finds are an M1903a3, a Stevens Favorite Model 1915, and an M1903.
Fun topic for a COLD day.
My modest collection numbers about 27-28 firearms , the large majority being handguns. By quick memory scan - 13 or so are older than I at 66. Only one is from this century.
I have never purchased a new gun. Guess that if I haven't done that yet , I probably won't.
My modest collection numbers about 27-28 firearms , the large majority being handguns. By quick memory scan - 13 or so are older than I at 66. Only one is from this century.
I have never purchased a new gun. Guess that if I haven't done that yet , I probably won't.
Sistema1927
Member
Really, I am about 6 months older than you, and I have not had difficulty finding weapons that are older than I am. In reality, as the WWII and Korean War vets are dying off the guns that they had are ending up on the market due to a lack of appreciation on the part of their kids and grandkids.
Berger.Fan222
Member
Older than I am? Not really.
But for me the 80s and 90s were the peak in quality with feature sets I appreciate.
But for me the 80s and 90s were the peak in quality with feature sets I appreciate.
Riomouse911
Member
I like the nostalgic feel of old guns; the easy carry of a slick 1894 Carbine in the woods, the feeling of history when shooting a Garand, a k98, or a SMLE; swinging grandpas old model 12 in the dove fields, or even holding his USMC issue 1911 or war trophy ppk and hearing a story about how he acquired them...
I also like new guns; the unfailing reliability of a G34; the smooth trigger and perfect fit of a Les Baer Monolith, the ease of use and practical usefulness of a BCM AR-15, and the accuracy of a dedicated varmint rifle with hand loads it likes...
Heck, I just like guns! New, old, historic, cutting edge... it doesn't matter to me the age or significance of a gun as long as it's functional, reliable, and just plain fun to hold, shoot and talk about.
Stay safe!
I also like new guns; the unfailing reliability of a G34; the smooth trigger and perfect fit of a Les Baer Monolith, the ease of use and practical usefulness of a BCM AR-15, and the accuracy of a dedicated varmint rifle with hand loads it likes...
Heck, I just like guns! New, old, historic, cutting edge... it doesn't matter to me the age or significance of a gun as long as it's functional, reliable, and just plain fun to hold, shoot and talk about.
Stay safe!
KevininPa
Member
I have a Winchester 90 that I got from an uncle that I love shooting. As far as older guns that are not older than me, our Ruger Sixes( Speed and Security that are 2 3/4. Plus a Service with a 4 inch barrel ) are still our favorite handguns.
i like looking at old guns. appreciate the history.
but no, i like shooting the latest greatest. the past 5 years in bolt actions has seen more innovation than the previous 50, maybe 80 years. very cool stuff. no history. you have to run the guns to appreciate the difference
but no, i like shooting the latest greatest. the past 5 years in bolt actions has seen more innovation than the previous 50, maybe 80 years. very cool stuff. no history. you have to run the guns to appreciate the difference
Scooter22
Member
At 57 I like both sides of the modern/classic guns. I prefer the older warmth of the blued/wood guns. They remind me of older models that friends and relatives used when I was a kid and couldn't wait to buy. Newer synthetic, black rifles also fit in but I think are allowing manufactures to give a low production cost gun as their main product. Not to mention "black guns" just are bad to the ignorant public eyes. Just bad perception. I do own multiple black guns.
Heck, I just like guns! New, old, historic, cutting edge... it doesn't matter to me the age or significance of a gun as long as it's functional, reliable, and just plain fun to hold, shoot and talk about.
Well said.
Sums it up pretty well for me as well.
Most of my guns are younger than I am though, including a couple USGI Garands. Ike had been president for only 6 days for me.
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Deus Machina
Member
I love shooting guns older than me. I love the work that went into them--often that had to go into them to make something that would last--and the careful fitting the designs of the time required.
I'm not one to think "they don't make them like they used to." While they may not get the same craftsmanship, the engineering the make up for it has evolved. And, face it, they made a whole lot of crap back then, too. The good stuff is just what is still around. Which is awesome. Or, conversely, if they didn't make junk, they had to make it carefully and expensively just so it wouldn't blow up.
Really, I like the current stuff, too, but it's getting harder to find nice affordable guns without polymers. And I always worry what time, exposure, and UV will do to some of them.
I'm not one to think "they don't make them like they used to." While they may not get the same craftsmanship, the engineering the make up for it has evolved. And, face it, they made a whole lot of crap back then, too. The good stuff is just what is still around. Which is awesome. Or, conversely, if they didn't make junk, they had to make it carefully and expensively just so it wouldn't blow up.
Really, I like the current stuff, too, but it's getting harder to find nice affordable guns without polymers. And I always worry what time, exposure, and UV will do to some of them.
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