And I just don't get it, they just feel too "tinker toy" to me, where a good bolt action is art in steel and walnut...
I guess some enjoy shooting smaller caliber stuff with a lot less recoil at quick firing rates of semi-auto weapons. It’s a fun way to spend some money and time. I’m more a fan of “the long distance phone call” which would keep any argument at a distance and doesn’t have to be fast. Best option is to avoid the argument to start with, but still important to know when it’s going to try to follow you after walking away.
I like older bolt action weapons too. They’re just simply more reliable. I had my old Remington Model 540 .22 single shot with me (because it’s still pretty cheap to shoot) and surprised myself shooting 50 yards. I was hitting a 2” target consistently with open sights. Woulda tried it at 100 yards but A) not sure I could see a 2” target that far (focus both target and sights), and B) the jam in the 5.56 had us a bit worried. Shooting my old Gewer 88 8mm Mauser is fun too, but there’s only so much of that my shoulder or wallet will withstand. Nearly $2.00 per round for good quality reliable ammo that won’t blow the 145 year old rifle up in my face.
I can see where steel casings would have to have something to prevent rust which would be a guaranteed misfeed/jam. Coatings, heat, and precision mechanisms typically don’t play well together. He’s decided to never use’em again. I don’t think brass/bronze would have stuck in the chamber nearly so bad, if at all. The extractor ripped a pretty sizable chunk off the collar, which sorta indicates it glued itself in the chamber.
BTW, “AR” doesn’t actually mean assault rifle. It’s actually a misused moniker for any brand that looks like the AR. AR actually means “
Armalite Rifle”. I’m as guilty as anyone on that misuse. They’re relatively inexpensive, easy to customize, and make good tactical weapons for medium/close range because of compact size and rapid fire/low recoil. I guess whether it’s an “assault” rifle depends on whether one is the assaulter or the assaultee. In all fairness, it should be called a TR(tactical rifle). Small difference, but perhaps a less negative reference. Not worth a flip for hunting because of the small caliber unless used for varmint or coyote mitigation. I wouldn’t bother trying to take a deer with one. Don’t own one, not really interested enough.
Back to regularly scheduled programming, though, having my morning cuppa on a very crisp if windy autumn morning watching leaves pile up and dreading picking them up.
