Let me say in advance that I judge no one on their choice of hunting weaponry, I am merely acknowledging a reverting back to my roots as I age. I am wondering if any other older gunners are experiencing a touch of "what has always worked". over "latest offerings", as they begin to get older, and perhaps wiser.
I as a young man, was raised on lever action rifles, and single shot shotguns. As a youth both pre-teen and teenager, I had single shot shotguns, single shot 22, and a Model 94 Winchester 3030. It was enough to do all I needed to do. I killed my squirrels, I limited on my dove hunting, and I never knew the difference.
When I went into Law Enforcement, and began to learn, I abandoned the Winchester after several years as a car gun, and of course followed the latest AR15s, Hks, and so on. The pump shotgun replaced the single shot, then the gas operated replaced the pump.
The revolver (357mag Model 19 Smith) was replaced by the 1911, then the 9mm replaced that, and then BACK to the 1911. And today, a Model 60 Smith, with a Tyler T-grip, and Ivory handles is what I carry DAILEY.
After 20 years of L.E. I believe that my analogy of the auto replacing the revolver was dead on. It was never a matter of capacity as much as it was hitting what your shooting at. In other words! PRACTICE.
With my rifles I have now gone back to the lever gun, and stopped at the pump shotgun. They are indeed, and WERE INDEED, "all I ever really needed" in my 20 year career, and also now.
They say: ONCE A MAN, TWICE A CHILD. Perhaps, but as I have stated over the years here at GB, I watched my Cherokee Grandfather whom was a poor, but happy share cropper, hunt with a very old Winchester lever action octagon barreled 22 rifle he found in a cave on a river bank in the 20s, and a single shot shotgun. The man was happy with what he had, and killed what he shot at.
My decisions are easier made since I sold most of my guns. If I can't hit it with a 3030 then it's beyond 250 yards and I need to HUNT CLOSER to the game.
If it is a booger in the house that needs shooting then a double tap with the puny 9mm will not be necessary. I will put an ADEQUATE hole in him with either my Glock 45 (KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID) pistol, or my Model 60 Smith and a nice little 125 grain JHP.
Not much to remember, and not much to think about, and my old guns work. Just like they used to before all those gun writers made me doubt those old guns. How bout you other old farts?
