I have to first thank everyone on this forum for responding so quickly and with so much information! For someone that did not grow up hunting or learning about guns, all the information y'all have provided me is invaluable and I will take to heart going forward.
Now, that being said, a decision has been made and the trigger has been pulled, pun intended.
The evening started with a dinner and a movie with NO intention of rifle shopping. After seeing Glass, which is good and I recommend it, we had some time to kill before we had to be back home to let the dog out and feed her.
The trek began at the Nashville Armory Franklin, which was disappointing in every way. They had a total of 4 long guns on display total... Needless to say, I didn't find anything that spoke to me there. The second stop was to Academy Sports. The thought was they would have a variety of brands and how they fit me. If I learned nothing else from this forum, it was that I needed to "try on" different brands of guns before making a lifelong commitment to any hunting rifle.
The final stop was to Bink's Lodge on 31 in Franklin. We had almost gotten home when it dawned on me that they were the perfect hunting outfitter store in the area that carried high-quality products. They deal in products such as Beretta, Blaser, Begara, Benelli, Kimber, Tikka, Sako, and Browning. As is ALWAYS the case when large purchases are made, we walked in with ZERO intention of purchasing a rifle. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong.
Josh was an EXCELLENT salesman. I know this in hindsight because he pulled out the most expensive gun first... I shouldered multiple types of rifles. I got to appreciate the classic craftsmanship of Browning and Beretta, but they just didn't feel perfect. The next rifle I tried was a Sako. Although I was a fan, it was just a little on the bulky side and felt a lot thicker in my hand. After trying several of the classic brands, Josh resorted to the Kimber line. The digital camo was beautiful and it was incredibly light. Afraid of the potential recoil, I decided to pass on Kimber and leave that to
@WFet and his carry weapon.
The final gun Josh pulled out was the Blaser R8, the best for last.
@WFet had told me about these fantastic creatures prior to entering the store. I was turned off from the start due to the plain black synthetic stock that it came in. I was looking for something with a wood-grain finish, but entertained the idea just for kicks. Josh handed me the gun and it was like love at first site... no offense
@WFet . The unique bolt-action design felt amazing and it was the perfect weight. Just to top it off, the stock was the perfect length for my build. It was at this point that a joke my mom and I make a lot while shopping and we find something really expensive came to mind. "I have REALLY good taste." The deliberation began...
I'm not sure if it was truly love at first site or the combination of benefits that come with an R8 that persuaded me, but somehow I was swayed toward the Blaser R8 .308.
@WFet stood behind me the entire time reassuring me it was my decision to make while looking at me with a smile that can only be described as hopeful and mischievous. After lots of deliberation and discussion, the decision was made. I would be bringing home a brand new Blaser R8 .308 as my first hunting rifle.
Well, I pulled the trigger on purchasing my first, and hopefully only, hunting rifle purchase for years to come. I will post a second time that has pictures of the actual rifle. After the paperwork and punch to the bank account was complete, we shook hands and left smiling. The first phone call that was made was to
@Jfet who was eagerly awaiting the phone call regarding which rifle I had decided on. I received an outstanding amount of support, approval, and maybe a hint of jealousy from my loving father-in-law
@Jfet . I can't wait to get a scope mounted on it so I can take it to the range and break it in!! Thanks for all the help and I look forward to sharing posts with y'all as I make memories with my new toy!!
www.africahunting.com
