Fellow Consumers,
Cheers to those of you who defend the gun & ammunition industry’s latest trends and marketing tactics.
Although my view of what the industry is up to recently, apparently differs from some of you fellows here.
Nonetheless, I appreciate reading everyone’s opinions.
And as usual, I readily admit that I am the odd man out with my take on the cause of today’s recent and sudden shortages for what used to be standard and plentiful cartridges.
However, I remain of the opinion that, this relatively recent shift within the gun & ammunition marketplace is definitely caused by the industry itself.
They manipulate the buying trends, through what I perceive approaches very close to false advertising.
That said, this uncomfortable ammunition drought today is being kept alive and well by those of us consumers failing to notice we are being fooled into buying things that merely duplicate what we already have.
I’ve said before that it’s amazing so many consumers will rush out to buy whatever is new, simply because it is new.
This seems like it is particularly so when the manufacturers claim it is somehow better than what we already have, even if whatever they’re selling only duplicates what we already have, nothing more.
(My parents taught me that misleading people is called “lying”).
I am all for factories making a handsome profit.
A staunch Capitalist myself, I have enjoyed some good luck in life, via being careful with money (not falling for sales pitches)
plus, investing what modest pay I earned, I now have managed to retire not wealthy but, well enough to be happy enough.
And so with that, I am all for big factories down to the simplest individual person as well, turning an honest profit.
But any industry structuring their advertising campaigns with intent to mislead the bulk of their customers is not nice.
And so, if the average consumer would just invest a few minutes in research then, analyze and compare said research against whatever the advertisers are claiming, the industry would have to adjust to our purchasing trend, not the other way around.
However I am fully aware that it is unlikely to happen.
And with that, the industry should be ashamed of themselves for taking advantage of the average consumer being so easily led.
A Case in Point:
Back a few short years ago, the industry announced their latest cartridge of the week offering, (the 7MM-08 Remington), a fellow I am acquainted with here in Alaska bought a Kimber bolt action repeater for it.
He proudly showed it to me.
I said I was curious as to, why not the 7x57 ?
He replied, the 7MM-08 is more accurate and it’s a short action.
I asked to what advantage is the short action for you ?
He replied that the bolt throw is shorter.
(This chap stands a little over 6 feet tall and is physically fit).
By then my ears had suffered more than enough discomfort and I was obviously making my friend appear uneasy.
So I quit asking questions and complimented him on his well made rifle.
The conversation ended well.
More accurate ? —> I’ll be double dipped in it if the bulk of rifles made with quality barrels for the 7x57 are suddenly now, not accurate.
I’ve read that the shorter the rifle’s action, the less susceptible it is to vibration, resulting in better accuracy.
That makes sense when I read the words.
However, after firing numerous rifles over my now old geezer lifetime, I can’t help but notice even the dreaded magnum length actioned rifles often shoot just as tight of groups as standard and even short actioned rifles do.
At least as hunting rifles and calibers go anyway.
With that, and regarding bolt action repeaters, I say that short action rifles selling for comparable prices to what standard length action rifles sell for, only benefit the maker’s bank account.
In my own experiences, the maker’s and advertiser’s claim that short action rifles are more accurate than rifles with standard length actions are is simply not true.
(Admittedly, I have no experience with Bench Rest Competition Rifles and therefore cannot comment on their accuracy, in relation to action length).
I will stop blathering now and get back to my job here at home as Senior Cook and Dishwasher.
Cheers,
Velo Dog.
Gas lighted? Get real. All companies must develop and sell new products or they go out of business. Many of the newer cartridges were originally created by "wild caters" using cases that were cheap and plentiful. Yes, I'm specifically referring to 7.62 x 51 (.308). Those who like trying to come up with something new do it. If it proves popular the rifle manufacturers will start making rifles for it, even if the cartridge performance is similar to something that already exists. There is also the idea that new rounds should fit into existing actions. A 7x57 does not fit into the short actions developed for .308 Winchester length actions. As the market demanded, short, light rifles became all the rage. Same thing applies to the magnums. The full length magnum cartridges do not fit in standard (.30-06) length actions.
My uncles (by marriage) father hunted with a .44-40. Should Winchester not have developed faster (better) cartridges because most developments were only marginally better than what already existed? Or maybe they shouldn't have come out with bolt action rifles because they already had lever actions?
Change happens. Get over it.
Take it easy Doug,
Get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning ?
I generally enjoy reading your posts but dang brother, nobody has kicked you in the shins here, especially not myself.
My opinion may not be the most popular one but it is my opinion.
I’ve been alive a long time and I calls ‘em like I sees ‘em.
Also, I do not require anyone else to agree with me.
You and I may not agree but nonetheless I respect your opinion.
Your Fellow Forum Member,
Paul Ard
(Velo Dog).
