I’m wondering how similar or not our paths are to this rarified place we occupy. On the spectrum of gun owners, we all represent the most discerning end of the range of those interested in physical, mechanical and optimal performance aspects of firearms.
And then, beyond that, there is the conscious choice to begin shooting matches. As a young adult I saw matches, from a safe distance, as that hallowed construct generating an enormous gravitational field; a rite of passage for some, designed to collect the pinnacle of all gun enthusiasts, organize them, motivate them, and march them across that invisible line of no longer preserving their guns at their absolute peak performance potential, similar to driving that classic sports car like it was “intended to be driven,” all the time (breaking it and getting some more).
Colloquially, the “Red Pill” choice is the one, presented at an important junction, to voluntarily subject oneself to a path less taken. I tend to view match shooting as the red pill gun lovers took. Some call it a rabbit hole, a black hole, or a lifestyle. True, all. But the red pill could be to devise, in absolute terms, the most accurate and uncompromising firearm possible, or the most classically beautiful, enduring, valuable, etc.
Savage made my Red Pill guns, the rather clunky, three screw single shots, with fat barrels that by the pound, gave you 40% more steel for the dollar, where it needed to be to shoot.
They weren’t beautiful to look at, just functional as could be, in so many ways:
Fat, long barrel from the factory;
Solid bottom action;
Thick recoil lug;
Three 5/32’s action screws:
Beefy laminated or H&S stocks;
Light target trigger, if finicky though on readjusting itself to lock us out.
That time, in the years before the 2010’s, these value laden stainless chunks were shipped in high volume to compete with only two other factory heavy barrels near their price point, Brownings A-Bolt target repeater and I suppose, Ruger’s heavy barrel controlled feed rifle. Controlled round target rifles were their own “red pill” unto themselves, though.
But as the dad of two very young shooters, and though it didn’t make the gun any more accurate, that second blind lug, and unique shroud meant one thing, this rifle is simply put, sending any escaping gas anywhere besides backward, and only the Mark V had really even considered this.
I pulled this one out to reacquaint myself with. That Ken Farrell base, original NSX .25 moa true ball detent turret, stout Nightforce steel ring set, simple Harris Bipod, those days were great, and the gun was early FTR pure.
I didn’t feel guilty about shooting these Savages. That’s the critical transition between circling the black hole, and looking out, from it.
After the Savages, it was on to mainly custom guns. The Savages, at least this one, I cared enough about to polish up to 1500 grit paper.
How they shot and were made, are why I took that red pill.
And then, beyond that, there is the conscious choice to begin shooting matches. As a young adult I saw matches, from a safe distance, as that hallowed construct generating an enormous gravitational field; a rite of passage for some, designed to collect the pinnacle of all gun enthusiasts, organize them, motivate them, and march them across that invisible line of no longer preserving their guns at their absolute peak performance potential, similar to driving that classic sports car like it was “intended to be driven,” all the time (breaking it and getting some more).
Colloquially, the “Red Pill” choice is the one, presented at an important junction, to voluntarily subject oneself to a path less taken. I tend to view match shooting as the red pill gun lovers took. Some call it a rabbit hole, a black hole, or a lifestyle. True, all. But the red pill could be to devise, in absolute terms, the most accurate and uncompromising firearm possible, or the most classically beautiful, enduring, valuable, etc.
Savage made my Red Pill guns, the rather clunky, three screw single shots, with fat barrels that by the pound, gave you 40% more steel for the dollar, where it needed to be to shoot.
They weren’t beautiful to look at, just functional as could be, in so many ways:
Fat, long barrel from the factory;
Solid bottom action;
Thick recoil lug;
Three 5/32’s action screws:
Beefy laminated or H&S stocks;
Light target trigger, if finicky though on readjusting itself to lock us out.
That time, in the years before the 2010’s, these value laden stainless chunks were shipped in high volume to compete with only two other factory heavy barrels near their price point, Brownings A-Bolt target repeater and I suppose, Ruger’s heavy barrel controlled feed rifle. Controlled round target rifles were their own “red pill” unto themselves, though.
But as the dad of two very young shooters, and though it didn’t make the gun any more accurate, that second blind lug, and unique shroud meant one thing, this rifle is simply put, sending any escaping gas anywhere besides backward, and only the Mark V had really even considered this.
I pulled this one out to reacquaint myself with. That Ken Farrell base, original NSX .25 moa true ball detent turret, stout Nightforce steel ring set, simple Harris Bipod, those days were great, and the gun was early FTR pure.
I didn’t feel guilty about shooting these Savages. That’s the critical transition between circling the black hole, and looking out, from it.
After the Savages, it was on to mainly custom guns. The Savages, at least this one, I cared enough about to polish up to 1500 grit paper.
How they shot and were made, are why I took that red pill.
