Couple recent events brought this subject to mind. First, my own awful shotgun shooting a couple of days ago at the beginning of the fall scattergun seasons. That at least can mostly be explained away by rusty technique. But, the more interesting and downright exhilirating matter for me is why some rifles, more often than not with some form of iron sights, shoot better than we can see. In 45Nut's eloquent words from a recent thread on the M1917: "... it was as if that rifle was an extension of my being. Every last thing I pointed that muzzle at was summarily dismissed into dust ..."

I've got a few like that myself, and not all of them are in exactly mint condition. They include the above mentioned M1917, an 1895 Chilean contract Mauser, and most unlikely of all, a 1949 Marlin Sporting Carbine in 32 Special(2nd year production, pre-microgroove, with a 1:16 twist). Course I'm talking about cast boolits here, not them full gaschecked thangs.

What a pleasure they are to shoot--real ego boosters, but I can't begin to fully explain why they are such magical shooters.

Anyone else got a rifle or two they would call "an extension of my being"? ---galena kid---

........Jethrow, sure I gotta couple:

M1903A1 'put together', 30-06
Two all matching M91 Argentine 7.65x53's
The SR Mauser 7.62x39
M88/05/35 Turked commission, 8x57

And a rather unlikly one:

H&R "Little Big Horn" TD carbine, 45-70.

I know what you mean and this is 'Everyday' type reloading (visually inspected slugs, thrown charges, etc) and shooting. If you miss you know before the bullet arrives on target by where the sights were when fired. If you point it right, the bullet goes there :-).

.......Buckshot

Buckshot, yep you got it! It's almost like you get that "the Force is with you" feeling, akin to something spiritual. Aaah, the mystical art of shooting riiiifl�s. Sometimes too much edjumacation and analysis just spoils things!
---jethrow, the younger---

Yep..I have that kind of relationship with just about any good issue 03 or 03A3. I always figured this came from a the period of 1960-62 when I put about 20k rounds of military ball through a pair of Springfields. When I pick one up, it just seems like holding your child or wife. It comes to your shoulder like a piece of you. Shooting this rifle is like dancing, it seems to follow the natural rythems of the body.

Hi Galena,

No rifle but a stock S&W 629 with either light specials or very stout mags.....duzzent matter which....the thing is just amazing out to 50 yards....Oh yeah...I forgot the Ping 1 iron as well....

Regards.....

I'd have to say my 30-40 Krag. I swear you can dump casings, primers, powder, and boolits in the magazine and it will shoot very small groups and with the smoothest bolt.

Joe

Gents,
Since I was quoted in this thread I had to add in one or two other guns.
The first I was told was a "collectors" rifle,A Winchester model 56 22lr....just about the best fitting 22 I have ever had the honor to shoot,own and enjoy it throughly, I was told when I bought it that it was a small run of guns for Winchester,produced only from '26-'29 and I should just hold on to it. Well I have held on to it,Every chance I get and everytime I do it just gets better for me. A keeper for sure,but no wallhanger's here.
The other surprise has been my Ruger Super Redhawk 454. I drilled holes in paper,punched holes through bowling pins and toppled steel almost at will at the 2003 NCBS with that gun.
Uncanny accuracy and pure unbreakable quality,can't say the same for the first two scopes I mounted though....A Best Buy IMHO.
45nut

For me it is my NRA Springfield Sporter. I often feel like the rifle's humble assistant; the rifle is the expert. In the words of Charlton Heston, "from my cold, dead hands". curmudgeon

I have an as-issued Swede 96 with eyes, my Alexander Henry English Sporter, and a sorely missed '86 Winchester in 45-70 that went down the road some years ago on a trade.

My .358 Win is learning nicely, though...

I have a Rem. 700 30/06 just seems to work. On paper it don't ever do better than 1 1/2"@100yds, but on game, it's like it has a mind of it's own. I've killed Deer, Bear, Elk, Antelope, and an occasional Rockchuck with it. I'ts one failing is it won't shoot a Coyote. I must have shot at half a hundred with it, and have yet to hit one with it.

Another is a Charles Daley SXS 12. It just fits me. First season opener I took it Dove hunting, I got my 10 birds with 14 shots

krag35

I have the M1 Garand that was issued when I was on the Navy rifle team 40 odd years ago. I pumped a whole bunch of bullets through it and it's had two barrel changes but I have confidence in it and it seems to have confidence in me. The other gun I felt that way about was a Savage 99 in 250-3000 that I sold after a divorce 20 years ago and have kicked myself about since. I'm still waiting for the next one.

Naturally for me, it will be my bench gun. However, that is no surprise because it was made to shoot. But, are you ready? What about a 357 mag Rossi lever gun with 30 twist, exhibiting an Atlantic ocean storm as a reflection of the barrel internals. Yes, that beat up old piece of crap can't miss a beer can anywhere from 20 to 100 yards offhand. ... felix

Handguns--

1) S&W Model 16-4 x 6", 32 Magnum--absolutely the most accurate handgun I've ever fired, period.

2//3) Ruger Bisley Blackhawks in 357 Mag and 45 Colt. Both are a close second to the S&W M-16.

Rifles--

1) Ruger #1 x 45-70--almost like a shotgun, throw it up to the shoulder and "snap-fire", it just connects. Groups tightly, too.

2) Win M-94/25-35 WCF--superbly accurate with both cast and FLGC bullets. Add in its compact portability and natural pointability, it's a gem.

Ruger #1-B I've got several of 'em in the safe and they all point well. Ruger Bisley...Ruger Bearcat....Kimber Eclipse. Pilgrim