PAnative.. I would have to disagree with you. I have nothing against you feeling the way you do. But IMO.. There is nothing wrong with putting a scope on a traditional rifle. I have several of them with scopes and there is nothing strange about them. Granted it changes the appearance of the rifle, and I might not be "no longer in the true spirit of the hunt" with a scoped traditional rifle.. but my reply is I hunt with what I like. I am not Daniel Boone or Davie Crockett and never claim to be. I am a hunter, and I will use what I like and let you worry about your own yard.
What's the advantage.. well that's easy. A longer distance shot becomes easier. Not because the ballistics of the rifle have changed, but my ability to see and have a better sight picture have changed. I have some Renegades with Green Mountain LRH barrels (1-28) and they are every bit as accurate as any inline rifle. But even with that aspect, I still respect what I am doing and take no shot I am not certain I can make.
I can see better in low light conditions. Early mornings and late afternoons I feel much more secure with taking those early or last minute shots. I can identify my target better and if I can not see my target and identify it, I will not shoot.
I personally feel the scope makes me a much safer hunter. As I said, I will not shoot unless positive about what I am shooting at. With a scope, I can see the difference between a shooting buck or a passing buck. I also feel I can better place my shot.
With the LRH I would shoot out to 150 yards if I had to. BUT I prefer not to. With open sights, I used to say I would limit my shots to 100 yards. Lately with eye sight, shadows, etc.. I might even lower that to 75 yards.
I was talking today to friends about the upcoming muzzleloader season. They still hunt with traditional rifles and open sights. They limit their shots to 50 yards, BY CHOICE. They are very good hunters but feel that is their limit. They were asking me about my scoped rifles. I told the one if he hunted his field and wanted a longer reaching rifle... come see me and I would set him up.
There is nothing wrong with those that base their traditional belief on keeping things as our forefathers did. I respect that. But there are others that just love to hunt and to respect the game we hunt but still fill a freezer. And if a scoped traditional rifle will help them hunt and fill a freezer better, then all the more power to them.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
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