Went to the Gun Show today.

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I have a 788 in 22-250. It's always been a great shooter. Trigger is nothing to write home about though. I've toyed with the idea of getting a replacement, but that idea never makes it to the top of the list.

I can remember my Mom telling me they'd had a great weekend at the bar/restaurant when there was a big to-do in town and the place was packed every minute. Took in a thousand buck$ gross!!! Profit might have been 15%, maybe less, and my folks and grandparents worked 3 days from 9AM to 4AM. Whoopie!
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I have a 788 in 22-250. It's always been a great shooter. Trigger is nothing to write home about though. I've toyed with the idea of getting a replacement, but that idea never makes it to the top of the list.

I can remember my Mom telling me they'd had a great weekend at the bar/restaurant when there was a big to-do in town and the place was packed every minute. Took in a thousand buck$ gross!!! Profit might have been 15%, maybe less, and my folks and grandparents worked 3 days from 9AM to 4AM. Whoopie!

You hear people talk about " The Good Ole' Days ".
Makes me wonder just how accurate that really was ?

Ben
 

KHornet

Well-Known Member
Good old days for some was bad old days for others. Regardless,
it is what it is, and we cant change it.

Paul
 

Canuck Bob

Active Member
Outstanding rifle. In my opinion the best 30-30 bolt going. I had a CIL badged Savage years ago that did just fine but no tack driver. Looking forward to some of your trademark 30-30 groups from that rifle. Congratulations.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Yeah, but gas was 25-27 cents a gal, a pair of jeans was $4.00 and a new 4wd Chevy PU with a plow ran about $4K. A house cost $15K. A Winchester 94 was $49.00 in the Sears catalog!
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
But where was a man going to find $49.00 ? ?
In the pants of the future Ben. You know, the Ben that worked hard, did what it took to get promotions, and saved wisely. Yah, THAT Ben.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
$49.00? You trapped fox and 'rats, stuffed insulation in new construction, worked the 2nd shift on weekends at the mill, whatever. Same as now, only 'rats still bring the same $2-3.00 as they did in the old days...
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
My dad took a medical retirement in 1970 . In 1968 he bought one of the last 5000 or so M12 Win built . It cost $57. As a Journeyman plumber/pipe fitter his pay rate at retirement was $4.75/hr , nearly 2 days wages before taxes . He bought a 1957 production in 1960 that was just 37.50 .

I gave less than a days wages for the last rifle . The one before that new in box just a days overtime .
I gave a straight days wages after taxes for the 1949 325 .
It shoots very well in 30-30 . I paid about the same for a 222 , 325 . It too shoots very well .

If you shoot a rifle , shotgun or pistol well what's it matter if it's if it's a $5,000 Perazzi or a $300 Mossberg ?
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
These days a lot of the same people complaining about the cost of things are the same ones buying lotto tickets by the $100.00, a new $600.00 smart phone every few months, $200.00 sneakers or spending their weekends at the casino. I guess it's all in your perspective.
 

Intheshop

Banned
Nice snag Ben.Looks like it's got decent figure too.You gonna do any finish work on it?

The only thing my dad gave me was a job,haha.My parents sort of spoiled an older brother and sister.....I'm the youngest and they changed tactics.Didn't give me chit,instead,instilled this insatiable work ethos.To a fault really,never made it out of H.S.,was contracting @17 y.o.I'd rather make money than spend it....but it's much deeper.If you want something bad enough,build it.Talk s..t or do s..t.Pretty simple really.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Trapping Rats! Thought I was the only one ! Used to do that when I was 12 to 14 years old....75 cents per pelt... Nasty critters! got them out of a sewer polluted river! Now that river is prime Trout waters! Wow what a change during my lifetime!
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Nice snag Ben.Looks like it's got decent figure too.You gonna do any finish work on it?

Yes,

I've free floated the barrel and glass bedded the action and 1.5" of the barrel in front of the receiver. I'm about 80% finished with the stock finishing.

Ben

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Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Plain, but tasteful, nothing wring with that at all.

We're still trapping 'rats, coyotes and beaver. The last 2 aren't worth skinning these days, but it's a matter or controlling their numbers.
 

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
A real classic...when I try and compare yesterdays prices with todays ..I figure how many hours it would have taken me to buy it back when and how many today...somethings will surprise you..
 

Ian

Notorious member
First thing I thought seeing that tiger striping all along the fore-end and the big open holes in the grain was that thing needs a Ben Refinish job. Then I thought about cobbler's kids going without shoes, etc. Sure am glad to see it getting brought back to life, though, that's a really nice chunk of wood and I can't wait to see it finished!
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
a nice satin or semi-gloss type finish is all it needs to seal the wood.
I like the figure and color of the stock as it is.
just enough contrast between the black and brown to show it's a good sensible sturdy piece of wood, but the figure shows off the lines of the stock nicely.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Beautiful finish, Ben.

As far as the good old days.... when my Ruger Standard Auto .22 pistol was "only"$37.50 retail, I was earning
75 cents an hour at the only job near me in the country. So that "cheap pistol" was 50 hours of work, and I
was getting maybe 10-12 hours a week. So, 100% of my pay for 4 or 5 weeks. The $36 for my Chilean
Mauser in NRA Excellent condition was equally difficult to come by.

Bill