John,

Just read on a hunting forum where Winchester and Colt have closed their doors and will no longer be manufacturing sporting arms. Being a dealer as you are can you verify any of this?

I was aware that Browning bought Winchester awhile back and most if not all of the Winchester firearms production then came out of Japan. But if the above is correct it is a sad day as 150 years of tradition are gone down the tubes.

That's why every Winchester I buy is either pre-64 or prewar.

Thanks for the info.

John,

What's your opinion of Sako and Tikka?

John,

You think that selling in that environment is upsetting, try to be a U.S. manufacturer and have to survive against China-Mart and its big partner the U.S government who is trying to put all manufacturing off shore.

We know that we can compete on a level playing field even though we pay 10 to 100 times the wage. Our government forces us to comply with the most stringent environmental law and regulation in the world while our competitors are allowed to dump freely which we as taxpayers will eventually fund an enormous clean-up effort in order to save a spotted toad. This, not to mention a few other costs that the China-Marts don't pay like, employee insurance (medical, workers comp, liability), ever increasing utilities, OSHA mandated work place and taxes.

I would be more than happy to make 10%. My margins are more like 1%-2% at best.

I admit that the pre-64 model 70's are nice & all that, but the post-64's don't deserve the bad rep. I have 2 model 70's, a Featherweight in 7X57 and a Lightweight Carbine re-chambered to 250-3000 Ackley. They were both mfr'd in the 1980's and are both fine rifles. Lots cheaper than a pre-64, just as accirate. They both kill deer every bit as good as a pre-64 too.

Eric

The early post 64 Winchesters did away with the control feed bolt and extractor. Didn't think much of them.

Then in the early 90's I think it was, Winchester reintroduced the pre64 bolt. For one reason or another I ended up with one of these in a .270 stainless. It's been a really good rifle mounted with a an older Leupold 3.5x10 AO. A friend of mine bought one in the late 90's and there was defintely a difference in fit and finish.

I read where the Winchester stainless was one of the few rifles that were truly all stainless, including the barrel, receiver, bolt, floor plate, trigger guard etc., whereas most others only had a stainless barrel and plated parts.

Miss the days when dad took us kids into the local mom & pop sporting goods store, the smell of hoppies gun oil and the old folks talking hunting.

John what's your take on U.S. made sigs? 228'sand 9's?