In retrospect, looking back over some 66 years of guns and gunning (credit the late Paul Curtis for that phrase) including some Stateside clays and match rifle shooting while employed by "Uncle Sam"--I find that my centerfire scoped rifles have held up quite well as to absence of "wear and tear" afield- The varmint rifles: M70 .220 Swift and the Sako M79 .243 Win- normally used more in spring, summer and early fall for 'chucks and 'coons- were not used in the Nov. deer season here, that's the M70 30-06's realm- I agree 100% with Stan about the "slips and falls" that advancing age brings to a man, just wish I lived in Dixie, and could shoot (or shoot at) some flighting doves of an afternoon- from a folding camo chair, cooler of sweet tea and a shell bag at my feet-in the shade hopefully--
Duck hunting- my "go-to" shotgunning in the Fall- at 78, no longer donning waders or busting through brushy laden streams in a camo canoe-- now cornfield, dry land pass shooting for mallards and Canads- M12's are my first choice- I sold my Mossy-burger Ulti-Mag to my son-in-law for a Turkey gun. He's a southpaw, and likes the top tang safety on that shotgun.
Spring, summer and into Sept-- pigeon and sometimes crow shooting on area dairy farms- often use one of the 4 12 gauge M12's I own, but usually a Ithaca NID grade 2E 12 bore I bought from the late Brad B. about 6 years ago- well worn, recoil pad- but it fits me just as well as my more valuable graded pre-1913 12 bore Smiths, it's a boxlock, 30" M&F- fits me like a "bespoke" gun, and any extra scars or nicks it gets from "barn=yard" exposure can't lower its value, should I wish to sell it.
