maintenance in the field

[CharlesHarris]

The proliferation of powdered metal parts to replace machined, or even stamped parts, leads to premature failures. Serious shooters are willing to pay more for an old gun of sound design, in serviceable condition, which "works", than for a shiny new model hyped by the magazine pundits, which doesn't.

I would not trade my M1 Garand, Ernst Appel Mauser stalking rifle and Smith & Wesson Third Model Hand Ejector .45 DA military and Winchester Model 12, 12-bore pump shotgun for a whole C130 load of current production plastic and pot metal Evil Black Rifles.