Were older guns made better than modern ones?

[Alan]

I’ve been thinking about this lately, were older firearms really made with better craftsmanship and longevity or do today’s materials and machining actually win out?

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

I’ve seen a lot of good and bad examples in my life. Folks seem to remember the good ones… I know I do. I’ve been real lucky on my most recent purchases.

 

[Drycreek]

Some of the older guns were better IMO, and some were not. A couple of examples: Mossberg pump shotguns in the 70s were not nearly as good as they are today. Winchester Model 70s are not as desirable now as they were pre’64. I won’t say they aren’t as accurate, but the older ones were better in some ways. Ruger revolvers, and to a degree, Smith & Wessons, took a dive in fit and finish sometime in this century, mostly after covid. You can pick and choose, but I think most firearms are as good as they need to be in a utilitarian sense, just maybe not as nicely finished in some brands.

 

[Alan]

I’ve seen a lot of good and bad examples in my life. Folks seem to remember the good ones… I know I do. I’ve been real lucky on my most recent purchases.

That’s a good way to look at it. We definitely remember the standouts, and lately I’ve had the same luck..some modern guns have really impressed me.

 

[Alan]

Some of the older guns were better IMO, and some were not. A couple of examples: Mossberg pump shotguns in the 70s were not nearly as good as they are today. Winchester Model 70s are not as desirable now as they were pre’64. I won’t say they aren’t as accurate, but the older ones were better in some ways. Ruger revolvers, and to a degree, Smith & Wessons, took a dive in fit and finish sometime in this century, mostly after covid. You can pick and choose, but I think most firearms are as good as they need to be in a utilitarian sense, just maybe not as nicely finished in some brands.

Great examples. It really does vary by brand and era. Some modern guns outperform older versions, others lose that refined finish

 

[MikeR]

I like the craftsmanship on some of the older guns, but today's rifles are probably are more accurate as a whole. I remember the days when Weatherby had a 1.5" guarantee using their suggested factory ammo. Today, most rifles will shoot well below that.

 

[Okiecrasher]

I have a Winchester 1897 black diamond trap gun made in 1909 that I still regularly shoot. Not sure if a 870 or 500 would still be in action 116 years after manufacture. That said I would rather break down and clean an 870 or 500 10 times to 1 of the 97. The 97 has about a thousand parts and springs. I also think the old guns were made with more personality IMO.

 

[Wendell Reich]

I have a Husqvarna from 1933. 9.3x62. It shoots 1/2” groups with the original barrel. I’m still amazed at that gun.

‘Smiths use old Mauser actions to build $30k custom Safari rifles. Is it aesthetics? Is it quality? Maybe both, but definitely at least one of those two.

 

[BrotherHubb]

I worked at a sporting goods store called Glen Slade’s in the mid ’70’s in Houston. We carried a wide range of guns from Colt Sauer, Weatherby, Beretta, Browning, Remington, Winchester and Ruger for rifles and shotguns and we were the Smith & Wesson distributor for the south, west of the Mississippi. I believe the Smith model 29 was $269.00 MSRP and customers would go through nearly every Weatherby or Colt Sauer we had looking for the best wood, some Ruger 77’s had very nice wood as well. Nothing was as meticulously built and finished like a Colt Sauer and the action almost cycled itself, it was so well fitted and smooth. The bluing was amazingly deep and flawless, Weatherby MKV was close but not quite there.
So in some ways the older high end guns were better, with hand fitting everything by very skilled true craftsmen who are mostly only a memory of us old guys but with today’s CNC machines and how accurately they can produce very close tolerances and finishes without the hand fitting and finishing, charcoal bluing etc, today’s guns commonly shoot more accurately, probably don’t function as well, certainly not better than a well fitted rifle with usually better steel (no MIM or cast parts). I would say that few younger shooters have ever held or cycled a master built Browning FN or even heard of Colt Sauer, a rifle built like those today would be well north of $10k. I think there are a few masters who still build rifles like that by hand but not many.

 

[Drycreek]

I worked at a sporting goods store called Glen Slade’s in the mid ’70’s in Houston. We carried a wide range of guns from Colt Sauer, Weatherby, Beretta, Browning, Remington, Winchester and Ruger for rifles and shotguns and we were the Smith & Wesson distributor for the south, west of the Mississippi. I believe the Smith model 29 was $269.00 MSRP and customers would go through nearly every Weatherby or Colt Sauer we had looking for the best wood, some Ruger 77’s had very nice wood as well. Nothing was as meticulously built and finished like a Colt Sauer and the action almost cycled itself, it was so well fitted and smooth. The bluing was amazingly deep and flawless, Weatherby MKV was close but not quite there.
So in some ways the older high end guns were better, with hand fitting everything by very skilled true craftsmen who are mostly only a memory of us old guys but with today’s CNC machines and how accurately they can produce very close tolerances and finishes without the hand fitting and finishing, charcoal bluing etc, today’s guns commonly shoot more accurately, probably don’t function as well, certainly not better than a well fitted rifle with usually better steel (no MIM or cast parts). I would say that few younger shooters have ever held or cycled a master built Browning FN or even heard of Colt Sauer, a rifle built like those today would be well north of $10k. I think there are a few masters who still build rifles like that by hand but not many.

Very true ! Today’s budget rifles are very capable, very accurate, and very plain. Blued steel and nice wood are almost a thing of the past. It’s a shame really, but it is what it is. My most used custom deer gun has an HS Precision composite stock, mostly because I didn’t want to get any scratches on a wood stock. Safe dings and blind scars are real ! These days I find myself wishing I had went wood. Oh well, at least my single actions, most of them, have purdy wood grips !