They are not dead, just no longer made. They are still available, if you look around. We share similar tastes except I have an affinity for Mannlicher stocks and 100 year old rifles. I own one plastic stock Ruger American in 30-06 only because I won it in a raffle. It is the most accurate rifle...
They still do well for the same season they always have with hunters. They carry easily, come to the shoulder quickly, and are chambered in big game cartridges. They also offer fast follow up shots.
I just aquired a custom 7x57 made in Luneburg Germany in August of 1940 by a gunsmith named Willi Karl. I am in the process of acquiring dies as I have powder and bullets I used to load my sons 7mm 08. I wasn’t actually looking for one but it found me and latched on.
I have 2 for backpack hunting in the Adirondack mountains. A sling pack for fishing salmon and trout a small backpack for hiking but I don’t use a backpack for deer hunting. I wear Woolrich hunting coats and vests with a game pouch while deer hunting.
I usually hunt 10 to 12 days with bow, 12 to 15 days with rifle and 4 to 8 days with muzzle loader if I still have tags to fill. I raised my children eating venison. I have cut back to 2 or 3 since the kids moved out. Many days I just sit and watch them. I can’t bring my self to shoot a doe with...
I contacted Leoupold about sending my Vari X III 1.5x5 by 22mm in to have a German #4 reticle installed and they replied that due to covid issues the custom shop was closed.