Little rant time...
Herd mentality finds its way into every aspect of life.
Sometimes we go a certain route because it has been proven time and time again, while at other times we go a certain route because "so and so" uses "XYZ" product.

Nothing wrong with learning from others or using what celebrity shooters/hunters or writers use.
One of the reasons I fell in love with SP's is because of the writings of Bob Milek.
Not so much posting this for any of us to change what we are using or to discourage research, but to encourage uniqueness.

In other words when it comes down to it, choose the type, action, barrel length, cartridge, iron/scope, etc...that you want. Then when you are hunting, hunt the way you want to hunt, and at the distances that you want to hunt, given that you and your handgun are capable of doing that. If you love to hunt as up close as possible-do it, or if you like stand hunting, do it.

If someone hunts or shoots differently than you, take joy that there is another hunter in the field, regardless of the handgun or gun type as long as it is legal and they are hunting within their means.
Be yourself and have fun.
If you want to build a 408 Cheytac SP--Go for it.
Maybe you want a 20" 357 Magnum for whitetails-save your money and have one built.
Or if you want to hunt rabbits with the cheapest 22 out there-power to you, as long as it is safe, and you can kill rabbits with it:).
Be proud of what you have.
There is nothing wrong with having strong convictions about your guns or your abilities/limitations.
Don't be afraid to think outside your box and be open to continuing your education that piques your interest.
I can't count remember all the times shooters/hunters have told me, that I can't do that, it won't be accurate, you can't handle that kind of recoil or to be content with what was currently being offered.
At the same time if you are content with the most popular handgun there is for hunting (whatever that is)-Great, don't let anyone convince you to trade for brand "X" handgun.
To achieve many things in this life you must be willing to fail.
Anyone who knows me well know that I have specific ideas of what I want. But, in spite of my own prejudices, I try to encourage people to buy or have built the kind of handgun they want.
I enjoy helping teach people to shoot or educating them about different aspects of optics, reloading, etc. In the end though I want people to be true to themselves and for their gun(s) and style(s) of hunting to reflect themselves and their desires, and passions.
After I have written this, I am still not sure I have conveyed what I really want. I guess I need more coffee

I think you got the point across.......if not, maybe the reader needs more coffee!

I agree, but on the same token, one shouldn't ask for opinions on the internet and then get upset when they differ from their own. If you put the question out there, be prepared for the feedback both positive and negative......JMHO.

I ALWAYS need more coffee!!!

Well said Ernie.

thats the only way i ride

i like reading about others opinions, methods, guns, types of guns, loads, reloads, bullet choices etc etc etc.... and may even take into consideration their ideas. but....when the day is done i "do it my way". i don't put anyone on a high horse. i'll see for myself or decide what "I" want to do.

good point by whitworth the fast typer

i disagree with a lot of stuff n even think there are some real goofballs out there

but if you want an opinion....ask and expect all variations....

I totally DISAGREE and you are WRONG!!!

I would also add that everyone has an opinion and this isn't necessarily always a good thing -- LOL!

X2, KYODE summed up my thoughts purdy gud!

Ernie that's a great post,but my thing is I WANT TO TRY IT ALL!But only have money to try one thing at a time,haha.But I agree and feel if you don't stay true to yourself you want stay with anything long.And let me add to whitworths statement that just because everyone has an opinion not everyone has experience to validate that opinion.

Personally, I enjoy the feedback (even if it contradicts my own opinions)collected from our topics here. Whats the point of a 1 sided conversation anyhow?

Topic: I like Ruger products.
1st responder: me too.
2nd responder: me too.
3rd responder: me too.
4th responder: me too.
Not much of conversation. I would rather hear someone explain to me why they love their Freedom Arms, ... & anothers thoughts why they use a Contender. I think its good to have contrast, because we see things from a different point of veiw.

Dan, that's the dumbest thing I've heard!
Just like you to lay out there in the bushes & snipe at another mans opinion from internet distance

Good post Ernie I know I have some opinions (strong )that are different then most.

Well put... Everyone... AND I DON"T AGREE WITH ANY OF IT... lol

Dan B, the internet specialty pistol bushes sniper or (ISPBS).

Now that's funny right there!!

This is Why I love this sight !
You can GET all YOU ASK for and MORE.
I am one of the newer Guys here , And I love the "FEEDBACK"
I will Liston, BUT I dont have to use it !

Ernie,

Good post. Interesting reading. Cordial rant. But...

Did I miss a nasty thread?
I don't read but only the posts and topics that interest me, and comment on even fewer unless I have 1st hand knowledge or have a question. So I tend to miss some things in this barn.
Did someone pee in the cornflakes around here recently and I missed it?

Renster

Ernie,
Great post its true all he way thru life. Also Richard Near said hi.

No, not that I know of.
It was more of a general mindset that I sometimes see and an encouragement for people to be themselves and respect others.

Glad you got a hold of him.
I need to call him and catch up.

Check out my signature.............I embrace my stealthy cleverness!!

my sentiments exactly!!! well said my friend!!! I seem to remember such discussions years ago with the advent of the compound bow verses recurve verses longbow,,,,and then the crossbow showed up. It is great to be able to enjoy what you are doing without someone else telling you why you shouldn't.
again thanks Ern, you have a great knack for keeping it all in perspective.
nmhunter

X2!! To each, his own.

He said he wanted catch up bwith yoyu. He said thans for the good word.

I will give him a call soon.

I thank I need some coffee

Glad I could help you find yourself...

I'm still looking for me

Still a newbie but wish to chime in here.

You know when sometimes when you go to church and listen to the sermon and SOMEHOW you feel like the Paster is talking DIRECTLY TO YOU??..... Well , uuh..... Paster Ernie?

I gotta say thanks for that!!! It helped me realize that what I WANT has LITTLE to do with what I "NEED". Compromising is only acceptable if you will be HAPPY with the end result, OR if you can and will accept it without remorse UNTIL you can "upgrade".

Thankfully..none of us are clones of someone else. If some of you guys cloned yourselves several times NO ONE would be shooting 100-200-300 yard game animals LOL......."TOO CLOSE>>>>>>WAIT!"

Thankfully..thinking outside the box is a good thing as you have well indicated.

Had some of the founders and manufacturers in the shooting sports not done so we wouldn't have the multitude of arms and cartridges, powders and bullets, etc we now have.

Yep, I'm going to be facing ridicule with what I choose for a long (for here) range handgun... tough.

Yep, I LOVE hunting with my 1967 and 1968 Bear Super Kodiaks too.. always will too.

That is not and cannot be a limiting factor that dictates regulations and "RULES" that affect ALL my hunting endeavors.. nor am I going to feel I have to attempt to somehow vindicate myself because I like BOTH traditional archery and handguns.

In every sport, there are "purists" and they often (unfortunately) look down their noses and anything NOT within their own chosen ideals of what that sport "should be".

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad that I, in my short time here, have seen so little, if any, of that!

BTW......you guys had me choking on my General Tso chicken laughing at the comments!! A great thread, great comments and a great bunch of guys......at least "internet FRIENDS", if not more! I'm glad to see it all.

Steve,
You are welcome.
It wasn't directed to anyone in particular, but to everyone in general.

Reminds me of an old sign a buddy of mine posted in his cubicle.

"I have lost myself. If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait."

Ernie, I heard everything you wrote. I was told a Encore 16" 338 win mag is not dfficient and a 16" 416 Rigby would kick too much and it was too expensive to shoot...on and on and on..I say SO WHAT!! I do what I want to please me; no one else! A lot of others get too caught up in trying to make others think they smarter than everyone else. They might be, BUT, I still do what I want to do so I can say I did and did it my way! I'm on board 100%%. Ya know, if I or DanB didn't do weird stuff guns we'd never really know what works or what doesn't. We'd just have to be happy with what other shooters do. How do people think 'Wildcatting' ever got started. Entrepreneurs looking for a niche caliber or gun. There's a bunch of guys on the site here like that. That doesn't make us better or smarter, just different. I respect the guy who wants to buy a factory gun and vhambering because he doesnt shoot enough or doesnt reload. They should be respectful of my experimenting too. I have friends who kick me for working up a 6.5x284 load in a 16" Encore. It cahnt be done they say...well, I'm not a 1/2" groups yet, but I'm under an inch and only a 7x handgun scope. I beg to differ but they still won't listen. Ya just can't get thru to some guys and I stopped trying. I just ingnore the comments and put the groups up. No words needed.