I read alot of the threads regarding products i am interested, like different rails, barrel brands, back up sights, red dots, etc. This board is such a great resource for anyone that can't just run down to the store and touch, or go out to the range and try. However, what irks me is the ONE crucial factoid that i see left out all the time is how often the rifle is used/shot. I know i've been guilty of this in the past. Sure, your rail by brand XXXXXX is lightweight--but the poster doesn't say if the rifle spends most of the time sitting on a bench. The enhanced XXXXXX by XXXXXXX is ULTRA reliable--but how many rounds does the poster put through his rifle per week/month/year? 10? 100? 10k? "Always works when i pull the trigger" doesn't cut it!!

Without a round count, or shooting conditions (1k a weekend in a class? 1 round hunting? 200 rounds plinking?), giving input on quality/reliability ("I love my XXXX;" "Never had a failure;" etc) really doesn't mean jack.

rant mode OFF.

LOL...

sometimes it seems that way, eh?

Quoted: Without a round count, or shooting conditions (1k a weekend in a class? 1 round hunting? 200 rounds plinking?), giving input on quality/reliability ("I love my XXXX;" "Never had a failure;" etc) really doesn't mean jack. rant mode OFF.

I feel the same way.  During the summer, a couple of my rifles see 200-500 rounds per week at peak shooting times and they are NOT safe queens.  During the winter in MI, it is somewhat harder to keep up that shooting pace, but I will make a concerted effort to do better this winter.

That is why I LOVE the training review posts.  These people push their equipment like it was designed to be pushed and real world data comes from those posts.  No safequeens, no posers, as close to real world shooting conditions as most are likley to see.  

Quoted: We're supposed to shoot our rifles? I thought we're supposed to just make them look pretty and then put pictures of them on the internet.

DAMN!  I only shoot mine, guess I need to start taking some pictures.  They are already pretty though

Quoted: That is why I LOVE the training review posts.  These people push their equipment like it was designed to be pushed and real world data comes from those posts.  No safequeens, no posers, as close to real world shooting conditions as most are likley to see.

+1

i pay extra close attention to posts by instructors, i.e. Pat Rogers and Yeager on LF.net, as these guys see ALL the makes and models, and more importantly, see what lasts, and what doesn't. I must admit that reading their posts has made me much more of a colt fan, especially with bolts and barrels.

I've started leaving my doors unlocked.  

Good point chiz45, I have appended my last post accordingly.

Cheers.