We are in total agreement! My main concern is the fit of the magazine. I have heard that it is not a solid fit in the well. I really like the Ghost Ring sights on this rifle and since I've never been of the "Sniper" bent, they will be the same as the Ghost Ring on my Marlin 1895 Guide gun. That little short barrel 45/70 Beast will do what I ask it to do and that is to hit at 200 yards! Like you, I love my 03 Springfield, M1A, M-1 Carbines, with peep sights.
Unlike our current young troops, we sure did NOT "Own the night" in Vietnam and had to learn how to deliver fire without sights and any scope was totally useless at night. Old fears are hard to change and I guess I just like to keep things like I feel confident with. I still use and rely on my Lensatic Compass rather than GPS, don't rely on NVGs,
and keep it "Old School. I learned all my skills the hard way and I don't feel like changing now at my age.
As my young Marines said of me before I cut my main and pulled my reserve, "Old PitBull (My callsign in Recon) is a damn dinosaur and hates this "High Speed - Low Drag modern world"
Roger That!!
Thanks for the exchange.
S/F
Pat