Re: Old Vs. New and Why?
IMHO you can't compare the two and I suspect peoples reasons for owning vintage rifles are as varied as the number of people owning them.
My rifles fall into two categories, modern precision rifles and vintage rifles.
In terms of accuracy the modern rifles are far more capable than my vintage rifles. But then that's only as I would expect.
I would not be too concerned about rough handling of my modern rifles whereas I am a little more "protective" of the vintage rifles simply because they are not so easy to get fixed if you break bits off them.
Similarly, I'd have no problem pushing my modern car hard on a track day but would probably be a little hesitant with an older car.
Compare modern optics to vintage optics and the progress made (even in the past few years) is obvious.
But, as in your analogy to old cars, you have to expect the odd problems now and again - like leaded fuel (at least in UK), ammo may not be as abundant now as it once was, spares and smiths who know/care about these rifles may be a little harder to find.
They are not necessarily the easiest rifles to live with and can be frustrating as hell - you may not want to use them every day(again like old cars!)
But, like vintage/classic cars - show up at the range with a well cared for classic/vintage rifle and you will always get a lot of interest.
For me the old (military) rifles have a character all their own. Maybe it is down to their history (something I have always had an interest in)? But shooting them is a very different experience to my modern rifles and one which (when it goes well
) is perhaps more rewarding in many ways than with the modern rifles.
Both are made for a purpose - to shoot. What I hate is when vintage rifles are not used for that purpose....!
Shoot them, enjoy them!