Firearms thread

[A Lutra Continua]

At 9 yds the damned thing just gets in the way. Quicker over iron sights.

Mr Rock may have more insight into this, but I believe most contacts in 'Nam happened pretty close in. The long range stuff is better left to the hot shots with dedicated kit. Pissing about with a limited arc of view in a firefight is not my idea of fun.

[500N]

At 9 yds the damned thing just gets in the way. Quicker over iron sights.

I agree, but it was what I had in my had in my hand at the time.

I often use open sights but this day we were hunting the close stuff, more open area and
came across a Bull that decided to run at the shot.
I ran through some thick stuff (high canopy but nothing underneath) to cut it off and
thanks to my mate, it turned, saw me and just came at me from 20 yards. It was either
stop it with what I had or get a horn stuck in me

[rgbrock1]

Most contacts in the 'Nam did indeed happen at close range indeed. Where iron sights, bayonets, or even fists, come into play much better. But a scope was my preferred piece of kit for part of my time in.

[brickhistory]

For a long rifle, as also earlier in the thread, an M1 Garand is a pretty handy implement. True, probably not your first choice for house-to-house CQB, but that wasn't one of Fox3's criteria either. Other than that, it is reliable, accurate, packs a powerful punch, ammo is readily available, and the price can range from ok-ish to OMG.

I used to hunt with my Dad's. Deer at 100 yards came a lot easier than some microscopic black dot at 600...

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

I am not planning on shooting at anything that will shoot back!

I can see the merits of the older mil-type rifles, and I note these good very quickly at my nearest gun dealers if in good condition.
I appreciate the good value argument does not mean buying cheap. e.g. the Benelli shotgun. Suggestions would be welcome for the best of the cheap ones, until I can afford all the better ones being suggested. I'll likely get one good one a year.
Thanks all.

[Dushan]

What if the potatoes start a revolution?

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

I took on 40 million of 'em last year - none of 'em have dared to move since

A thousand lobsters on the march would be another matter! Don't think I have enough browned butter to eat all of them.

[Dushan]

But then, there is one fat senator...

[Airborne Aircrew]

Fox:

I am not planning on shooting at anything that will shoot back!

Aye, an' there's the rub...

It's not what you plan that counts. It's what others may plan.

Always err on the side of being ready...

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

If the world goes to a bag of chalk, I still intend shooting things that aren't ready to shoot back and/or can't see me, just as I did in jets.
Round here, my biggest chance of dying is over-eating

Feed the senator to the lobsters? Good idea!

[Dushan]

Excellent idea, especially since he has been feeding on lobster until now.

[A Lutra Continua]

Speaking to Canadian colleagues, they inform me that Mosin Nagant rifles, still in good condition are available there. No problem getting ammo either and they're not too pricey. Lovely bit of kit.

[500N]

The only negative to some of these older rifles is the weather in Canada can be a PITA on a wooden stock
and it can be hard trying to stop them from rusting.

All well and good going out the odd weekend to the range and hunting where you can easily clean it
when you get home but much longer than that and without somewhere to dry it, oil it etc, then problems
can start.

Hence my thoughts of at least one rifle being synthetic stainless - although the stainless used in some
firearms is not 100% rust proof.

[A Lutra Continua]

Actually, there is one that'll do the job it was designed for in that weather.




SMLE Jungle Carbine.

[Pinky the pilot]

A Lutra Continua; Got two of those! Most unpleasant to fire though.

Recoil and muzzle blast!

[A Lutra Continua]

...Recoil and muzzle blast!

Try the cut down Galil on the previous page.

Easy to use though as a lot of the recoil is taken up by the working parts cycling.

[lasernigel]

From what I heard, the only "problem" was it was sometimes too accurate for area fire, not enough of a beaten zone.

It was far too accurate. The GPMG was better in that role.

Re SLR I had two Bren mags taped upside down to each other in NI. Gave me 60 instead of 40 rounds.

A friend and I had an AK 47 in Oman. The issue weapon out there was a Steyr, plastic crap!

[Airborne Aircrew]

Up until Sandy Hook you could pick up any number of Moisin Nagants for around $100. Now the going price for used seems to start around $150-200 depending on condition with brand new ones, (yes there are still plenty of uncrated, straight from the factory), starting around $250 from what I've seen. Late last year someone in MI was selling an entire crate of 10 I think it was.

It's far from an expensive rifle and the ammo won't break the bank either. You can pick up bulk 7.62x54 surplus ammo as low as $0.30/per round. Funnily enough, the best I ever find 7.62x51 is just over $0.50/round.

[brickhistory]

I appreciate the good value argument does not mean buying cheap. e.g. the Benelli shotgun. Suggestions would be welcome for the best of the cheap ones, until I can afford all the better ones being suggested. I'll likely get one good one a year.
Thanks all.

look at the Charles Daly line of shotguns. Actually made in Turkey. I have a 12 ga pump. It is no custom-made Purdy, but it perfectly serviceable. Daly brand carries handguns as well.

Taurus is another lower cost, decent quality manufacturer. I have had a .45 and was satisfied with it. Not loved it, but it went 'bang' every time. Traded it and some cash for something else later.

Bersa is another and I did love the one from here. Nearly one of my first purchases years ago. Thousands of rounds through their Walther-clone called the 'Thunder .45' They have everything from .22 and up.

I mentioned the S&W and Springfield Armory earlier. They are mid-range for prices compared to SiG, H&K, etc, but every bit as good in my opinion.

The mention of the Moisin brought up recall of their revolver. What a weird item. Yet they made millions of them and went to war with it.

[Airborne Aircrew]

Pretty much ubiquitous in the shotgun family here in the USA/Canada are the Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870. Both are $3-350 to start and you can pick up used ones in the $200 range. They each have a ton of after-market gizmos/upgrades and are bulletproof. I have a Mossie 500 that I added a pistol grip to and a sidesaddle shell carrier so I have a total of 5+1+6 shells aboard.