Borepatch: I finally get my own gun

http://borepatch.blogspot.com ^ | 3 Dec 2010 | Borepatch

[smokingfrog]

I just got my first gun.

Kim du Toit used to blog about how a .22 was a household commodity, like sugar or flour. However, the People's Republic of Massachusetts made things enough of a PITA that we never jumped through the required hoops. Now we're in Georgia, and breathe free air, so it's a different story.

Because I no longer live in Massachusetts, I don't need special licensing from the State to own a gun. Even without special papers, without fingerprinting and background checks, I can own one - and ammunition (!) -without becoming a felon. What this make me, in a psychologically important way, is a citizen. Not a subject, not someone who has to ask "please" from some Government Functionary, but a free citizen who can be entrusted with the tools of power.

Funny, I haven't had the urge to go shoot up a school. According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun **--Ownership--** Violence, this no doubt will overtake me any day now.

The Winchester 190 was a semi-automatic plinking/varmint rifle manufactured in fairly large quantities. It's tube fed, and the tube magazine is probably big enough to make this an "assault rifle" in New Jersey. This one has a 2x scope, and looks like it would be sweet for clearing out small, unwelcome four-footed guests. And since the two-footed ones don't want to get shot (even with a .22), it might have some use there as well.

But the meaning goes beyond the (quite modest) firepower of the rifle. It's a statement of freedom, the mark of a citizen, not a subject. We could use more citizens, not more subjects.

[Eagle Eye]

Yeah, for a while I thought it cool to have something in every caliber but when ammo went short I thought it best to just keep a few standard calibers. Not saying I don’t still have ammo in the off calibers ‘just in case’, but .38/357 and .45 are about it.

And of course, .22LR. IMO .22LR is the rodney dangerfield of calibers. Half of what I have is .22. Aint nobody wanting to get hit with .22.

Oops. That was before the boating accident.

[Eagle Eye]

Mini 30 will heat up quickly if you rapid fire.

[Pan_Yan]

I just got my son this t shirt:

Nothing helps a shy teenager's confidence like having the coolest t shirts in class.

[KoRn]

Hehe Nice!!!

[Pan_Yan]

Cheaperthandirt has surplus cans of 640 rounds for $127.89. Not nearly as cheap as $54 for 1000, but certainly not as expensive as feeding some of the fancier models.

[struwwelpeter]

If I could find a nice carbine in .45 ACP (other than a Thompson), I'd be happy with just that and a good M1911.

Any ideas on a good .22 rifle or pistol? I'm fond of lever-action, but if you know of any recoil-operated guns that can digest what passes for .22 ammo these days, I'd appreciate the knowledge :-)

[magslinger]

Grits, both a food and a spackle...

You can eat grits?

[caver]

I bought a Mossberg 4 US from CMP for $165

[caver]

I bought a Mossberg 44 US from CMP for $165

[caver]

Geez, you’ve had a bad stretch of luck with those piss poor “firearms”.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Pickles.
Hotdogs.
Sishi.
Bacon.
More Bacon.

Tomatoes.

Biscuits

Ham

And now I am hungry

[struwwelpeter]

No more bargain-basement used guns for me - there's a reason they're for sale in the first place.

What amazed me was the Marlin: the beam from the laser bore sighter wasn't visible outside the barrel, so I was shooting sideways. Somebody probably used it as a crowbar for a few years, moving boulders around, until he thought: "I wonder if I can get fifty bucks for this?"

But the woodwork was puhrty, and it had a gold trigger...oooh, pimped. The scope looked nice at targets as far away as the pawnshop door.

The Mosin now... what the heck did Ivan make that stock out of? Old matchsticks and 20 lbs of lacquer? They've got forests 5000 miles long, more trees than Obama's got flies, and they had to scrimp on wood?

But the CZ, that's a work of art. Hasbro-quality plastic handles and a special recoil-enhancing system that doubles the force entering your wrist, but not enough to move the slide. Which doesn't matter, because that cheap lacquered-steel Tokarev 'brass' has welded itself inside the breech.

Nope, guns are like chewing gum and wimmin' - never take a used piece.

[caver]

I hear you. Went to a gun show yesterday. It’s amazing some of the junk there for sale. I’m into WWII stuff so none of it is new!

[Eagle Eye]

Hipoint’s .45 carbine gets mixed reviews but could be worth a look.

Taurus makes a pump action .22 rifle that is fun, but I’m partial to Ruger 10-22’s. They have several variations, have lots of aftermarket goodies, and can go from just under $200 to over $500.

I like Ruger .22 pistols (Mk II and 22-45) but they are a bugger to reassemble.

The Beretta Tomcat and the Taurus version are small, easily concealable guns that are a blast to shoot PLUS they load with a tip barrel which is nice for those with limited use of either or both hands.

.22 is better than nothing and can be quite effective with good shot placement. Low recoil, improved ability for follow on shots.

[marktwain]

My training enterprise is Isher Enterprises, LLC.

[ez]

Thanks.

[ez]

Cool. Mini-30 is my next rifle, I think...the steel with the carbon fiber stock. How do you like yours?

I want one rifle for each common type of ammo. 7.62 x 39 is next then .308. I’d love to have an M1 Garand!!