Category: The Gun Thing

Not just the guns, but all the stuff that goes with them

Parker-Hale M48 Mauser (.308 Win)

The Gun Thing

When last I offered this Parker-Hale rifle (from the late Layabout Sailor’s estate), it didn’t get much response.  But I can’t just leave it to rot in my safe, so I’ve sweetened the pot, so to speak.  Here it is, with the new Pachmayr recoil pad I’d fitted earlier:

As you can see, I’ve added a Bushnell 3-9x50mm scope (Multi-X crosshair reticle), and using some spare Federal Sierra Match King 168gr ammo I had lying around, I took it off to the range to sight it in.

I used a laser sighter (one of those in-barrel thingies) which was almost useless at 50 yards — I could barely see the red dot — so I brought it in to 25 yards just to get the damn thing on paper.

Here was the first target, at 50 yards.  The top four scattered shots were my attempt before I did the above, and the three in the bull were the result after bringing it in to 25, getting it zeroed, then taking it back out to 50.

Then I played with the scope a tad, and set it up to shoot about an inch high at 50 yards, thinking that shooting high at 50 would more or less drop the shots into the bull at 100.  Here’s what happened with a five-shot string at 50 yards:

Gotta say, that’s not too shabby — and it validates my decision to use proper match ammo instead of the “practice” stuff (PMC 150gr) that I’ve used before.

So here’s the deal.

I’m raffling this lovely rifle off to you, O my Readers.  $10 per ticket, no limit on the number of tickets per person, and I’m keeping the raffle open until I get the amount collected up to where I won’t be embarrassed to pass it on to the Widow Irish.  (Reminder:  I do not benefit financially from any of this.  All the money less the shipping cost goes straight to her.)

I have to say that I was sorely tempted just to buy it myself, but I can’t afford the amount I think it’s worth.  It is an extraordinary rifle:  smooooth action, a light trigger (~5oz pull with hardly any take-up), and the accuracy speaks for itself.  It is a rifle I would take into the field or into battle, any day of the week.  (Yes I’m prejudiced because Mauser, but even then I can say without reservation that it is the best Mauser action I’ve ever fired.)  Those guys at Parker-Hale really knew what they were doing, and still do.

As always, feel free to use any method of payment you wish:

Paper cheques to the sooper-seekrit mailing address:
6009 W Parker Rd
Suite 149-141
Plano TX 75093

Venmo: -at-Kim-DuToit-3

Paypal / Zelle:  kim-at-kimdutoit.com

And also as always, many thanks for your assistance.

About That Wood Thing

The Gun Thing

Last week I posted about putting the wood to an AR-15:

 

…whereupon Reader Butch B. sent me his treatment thereof, along similar lines:

Using Cerakote for the steel, and wood instead of plastic, he calls it his “Fudd-riffic AR-15” (right-click to embiggen).

I have to say, that looks rather fetching — kinda like a modern version of the venerable M1 Garand.  (Butch, can you send me the details of where you found that wood furniture?  I am really intrigued…)

Loss Leader?

Marketing / Advertising, The Gun Thing

Reader Brad_In_IL suggests that Palmetto State Armory has an overstock of the excellent S&W Model 686;  that, or they’re just using it as a loss leader — the retail term that is used to describe an advertising campaign which features a product at a ridiculously-low price to attract customers into the store, where they’ll buy not just the featured loss leader but (hopefully) other products at regular retail prices (which carry higher profit margins).

Here’s the aforementioned S&W 686 from PSA:

Phew.  Okay, that’s really tempting.  [checks bank account]

Shit.

Getting Wood

Gratuitous Gun Pics, The Gun Thing

…and no, we’re not talking about looking at bikini pics of Salma Hayek.  We’re talking about this nonsense, as sent to me by my so-called friend Combat Controller:

And once fitted:

Seriously?

As I pointed out to CC, the only thing stopping me from reaching for Ye Olde Credytte Carde is that said “furniture upgrade” costs nearly double what I spent on the rifle itself.

Gotta admit, though, it’s not bad-looking.

Some Reservations

Gratuitous Gun Pics, Marketing / Advertising

This from PSA:

I have to say that having a Buckmark trigger — still  better, I think, than that of any other .22 pistol outside the competition guns — for only $300 sounds like a good deal.

But I also have to say that I’ve never been able to get anything more than minute-of-Coke-can accuracy with that 4″ bull barrel, and I’ve owned more than one of that type.  Not that this is altogether a Bad Thing, of course, because if you’re going to head out into the woods or to a short range with nothing but Death To Cans in mind, this little Micro would be the bee’s knees.

I do prefer the full-steel (and longer than 4″) barrel over the lighter bull barrel:

…and in fact I have just such a 5″ barrel, waiting to be swapped in its current holder:

…when I have the time / inclination to do so.

Scenes From A House

SHTF, The Gun Thing

…in the Doc Russia Crisis Center:

It’s kinda the same in Kim’s Bunker, except that there’s a flashlight or two next to every “home defense” firearm, i.e. no further than arm’s reach regardless of my location in the house.

I don’t have a flashlight attached to any of my firearms.  No big reason;  I just don’t see the need to identify my position if I’m about to activate the bang switch.  YMMV, and that’s fine — there’s no need for debate on the issue, because I can see both sides of the argument.  It’s just a personal preference.

I might change my opinion in the case of the Poodleshooter Piece:

…but I’m still debating the issue with myself.  Frankly, I can’t see a situation developing (for me) in which some serious* anti-social night-time activity might become necessary;  but I’m not closing my mind to the eventuality, either.

*that can’t be handled by half a dozen or so rounds of .45 ACP or .357 Magnum, I mean.