Category: The Gun Thing

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

Never Mind The Suits

Good Stuff, The Gun Thing

As Combat Controller put it when he sent me this link, “While the NRA buys Wayne LaPierre’s suits and luxury junkets, the GOA does what they were supposed to be doing.”

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is proud to support the introduction of GOA-drafted legislation in West Virginia by Senators Chris Rose and Z. Maynard that would authorize the creation of a state entity to purchase and transfer machine guns to qualified law-abiding citizens pursuant to existing federal law. 

The legislation utilizes a clear statutory exception contained in 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), commonly known as the Hughes Amendment. While that provision generally restricts civilian possession of post-1986 machine guns, it expressly states that the prohibition “does not apply with respect to … a transfer to or by, or possession by or under the authority of” a State or any department or political subdivision thereof. 

Under the bill introduced in West Virginia, the State would establish state-run distribution centers authorized to acquire machine guns and conduct transfers “by” the State to qualified members of the general public. By structuring transactions within the text of the federal exemption, the legislation seeks to restore access to constitutionally protected arms while adhering to existing federal law. 

My only question then and now is:  when will Texas follow suit?

Here’s the thing:  I have no interest, zero, in owning a full-auto firearm for myself.  (Okay, I could make a exception for the wonderful WWII-era M2 Subbie*, but they just cost too damn much, as would the ammo I’d be blasting away at whatever the $$$$ price of .45 ACP is these days.)

But I do support the idea of anyone who does want to own one being allowed to do so.  (My old line:  “AK-47s in Aisle 14” applies here.)

*Yes, I’ve fired one, on several occasions, and I frigging loved it.

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.