Category: The Gun Thing

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

Guns I’d Love To Own, But Never Will

The Gun Thing

I was inspired to write this post by watching Brandon Herrera’s love song to the Sturmgewehr (StG)44, and when I’d finished wiping the drool from my chin, I thought:  “Man, I would love love love to own one of those”, which was quickly followed by “Who are you kidding?  You wouldn’t be able to find the gun, couldn’t afford it even if you did, and FFS think of the cost of the Unobtanium ammo, dude!”

…which led to the thought:  “How many other guns fall into that category, more or less?”

And here we are.

First off, I think the aforesaid StG-44 would head up the list.

Looks cool, reduced recoil (reduced-power 8x43mm vs. 8x57mm ammo), semi-auto/full auto, designed by Hugo Schmeisser… the list goes on and on.  WANT.  But even the newly-made semi-auto-only PTR-44 sells for close to $8,000 (instead of $30,000+ for the real thing).  STILL WANT.

Next, the FG-42 as used by German paratroopers:

Okay, this one uses the full-strength 8x57mm ammo, but it was and remains one of the best gun designs not done by John Moses Browning.  And it’s super-rare so forget all ideas about affordability, plus it’s full-auto all the time.  So no, I can’t have one. Don’t care.  WANT.

Next comes the Ljungman AG m/42B:

Lessee:  light recoil, wonderfully reliable, semi-auto (so no gummint paperwork/NFA nonsense) fires my favorite rifle cartridge (6.5x55mm Swede)… what really scrapes my scabs is that I actually used to own one very much like it:  the Egyptian Hakim chambered in 8x57mm;  but I think I’d prefer the original Ljungman because of the chambering.  WANT, very much, all the more because it’s far more available than the two Kraut rifles above.  But $2,000-odd?  Not gonna happen.

Finally, the M3 Grease Gun:

‘Nuff said.  I’ve shot it before, loved it, was cheap to make, works well, shoots a manly cartridge (instead of some wussy Europellet)… and costs too much (now), plus all that gummint paperwork.  So I’m never going to own one, but still WANT.

That’s all.  Maybe I’ll think of more later, but these three came to mind immediately, which just proves how much I want 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.