Hondo's Cabin - Print Page

Hondo's Cabin
http://www.hondosackett.com/yabb/YaBB.pl
The Cabin >> The Cabin >> Firearms
http://www.hondosackett.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1215050503

Message started by Soda on Jul 2^nd, 2008, 10:01pm

Title: Firearms
Post by Soda on Jul 2^nd, 2008, 10:01pm

I don't really know if this is the right place to post this, and forgive me if I'm out-of-line here, but I was wondering if anyone here like firearms, and if so, which ones in particular.

Personally, my favourite firearm would have to be the MP5 sub machine gun by Heckler and Koch. The MP5SD5 variant is my personal favourite, because it offers an integrated suppressor, the additional option of a three round burst, and the fixed stock. It looks pretty nifty, and seems like an accurate yet small weapon. (One website with lots of pictures and interesting information about Heckler and Koch firearms is http://www.hkpro.com/.)

Another favourite weapon of mine is the Steyr AUG, a bullpup assault rifle. Designed in Austria, there is a factory in Australia (Lithgow, NSW) that manufactures these (Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!). I've seen members of the Royal Australian Navy actually carrying these rifles, and they're quite impressive. :)

I kinda got turned off the M16 (and the non-military Colt M4) when I heard about the early troubles with maintenance. I've read that, compared to the Soviet AK-47, the M16 was a real pain. Apparently it required frequent servicing and cleaning, and was prone to jams and inopportune moments. I understand that Colt have largely fixed these issues, but they still somehow prejudice me against the weapon.

Please bear in mind that I've never actually fired a real rifle (Australian gun laws are really restrictive), so most of my preferences come from reading articles and looking at pictures. ;)

Anyways, now that I've made myself sound like a gun-nut, I'd like to see if anyone else here has any particular preferences in firearms and such. ;D

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Fernando on Jul 3^rd, 2008, 9:44am

This would be a good place for it, so it wont be moved or taken down.
I'll put my ideas later, since I have a busy day today.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Soda on Jul 4^th, 2008, 12:31am

Fernando wrote:

This would be a good place for it, so it wont be moved or taken down.

Awesome... thanks Fernando. :)

Fernando wrote:

I'll put my ideas later, since I have a busy day today.

Okay, that's cool. I'll look forward to hearing your ideas.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Fernando on Jul 6^th, 2008, 3:50pm

Since the age of 6, I have owned and used firearms, mainly hand guns, but have used long arms as well. They range from a Raven .25 auto, S&W 38 (Saturday Night Specail), Colt and S&W .45 1911, and Amercian Arms model 1981. I have also used the M1 Garand, M4 Carbine, AR15/M16, 9mm Mausser, and assorted shotguns, including an 1853 Kentucky rifle.

Each weapon has their pluses and minuses, and each weapon has their own way of doing things. The problem I see is when owners expect things from their guns which are not meant to do. (This is true of all things.)

Now, some weapons need more work that others, this is a learning curve that all weapons and their owners have to go through. I usually can do this for all weapons, and learn them rather quickly. So I dont have no beef with them. I try not to go past the limitation of the weapons itself, because that is where problems arises.

With that- personal choices in weapons: the AA M1981 (or its replacement M1984), the Colt/S&W 1911 .45. Then followed by the NAA .32 (a small gun with a lot of fire power!) and then go down to their pocket revolvers. A nice belt buckle gun would be great.

Rifles- the Garand M1, though there are better rifles out there, the Garand is a weapon to resepct. It has its short comings (8 shots and you have to reload that funny round clip without getting your fingers bitten off by the machine!), but for long range and accuracy- it cant be beat unless you go up to a .50 cal weapon. It is simple, and smooth operating. You drop it in water, it will still fire after chasing the water out! How many can say that about their guns?

I'll add more when I have the time.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Campisi on Jul 7^th, 2008, 9:06pm

I've never owned a gun, mainly due to the cost involved in getting one of any considerable quality.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Fernando on Jul 8^th, 2008, 5:16pm

A gun is like a car, Campisi. Its a matter of what you want, how much you are willing to spend for it and what you can get. Sure, there is dream gun/car that you want, but you often deal with the POS that you got at a great deal which wont let you down as long as you treat it right.

Depending on where you live (my problem is NYC being very prohibitive and restrictive, thus tha prices are a lot higher), but in many places, you can go to a pawn shop and pick up a good piece and a respectful price.

I do have to say that you have to do some research before buying. I'm no GunSmith (though my mother dated one and a few cops and thus taught me those skills at a young age), but one should learn the basics if tearing down a gun, cleaning it out, oiling it and putting it back together. Many sporting goods stores have books on gun and rifle maintenance, and until they make such books illegal, you should be able to get them to learn from first.

I recommend these websites:
http://cheaperthandirt.com/guns.asp
http://www.impactguns.com/store/

and the gun manufacturer's websites (you can google them).

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Soda on Jul 9^th, 2008, 9:46pm

Fernando wrote:

Depending on where you live (my problem is NYC being very prohibitive and restrictive, thus tha prices are a lot higher), but in many places, you can go to a pawn shop and pick up a good piece and a respectful price.

Okay, here's the deal. I would love to own a gun, but government men tell me I can't own one. Getting firearms in Australia is hard... very hard. To even get a license to own a gun, I need a very good "genuine" reason, such as being a hunter, farmer, police officer or a highly-trained security guard on dangerous duties. I am none of the above, and "self defense" is not considered a valid reason for owning a gun. In addition to that, the type of firearms available are also extremely restricted. If you're a farmer wanting a gun for pest control, you won't be able to acquire a handgun like a Glock 22, for example. Semi-automatic rifles are very restricted, and fully-automatic rifles and assault rifles are impossible to obtain. In addition to that, a long list of ridiculous storage rules apply, such as requiring the gun to be in a locked, immobile metal cabinet or safe, with the ammunition in a separate locked, immobile metal cabinet or safe. Stupid! :(

At the moment, the major demographics with guns in Australia are criminals. They're out there, and they've got everything from pistols to assault rifles, and even rocket launchers (link (http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/stolen-rocket-launchers-sold-to-terror-suspect/2007/01/05/1167777261021.html)). To be honest, I'd like a gun for the same reason as many people: I don't want to have to wait an hour (or more) for the cops to show up if someone is in my home terrorising my partner or myself. I kid you not, the cops here are so bad, sometimes they don't even show up at all. I know; it's happened to me.

Anyways, that said, I want a gun. Mind you, I want a lot of reasonable things that the government refuse to give me: a bill of rights, a decent constitution, the right to free speech, and the right to get married. I'm inclined to move. I've applied for a green card, but that lottery is very difficult to win, and the chance of my partner and myself both being accepted are abysmally small. :(

Any advice?

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Hondo I. Sackett on Jul 10^th, 2008, 11:46am

My Favorite guns are as follows:
old pistols:
Colt Walker
Colt Dragoon
Colt peace maker
La Matte
Walsh navy .36 12 shot double trigger
New Pistols:
Taurus .45lc/.410
Ruger Vaquero
colt 1911
Long Arms .45lc/.410 Derringer
Old Rifles:
Spencer 56-56
Sharps 45-70
Winchester 1873
New rifles:
Marlin 30-30
Uberti 50-95
Sharps Quiggly Special 45-120
Marlin .45lc
Shot guns:
Colt Revolving
Old Machine guns:
Thompson
New Machine guns:
OICW W/Grenade Launcher

Hondo

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Campisi on Jul 11^th, 2008, 4:06am

Thank you for the advice, Fernando. :) Seattle has only a handful of pawn shops left period and no gun stores within thirty miles of the city proper, and only one of those pawn shops even tries to maintain a firearm collection. I could get a Rossi (I think that's the name) revolver from them for about two hundred dollars with some haggling.

More research is certainly in order, although I think I'd prefer something along the lines of a .357 Magnum revolver if I could swing it.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Fernando on Jul 13^th, 2008, 10:11pm

Campisi, go with a .38 and when you are used to that, upgrade to a .357.
Got to build up that forearm strength.

Soda, I dont know what to say, but there are ways to have the law work for you. Start knocking on your parliment members doors and start asking questions. I'm sure there is a looppole for self defense. I'm not in Austraila but in NYC NY, USA. The laws here are stupidly restrictive too.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Campisi on Jul 14^th, 2008, 4:51am

Fernando wrote:

Campisi, go with a .38 and when you are used to that, upgrade to a .357.
Got to build up that forearm strength.

The smaller calibre actually has a stronger kick? Or is that because the .357 bullets are Magnums?

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Fernando on Jul 14^th, 2008, 6:12pm

Its because its like you said; the .357 is magnum.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Campisi on Jul 16^th, 2008, 6:28am

I'll seek out a .38 then. That, or a .22 Remington, as you previously suggested. I'm still split on which to get; the handgun would be useful for concealed carry, but the rifle would be more suitable at the range.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Fernando on Jul 16^th, 2008, 4:50pm

I would say the .38 . You cant carry a rifle in the streets without drawing attention to yourself. ;D
Besides, you can always get the rifle later.

As for target practice- learn with what you got and be good at it. It will save your life.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Campisi on Jul 17^th, 2008, 4:59am

What are some good brands to look for, and some to particularly avoid? It seems that Taurus, Smith and Wesson, and Colt are well-trusted, but I highly doubt I'll come across any in a downtown Seattle pawnshop for cheap.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Fernando on Jul 17^th, 2008, 3:12pm

The standby rules on guns is that if it sounds like a toy-name brand, than its junk. Also a lot of spanish made guns that make it to the states are junk, because that is what they are. A lot of Mexican and South American arms makers make poor quality stuff, there are are a few good ones.

If you find something with the name 'American Arms' by itself, that was one of the poorly made gun manufacturers the US had, but their .45s were the best above all. Bascially they copied other companies' guns, and were poor at it. But the 1911 .45 was a government contract weapon in WW1 and it had to live to certain standards, which they (AA) try to surpass. Then they created the model 1981 and 1984- which the government bought for their specail ops / agents. It was the same as the 1911, but with a wider frame to holder a wider magazine. It can hold up to 16 rounds. The closest thing today is the Colt Agent. Alas, American Arms was sued into bankruptcy by the anti-gunlobbists and thus no longer exist. The guns are still aroun though (see about the .38 version below).

One gun to look out for is the 1911-Super .38 . Its a 1911 .45 auto that was shrunk down to a .38 size. Does not matter who makes it- its a superb gun within itself, and mechanically the same as a 1911 .45 auto. And like the 1911 .45, its was a government contract gun, so that several arms makers can make it for the war effort (WWI/WWII/Korean), and its still produced today by most. Because of the .38 round size- 16 of them can be put into a magazine! If you find one- BUY IT! Even if it means putting it away on lay-away!

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Campisi on Jul 21^st, 2008, 8:17pm

Excellent. Thanks, man.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by ducktape on Oct 26^th, 2008, 11:21pm

Campisi: I saw in one of your earlier posts that you were asking about a Rossi. If you can get a hold of the gun that Fernando talked about then by all means do it. (he knows what he's talking about) I have a Rossi .357 revolver that I got new for about $150. I've fired it a lot and it's a nice gun. I don't claim that it is the best balanced gun that I have but it's been great for me. Semi auto pistols are better for self defense though. I have a Glock 38 that is made for concealed carry in mind. After shooting an semi auto and then a revolver it's easy for you to see how the Semi auto is better.

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by sackettsunit on Dec 4^th, 2008, 10:46am

A buddy if mine got some new weapons in, and I was fortunate to fire them with him.
He had some .22 rifles for fun and a 10 guage shot gun, but I really wanted to try his AR-15 and FN FAL rifle.
Both were really smooth, and I liked them. We would have shot the FAL more, but he was having trouble with it.
Is this common?

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by Hondo I. Sackett on Dec 5^th, 2008, 9:49am

what kind of trouble?

Title: Re: Firearms
Post by sackettsunit on Dec 15^th, 2008, 2:49pm

They kept jamming. Had to break them down and re assemble.