Range time with a friend. Also: Ooooooooooowwwwwwww.

Sunday dawned bright and beautiful, and C and I decided to hit the range for an hour. I still hadn't shot my Plinkster, he still hadn't shot his 12ga pump. We invited my best friend, L, as he hadn't seen any firearms in the past decade.

Turns out, dude needed the range time.

Anyway, here's a couple of short reviews.

Mossberg 702 Plinkster: GREAT little semiauto .22. This little bugger is accurate right out of the box. I attribute it to a good set of sights - the hooded front really helps when shooting all the way to the end of the range.* It had no feed issues, but the magazine definitely needs some oiling. At $125, it was well worth the money - it ate through a box of Remington target crap ammo like it was nothing. Overall, I'm pleased with it, C is pleased with it, and I think it'll be in the safe for a good, long time.

IAC Hawk model 982: decent shotgun. I believe it's based off the Mossberg 500 design - it certainly looks like it. There are options out there to modify it - C's has an extended tube and a new stock/grip, as well as a side holster for extra shells. He seems pleased. I only know the pain of shooting a shotgun not meant for my stubby little hobbit arms (though after our Hunter Safety course came to a close last night, I have since realized the beauty of a well-fitted shotgun).

We didn't rent any, since L got enough jollies from that which we brought along to shoot. I also got a chance to talk with the guys who work at the range, and apparently I can, in fact, get my hands on a Para GI Expert ESP - I merely need to bug them to get it. They certainly seemed to like it more than I expected...I'd say they liked it as much as the STI Spartan (which they really do like). This gives me a good idea of what I'm doing by the end of the year.

And now for photos.

A week or so ago I posted about the Mosins we picked up at a shop that was mega far away. We got some other stuff, too.

We came home with...

2 of these:


2 of these:

(No, I don't mean 2 cans in that crate - we got 2 crates, with 2 cans in each crate.)

3 of these:


With 3 of these to match:

(The kits include 4 pouches, a cleaning kit, a bayonet, and a sling.)

Here's a close-up of mine...check out the markings!:


The stuff I didn't show: 10 magazines for the 1911 and 3 packs of stripper clips.

Oh jeez.

I think C is going to apply for his C&R. Too many interesting deals are popping up. The latest? The guys we saw about the Mosins have a case of Browning Hi-Powers coming in. They're all former police pistols, and some look quite old, but I think C might get one. He's wanted one for awhile, and it would be nice to have a 9mm in the house.

Sigh. He only had 2 guns when we started dating... ;)

The current possibilities.

I think I've narrowed the 1911 down to two options.

The STI Spartan, as suggested to me by Mike, is attractive.

So is the Rock Island Match.

Decisions, decisions...

Just updated the blogroll.

If I missed you, let me know.

Changed the template, too. I kindof wish I knew HTML (or had the time to learn it) so I could do something funky, but that just isn't in the cards.

Damn. I'm done with news for the day.

In my previous post I mentioned the hand swabbing noise. I needed a pick-me-up, so I read about the withdrawing of the MD Assault Weapons Ban proposal, which put me in a much better mood.

Now I find out that there's federally mandated DNA testing on every newborn. It's like a real-life Minority Report.

I'm done with this emotional rollercoaster.

Note to self...

Don't get into any kind of shooting sports or hunting that might require me to fly. I might be labeled a terrorist if i do.

Also: don't handle anyone's heart medication, and don't even THINK about touching the garden before flying. Because I might be labeled a terrorist. For gardening.

So last night we went out for milk...

and 5 hours later, returned home with 3 Mosin Nagants, 2 cases of surplus ammunition, 3 accessory kits (came with the rifles as part of the purchase price), 3 sets of stripper clips, 2 ammo cans, and 10 magazines for C's 1911.

The trip took us quite a ways away from home, and we got lost on the way, but we found an awesome company with employees who were more than willing to help us out. Justin helped C and I pick out the best of the remaining rifles (numbers matching, clear markings, good stocks - these are all Grade 2[?] quality), and Brian helped us get the paperwork handled and get out of there so we could grab dinner.

Sometime this weekend I'll take some shots of the rifles. Mine has a hammer and sickle stamping that's clearer than the birds on my Mauser. I'm already rather attached. :) These may become our deer rifles...I know C plans on using his for deer, and I'll have to shoot mine as well as the Mauser to make that final decision.

Things from around the 'net.

I honestly do not recall how I found all of these today, but they're all worth checking out.

First, go check out a gallery of lady shooters throughout history.

Second, go watch this video.

Third, this is one of many reasons I love Mark Twain's work. Also, it's worth mentioning that his insults towards those in Washington generally manage to fit the bill. Still.

Fourth, Baltimore's currently experiencing the beginnings of SNOWPOCALYPSE 2010. If you twitter, feel free to search for #Snowpocalypse2010 - a lot of us have been babbling about it. So far, it's been nothing but immediately-melting snowfall. Incredibly lackluster, considering how we're already under a State of Emergency, and our lovely governor fears we'll run out of salt this weekend. Way to go, O'Failey. Putting salt trucks on the roads 8 hours before any precipitation started wasn't the greatest idea, now was it?

Finally, I have a request for my three readers. I'm in the market for a 1911. My top price is $700, and I'd like similar already-installed parts as are in the Para GI Expert (this was the pistol I intended on purchasing, but Para doesn't like the stupid casing law in Maryland, so I would have to jump through a ton of hoops to get it. Not worth it for a $500 pistol...). Halp? Will take any and all suggestions.

Have a good weekend!

Stuff I should have said a few weeks ago.

Before my grandfather passed in December, I was fortunate enough to see him one last time.

My grandfather was, until his dying day, completely "there" in mind - it was his body that failed him. He managed to retain almost full mental capacity to the ripe old age of 92. I'm thankful for this, as it allowed me to get to know him...I just wish I'd been able to get to know him BETTER. We had agreed to meet weekly to talk about his past, but before I'd had a chance to get back to the rehab hospital to see him and learn his story, he left us. It's for the best, really, since it wouldn't have been fair for him to be stuck there forever. He was the independent sort, and the idea of staying in a hospital for weeks/months/years was a nightmare he didn't want to live. I can't say I blame him.

Anyway, during that last visit, I admitted to him that I own weapons. I specified my .22 and the Mauser...I don't think he really needed to know much more than that. To my delight, he confirmed he knew what the Mauser was, and was amazed I intended to shoot it. He said I should gain a little more weight to make sure it didn't knock me over.

A kidder, he was. Gods I miss him.




ANYWAY, before I turn this into a sob story, I wanted to share this: after telling him about the Mauser and my hunting plans for it, he encouraged me. He insisted that I need to hunt, to preserve the "old ways" before the skill is lost. While no one else in my family (save my cousin) is even remotely happy I have any interest, it's nice to know Pop was all for it. I know he'll be watching over me next season, willing me to bring home meat for the freezer. I know he would love that, since he spent so many years as a butcher.


In other news, for Christmas, C gave me a scope for my AR. Now we've just gotta get a good weekend when we're not already booked to get out there and shoot the durned things.