Long Gun Show and Tell

[TheUziButton]

You know I've always wanted a BAR, as one of my Grandfathers was a BAR man in WWII (fortunately it was in '45 when we had Germany on its heels, as BAR men didn't usually last long in combat). I'm not sure I want that gun though. It looks like someone tried to figure out just how much "tacti-cool-ness" they could try to cram on a rifle with otherwise very classic lines.

This fellow was sitting on the shelf just below the “modernized” BAR. Either way it was 30-06 goodness.

On a side note, the “modernized” BAR had very little in common with the original. The receiver was a highly modified BAR receiver that had all the “fat” removed and it took standard BAR magazines but that is where the similarities ended. The “modernized” BAR had totally redesigned gas system, buffer system, barrel, bolt, and mag release. It was several pounds lighter than the original and the rep stated that the recoil was more mild.

 

[Mike Grasso]

Some of my favorite long guns are Steyrs...

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Well, now that we are on a Scout theme.

Czech Mauser Vz24, quasi-Scout (way too chunky for a Scout):

 

[Kirk Freeman]

My maternal grandfather's first rifle. Winchester 1904 in .22S, L, and XL.

He bought it with egg money at a hardware store after walking into Terre Haute from the farm in 1922 at the age of 10.

Rounds could be purchased individually but only if the store owner knew your parents would he sell to kids.

 

[Mike Grasso]

My maternal grandfather's first rifle. Winchester 1904 in .22S, L, and XL.

He bought it with egg money at a hardware store after walking into Terre Haute from the farm in 1922 at the age of 10.

Rounds could be purchased individually but only if the store owner knew your parents would he sell to kids.

Now that's some history.

 

[chezuki]

Never owned one, but now I do. Just picked up a numbers-matching 91-30 for $90!!

 

[jb1911]

 

[TheUziButton]

[video=youtube;wOcg9y55u44]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOcg9y55u44[/video]

 

[TheUziButton]

 

[TheUziButton]

 

[Cannon762]

Hnnnnghhh the FAL looks great. Great pics as always, UziButton.

Happy with this PTR, just got the last couple pieces in within this last week and got it out to snap a couple pictures. I really like this rifle.

 

[TheJoker]

I made my annual visit to the CMP South Store the first of May. Although I did okay, the pickings were pretty slim. No Service Grade M1s, a dozen Field Grade HRAs, 8 Field Grade SAs(...7 when I left), a dozen HRA CMP Specials, a dozen .308 HRA CMP Specials, a dozen SA CMP Specials and lots and lots and lots of drill rifles. They're putting those nice walnut stocks on welded drill rifles and calling them a "presentation drill rifle". There were a hand full of NMs and an assortment of M1cs & M1ds. I didn't look too close at them.

It is sad...used to be you could spend all day picking a rifle or two. I was in and out in an hour and a half.

Picked out a six digit(June 1942) SA Field Grade and I took 200 loose HXP and a rusty ammo box with me.

As always the staff was courteous and helpful.

I'm embarrassed to admit, I was looking for a Field Grade rifle for a Shuff box fed conversion. I found a FG SA with a six-digit serial number for $525. After receiving and looking it over, I don't have the heart to have it altered.

The receiver dates to May of 1942. It has a SA 5-50 barrel(TE 3 / MW 4). It is in a nice dark walnut stock that has no cartouches or proof marks; but, is nice despite the occasional small gouge or rack mark. I'm not sure whether the metal finish is original or that dark repark job done by the Greeks. The parts are mostly SA with the exception of a WRA milled trigger guard.

Think about the potential history of this rifle. It could have seen 2 wars. Anyway, no delusions that it is not anything but the usual mix master; but, I've abandoned the idea of a box fed conversion.

So, then I have a bit of a disappointing first session with the new Springfield. I ran 3 enboc clips of HXP M2 ball .30 ought six, all three times the clip ejected after 6 rounds. The good news ... It consistently made nice small groups.

I ordered an Orion 7 spring kit. The old clip latch spring is definitely suspect. It is a quarter inch shorter than the new one. The old main spring is also very worn. Most of the rest of her 'innerds' seem well worn; but, in spec.

I took the ole gal apart, cleaned her up, installed the new springs and reassembled her into her spiffy new laminate stock. The trigger guard won't close all the way. It seems I might need to remove some material from the area where the back of the trigger group seats into the stock.

I took the Boyds stock of of my other SA M1 and after a bit of comparison, it seems that the new stock wasn't allowing the floor plate to seat properly. I sanded the area at the back where the floor plate goes just a bit at a time until the trigger group locked in place. It didn't take much and it is still a very tight fit. This new Dupage laminate stock seems a bit over sized compared to the Boyds stock. But, it sure is pretty.

So, now for some pictures...here is the difference in the clip latch spring:

The old main spring was really, really worn. So the Orion 7 complete spring kit was a good call.

So here is the end result:

I added a repro M1907 sling marked MILSCO 1942.

And most importantly, it gets the Atum-Ra of Grace on High "meow of approval":

I've since run about 48 rounds through the rifle and I have had nary an issue. The rifle seems to shoot better groups that my other M1s. I'm very pleased.

 

[jblomenberg16]

Trips to the CMP are always fun! Never know what pieces of history you are holding and what those rifles have been through. I think every American family should own one as a tribute to the brave individuals that carried them in the name of freedom.

 

[jblomenberg16]

Hnnnnghhh the FAL looks great. Great pics as always, UziButton.

Happy with this PTR, just got the last couple pieces in within this last week and got it out to snap a couple pictures. I really like this rifle.

Nice looking rifle, although I have to ask...what in the world are you doing on your roof with it? Hopefully your neighborhood isn't so rough that you are holding down your position...

 

[Cannon762]

Nice looking rifle, although I have to ask...what in the world are you doing on your roof with it? Hopefully your neighborhood isn't so rough that you are holding down your position...

Haha, it's on my well house. We're all shooters out where I live though, so I don't think anybody would think too poorly if I was firing from my roof.

 

[Cemetery-man]

Did a little modifying and duracoating on my Scout/Squad. I fully planned to camo but after a test fit I liked the way it looked all basic black and evil that I decided to let it go.

 

[mikemcbride]

Just picked this up tonight, already dissasembled and I got the stripper doing its thing to the stock!

[/IMG]

 

[jblomenberg16]

Just picked this up tonight, already dissasembled and I got the stripper doing its thing to the stock!

[/IMG]

And I thought I had some explaining to do to my wife when I put the stock of an old enfield in the dishwasher....

 

[DoggyDaddy]

And I thought I had some explaining to do to my wife when I put the stock of an old enfield in the dishwasher....

 

[DarkRose]

And I thought I had some explaining to do to my wife when I put the stock of an old enfield in the dishwasher....

Benefits of being single I guess, no one to question me when there are gun parts or car parts boiling on the stove or baking in the oven.

Wish I had a dishwasher though...