Firearms Showcase Your Firearms

[LimaCharles]

I love sending it. I am now at the point where anything under 500 yards is extremely boring to me.

 

[TheKiwi]

What's the make/model of your bipod?

 

[LimaCharles]

What's the make/model of your bipod?

Magpul MOE Bipod. There's some flexing but not a concern if you are already are putting a load on it. It's basically a cheaper Atlas clone that isn't hot garbage and from a well established name brand with a great reputation.

https://magpul.com/moe-bipod.html?mp_global_color=118

 

[Mark Sman]

Swedish M94/14, 6.5x55mm, 17.5/18 inch barrel, 5 round

A M94/14 manufactured in 1918 at Carl Gustafs in Sweden. Originally it had a 17.5 inch barrel. Some sort of US importation law had a half-inch permanently added back in the day. You can see that forward of the nose cap.

It would be legal to remove, but difficult to do right. It was added on in such a manner that it doesn't impeded accuracy or function. It doesn't even look bad, the finish and material is very similar to the rifle. Did the Swedes do it before export? So I left it on.

I don't know if the importer did that janky fill in the stock disc area. That is more annoying than the nose piece because it wasn't done well.

Compact, but heavier than you would think. Almost 8 pounds. Decent accuracy, it can even push a little distance as the bullet seems to fly pretty stable and punch wind well. My limiting factors are the iron sights, which aren't great. My skill, which is meh. And my eyes, which are sub-meh these day.

 

[Mark Sman]

A pair of No1.MkIII* Lee Enfields, .303

Top - BSA, 1916

This one looks better, but it actually had the harder life. In addition to British proof and property marks from WWI, the butt stock has Australian FTR (Factory Thorough Repair) and unit marks from August of 1944. I got this rifle for practically nothing because the barrel was pitted and the stock was in bad shape. Numbers were force matched at that FTR.

Eventually rounds started to show some minor keyholing. Then to add insult to injury the forend split. I made the decision to do my own little FTR. I had the barrel replaced with a new/old original. And a new forend fitted and color matched to the original handguard. I was very fortunate to have a local gunsmith who actually knew what he was doing with Enfields. It cost more than a new rifle would have.

End result is that the barrel is like a mirror with canyons for grooves. The headspace is dead set perfect, not just Go/No Go gauged. Full set measured. After this I only shot factory new or handloads in this rifle. No more corrosive surplus for this thing.

Bottom - Lithgow, 1922

This one has an FTR mark with no date. Also it appears that all the original numbered parts made it back on the rifle during FTR. Manufactured in the interwar period and I would guess the FTR was post war. So unlike the BSA it wasn't made during a war and then FTR during another war. Condition is good with much less service battering evident. I bought it because somebody was selling it priced like back in the day. I also got a Lithgow bayonet with it. This one is going on the chopping block soon. I will probably hang on to the BSA for a few more years.

 

[TheKiwi]

When I first started getting into shooting, I told myself I need to buy a SMLE, just like granddad carried through the western desert. And at the time they were maybe 800-1000 NZ Pesos for one in decent condition. But there was always something else to buy - an AR, a new .22, more ammo, another scope, etc. etc. etc.

And now decent examples are more like 2000 pesos, which is a lot of change for a rifle I'd probably shoot once and put away in the safe. A gunsmith mate has suggested buying an example that had been "sportsterised AKA bastardised" and getting him to put a proper stock on it. That might just work better, a sportster example is about 600 pesos.

 

[Mark Sman]

When I first started getting into shooting, I told myself I need to buy a SMLE, just like granddad carried through the western desert. And at the time they were maybe 800-1000 NZ Pesos for one in decent condition. But there was always something else to buy - an AR, a new .22, more ammo, another scope, etc. etc. etc.

And now decent examples are more like 2000 pesos, which is a lot of change for a rifle I'd probably shoot once and put away in the safe. A gunsmith mate has suggested buying an example that had been "sportsterised AKA bastardised" and getting him to put a proper stock on it. That might just work better, a sportster example is about 600 pesos.

Kind of like a rescue dog. You are walking the path of the righteous if you "desporterize" one.

Is .303 ammo still competitive in price in your neck of the woods?

 

[TheKiwi]

Nope like everywhere it's become rarer. That said, if I ever thought I'd be shooting it regularly I'd buy a reload die for it.

 

[LimaCharles]

Mil surplus is a dried up market unfortunately. As an itch scratcher myself when wanting that it scratched, I say do it.

As far as ammo goes not every gun with another caliber to feed, needs to be stacked deep for whatever on the cheap. I only reload or buy .380, 30 SPC, 30 Carbine, and .30-6 when the need to shoot some arises. Use gun math logic here: if it's not a SHTF or a source of putting meat on the table regularly then it's no worth getting so much of it to just protect your precious ammo commodities.

Buy it, send it at the range, flex it to friends and social media, and be a good custodian of it until the next custodian takes ownership of. This is the way.

 

[Mark Sman]

Last one for tonight I swear.

US Rifle, caliber .30, M1903A3

Made in May 1944 by Remington. I think this one led a pretty pampered life. No unit/property marking. Almost no damage and minor wear. I doubt this was ever put through even a single training rotation or deployment.

Reproduction 1907 sling.

This rifle is long and heavy but the rear sight is good for the era. The front sight is tiny, which ain't great. Barrel is in excellent shape, I wonder if it was ever fired during service, if it even entered service beyond acceptance.

This rifle has surprised some fellow shooters with how well it can do at distance. I need a nice big white target with a nice big blag circle, a nice sunny day, and my Hubble Ground Spotting Scope. But under those conditions I can still hit from prone or on a rest pretty far.

This and the Swede 94/14 compete for most range trips. I would rather have the Swede in the woods.

 

[Mark Sman]

New day, another old rifle.

Yugoslavian M24/47, 8mm, 20 inch barrel, 5 shot

These rifles were post WWII Yugoslavian factory (Zastava for this one) refurbishments of earlier M24 and other Mauser variants in an effort to bring a dizzying array of rifles into some sort of standard.

As a result there is some variance in the 24/47. Most examples have little discernible service history before the arsenal.

This one appears to have been built off of an M24 receiver and stock. When I got the rifle it was packed in the most cosmoline I have ever seen on a rifle. I used a steam cleaner on the metal and commie grease was oozing out forever. I Ieached the wood over a summer.

Still have two unopened spam cans of Yugo 8mm, and one half full can.

This one is going to the chopping block as well. Might get more for the ammo than the rifle.

 

[Mark Sman]

Ruger SP101, .357, 5 shot, 2.25 inch barrel

Despite not carrying this I added a tritium front sight, Pachmyr grips, and I blacked out the rear U notch. Other than that it is a boring old Ruger. Probably not going on the chopping block because I like it for some strange reason. The weight is why I don't carry it, and also why it isn't punishing to shoot.

It actually gets out to the range regularly. It might get out to the woods as a pairing with the Rossi R92.

 

[LimaCharles]

Recent addition. This is a Colt CR6920 M4 marked Colt that I picked up while on TDY at Yuma Proving Grounds. I'm going to clone one of the M4's I was issued for my fifth and last ever deployment and was to Iraq (OIF) 2008-2009. This civilian model Colt that I bought locally off work call, came with a very grotesque looking but Colt stamped Rogers Stock that was instantly inserted into the nearest trashcan after taking it off at the hotel. Here at home I used the LWRC stock which at a glance is reminiscent of the N1 stock but not clone correct for the M4.

All parts are indeed Colt but some are not M4 clone correct and will have to taken care of and swapped out with later on.

Selector is missing the right side orientation direction of the selector and needs to be replaced with the correct M4 one. Barrel is a not the 14.5 so I will have to go and get the correct Colt M4 14.5 barrel and get a P&W job. I just ordered the correct cage coded M4 waffle stock and have the correct selector on hand already. The handle will be replaced by the Matech USGI rear sight and eventually an Aimpoint M4 CQO will be put on as well. Although I could get away with just using my Aimpoint Pro that's essentially an Aimpoint M2 and M3 product improved. Needs a USGI sling but that can wait until after the barrels are swapped out. Probably going to order the UID tags in a bit.

Will eventually need either the M4 RAS quad rail or the M4 RIS quad but either or is clone correct as it varied from batch to batch. And to be honest I don't exactly remember which it was as one clamped to the front sight base while the other clamped to the gas tube in the rear by the D ring.

Most likely won't get shot until I put the right clone correct red dot on it, because irons are so yesterday.

Edit: Not clone correct but after dry firing it a few times I am going to swap out the trigger with a Geissele SSA. Hard to tell from even up close that the G SSA isn't the correct milspec trash heavy puller and I for one am okay with this.

 

[LimaCharles]

The story so far with the Clone wars. M16A1 above, M4 Block I below. The Block 1 is a work in progress as this will be the most expensive to do. Correct cage code stock arrived for it and was installed. UID label waiting to be made and delivered. QRP for my Aimpoint in the mail. Still needs a RAS or RIS, Matech rear BUIS, railed sling loop attachment from BFG, and BFG 2 point sling in black for it. The Magpul Pmag Gen 1's would be more appropriate for this since I had them with my M4 back in 2008, but those are hard to find and those who do have them ain't giving theirs up.

I'll start on the A2 cloning when this money pit is done done.

 

[Mark Sman]

Have to admit I still like the A1/A2. Good iron sights and even mounting optics on the handle doesn't bother too much. A little high but workable.

 

[LimaCharles]

@TheKiwi would you happen to know anything detail specific about New Zealand contract Lewis Machine & Tool M4's? I am being offered an unfired upper fully assembled one and I'd like to know specifics like what markings would they have on them, etc. This is a 14.5 M4 barreled profile with FSB.

 

[TheKiwi]

I don't, but I could probably ask my brother-in-law as he's serving NZ Army infantry right now. I'll be seeing him not this weekend but the next.

 

[NZM305]

When I first started getting into shooting, I told myself I need to buy a SMLE, just like granddad carried through the western desert. And at the time they were maybe 800-1000 NZ Pesos for one in decent condition. But there was always something else to buy - an AR, a new .22, more ammo, another scope, etc. etc. etc.

And now decent examples are more like 2000 pesos, which is a lot of change for a rifle I'd probably shoot once and put away in the safe. A gunsmith mate has suggested buying an example that had been "sportsterised AKA bastardised" and getting him to put a proper stock on it. That might just work better, a sportster example is about 600 pesos.

I've got a few in semi restored and sportster config as well as some real bitzers. I need to get some new stocks to finish some but have been waiting till i can be bothered with the paperwork and registering everything. Any particular year or brand your looking for? or just a general example?

 

[TheKiwi]

Just a general example. WW2 edition I guess if I was being extra fussy.

 

[TheKiwi]

@LimaCharles not meeting my BIL this weekend after all, his ex-wife is making trouble for him... :-(

Sorry