The Firearm Topic

[Shylock]

 

Kimber is like the Apple of firearms.  They make a good product but you are paying for the name, mostly.

Word on this.

 

I still miss my Norinco 1911. I'm getting a pretty hefty refund this year, so I might splurge on a nice 1911.

I was going to buy a crazy nice (and expensive) 1911 until I persuaded myself to go with an off brand 1911, and a Sig 250.

 

I don't regret it one bit. And saved a bit of money in the transaction. Although it doesn't have the name "Kimber" or "Colt" attached to it, I went with the 2 tone Rock Island Armory 1911.

 

And my most recent Sig, just standard conceal Sig for LOLs and to dick around with. Saved myself a chunk of change by avoiding the name brand 1911 scene as well. 300$ for the Sig, and 450$ for the RIA 1911. As opposed to the 1200+ i would of spent on a top of the line 1911.

Edited March 29, 2011 by Shylock

[CryptReaperDorian]

I've never found any videos about it, but has anybody ever found a video of a Mondragon being used? That rifle deserves to be more well-known, but I guess it was probably ahead of its time.

[JakeTheHuman]

Happy centennial M1911! 100 years in service with the military and the standard carry for 74 years.

 

 

 

Thank you, John Moses Browning.

[AlexGTAGamer]

Is there anyway to get a gun here in England? The closest thing to firing a gun I ever got to was a BB Gun my brother gave me.

[NorthwestRastafarian]

The best way is self evident, Alex.

 

 

Zombies, buddy of mine who runs a firearms investment service* when he's not humping over at the SO side went over to the (fat)actical mega con "Shot Show" this year and pawed one of those kel-tec pumps. His impression, which I guess was shared by a lot of the gun community was that it was rather cheaply constructed even for a late prototype as is sort of typical for a kel-tec, and that the trigger was fatally flawed in that there was no reset. You have to completely remove your index from fire control, cycle the pump, and reapply to engage the firing action a second time. That is absurd. Kel-Tec has great ideas, but should outsource production to more solid shops is the impression I have always been given by them.

 

Anyone else get out and about for a 1911 centennial purchase? I've been sitting on a desire to get one of the old roll mark colt centennial editions until I see how they turned out from a practical standpoint, but I did walk out of a local shop on the 29th with a Springfield Champion. Been using it as a back-up IDPA gun, although it most definitely needs Novak sites.

 

John Browning, genius though he was, must have had better eyes than I ever will. Love the fit of Springers, and the funky internals of the champion sort of combine the best of the MILSPEC and GI series of the 1911. Never will get used to the marked difference in balance that the one inch length reduction makes compared to the govt profile, though. It pisses me off to no end that we are not authorized SAO pistols for duty carry. Gun porn to follow.

 

 

*This must surely be the only wealth advisory branch I've ever heard of that sounds like a remotely interesting job, besides vintage wine collection.

 

Edited for image size.

Edited May 22, 2011 by NorthwestRastafarian

[tubbs51]

@NWRastafarian: nice man. I've been thinking of getting a 1911. I'm not super knowledgable when it comes to firearms but i'd love to have a gun that my grandfather and great grandfather used in the two world wars. and i just realized you're up in the Pacific northwest not many of us on here (go Seahawks).

[EmPty CaSInGz]

I don't own a gun per se, but I have fired the L98A2 GP rifle with the cadets. It's basically an SA80 with the fire selector removed and sear welded on semi auto. And I fired an over under shotgun in a clay pigeon comp with the cadets. I never hit one clay out of the 20 that were thrown

[*MURDOC*]

Going to try out my buddys ne Stag Arms M8 piston-carbine, should be a good time up the cabin, plenty of firepower to go around, plus I'm bringing a few cardboard cutouts of hated celebrities, so that'll be nice.

[NorthwestRastafarian]

@NWRastafarian: nice man. I've been thinking of getting a 1911. I'm not super knowledgable when it comes to firearms but i'd love to have a gun that my grandfather and great grandfather used in the two world wars. and i just realized you're up in the Pacific northwest not many of us on here (go Seahawks).

Tubbs, they're classics. Not necessarily beginner's handguns, with their light trigger pull and the discipline required of SAO pistols, but if one keeps the four cardinal rules of firearm's safety on the top of their mind they are right up there with the Chevy Big Block and apple pie as functional American classics go. If you're looking for an A1 like your antecedents carried, you couldn't ask for a better year to get one.

 

Go Seahawks and Sounders FC indeed. I see you're on the other side of the mountain - I'm sorry to say that I have a mixed impression of Spokane/Coeur d'Alene, because the only times I've been out that way are to pick up warrant dodgers or to go fly fish the Saint Joe river, with a better track record on the former than the latter; you have some gorgeous trout up there but they are slippery f*cks for all the effort it takes to get there from Jet City.

 

Murdoc, let me know what you think of it; I have been thinking about a piston .308 variant more than anything as I think piston gun's disadvantages outweigh the few benefits as far as 556 goes. Haven't put much lead time down with pistons in general to make up my mind. Is Charlie Sheen among the honored guests you're bringing?

[*MURDOC*]

 

 

 

Holy sh*t dude, you called that one!

 

 

I've got a bit of cardboard left, so I'm trying to figure out one more, so far I've got the Bieber and Sheen...

 

 

But yeah, I'll let you know what I think of the M8, we've got a ton of ammo for it, so it will get a lot of use.

 

A lot.

[tubbs51]

@NWRastafarian: nice man. I've been thinking of getting a 1911. I'm not super knowledgable when it comes to firearms but i'd love to have a gun that my grandfather and great grandfather used in the two world wars. and i just realized you're up in the Pacific northwest not many of us on here   (go Seahawks).

Tubbs, they're classics. Not necessarily beginner's handguns, with their light trigger pull and the discipline required of SAO pistols, but if one keeps the four cardinal rules of firearm's safety on the top of their mind they are right up there with the Chevy Big Block and apple pie as functional American classics go. If you're looking for an A1 like your antecedents carried, you couldn't ask for a better year to get one.

 

Go Seahawks and Sounders FC indeed. I see you're on the other side of the mountain - I'm sorry to say that I have a mixed impression of Spokane/Coeur d'Alene, because the only times I've been out that way are to pick up warrant dodgers or to go fly fish the Saint Joe river, with a better track record on the former than the latter; you have some gorgeous trout up there but they are slippery f*cks for all the effort it takes to get there from Jet City.

 

Murdoc, let me know what you think of it; I have been thinking about a piston .308 variant more than anything as I think piston gun's disadvantages outweigh the few benefits as far as 556 goes. Haven't put much lead time down with pistons in general to make up my mind. Is Charlie Sheen among the honored guests you're bringing?

hahaha yeah the Inland NW has its issues... but we have the Spokane Shock so i think that makes up for most of it

 

and i'm assuming you're a cop or a bounty hunter? thats f*cking bad ass... If i wasnt so overweight and with mildly bad eyesight and mildly bad memory issues i would try to become a cop. Idk what it is but police have always fascinated me... probably why my eyes are glued to the tv when police shows come on lol...

 

But yeah once i get enough money i'm planning on getting that fine gun. A family story (idk if its true or not) was that my great grandpa cleared out a German fox hole in WWI with only a few rounds of ammo for his 1911 and his knife. We still have the knife and the medal he got (i cant remember what one).

 

But yeah this spring has been weird over here. Apparently Seattle's cloudy/rainy weather has stretched over the mountains to this side of the state we havent had more than 10 sunny days so far this year and most of cloudy days are filled with rain. But yeah hopefully they finish the North-South freeway... the only issue is the money. One good thing over here is the Downtown area. They've done a pretty good job cleaning it up some what at least from my point of view.

[NorthwestRastafarian]

Yeah, we are really generous with our rain exporting over here, we could have less than 70 days of sunshine average if we wanted to, but then you easterners would all die of dehydration. Don't need to thank us - we have a giving nature.

 

I'm police, not bail enforcement. Nothing bad ass about it - it's a job that works you as hard as any other might be liable to but just happens to show you both the best and worst things folks are capable of sometimes. What's bad ass is any man like your great grandfather who went through the horrors of Saint-Mihiel, Belleau Wood, or anything else on the western front and lived to enjoy life. Hell of a good reason to get a 1911, right there.

 

Edit: Almost gave up on the video posted above, thinking it was just another duffer talking about a gun I feel I know pretty well, but when he busted out the Ed Hill leather about 14 minutes in, I was like "Oh, man." Kydex is the most gauche thing to happen to waistlines since the codpiece. That was some nice leather.

Edited May 23, 2011 by NorthwestRastafarian

[Kevin...]

Figured I might as well bump this topic a bit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimber Eclipse Target II

 

Specifications:

 

Caliber: .45 ACP

Height (inches) 90° to barrel: 5.25

Weight (ounces) with empty magazine: 38

Length (inches): 8.7

Magazine capacity: 8

Recoil spring (pounds): 16.0

Full-length guide rod

 

Frame:

 

Material: Stainless steel

Finish: Brush polished (flats)

Width (inches): 1.28

Front strap checkering

 

Slide:

 

Material: Stainless steel

Finish: Brush polished (flats)

Front serrations

 

Barrel:

 

Length (inches): 5

Material: Steel, match grade

Stainless steel match grade bushing

Twist rate (left hand): 16

Sights:

 

Meprolight Tritium bar-dot night sight, adjustable

Radius (inches): 6.8

 

Grips:

 

Laminated

Double diamond

 

Trigger:

 

Premium aluminum, match grade

Factory setting (approximate pounds): 4.0 - 5.0

 

MSRP:

 

$1,345.00

 

 

 

I managed to fanangle a deal with my soon to be mother-in-law. A few things needed done around her house and I would give her $300 for the 1911. Haven't looked back since seeing as I got it for $1000 off of MSRP. It has seen maybe 200 rounds since I got it and only saw 100 or so since she got it back in 2006 as a wedding present from her husband. Since they divorced and it was in her name, she wanted to sell it. So I bought it off of her cheap + work.

[jelly]

$300? You highwayman, you.

 

Nice deal.

[OchyGTA]

Is there anyway to get a gun here in England? The closest thing to firing a gun I ever got to was a BB Gun my brother gave me.

You can apply for a shotgun license but you have to have a valid reason e.g. hunting or being a farmer or some sh*t. I hope one day to move to America and would probably tool my self up. Couple Uzi's under the bed haha

[Kevin...]

Damn skippy. Sure as hell beats my old Springfield 1911. The fit and finish is leaps and bounds above my old 1911. On top of that, its got an adjustable rear sight. Absolute naildriver.

 

 

 

Couple Uzi's under the bed haha

 

Doesn't quite work that way. It can be done but aside from being overkill/illogical you still have a bunch of hoops to jump through. I like my way of doing things:

 

1. Keep your record clean.

2. Reach 21 years old with clean record and retain some sense of logic/reason.

3. (possible #1 or #2) Get educated on proper care, proper handling, and maybe some self defense classes.

4. Buy yourself a pistol.

5. Buy a semi-auto rifle.

6. Buy a shotgun.

 

sh*t kit and education complete.

Edited June 3, 2011 by κενιη

[sivispacem]

 

Is there anyway to get a gun here in England? The closest thing to firing a gun I ever got to was a BB Gun my brother gave me. 

You can apply for a shotgun license but you have to have a valid reason e.g. hunting or being a farmer or some sh*t. I hope one day to move to America and would probably tool my self up. Couple Uzi's under the bed haha

Not quite. You need a license for civilian ownership of shotguns, and a different one for rifles. AFAIK you don't need a valid reason to own a shotgun- I know many people who own them with no real justification, merely for very occasional clay-pigeon shoots or a pheasant shoot twice a decade. However, in order to acquire a rifle, you need a valid reason such as hunting for it's ownership, and you need an absurdly large number of background checks in order to vet you, including a full psychological evaluation. Civil ownership of handguns is completely illegal, no if's or but's. Though, bizzarely, there are very few restrictions on the calibre or type of rifle you can own (short of being required to have a barrel length over 12" and not be fully automatic). So it's illegal to own a handgun, but potentially legal to own a .338 Lapua or even .50 BMG chambered rifle- of course, if you can justify owning such a calibre.

[illspirit]

$300 for the 1911.

$300?! Surely it's, err, defective. You should forward it to me through a FFL for proper disposal and stuff.

[Kevin...]

Any other time I would probably do it Illy...just not with this baby.

 

 

Picked up a Black Hawk holster for $30:

 

 

Also snagged up a Wilson Combat 10 round mag for $20:

 

 

 

 

Took it out to my dad's property and put 20 rounds through the new mag to make sure everything was lining up correctly and to make sure the mag's top tabs were not catching the slide (common problem). Everything worked like a charm.

 

 

[Claude4Catalina]

all this talk about 1911's is making me all hot and bothered

 

sadly in England, I'll pretty much never even get to lay eyes on a beautiful piece, but on the odd chance (odds being a million to one) does anyone know of any shooting ranges with rental weapons in the UK?

[sivispacem]

 

all this talk about 1911's is making me all hot and bothered

 

sadly in England, I'll pretty much never even get to lay eyes on a beautiful piece, but on the odd chance (odds being a million to one) does anyone know of any shooting ranges with rental weapons in the UK?

I shot at a club in Gloucestershire where I used to live. Uk registered Steyr Scout in .376 Steyr. Probably not the best rifle-type firearm to fire in hindsight.

Just google your local area to find gun clubs, many of them let you do a couple of drop-in sessions to see if it's for you. They don't own the firearms themselves, though, the members do.

[EmPty CaSInGz]

all this talk about 1911's is making me all hot and bothered

 

sadly in England, I'll pretty much never even get to lay eyes on a beautiful piece, but on the odd chance (odds being a million to one) does anyone know of any shooting ranges with rental weapons in the UK?

I don't know, but if you're under 18 then you can join a cadet force and fire an L98. Or just join the army and fire a proper SA80.

[JakeTheHuman]

I like my way of doing things:

 

1. Keep your record clean.

2. Reach 21 years old with clean record and retain some sense of logic/reason.

3. (possible #1 or #2) Get educated on proper care, proper handling, and maybe some self defense classes.

4. Buy yourself a pistol.

5. Buy a semi-auto rifle.

6. Buy a shotgun.

 

sh*t kit and education complete.

That's my plan, at least. No sense in going balls out and buying an AR-15 as soon as you turn of age without having any type of education courses. 21 is the magical number, and then it will be .45 ACP a few months after that date.

 

I actually did a Powerpoint presentation for my world history final on an influential person, and I, of course, picked John Moses Browning. I actually had someone's SSGT Marine father shake my hand afterwords because of the detail I went into each gun, despite being a few months shy of 16.

 

 

Also, I've heard of the 10 round mags sometimes not pushing up enough to get the slide to lock back as it's supposed to when the last round is fired. You said you fired 200+ rounds, so I'm guessing it's hit and miss with those mags, but very nice 1911 overall. I couldn't really tell, but I'm guessing since the rear sight is adjustable, the front sight is A1 style?

[King Mystery]

I wanna buy a flamethrower when I'm older. But since that's not very likely, I'll probably just end up getting some sort of pistol for defense purposes.

[JakeTheHuman]

I wanna buy a flamethrower when I'm older. But since that's not very likely, I'll probably just end up getting some sort of pistol for defense purposes.

Flamethrowers (as well as other incendiary devices) were banned and outlawed in general warfare around civilians or civilian areas by the Geneva Convention in the 80's I do believe.

 

I also think some states allow them for private ownership. Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this.

[Kevin...]

 

Also, I've heard of the 10 round mags sometimes not pushing up enough to get the slide to lock back as it's supposed to when the last round is fired. You said you fired 200+ rounds, so I'm guessing it's hit and miss with those mags, but very nice 1911 overall. I couldn't really tell, but I'm guessing since the rear sight is adjustable, the front sight is A1 style?

No, the front sight is a fully adjustable rear/fixed front Meprolight Tritium bar dot sight. Its far beyond the standard 1911A1 style.

 

Aside for the amazing mechanical and cosmetic fit and finish, its front and rear sights are not fixed and intended for target/night use, the trigger and hammer are skeletonized, it came from the factory relatively dehorned (all the sharp corners on the slide groves and corners have been rounded a bit) and the beaver-tail on the grip safety is a bit longer to protect from hammer bite. To top it off, the barrel and bushing are match grade steel.

 

The only thing I have done to it, aside from basic field strip cleaning, is take the extractor and firing pin out for cleaning. I was shooting a good bit of Winchester Target ammo and I was getting some half pulled casings remaining in the chamber. At first I thought it may be the recoil spring but after a quick tear down I discovered that the extractor spring housing was full of gunk. Seeing as I had to pull the extractor, I had to take out the firing pin, so I cleaned the firing pin, spring, and housing as well.

 

Sometime down the road (month or so), I am going to do a complete tear-down on the bottom half and possibly get a new mainspring and trigger. I figure that with the new mainspring and longer trigger I could drop a pound or so off of the trigger pull as well as give it a good coat of some fancy wonder lube because I know the bottom end has not seen a disassembly since it was built in Yonkers, NY. Also, seeing as I have long damn fingers and big hands, having a little bit more length in the trigger will modify my current trigger finger placement putting it closer to the crease of my top knuckle rather than closer to my middle knuckle crease eliminating a lot of my right pull issues during CQC firing drills. Additionally, I what the lighter pull (3-3.5lb zone, not a hair trigger) with a 2lb return. While I am swapping out the trigger mainspring, I am going to check and make sure that my sear is not seeing an major wear issues. Last thing I need is a new 20lb mainspring and a sear that slips. But I am not too worried because my current trigger pull is like a glass breaking.

Edited June 4, 2011 by κενιη

[CryptReaperDorian]

I'm a sucker for WWII weapons, and the M1911 is just beautiful. I definitely prefer a pistol chambered in .45 ACP than 9x19mm.

 

Also, on Monday, I took a small glance at the firearms in Fleet Farm. There was two WASR-10 rifles along with a SKS. I don't give a sh*t if it has a thirty round magazine, the SKS is much more badass. Oh, and I'm still looking to see if any local gun dealers sell M1 Garands. That's for sure a rifle I would prize more than any other (except maybe its sons known as the M14 and M21).

[Kevin...]

Anyways, back on the subject of my new purchases.

 

A few days back I picked up 100 rounds of Remington 230gr. FMJ and 20 rounds of Federal 165gr. Hydra-Shocks. The 20 rounds I put through the new mag were a mix match of ammo. I had some old Winchester 230gr. FMJs, the Remington 230gr. FMJs, Federal 230gr. Jacketed Hollows, and two of those new Hydra-shocks. I usually shoot with something over and/or in my ears but today was more of a random outing. I gotta say, those Hydra-shocks are loud little f*ckers. I dunno if its from them being lighter grain but damn they were loud.

 

Also, I got my holster all fitted up. I don't always wear a belt so I favored the in-pant paddle mount over the belt loop mount. I usually like to carry at the belt-line of my back, upside down, right handed but I tried out using the holster at 9:00 (left hip). I am not use to the reach-across-your-torso position but its working out quite well. My Kimber has a full 5" barrel and its by no means light as a Glock. I was worried that due to the size and weight, I would have some issues with CC. Turns out, with the pistol positioned mag forward on my left hip, turned with the back end of the slide at a 10:30 position, it makes for great shirt/jacket cover, make it easy to sit in my car and chairs, as well as feeling quite natural reaching around. Kinda like grabbing a sword.

[EmPty CaSInGz]

Don't laugh... well, you will, but...

 

 

Olympic 6 .22 blank firer. The closest thing to a firearm I can get, since I'm 14 and I live in the 'Guns are just bayud m'kay' UK.

Edited July 13, 2011 by EmPty CaSInGz

[King Mystery]

I wanna buy a flamethrower when I'm older. But since that's not very likely, I'll probably just end up getting some sort of pistol for defense purposes.

Flamethrowers (as well as other incendiary devices) were banned and outlawed in general warfare around civilians or civilian areas by the Geneva Convention in the 80's I do believe.

 

I also think some states allow them for private ownership. Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this.

Sh*t. I'll go with the pistol then...

Or maybe a minigun!

Jk.

 

But I've seen some people that make their own flamethrowers, so I'm sure it's allowed somewhere...