Hello folks, 12-Gauge Chimp here with the second range report of the series. This range trip took place about 5 or so months ago and it was just after I bought my M91/30.
The day started out like any other, I woke up and went about my day. I knew my best friend was in town that day so I called him up and asked him if he was interested in helping me blow through a box or two of ammo. I packed my M91/30 and my Yugo SKS, along with the aforementioned boxes of ammo ( word of caution, if at all possible avoid laqcuer coated 7.62x54R rounds, they tend to make the bolt of most Mosin Nagants stick). We headed out to our local range and proceeded to set up our targets ( which consisted of wild watermelons and other stuff). This particular range had no problem with letting us bring unusual targets.
The Mosin was new to both of us and my friend had limited experience with an SKS, but he knew how to safely handle it as he had fired it once before. Now before we commenced firing, I went over the basics of the gun with him, the usual how to load it, cock it and how to use the sights. To be honest, we didn't really hit squat in the first hour or so, but once we got used to the military sights, we zeroed in on the watermelons and hit them with numerous 180 grain projectiles.
I found out a few things that day.
1. the military sights on the M91/30 are kind of hard to use, but once you get used to them, they are pretty accurate rifles.
2.The cartridge interupter built into the M91/30's magazine is SHARP, I found that out in a moment of brilliance and left the range with a nice little cut down the middle of my thumbnail.
3.You'd be suprised at how much a small cut on the thumbnail can bleed and its also a good idea to bring a first aid kit just in case.
4.Never shoot a watermelon when the wind is blowing at you.Watermelon juice and dust are not a good combination.
5.My Mosin Nagant hates laqcuer coated ammo.
6.My SKS will chamber and reliably fire all types of 7.62x39mm ammo on the market.
Other than being doused in melon juice and dust which is a really funky way to end a day, my friend and I had a fun day.
Well that's it for this edition of 12-Gauge Chimp's Range Reports, as always this is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Random Thoughts # 3: Collecting Military surplus firearms
Hello folks, 12-Gauge Chimp here again bringing you another random thought.
Collecting military surplus guns can be a fun way to blow a paycheck or two and it can also be a way to learn a bit of firearms/military history ( at least for me anyway, your results may vary). Now I've only been collecting surplus guns for about 3 or so years, but I plan to buy more in the future, so stay tuned for that. I tend to go towards the older guns first, as the majority of my collection is over 40 years old, with the exception of my Mossberg 12 gauge.
My first mil-surp gun was my Yugoslav M-59 SKS. It was my first semi auto center fire rifle, the first gun I ever bought was a cheap .22, a Marlin model 60 that got sold as soon as I could find a willing buyer. That SKS started me off in the wonderful world of military surplus collecting, as I bought a Mosin Nagant M91/30 some time after and then added an M1895 Nagant revolver to my collection last year.
The first thing you want to do when you buy any surplus or used firearm, for that matter, is get it checked out by a competent gunsmith, preferably one that knows surplus guns, trust me they are out there. After the gunsmith has given you the ok, it is now time to buy ammo for your gun. Make sure you buy the right ammo for your gun. There should be a stamping on the barrel or receiver with the caliber of the gun, along with the serial number.
You also might want to pick up a weapons manual for your particular firearm and a cleaning kit, because some guns will be covered in some really funky stuff called " cosmoline ", which is a military grease that is supposed to protect the gun from rust during the long periods of storage most surplus guns endure. You'll find collecting surplus firearms a kind of fun and relatively cheap hobby, though not quite as cheap as it was 5 or so years ago.
Well that's it for this edition of 12-Gauge Chimp's Random Thoughts.
This is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.
Collecting military surplus guns can be a fun way to blow a paycheck or two and it can also be a way to learn a bit of firearms/military history ( at least for me anyway, your results may vary). Now I've only been collecting surplus guns for about 3 or so years, but I plan to buy more in the future, so stay tuned for that. I tend to go towards the older guns first, as the majority of my collection is over 40 years old, with the exception of my Mossberg 12 gauge.
My first mil-surp gun was my Yugoslav M-59 SKS. It was my first semi auto center fire rifle, the first gun I ever bought was a cheap .22, a Marlin model 60 that got sold as soon as I could find a willing buyer. That SKS started me off in the wonderful world of military surplus collecting, as I bought a Mosin Nagant M91/30 some time after and then added an M1895 Nagant revolver to my collection last year.
The first thing you want to do when you buy any surplus or used firearm, for that matter, is get it checked out by a competent gunsmith, preferably one that knows surplus guns, trust me they are out there. After the gunsmith has given you the ok, it is now time to buy ammo for your gun. Make sure you buy the right ammo for your gun. There should be a stamping on the barrel or receiver with the caliber of the gun, along with the serial number.
You also might want to pick up a weapons manual for your particular firearm and a cleaning kit, because some guns will be covered in some really funky stuff called " cosmoline ", which is a military grease that is supposed to protect the gun from rust during the long periods of storage most surplus guns endure. You'll find collecting surplus firearms a kind of fun and relatively cheap hobby, though not quite as cheap as it was 5 or so years ago.
Well that's it for this edition of 12-Gauge Chimp's Random Thoughts.
This is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Random Thoughts # 2: Selling stuff
Hello folks, 12-Gauge Chimp here with another edition of Random Thoughts.
During these incredibly crappy times (ie. screwed up economy), I have had to sell off a bunch of my stuff, mostly crap I didn't need anymore. Most of what I sold was some knives and swords I'd accumulated over the years. When I was a young chimp, I wandered through the local malls of my former hometown and on more than one occasion, bought some sharp, pointy objects because, one I had the money and two, I was a sucker for knives. I ended up with close to 400 dollars worth of cheap and very low quality knives and swords. I spent practically every dime I had on swords and other sharp pointy stuff. As I got older, I realized I had too dang many of the stupid things. So I decided recently, well about a month or so ago, to sell off some of my collection to fund my firearms purchases.
I now own only three swords, a couple of cheap samurai swords, a high end fantasy sword, and various fixed blade hunting and military type knives. The swords and knives I sold funded some ammo purchases and various other things, but so far, no new guns. I plan to purchase some high end knives from reputable makers and not just because they look cool, I will actually do the needed research to find out if a knife is of good quality.
Well,that's pretty much the end of this edition of random thoughts.
As always,this is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.
During these incredibly crappy times (ie. screwed up economy), I have had to sell off a bunch of my stuff, mostly crap I didn't need anymore. Most of what I sold was some knives and swords I'd accumulated over the years. When I was a young chimp, I wandered through the local malls of my former hometown and on more than one occasion, bought some sharp, pointy objects because, one I had the money and two, I was a sucker for knives. I ended up with close to 400 dollars worth of cheap and very low quality knives and swords. I spent practically every dime I had on swords and other sharp pointy stuff. As I got older, I realized I had too dang many of the stupid things. So I decided recently, well about a month or so ago, to sell off some of my collection to fund my firearms purchases.
I now own only three swords, a couple of cheap samurai swords, a high end fantasy sword, and various fixed blade hunting and military type knives. The swords and knives I sold funded some ammo purchases and various other things, but so far, no new guns. I plan to purchase some high end knives from reputable makers and not just because they look cool, I will actually do the needed research to find out if a knife is of good quality.
Well,that's pretty much the end of this edition of random thoughts.
As always,this is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.
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