Updates for August 2010: Where is 12 Gauge Chimp ?

Hey folks, 12 Gauge Chimp here with a few updates on where the heck I've been for the last month.

Well, a few things came up that prevented me from doing some of the things I mentioned in my last update ( for more info on that, check out the July 2010 update post.).

Update 1: I hope to get out to the range sometime this month and it'll more than likely happen after I get back from yet another road trip. I'll be gone for a few days starting this Thursday. The website will still be up, but it won't be updated until I get back.

Update 2: After I return from my road trip, I hope to have a few pieces of military surplus gear in my possession. There's a military surplus shop in the area I'm going to that has pretty good deals on surplus gear. The last time I was there I bought a couple MREs and a .50 caliber ammo can. The shop also had a few surplus rifles and handguns in stock, but sadly I did not have the funds to purchase any of them.

That'll do it for this round of updates. I hope you all will continue to visit my site and I promise to update the site more often.

As always, this is 12 Gauge Chimp signing off.

Updates for July 2010: It's like living on the surface of the sun.

Hey folks, 12-Gauge Chimp here with some updates for the month of July.

Update 1: The lack of range reports is due to the fact I live in an area of the country that is almost like living on the surface of the sun and it has been way too hot to do much outside. That includes going to the range. Another reason I haven't been getting to the range as often as I'd like is because the guys I shoot with are either busy with work or college.

My best friend is supposed to be coming to town sometime next week and I'm also supposed to help him test out a 9mm sub-compact pistol. I forgot what model he said it was, but still I get to go to the range. I'll try to bring along my Mossberg Plinkster and see how it shoots so I can finally give you folks a review on it. I just need to pick up another couple of boxes of .22LR ammo.

Update 2: Hopefully, within the next year or two I'll place an order with the Nepalese kukri makers I mentioned a few months ago. I finally found a model I like and now it's just a matter of getting the funds together to pay for the kukri. I have some other things I need to take care of financially first, but rest assured I'll have the kukri in my possession sometime in the next couple of years.

That's going to do it for this set of updates. Another thing I've been meaning to say is, if you have any questions or comments on anything you read on this website, please feel free to leave a comment here on this update post and I'll try to answer your question as soon as I can.

As always, this is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.

12 Gauge Chimp's New Gun: Mossberg 702 Plinkster .22LR

Hello folks, 12-Gauge Chimp here with a little announcement.

I finally got my Mossberg Plinkster !

As you all may remember, I mentioned I was in the process of buying a Mossberg Plinkster. Well, after 2 months of saving up my money, I finally got my rifle. I went to the local gun shop and filled out the 4473, paid the shop clerk and walked out with a brand new rifle.

This is the very first brand new firearm I have ever bought and it is a nice one. The Mossberg Plinkster is basically the American version of a Brazilian .22LR rifle whose name escapes me at this moment. It's got a 18 inch barrel and uses a detachable box magazine. The mag holds ten rounds of .22LR ammo, with ten rounds being the factory standard for most .22 caliber firearms.

The one downside of the Plinkster is the lack of aftermarket accessories. We all know the famous Ruger 10/22 and it's plethora of aftermarket goodies, but for some reason Mossberg isn't on the same page as Ruger. It's no big deal to me as I'm satisfied with just owning the gun, though I will be looking to buy some extra factory mags for my Plinkster.

I haven't had the oppurtunity to test fire the Plinkster so I can't really give you folks a run down on how it operates or how reliable it is or even a rating. One of the reasons being that I don't have any .22LR ammo and the other being that it's too dang hot for me to go to the range right now. I will be going to the range sometime in the next couple months and after that I will give y'all a full review on the Mossberg Plinkster. For now, I just wanted to let you all know that I finally got the gun.

As always, this is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.

Random Thoughts # 11: Surplus shopping

Hello folks, 12-Gauge Chimp here with a new edition of random thoughts.

As you all may remember, I was on vacation this last week and I managed to stop by one of my favorite surplus stores in Southeast Texas. This place is packed with deals on military surplus stuff and I managed to snag some cool stuff. I was looking for a GI pistol belt and a Y-harness for a survival belt project I've been working on, but instead of buying those items I bought a .50 caliber ammo can and a couple MREs. I spent a bit more than I wanted to, but in the end it was worth it.

I got back home and proceeded to fill my new ammo can with shotgun shells and I came to find that I need more ammo and ammo cans. When you can fit all of your ammo supply into a single .50 caliber ammo can, it's time to buy more ammo. It's a good thing I have a reliable source for 12 gauge shells and other ammo.

I'm still in the process of buying the Mossberg Plinkster I mentioned a couple of weeks ago and I hope to have the rifle in my possession by the middle of July at the very latest.

Well, that'll do it for this edition of Random Thoughts. As always, this is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.

Updates for June 2010

Hey folks, 12-Gauge Chimp here with some updates for the month of June.

First of all, you may have noticed the new look of the site. I got bored with the original look of my site and decided to change some things around. I think it brings a whole new feel to the site. What do y'all think ? Feel free to comment on the changes because I love hearing from you folks.

I will be on vacation starting Monday June 14th, so the site won't be updated until I get back. Hopefully, when I get back I'll have a new gun or knife review posted because I'm going to be cruising the military surplus stores in my state. Who knows just what kind of deals I'll find and what kind of stuff follows me home. Whatever happens I promise to post a review and maybe a new edition of random thoughts when I return.

Well, that's pretty much it for the updates for June 2010. As always, this is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.

Guns and Gear Review # 8: Ka-Bar K2 Agama

Hey folks, your old pal 12-Gauge Chimp here bringing you another knife review. Today I'll be reviewing the Agama made by Ka-Bar.

Here's the factory specs on the Agama.
Blade length: 3.75 inches
Blade material: 3cr13 stainless steel
Handle material: Black G-10 scales
Overall length: 8.38 inches.

I had not planned on purchasing another knife this year, but I was considering replacing my EDC knife with something a bit better made. Before I got the Agama, I carried an assisted opening knife based off of the Kershaw Leek design. I still plan to carry both knives, but the Agama will be my main edc knife from now on.

The Agama is a pretty cool folder with a partially serrated edge and a G10 handle. The blade is fairly sharp for a production knife and will sharpen fairly easy. I wish I could say the same about the assisted opener I usually carry, but what can you expect of a 5 dollar knife. The Agama cost me a little over 13 dollars US, but it usually sells for 39 dollars US. I ended up getting it during a weekend sale at the sporting goods shop I frequently shop at. Since it does not have a traditional thumbstud to open it, I had to practice opening it with the hole that is cut in the blade. After a bit of practice, I can open the Agama with ease.

I haven't gotten around to actually cutting anything with it aside from a sheet of paper I used to test the blades sharpness.

Overall, I'm happy with my purchase and I'm also happy that I finally own a Ka-Bar. Granted, it's not a traditional Ka-Bar, but I will eventually add one of the legendary Ka-Bar USMC fixed blade knives to my growing collection.

The Ka-Bar K2 Agama folding knife gets a 5 out of 5 and the 12-Gauge Chimp seal of approval.

As always, this is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.

Random Thoughts # 10: Buying a new gun

Hey folks, your old pal 12-Gauge Chimp here with a new edition of random thoughts.

After perusing the used gun ads online, I found a gun I could actually afford. I found an ad for a Marlin Model 60 .22LR rifle and the price was definitely in my price range. After a bit of looking around and contemplating, I found a brand new rifle of the same brand and model for a little bit more money. I decided that rather than gamble on a used rifle, I could just go ahead and buy a new one instead. I did a bit of additional looking around and I found a better deal on a .22LR rifle.

Instead of buying the Marlin Model 60, I have decided to buy a Mossberg Plinkster. It's a bit cheaper in cost than the Marlin and it uses detachable magazines versus the tube magazine of the Marlin. With it being a new rifle, I'm going to have to fire a couple hundred rounds through it to smooth out any manufacturing blemishes in the action and barrel, but that's half the fun of owning a new gun. That and I can easily afford to blow through a couple hundred rounds of .22LR ammo in one range trip. If I try that with any other caliber, my wallet is screaming profanities at me in several different languages.

If all goes according to my plans, I should have the Mossberg Plinkster in my possession within the next few months. Stay tuned for a range report and a review to come soon after.

Well, that'll do it for this edition of Random Thoughts with 12-Gauge Chimp.
As always, this is 12-Gauge Chimp signing off.