Firearm Hobbyist Catch-All

Edwin wrote:

Listening to this recording made me sick.

https://theintercept.com/2016/04/21/...

Agreed. How is that not entrapment?? And congrats, they probably just made a terrorist or two by doing that, rather than catching one...

Arise!

Got a new toy. New Frontier Armory 9mm lower and Palmetto State Armory 16" upper. Uses Glock mags. I have $890 in it with 4, 33rd mags. I have a Vortex Strikefire stashed from a Black Friday sale that will on on top. It will get a Liberty Cosmic when it gets out of NFA jail. Ultimately ammo cost is the biggest factor for this. I can get 1k of 147 grain subsonic for $219 compared to .223/5.56 still running mid $300 for the same 1k.

Keep shooting!

I sort of wanted to post in here awhile back, but skipped out partially because I've felt weird about the thread title for awhile now. I still go to the range and shoot as a hobby, I've been contemplating building out a 300 BLK upper for my AR, debating sending my SP01 to Cajun Gunworks at Edwin's suggestion, etc, but alongside all that I've grown to feel significantly more... complicated, I guess, about the hobby.

Any suggestions? Am I just being neurotic?

Not sure what to say. I have long seen the stigma with being the "gun guy". All of my circle of friends are as well. I grew up around them and am very comfortable with my decisions. I hunt, compete and shoot for fun. It is stress relief. I carry daily and shoot to train for that as well. It is a personal decision that only you can make.

After typing this I realize I am not the right person to answer your question. I will gladly offer encouragement but can't find the right words to really help. Sorry for that.

I will definitely encourage you to build the 300bk though. I have an AR and T/C single shot in 300bkk and love them. I shoot mainly suppressed and it is stupid fun that way. Cost off ammo has come back down (as low as $.25/each) and deals can be had in bulk in multiple places online. Freedom Munitions and Ventura Munitions are my current favorites.

What do you want to do to the SP01? Trigger and reliability?

fishdude wrote:

What do you want to do to the SP01? Trigger and reliability?

A package they have for the trigger and other things. Maybe have it refinished in one of Robar's finishes. The finish on mine has always been rather uneven and kind of... smudgy. It used to stovepipe a bunch with all the ammo I fed it short of very high pressure +P stuff. Replaced the stock ~18lb recoil spring with a 15lb and it ate 300 rounds of every cheap brand of 9mm you can buy without even one issue. If it won't shoot cheaper practice ammo it isn't much good to me. Was always my favorite 9mm I've owned otherwise, and I've been through a few at this point.

I'd like to do the whole suppressor thing in at least a couple of different calibers but the ~8 month wait time and extra cost is just too much for me. I flirt with it but I'll never go through all the rigamarole of actually getting even one, much less two. It's just too much hassle.

I recently threw a Timney flat 3-3.5lb trigger in my AR and that was a huge night and day change. Wish I'd done that one far sooner.

If I do go through with the 300BK build I may just do a whole other rifle. I think I want to try one of the Geissele 2 stage triggers in it. Never gotten to try any of the 2 stagers before.

Are there any youtube channels on guns that don't have people that go off on political rants? I get it you don't like BLM, all the libtards should give trump a chance, on and on. I just want to know about guns without the politics.

Baron Of Hell wrote:

Are there any youtube channels on guns that don't have people that go off on political rants? I get it you don't like BLM, all the libtards should give trump a chance, on and on. I just want to know about guns without the politics.

I'm not sure that I've ever found one that won't make an occasional snide comment here or there. It is very unfortunately sort of baked in to the culture. They can make it hard to just enjoy the hobby. Some definitely keep it to an absolute minimum, but I admit I'm blanking on which ones. I tend to look for very specific pieces of info, scrub through videos to get what I want, and then move on without watching any of the extraneous stuff they choose to talk about.

If I gotta dump the video the moment they've finished the thing I wanted to see so I don't have to hear all the useless whinging, well that's what I'm gonna do.

And if someone does get super overbearing with it I just thumbs down the video and tell youtube I don't want to see that channel in my recommendations anymore. I'm not there for someone to preach at me.

Baron Of Hell wrote:

Are there any youtube channels on guns that don't have people that go off on political rants? I get it you don't like BLM, all the libtards should give trump a chance, on and on. I just want to know about guns without the politics.

Hmm, there's an idea for a channel: Gun Totin' Liberal...

dewalist wrote:
Baron Of Hell wrote:

Are there any youtube channels on guns that don't have people that go off on political rants? I get it you don't like BLM, all the libtards should give trump a chance, on and on. I just want to know about guns without the politics.

Hmm, there's an idea for a channel: Gun Totin' Liberal...

TheYankeeMarshall fits that comment but he can get very political at times. Good gun reviews though.

Trigger work is always on my list. I think the only guns I have right now that do not have some kind of trigger work are shotguns. Never had one refinished but have friends who have. I like classic blueing but the new finishes are so much more durable, especially for a EDC. Watch out with the lower power recoil spring. It can make the gun picky for ammo.

I am currently in month 9 for my Cosmic. By far the longest I have waited. The others have all been around 4 months. I has become a little more complicated with the new rule that all people on a trust must have prints and photos. If you are very interested it looks like the hearing Protection Act has a better than fair chance of passing. It would remove suppressors from the NFA. Much easier then.

Had a 2-stage national match trigger on a Bushmaster a few years ago. Swapped it for a 3# CMC single. Wow.

Building a new rifle is what I did as well with my 300bk. They just take up more room in the safe.

fishdude wrote:

If you are very interested it looks like the hearing Protection Act has a better than fair chance of passing. It would remove suppressors from the NFA. Much easier then.

Had a 2-stage national match trigger on a Bushmaster a few years ago. Swapped it for a 3# CMC single. Wow.

Building a new rifle is what I did as well with my 300bk. They just take up more room in the safe.

On the Hearing Protection Act, my understanding is that it still had an extremely tough road to get through the Senate. I've been following it though. I'd definitely order a couple of cans if that went through. But I'd expect that to take a year or two or even three or four and not be some overly soon thing.

Did you like the 3lb single better than the 2 stage? The 2 stage I was looking at was a 2.3lb first stage and a 1.2lb 2nd stage, I think.

Still room for a couple of long guns in the safe. Probably a couple more handguns too, though at this point everything feels pretty complete overall? I mean you're never really "done" I guess, but I feel like I'm kinda close. For instance, I have zero desire to buy another handgun. I'm totally content with what's in there right now.

For handguns I have a 22, 4 9mm's, a 45, a .357mag, all but one that I *really* like, and a .44 I went halfsies with my dad on. For rifles I have my AR and a Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308. I feel like if I do the 300BK I'll probably sell the 700, but I thought that once before right here in this very thread and couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. I've not shot it even once since then though, so who's to say.

The one 9mm I'm not super fond of I basically never shoot now (STI Spartan III) is likely to get sold/traded to fund some chunk of the 300BK build.

Yes, the HPA is nowhere near a gimme at this point but it has more support now than ever. Keeping my fingers crossed at this point.

The gun I put it on was a strictly target rifle. The NM trigger was good but I prefer single stage. Funny thing is that NM trigger is now in my 300bk. It was a factory Bushmaster unit and is great on a hunting gun.

I am about the same or handguns. I would still get a small EDC for when I can't hide the Xd45. I could also be convinced to buy one of the new Ruger Mk4 threaded barrels as well. At this point I pretty much have what I want but that does not mean I would not buy anything else. I still want a Garand and a few others but I am not in a hurry.

Truthfully if you are not going to suppress it, yet, there is no need for a 300bk. It is fun to shoot but it needs to be suppressed to shine. I hate to say that out loud but there you go. I do find I shoot the 300bk more than my .223/5.56 but that is because of the can.

Too bad about the Spartan. It had so much potential but they half-assed it. I am not even sure they make it any longer. Trade/sell it off and get a Springfield Range Officer in 9mm if you want a 1911.

fishdude wrote:

Trade/sell it off and get a Springfield Range Officer in 9mm if you want a 1911.

I have a TRP so I'll pass. My CZ is enough for a big all steel 9mm

fishdude wrote:

Arise!

Got a new toy. New Frontier Armory 9mm lower and Palmetto State Armory 16" upper. Uses Glock mags. I have $890 in it with 4, 33rd mags. I have a Vortex Strikefire stashed from a Black Friday sale that will on on top. It will get a Liberty Cosmic when it gets out of NFA jail. Ultimately ammo cost is the biggest factor for this. I can get 1k of 147 grain subsonic for $219 compared to .223/5.56 still running mid $300 for the same 1k.

Keep shooting!

I have a CX4 that I just got my Form 1 stamp back to SBR that I now run in PCC division for USPSA/IPSC/IDPA. It's crazy fun. Here's a quick compilation of clips competing with it.

Thin_J wrote:

I sort of wanted to post in here awhile back, but skipped out partially because I've felt weird about the thread title for awhile now. I still go to the range and shoot as a hobby, I've been contemplating building out a 300 BLK upper for my AR, debating sending my SP01 to Cajun Gunworks at Edwin's suggestion, etc, but alongside all that I've grown to feel significantly more... complicated, I guess, about the hobby.

Any suggestions? Am I just being neurotic?

This has been something I've been struggling with since Newtown in 2012. I've come to the conclusion that it is my moral imperative to talk to other gun owners and try to sway them away from their hardline stance of "no gun control ever" to "some gun control that will work based on data". I haven't had a lot of success but I have had some. Getting them to soften their stance by relentlessly challenging them and breaking their talking points they are regurgitating from right wing news sources has really been the only thing that has worked for me.

It's been far more difficult talking social justice, racism and everything else because so much of the competition circuit include LEOs, Mil or family of them. I'm already ostracized as it was for being liberalish, but adding criticism of the police to the mix? Might as well brand a scarlet letter to my forehead.

Thin_J wrote:
fishdude wrote:

What do you want to do to the SP01? Trigger and reliability?

A package they have for the trigger and other things. Maybe have it refinished in one of Robar's finishes. The finish on mine has always been rather uneven and kind of... smudgy. It used to stovepipe a bunch with all the ammo I fed it short of very high pressure +P stuff. Replaced the stock ~18lb recoil spring with a 15lb and it ate 300 rounds of every cheap brand of 9mm you can buy without even one issue. If it won't shoot cheaper practice ammo it isn't much good to me. Was always my favorite 9mm I've owned otherwise, and I've been through a few at this point.

I'd like to do the whole suppressor thing in at least a couple of different calibers but the ~8 month wait time and extra cost is just too much for me. I flirt with it but I'll never go through all the rigamarole of actually getting even one, much less two. It's just too much hassle.

NP3+ is amazing and worth doing as is everything else Cajun does.

For the can, Silencer Shop has the whole process laid out. It's very simple now thanks to their kiosk. Find what you want on their site, go to a shop, use the kiosk to fill out the forms, buy the can and wait.

I'm glad this thread has been resurrected.
Edwin, thanks for the links. I've just started going through them but it'll take me a few days to check them all out.
Chris Baker's S&W K frame video caught my attention since that's what I'm in the market for (a .357 revolver).

Edwin wrote:

NP3+ is amazing and worth doing as is everything else Cajun does.

Exactly the finish I was considering most.

For the can, Silencer Shop has the whole process laid out. It's very simple now thanks to their kiosk. Find what you want on their site, go to a shop, use the kiosk to fill out the forms, buy the can and wait.

I'll give it a look, but I still think that wait period is too long to take for me.

Are pellet guns ok to ask about? If so I have a crosman p1377 I have been thinking of modding.

If I want to put a scope on it I will need to add add a breech kit or add some kind of clips. I'm not sure what the clips are called. The clips are cheaper like $8 compared to $30 for the breech kit. I'm not really sure which is better. Some say the breech kit isn't worth it and other say the breech kit is the only way to go.

I don't know if I should change the grips or not. I'm not sure of the rifle type grip. I wouldn't mind just changing the grip and arm to a wooden grip but I couldn't find anyone selling a matching set.

Anyone have this? How did you mod it and what parts did you get?

I don't know jack about pellet or air guns. My focus is on practical pistol applications and some rifle stuff.

@sr_malo: The Lucky Gunner channel is hands down the best channel and source of information on the internet for the topics they cover. The research it in detail, document it, cite their sources and present it straight forward with no fluff. I highly recommend everyone watch every video they make and read their lab blog posts. I've had the pleasure of interacting with Chris a few times when he did he series of videos on the Beretta 92 and the PX4 as I have a decent amount of knowledge on those platforms.

The thing is, once you start down the YouTube rabbit hole, it can be hard to find a way out.

The Yankeegunner had some good information about what to look for when buying a used revolver.

Which led me to a side by side comparison between the Remington 870 & Mossberg 500 shotguns.That's something else I'm looking to pick up this year.

How often do you guys shoot your guns?

deleted. Wrong thread.

@Baron of Hell

I know a little about air guns having bought one last year to deal with a squirrel problem (before I 'belled' him, the cat used to bring them in and murder them in the front room). On the recommendation of my local gun dealer I picked up a Crossman 2240 (which uses CO2, rather than pump action), and had him fit a PAO pistol sight and a suppressor.

The sight was attached using Pro Blocks, but all consensus online was that the steel breech (which has rails built in) provided a better platform. I bought and fitted the breech myself; it was a 15 minute job.

I finished it off with a totally unnecessary, but very cool, green laser sight, mounted on the gas tube.

I did toy with idea of changing the grips, but replacements are beautiful but expensive. I didn't bother.

my next purchase will probably be a Crossman 2260 CO2 rifle. A 2240 in rifle configuration would be more powerful and a better all-round tool... but the 2260 is lovely to look at.

I sold my Winchester 70 modern classic a while back and am already regretting it. Now I am back in the market for a precision bolty.

Most of my friends have Remmy 700's, but after you shoot with a massive Mauser claw and forged bottom metal, the 700 just feels like cheap, mass market crap.

Folks are trying to convince me to give the Savage 10FP a try and despite the fact that it clocks in a LOT less pricey than other bolties, I can't argue with the quality. It has a fantastic barrel and a solid action and trigger. I would probably want to go aftermarket on the stock, but I would likely do that with a 70 or 700 anyway.

Anyone ever screw around with one?

detroit20 wrote:

@Baron of Hell

I know a little about air guns having bought one last year to deal with a squirrel problem (before I 'belled' him, the cat used to bring them in and murder them in the front room). On the recommendation of my local gun dealer I picked up a Crossman 2240 (which uses CO2, rather than pump action), and had him fit a PAO pistol sight and a suppressor.

The sight was attached using Pro Blocks, but all consensus online was that the steel breech (which has rails built in) provided a better platform. I bought and fitted the breech myself; it was a 15 minute job.

I finished it off with a totally unnecessary, but very cool, green laser sight, mounted on the gas tube.

I did toy with idea of changing the grips, but replacements are beautiful but expensive. I didn't bother.

my next purchase will probably be a Crossman 2260 CO2 rifle. A 2240 in rifle configuration would be more powerful and a better all-round tool... but the 2260 is lovely to look at.

Oh no you hurt the poor squirrels. Squirrelgirl is my favorite hero you dastardly fend. The power of the pellet should only be used to shoot paper targets or those woodpeckers that are driving me crazy. Woodpeckers are the true evil in this world.

Anyway I have my parts on the way. One steel breech. One scope. Two 11mm rings to connect the breech and scope. One laser.

Baron Of Hell wrote:

How often do you guys shoot your guns?

Dry fire: Every day.
Live fire: Tuesday nights, Saturday Morning, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning.

Paleo: What caliber? If you want good PRS stuff, take a look at 6.5 Creedmoor. The Ruger precision rifles and Tika T3x are also great quality and value like the Savage.

My most recent things:
https://practiscore.com/results/new/...
IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/sHFMNzI.jpg)

I was thinking .308 because the ammo is ubiquitous, mendacious, and polyglottal. And the DOP charts are easy as donkey balls.

One of the women I compete with regularly just sent me a pic of her P320c.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/Thwmwhj.jpg)

Actually, I love squirrels too, Baron Of Hell. I think they're fascinating creatures.

However, once they're inside the house it's obviously much more humane for me to shoot them than for me to leave them locked in battle with my 6.5 kg cat!

Also, grey squirrels are an invasive species and regarded as a pest in the UK. Accordingly, it's actually illegal to allow them to escape back into the wild (under Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

But I should point out that this is all theoretical. Since I 'belled' the cat, he's been unable to catch anything larger than a mouse. I've not actually had to carry out a 'humane dispatch' of a squirrel yet!