The Guns We Own

[Frog]

French Army surplus 5 rounds .22 lr MAS 45 training rifle I recently acquired in pristine condition. According to the condition, it passed scores of years hanging on an armory rack without firing a round.
The SN indicates a very late end of production rifle (1965).
This makes it one of the last military weapon produced with the war era confiscated Mauser tooling that was transferred to the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne (MAS) in 1946 after the Russians protested that the French were having armament produced in occupied Germany.
The machines, tools and spare parts inventory that was been used to assemble Mauser 45 training rifles, 98k rifles, P08, P38 and Hsc pistols, were shipped in France and the Mauser buildings were destroyed.
The machines, tools and spare parts served to manufacture training rifles rechristened MAS 45 rifles with a shorter and better balanced barrel ; when the spare parts stockpile of German origin was used, new parts were produced in house. So these carbines can be found with 100 % German parts, a mix of German and French parts, or 100 % French parts like this one, and various markings and finishes (blue or phosphate), a variety that pleases collectors.
There was also a limited and sought after civilian production with a better blue and checkered grip and forestock.

 

[Ivan1GFP]

One I often regret not buying was an old single action 1873 Bisley which, in 1960, I could have had for $12.50. A Air Force buddy and I were walking along the shops in Cripple Creek, Colorado early one morning and I stopped to look in the windows of a gun shop. The owner came out and said he could make a good deal on anything as he needed to pay bills today to stay open. I told him I was only looking at the Bisley, and he said I could have it for $25. I went in and looked at it. It was well worn, lots of cylinder play, almost no blue left. A typical old west well used gun. I said thanks and was leaving, when he said, "How 'bout half price." I explained we couldn't have a gun on base.
Later on the way back to base, I realised I could have taken it to the Gun Club, joined, and kept it there.

Over the years, I have also had lots of "missed opportunities" at great "bargains".
Many of them were such good deals that I would regret not spending the few dollars, but there were some that I did pick up.
Some were genuine bargains with flaws that I could work around but some were not so easy to deal with. After a while, I started to realise that buying someone else's problem child generally was not a good idea. For me, it is better to buy something in better condition even if it costs a few dollars more.
I am far from rich, but for me, the major expense is usually not the gun but what it takes to feed it.

 

[javlin]

For me, it is better to buy something in better condition even if it costs a few dollars more.
I am far from rich, but for me, the major expense is usually not the gun but what it takes to feed it.

That has been me in the last 4/5 years I guess.I have been p/u rifles from S.America of late in auctions since little conflicts ever occur in that region.I have a Argentine 1909.Vene FN49,Vene FN Mauser and the Enfield Irish Contract all @ 90/100% condition.I bought the Fr8 even beat up as an oddity and a shooter it's fun rifle/carbine.

 

[javlin]

French Army surplus 5 rounds .22 lr MAS 45 training rifle I recently acquired in pristine condition. According to the condition, it passed scores of years hanging on an armory rack without firing a round.

I bet she stays that way?My 1954 Enfield still has the test firing tang on the trigger and cosmoline in the barrel/front sight.

 

[Frog]

I bet she stays that way?My 1954 Enfield still has the test firing tang on the trigger and cosmoline in the barrel/front sight.

By a strange turn of fate, for a rifle produced in France on german machinery, after being surplused by the french army, it was acquired by a german dealer, proofed at the Munich proof house and reimported in France. There was remnants of army grease under the bolt.

 

[Ivan1GFP]

That has been me in the last 4/5 years I guess.I have been p/u rifles from S.America of late in auctions since little conflicts ever occur in that region.I have a Argentine 1909.Vene FN49,Vene FN Mauser and the Enfield Irish Contract all @ 90/100% condition.I bought the Fr8 even beat up as an oddity and a shooter it's fun rifle/carbine.

On your Irish contract Enfield, does it have any markings on the barrel reinforce?
On my "Frankenstein Rifle", there is an overlapping "FF" on the replacement barrel which I have been told means "Fianna Fail" or Army of Ireland. Gun is a No.1 Mk.III* built up of parts from many different rifles which is why I call it Frankenstein.
Frankenstein was a typical surplus rifle in mediocre condition when I bought it and I bought it as my first high power rifle because I didn't know any better.

The exception to picking up guns with problems is with 1911s. If a 1911 that hasn't been abused comes along at a good price, I have picked them up in the past if they were by a good manufacturer. As long as the frame is good, there is no end to spare parts that are available, and I have gotten pretty good at correcting problems. The end results have been extremely satisfactory for accuracy and reliability.

 

[javlin]

On my "Frankenstein Rifle", there is an overlapping "FF" on the replacement barrel which I have been told means "Fianna Fail" or Army of Ireland. Gun is a No.1 Mk.III* built up of parts from many different rifles which is why I call it Frankenstein.

Mine is a #4 MKII 11/54 I have never fired it will stay the way it is.

 

[Ivan1GFP]

I have a No.4 Mk.II as well. I HAVE fired mine. It was not an expensive rifle when I bought it and wish I had bought a couple extra.
Lee-Enfields were common and cheap at the time and I wasn't that interested because they all seem to have headspace issues to one degree or another. Of course with the No.4, one could swap bolt heads instead of swapping barrels and bolts as I had to do with the No.1 Mk.III*.

That No,Mk.III* was the reason why I bought a serious "basket case" gun as a parts donor. The parts donor has a matching numbered bolt and receiver but they are in such a shape that I can't see it as worthwhile to repair. It is a sad end to what is certainly a veteran from The Great War.

 

[Ivan1GFP]

Mine is a #4 MKII 11/54 I have never fired it will stay the way it is.

If I were you I would seriously consider purchasing a couple larger numbered bolt heads for the No.4 Mk.II.
From what I have observed, these guns, no matter the condition, tend to be spec'ed out with a headspace that is slightly long from the factory as a means of "reliability insurance" in case the ammunition is dirty. This also leaves a bit of extra space radially for the case to expand and shortens case life for reloading.
Since I don't plan on taking an Enfield into the mud and dirt, I don't mind tighter headspace.
If you reload, it helps to pick a brand of dies that matches your chamber the best because the shoulder area specification is not consistent.
An alternative is to use Lee's Collet Dies for neck sizing which don't affect the case shoulder but you won't be able to swap fired cases from one gun to another and depending on how loose your chamber is (not that likely on a post-war No.4), the case may even need to be indexed for a good centered firing pin strike.

 

[Ivan1GFP]

On your Irish contract Enfield, does it have any markings on the barrel reinforce?
On my "Frankenstein Rifle", there is an overlapping "FF" on the replacement barrel which I have been told means "Fianna Fail" or Army of Ireland.

 

[MIflyer]

I have a Ruger 10/22 that I bought over 10 years ago I equipped with a M1 Carbine style stock. While probably not as practical as the tough and lightweight Zytel stock that came with the rifle it sure looks good. I showed it to a friend of mine and he wanted one as well. However, while such stocks are available in theory and are made by two different companies, all sellers were sold out.
I then found that Sarco Inc. had M1A1 style stocks available to fit the 10/22. The M1A1 stock is the folding stock issued to paratroopers in WW2. My friend ordered one and it came promptly.
The stock seems to be well made and looks authentic. However he quickly found out that it was not a simple case of removing the standard wood stock and dropping the 10/22 into the M1A1 version. Fortunately I had a Dremel-type rotary tool and by using the rotary sanding drum it did not take him long to open up the inside of the stock so the 10/22 would fit. However then he found that the safety could not be accessed. It took only a few minutes to use the Dremel sanding drum to open up two spots on the lower side of the stock that enable the safety to work properly.
So the Sarco M1A1 stock for the Ruger 10/22 is not a bad product, but does take some effort to install. While currently out of stock, Sarco also sells a M1 style stock for the 10/22 and customers reported a similar situation with that product as well.

 

[GrauGeist]

I've been thinking about getting the SturmGewehr (StG) 44 in .22lr.

The replica is close to original specs, both in dimensions and weight.
The price is less than $500 for either the GSG (German Sport Rifles) or Mauser versions.

Plus, who wouldn't want to own a replica of the original "assault rifle"?

 

[Torch]

I've been thinking about getting the SturmGewehr (StG) 44 in .22lr.

The replica is close to original specs, both in dimensions and weight.
The price is less than $500 for either the GSG (German Sport Rifles) or Mauser versions.

Plus, who wouldn't want to own a replica of the original "assault rifle"?

One very cool firearm, even if you use it as a wall hanger for display. Enjoy and shoot the hell out of it

 

[GrauGeist]

One very cool firearm, even if you use it as a wall hanger for display. Enjoy and shoot the hell out of it

When I make my decision, pics will be forthcoming, of course.

 

[javlin]

I've been thinking about getting the SturmGewehr (StG) 44 in .22lr.

The replica is close to original specs, both in dimensions and weight.
The price is less than $500 for either the GSG (German Sport Rifles) or Mauser versions.

Plus, who wouldn't want to own a replica of the original "assault rifle"?

I have one a very stable platform with good balance.I can unload the 25rd mag in like 15s or less all impacting a 5 qt jug @20/30 yds.

 

[MIflyer]

I've been thinking about getting the SturmGewehr (StG) 44 in .22lr.

I recall seeing a Thompson submachine gun mod for the Ruger 10/22 that looked quite convincing. But it was something like $300.

 

[Snautzer01]

 

[mikewint]

I saw a few of my favorites mentioned so I thought I'd re-post a few

My first hand gun Ye Olde 357 Python (1965)

Ruger's .44mag BISLEY pistol. The Bisley grip helps a lot with recoil when this mule kicks

1939 German Luger all matching numbers except for the magazine. Complete with stick eagles

When German Luger production ceased the Mitchell Bros. bought all their machinery and dies and began production of these American Lugers in stainless. This one is brand new and has had one round put through it at the factory. I've kept it as such and have never shot it. My only "Display" pistol

Ugly as sin, great shooter, accurate, and a hard hitter. Hint: magazine is in the pistol grip

 

[Ivan1GFP]

My Son and I found one of these .22LR SturmGewehr in a gun shop when my family was out shopping. The gun shop was a little hole in the wall kind of place and about 30 miles from my house. With the shop owner's permission, my Son posed for a couple photographs while holding the StG.
It looked nice but isn't really the kind of thing I am interested in. If it were in 7.62 x 39 it would be perfect but the size would not be right. A centerfire caliber would have been nice. Perhaps .30 Carbine, .357 Magnum or 10 mm would have been nicer.

 

[GrauGeist]

My Son and I found one of these .22LR SturmGewehr in a gun shop when my family was out shopping. The gun shop was a little hole in the wall kind of place and about 30 miles from my house. With the shop owner's permission, my Son posed for a couple photographs while holding the StG.
It looked nice but isn't really the kind of thing I am interested in. If it were in 7.62 x 39 it would be perfect but the size would not be right. A centerfire caliber would have been nice. Perhaps .30 Carbine, .357 Magnum or 10 mm would have been nicer.

It would mostly be for a display piece, plus, I live in California which would make an authentic select-fire weapon (any caliber) off limits.

The upside to a .22lr version, is that the ammo is affordable and it also triggers certain people at the gun range.

A few years back, I had a woman call 911 on me while at the range.
She told them "sime guy had an assault weapon and it was making her fearful".

The BLM ranger (who was a customer of my shop) shows up, comes over and says "hey Dave, you see anyone with an Assault Rifle around here?" to which I said nope, not that I had seen. He noticed my Umarex .22LR M4 carbine and said "sweet!" and asked if he could try it out and of course, I told him go for it.

While he was checking it out, the "Karen" came shuffling over, saying "that's him, Officer, he's the one!" - Josh and I looked at her and then at each other...

"Um, yes Ma'am, thank you, it's being taken care of, thank you" and he proceeded to run a few rounds through it down range.