Boom stick questions. Point me in the right direction.

In reply to logdog (Forum Supporter) :

I picked up an FN Hi Power. They are really nice.  Highly recommend.  If you are looking for a used one, look for either a T series serial number or one that lists Belgium as the MFG and does not say that it was assembled in Portugal. These are made in Belgium and assembled in Belgium at FN and are supposed to be assembled by hand and have a bit better fit, finish, and quality control. They are a little pricy. The second would be an FN assembled in Portugal.  

These are great shooting Pistols—smaller than you think. If you were local, I would let you try mine.

When I was looking, I found that you can also get Girsan-manufactured Hi Powers. They are much cheaper and have a good reputation. I have not shot one. Rodan actually recommended them to me, and I was all set to purchase one when I came upon a good deal on a virtually unused 1978 FN Belgum one.  

 Rodan said:

In reply to dean1484 :

High powers...

Check out the  Girsan High Powers ...  I have not fired one, but they have a great reputation online.  For a shooter, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of these.  And take a look here:  https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/741566905254

That site will give you a live inventory search sorted by price.  The basic black Girsan Hi-Power can be found for under $400.  It's a clone of the mid-80s Browning with the matte finish and extended ambi safetys.

 

Other all-metal things to consider.

Beretta 92 (pick your flavor from bone stock to their competition model)

I have a CZ75d Compact PCR.  It has an alloy frame.  Very nice pistol.  Can be used for CC if you want. Same as the P01 but different. Reliable as gravity great sites.  Has that swiss watch feel to it.  

1911

Walter has some all-metal versions of their PDP but I find them to be unacceptably snappy compared to other similar pistols.

Canik Rival has an all-metal version

In reply to logdog (Forum Supporter) :

1911?

Or if we are talking something similar to the cz75 ( full sized hi cap 9mm) my favorite steel framed 9mm is the Ruger P Series. They are kind of a brick but it fits my hand well and people are starting to catch on to them so prices have been creeping up 

For 1911, take a look at the Tisas/SDS offerings.  Very, very good quality even disregarding price, and almost unbelievable at what they sell for.  All forged steel parts, no MIM.  Wide variety of models/features/calibers.  I have several and they are excellent.

This is a smokin' deal, again from PSA...  M1911A1 .45ACP $299

It's the most basic 'military issue' model.  I just bought one to shoot in a military two-gun match locally that requires rifles/pistols that were military issued prior to 1950 (or reproductions in the same configuration).  I haven't shot it yet, but the fitting, lockup and trigger are amazingly good.

I forgot about the older S&W lineup.  They made a bunch of stuff.  Like the 4506, 4006, 639, 1006, 4566, 659, 952-2, 5906, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

In reply to dean1484 :

I've got a 4516-1. Good shooting little pistol. The DA is smooth and not as heavy as some I've shot (like the 92 or Cougar). Still prefer my 1911's. 

The older S&W autos can be very accurate due to their excellent barrel bushing lockup design.  Prices are going up on the older Smith autos, and magazines can be a bit hard to find.  Stay away from the DA only .40s... saw lots of problems with those.  IMHO the .45s are the best, but like Bob, I still prefer a 1911. 

In reply to Rodan :

I got mine with another DAO 4586. Did not like it. the 4516 just felt better with the DA/SA.

Think on an EAA Witness.  I have the Witness match and it is amazing and super reasonable cost wise.  Big heavy metal gun so not a great carry idea if that is on your list.  Fantastic shooter with great trigger etc.  

Initial range report on the $299 Tisas 1911A1 mentioned above.  20 rounds of my 200gr SWC handloads at 10 yards:

I'm pretty happy...  the vertical stringing is me:  I prefer a flat mainspring housing and long trigger, and this has an arched mainspring housing and short trigger.  I will swap those out and it should steady it up for me.  Looking forward to shooting a match with it.

In reply to Rodan :

Which raises the age-old philisophical question: Is it possible to own too many 1911's...?

In reply to stroker :

My problem is I usually come home with something else whenever I go to the shop to look at them.  I have 4 or 5 things that were purchased this way.  

In reply to stroker :

Nope!  14 and counting... LOL 

dean1484 said:

In reply to stroker :

My problem is I usually come home with something else whenever I go to the shop to look at them.  I have 4 or 5 things that were purchased this way.  

theres something else? What is this blasphemy?

Rodan said:

In reply to dean1484 :

High powers...

Check out the  Girsan High Powers ...  I have not fired one, but they have a great reputation online.  For a shooter, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of these.  And take a look here:  https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/741566905254

That site will give you a live inventory search sorted by price.  The basic black Girsan Hi-Power can be found for under $400.  It's a clone of the mid-80s Browning with the matte finish and extended ambi safetys.

 

Thanks! I had forgotten about these. Ordered one last night from PSA...

In reply to secretariata (Forum Supporter) :

You are really going to like it.  They just fit in your hand so well. I really like the weight.  They feel just that little bit smaller than a 1911. The FN I have is a tac driver at 15 yards.  It is rapidly becoming one of my favorite pistols.  

bobzilla said:

dean1484 said:

In reply to stroker :

My problem is I usually come home with something else whenever I go to the shop to look at them.  I have 4 or 5 things that were purchased this way.  

theres something else? What is this blasphemy?

I make exceptions for N-Frame Smith & Wessons...

Okay, quick reaction survey time: I have a Spanish FR8 Mauser and an Ishapore 308 Enfield.  The thought is to sell them and buy one of the current Ruger Scout rifles.

Yay or nay?

In reply to stroker :

I will make exceptions for other JMB products. 

stroker said:

I make exceptions for N-Frame Smith & Wessons...

For me, it's always been 1911s or S&W revolvers.  My 1911s slightly outnumber my N frames, but if I add in the K and L frames the Smiths are way ahead.  

Gratuitous N frame pic... do you feel lucky?  

stroker said:

Okay, quick reaction survey time: I have a Spanish FR8 Mauser and an Ishapore 308 Enfield.  The thought is to sell them and buy one of the current Ruger Scout rifles.

Yay or nay?

I had a Ruger GSR in .308 waay back when they first came out.  I don't know if they've improved with time, but mine was just mediocre.  Shot ~1.5 MOA, never did get it to feed reliably... regardless of magazine.  Honestly, I don't think they're worth the premium price point.  Unless you're dead set on the 'Scout' config with a forward mounted scope, IMHO the American Gen 2 Ranch is probably every bit as good for a lot less $$$. 

I really think modern ARs have made the 'Scout' rifle concept obsolete.  Having played with the GSR and another scout rifle I built, IMHO an AR in .308 does just about everything better in a light, quick handling mid caliber rifle.   I have a Ruger SFAR in .308 and it's better at everything I would have wanted the GSR for.  An AR in 6.5 Grendel might be even better.

If you want bolt-gun accuracy, I'd build a traditional bolt gun.

Rodan said:

stroker said:

I make exceptions for N-Frame Smith & Wessons...

 

For me, it's always been 1911s or S&W revolvers.  My 1911s slightly outnumber my N frames, but if I add in the K and L frames the Smiths are way ahead.  

 

Gratuitous N frame pic... do you feel lucky?  

A friend is willing to sell me back the pristine 8" Mdl 29 I sold him 20 years ago.   I shudder to think what market value would be...

In reply to stroker :

It depends a lot on when it was made.  Generally the earlier the gun, the higher the value.  8 3/8" M29s generally have the lowest values compared to other barrel lengths of the same vintage.  I would expect a typical shooter 8 3/8" M29-2 (~1970-1990) to bring $1000-1300.  Earlier guns and shorter barrels usually bring considerably more.

dean1484 said:

In reply to secretariata (Forum Supporter) :

You are really going to like it.  They just fit in your hand so well. I really like the weight.  They feel just that little bit smaller than a 1911. The FN I have is a tac driver at 15 yards.  It is rapidly becoming one of my favorite pistols.  

I expect to like it a lot. It's been along time since I fired a Hi-power, but it was a good time. They just got so expensive. I got excited when the Springfield knock off came out, but I couldn't find one that wasn't way over MSRP. I saw these had come out but figured they would be in high demand so I laid low for a while and this thread got me looking again. Time to make it happen.

Just initial thoughts on the precision AR setup in 6mm ARC, actually shot it about a week ago... been sick and getting over a cold/flu.  Caveat being I only shot it at 31 yards for initial sight in and have only shot 30 rounds through it - forgot my bipod so had to shoot it prone off a backpack. So it was only a half serious attempt, mainly just wanted to get an initial zero. Will get better feel of accuracy once I get real time with bipod behind it and full serious attempt, but initial feel is uncertain about it right now - looks like it might be really ammo sensitive. Shot three different factory Hornady loads: 10 each of the 80gr ELD-VT V-Match, 105gr BTHP Hornady Black, and 108gr ELD Match.

Also, all shots were surpressed with my new surpressor which finally got the HUXWRX Hub adapter installed on from local gunshop (they even told me how difficult it was getting the factory direct thread adapter... which is why I brought it in as was starting to damage the half the lug holes even with it clamped in the adapter with a supporting heavy duty strap wrench, heating body end near Hub with torch, and using dry ice quickly on the hub adapter before trying to tap it off. Supposed to be 35lb-ft...can garuntee well over a couple hundred lbs F was needed to break the torque at least. Would have also been better if didn't use barrel nut cutout as the tool fastening system - some kind of flat would allowed for more secure tool attachment to the Hub adapter.)

So on to how it actually initially shoots. Used the 80gr to start first shots in the new rifle and after 4 shots got it really close to the X, shot 5 was just bit more of improvement,and shots 6-10 were no more touching adjustment - just see how it grouped. Gas block was fully opened (18 clicks) and brass ejection was at bare minimum around 4:30... shot really soft and noticed no gas in face at all. Zero function issues and chronoed all shots. 10 shot group was average of 2,894fps with STD DEV of 10.7fps, Spread of 36.5fps, min/max of 2878/2915fps. Grouped okay for halfway trying off a bag:

The 80gr load was as good as it got though, with the 105gr and 108gr loads things open way up and in a circle pattern:

10 shot group for the 105gr load was average of 2,663fps with STD DEV of 9.9fps, Spread of 34.6fps, min/max of 2648/2683fps. 10 shot group for the 108gr load was average of 2,658fps with STD DEV of 9.3fps, Spread of 27fps, min/max of 2642/2669fps. So not bad, but don't think those loads like it with the surpressor, looks like a nodal/harmonics thing. Ejection of brass about same but a little closer to 4:00 than 4:30 for both the 105gr and 108gr. Need to try without surpressor and see what it does and if it will even cycle - will need to play with buffer weight it looks like. With those results of the 105gr & 108gr and not having my bipod I wasn't going to waste any more time this trip on the 6mm ARC, so swapped over to my 300BLK since made some changes and wanted to see how it would do with my surpressor on it. A Little before and after:

Before

After

Main reason for rifle changes is because of now having night capability... all I'm going to say/show is below:

Surprisingly, the 300BLK rifle was still zeroed great, didn't have to touch a thing and was right on at 130 yards ringing small steel silloute plate (16x9). Had to try to miss... was right on and easy to hit. Bit more gas than the 6mm ARC, and ejecting right at 3:00. Just did a quick 5 shot group over the Garmin before having fun and the AAC 220grain I was using averaged @ 1041fps, STD DEV of 27.4fps, Spread of 75fps, min/max of 1010/1085fps. The way the firing impulse is, unsuported standing it's hard to do quick short strings of fire... could probably tune the gas down just a bit. Resting against the top bed of the truck though, incredibly easy to do a 4 shot rapid string and the plate go ding-ding-ding-ding... Oh yeah and the best part, no hearing protection required... it's like surpressing a subsonic .22LR... absolutely stupid quiet! Hearing the plate is louder than the shot. Ran two mags without hearing protection and two mags with... Really like that 300blk rifle and new surpressor! It's definitely quieter than the HUXWRX surpressors and a bit lighter as well. Really nice unit, only issue is the Hub adapter is REALLY on there so you need the right tools/method to be able to swap to whatever Hub adapater you need! Best thing for them to do is just not tighten down the hub adapters!

I usually try to stay away from gun forums/chats/reddits but I was bored and tooling around on Reddit and came across a dreaded Gun For Bear thread and found out some funny things.

1. Apparently the only reason to carry a revolver is " pure vanity, because they look badass"

2. 10mm with as many rounds as you can carry is the answer

3. Only crazy people carry big magnums because you need many follow up shots

4. A Single Action in the woods is the craziest idea ever.

So I gotta wonder, how many people that say this stuff live in the woods? You are lucky if you get 2 shots with an angry charging bear, let alone the " mag dump, new mag, mag dump again" that seems to be the best method now. Some actually recommend going for a lower powered gun so you can get fast follow up shots. That's crazy. The power doesn't stack with 20 rounds, it's essentially bird shot vs slugs.

The second thing I gotta wonder is......are revolvers going out of fashion? Will I be able to pick up old smiths for pennies soon? Please say thats true.

Plus, I really like my Blackhawk loaded heavy for the woods. Seriously, at the power level we are shooting here single vs double action is not a relevant argument as neither is fast off recoil