I'm finally to the point of buying an AR

[jplinville]

After 33 years of building a collection of Russian and Soviet weapons, and finally getting my hands on the right Nagant Revolver, I can finally state that the collection is complete. I've got Mosin, AK, SAR, SKS, Nagant, Toakrev, among others, all in pre and post Cold War build condition. I was surprised at how many corners were cut in manufacturing during WWII, just to get the weapons into the hands of soldiers...burrs, chattermarks, bit finish, etc. But, the collection now shows history from before WWII to up to the Cold War end. The weapons are all beautiful in their own way, all fire properly, and all with their issued tool kits and such. I even have books on each firearm, in Cyrillic (that I don't understand), that I find fascinating.

During th years, I've picked up a could M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, made by Inland as well as a Mattel, but am searching for the right Singer. While that search goes on, I have decided to move on to a firearm I really haven't had much experience with. The AR-15.

Now, I've shot a number of them over the years, and have passed on them in trade, because the weapon platform didn't interest me. Now that my Russian collection is as good as I'm going to be able to make it, I've now allowed myself the ability to have room for one or 5 in my collection.

I've ordered an inexpensive version to play around with and that I can upgrade parts on. I should have it next week, if shipping works as it should to my local FFL. From there, I plan on finding certain variations to collect, and certain variations within certain manufacturers.

My dad is to credit for my love of firearms. His being a Vietnam Vet that kept the house very well armed as I grew up, and teaching me to respect and appreciate them made an impression on me. I remember shooting his M1 Garand when I was in 3rd grade...learning how to hit the target. As a kid, that thing had a kick! LOL

What I've got coming, what I already plan on upgrading once I get it, is a Del-Ton Echo. I know it isn't one of the great ones, but it's a platform to learn from, and play around with, get used to working on it and learn to know what to look for. Once I tear it apart, rebuild it, learn it and fully understand it, it will likely become trade fodder as I work my up to the right ones.

I learned so much about the Russian and Soviet firearms, and now get to learn much about a different platform. That's something I like about firearms...there's so much knowledge to gain with them, since each manufacturer that has sold to civilians have so many different variations.

This ought to be fun!

[tyl604]

Pics?

[75Sv1]

There is a "RETRO' movement in AR-15. Might look at SARCO. I think they have parts kits.

[catmandoo62]

those singer carbines are super rare.good luck finding one of those.

[Robert W. Roe]

I find it interesting to see a gun thread started on a car forum. Next thing I'm going to see is a Mercedes-Benz thread start on the Beretta forum.

Having just sold all of my firearms and ammo due to a PFA complaint that was just dropped today , I am tempted to acquire a nice AR with the proper optics (green laser, scope, and / or red dot sights) for my 61 year old eyes.

[jplinville]

A mil-spec style AR platform, I think, is a good starting point. I can swap put parts over time, and likely wind up with a whole new rifle in the, then assemble what was swapped out and rebuild the original.


I wont post photos of my firearm for obvious reasons...Gubmint. With the way things have gone over the last 25 years, there's no trust, due to control nuts. Hell what Pelosi said recently is enough to make me say that now is a good time to get one.

As far as I'm concerned, I just lost everything in a tragic boating accident, in the deepest part of Lake Eerie...including this new rifle.

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by Robert W. Roe

I find it interesting to see a gun thread started on a car forum. Next thing I'm going to see is a Mercedes-Benz thread start on the Beretta forum.

Having just sold all of my firearms and ammo due to a PFA complaint that was just dropped today , I am tempted to acquire a nice AR with the proper optics (green laser, scope, and / or red dot sights) for my 61 year old eyes.

Off topic, no? LOL

I got rid of most of my firearms Russian and Soviet weapons before I divorced wife #1..."sold" them to my dad a few months before divorce was filed. I had a couple handguns left in the house that I disposed of during the divorce due to BS complaints of feeling threatened having them around our kids. I showed the judge proper receipts of sales on them, and explained that they were sold to appeases the now ex-wife. That pleased the judge, so I still had full visitation rights, and the house was considered safe. After the divorce, I started over on handguns, keeping the soviet stuff over at mom and dad's house, adding to it as the years progressed. When dad died, mom told me that I could either collect them, or continue to keep them there, locked up under bed. I chose the latter option. Now that my wife and I are living with mom to care for her, I brought my gun cabinets into the spare bedroom and transferred everything over to them. I don't currently have ammo for them, other than 7.62X54R for the Mosins. I have one that I enjoy shooting, but the range that I can shoot at locally is shut down as they are rebuilding their backstops...so now I have drive a little more than 2 hours away to our cabin on the farm to shoot. The bad thing about that is that someone built a cabin on the property adjacent to ours, about a 1/4 mile away, and we never built a backstop. I'll have to remedy that this Summer, by moving things down the hill a bit, and firing into the hill. The Mosin is a powerful rifle...and needs a good backstop to catch the rounds.

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

those singer carbines are super rare.good luck finding one of those.

I've seen two in my life, and fired one. They are a rare breed to find. I know of one that may be coming up for sale when the owner passes, but I doubt I'll have the asking price for it. The guy has a collection that makes mine look like a hunting gun cabinet collection. Every one of his firearms are pristine and museum quality...he's even loaned a couple to the NRA museum for their display. Each one has a tag with the pertinent information on them, and he keeps them updated with current value, just in case he dies...so his kin can sell the collection and get maximum dollar for each.

There's really no way I'll be able to get his...but a man can dream. Knowing that I've seen two in my life, and fired one, makes me very happy.

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by 75Sv1

There is a "RETRO' movement in AR-15. Might look at SARCO. I think they have parts kits.

This is the one I've ordered...nothing special, and mil-spec furniture, for the most part. I think it will make a great starting point. https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/719002515

I looked at some of the hybrid models, with plastic receivers, but after reading all the reviews, I passed on it. It's cheaper than the one I bought, but I truly want one that I can upgrade with little issue, and not break just by shooting it.

[vwnate1]

I loved and dearly miss, my M1 Garand, what a terrific rifle, if actual shooting is you desire .

Not light but amazingly accurate and I didn't need any scope/optics .

As you said, keep your firearm cards close to your chest yet if possible teach the proper use and care of same to as many others as you can .

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by vwnate1

I loved and dearly miss, my M1 Garand, what a terrific rifle, if actual shooting is you desire .

Not light but amazingly accurate and I didn't need any scope/optics .

As you said, keep your firearm cards close to your chest yet if possible teach the proper use and care of same to as many others as you can .

I taught each one of my children how to shoot. My son can out shoot me with the .22lr I altered for him. It fits him perfectly, LOP, drop, etc. I took a 10/22 and worked up a wooden stock, getting all measurements on him and making it right. I can't shoot well with it, because it fits him, not me. However, I'll still get him using my Remington Apache 77, or even the new style 597s that I own...now that I have magazines that don't hang up on it. Heck, my daughter has a Marlin 60 that she's quite accurate with.

I raised my kids to respect the firearm, and that it's a tool, not a toy. They used to go to the range with me weekly, and spend hours, pushing each other to improve.

I bought each of my daughters handguns when they moved out on their own, as well as shotguns. They are well protected. Now that the oldest is married, I took her husband under my arm, and taught him how to shoot as well. He handles her handgun better than she does, and she's no slouch.

None of them have shot the M1s...they're not museum pieces, but I don't want them damaged, so I'm the only one that gets to shoot them. They'll all shoot the heck out of the Mosin, til the barrel is hot enough that it needs cooled down...about 20 rounds. That thing has a hell of a punch!

[tyl604]

As I remember we had M'1s in ROTC. Then in basic training we trained with M'14s. They switched us to M-16s before we went to Nam. The early M-16s were a jam problem but by the time I left they were better. The 50 cal. was a better weapon.

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by tyl604

As I remember we had M'1s in ROTC. Then in basic training we trained with M'4s. They switched us to M-16s before we went to Nam. The early M-16s were a jam problem but by the time I left they were better. The 50 cal. was a better weapon.

You must have gone over in the late 60's/early 70's. Dad was over in 65-68. He was in Saigon, then Cam Rahn Bay, and ended in Bein Hoa. One of the guys that would filter information to him in Bein Hoa was a prominent family member of the area...they owned the largest building in Bein Hoa. 20 years after dad came home, he ran into the guy that would feed him information, as a produce manager at the grocery store mom worked at as front end manager. I went to school and became close friends with his son. They made it to the us in 1983. I'm not sure if it was a small world thing, or if there were other powers in play, but mom became a very protected person at work after dad recognized Mr Troung. Sorry for the long response, but it's a story that I always find amazing, and Mr Troung's son, Can feels the same way.

Anyway, back to the weapons. Dad had gotten his hands on a Thompson that he carried in his left arm, and a 14 on is right. He would clear brush with the Thompson, and peck them off as they came out with the 14. He absolutely hated the 16 due to the bushing and lack of cleaning kits when they came over.

[vwnate1]

"I raised my kids to respect the firearm, and that it's a tool, not a toy."

THIS ! if we gave mandatory firearm training before 7 years of age, those who like them would know, those who are afraid would let them be & less troubles all 'round .

Same here, I'm a single father in the Ghetto and my son understands firearms perhaps better than I .

I can't imagine anyone in charge of weapons allowing them to be deployed sans cleaning kits, especially in a humid, muddy area ~ that's a recipe for disaster .

[pj67coll]

Ipressive collection. I was working on similar though my principal interest is german weapons. I did have about four Mosin's including one of the 91/59's which were supposed to be a cold war special. And an M44. Unfortunately economic troubles caused me to sell most of the collection some years ago and I now have only a handful. Given what's happened to the prices of late I'm afraid there's no chance of re-building. A rifle I paid 97 bucks for some years ago on sale is now over 300. Oh well. I do still have a Nagant revolver which I'll likely never sell. Neat piece of kit.

When I was getting into this I made a chart of Mauser K98 production. Factories per year. My intent was to get one from each year made by each factory

That was never going to happen. I did wind up with four of which I've sold three. The one I kept was the most beat up looking by far but it shoots like a laser beam.

I never did manage to acquire an SKS which is one I really would have like to have picked up. Oh well. I'm starting to lose interest now. The club where I used to shoot in competitions has closed and there little incentive to drive an our out and back just to bang away for no real reason any more.

Your collection is admirable. And yeah. Pic's would be nice

- Peter.