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Commissar von Toussaint wrote:


Of course, the best feed is when gravity helps you out, but top-mounted magazines create other issues.

Plus the Aussies don't mass produce Owen guns for export or everyone would have one


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Commissar von Toussaint wrote:

The only way you could gain access would be through a mil-to-mil channels. Believe SIG designed one of Japan's sidearms, so they would probably have sample weapons in their collection. That's about it.

Each NATO country tends to have civilian run military firearm reference service with a selection of other countries firearms. The ones I know of tend to buy off each nation with a unique weapon 2 of their current service rifle (and provide theirs in return). It is often possible to get tours and talks from those places, especially if you have a reasonable security clearance and work in some kind of defence associated company. In the UK for example ours is in Shrivenham, has featured on forgotten weapons and does sometimes allow strangers into its midst. Just don't for heaven's sake do what everyone seems to do, which is cock the weapons and place them back on the racks.

Incidentally before there was a mail facility on site weapons were delivered by DHL to the local post office. At weekends being a small village with limited opening times, they would sometimes pile parcels up outside the post office for the owners to come get...

The_Real_Chris wrote:


Each NATO country tends to have civilian run military firearm reference service with a selection of other countries firearms. The ones I know of tend to buy off each nation with a unique weapon 2 of their current service rifle (and provide theirs in return).

That's what I'm saying, the only channels for Japanese weapons are official. Short of bribing a Japanese servicemember (or stealing a weapon), there's no way to have one of their contemporary firearms.

And no legal way to own one.

Don't want to jinx it but I may have a line on a Saiga from a local seller. I know I'm way late to the party on it and finding the conversion parts will be a pain in the butt, but I like the idea of a project gun.

 ScarletRose wrote:
Don't want to jinx it but I may have a line on a Saiga from a local seller. I know I'm way late to the party on it and finding the conversion parts will be a pain in the butt, but I like the idea of a project gun.

If you succeed, your next challenge should be to build a Mauser C96 Broomhandle out of a parts gun.

Commissar von Toussaint wrote:

 ScarletRose wrote:
Don't want to jinx it but I may have a line on a Saiga from a local seller. I know I'm way late to the party on it and finding the conversion parts will be a pain in the butt, but I like the idea of a project gun.

If you succeed, your next challenge should be to build a Mauser C96 Broomhandle out of a parts gun.

Lol, I'd have better luck making a C96 out of a block of steel and a file.

Checking out various sites the front end conversion on a Saiga is pretty easy to find parts for. It's the darn folding stock that's impossible to find, since Russia used two types (with a 4.5mm hinge pin and a 5.5mm one). The 5.5mm, and only the 5.5mm one, is the correct one that has been used in AK-100 series rifles. There's a bunch of 4.5mm folding stocks out there but hardly any 5.5

Like I said this'll be a project, so if I can't find a stock right away I'll wait and take as long as it takes.

Just a small question because I have been fairly brain dead and not able to find an answer online.
Regarding scoped. I recall that the larger the front aperture the better the scope should be in lower light conditions. Is this correct? I can't remember if that's "true" or something I made up in my head.
I'm looking to upgrade the scope on my air rifle. I usually do any shooting at night at pest animals bothering my chickens, that sort of thing. I have a good flashlight for it to illuminate the eyes and have taken to shooting iron sights but I want to try something different. I do enjoy plinking on targets as well.


I'm looking at a Hatsan Optima 3-12X50 as the upgrade with the scope that came with the rifle, a 3-9 X 32.
But I'd be open to looking at something better based on recommendations.

Any help would be appreciated.

Yeah, though the more important issue is if you are zeroed and how consistent is the air rifle. Air rifles, especially the cheap ones, aren't exactly high precision so the quality of the scope can only do so much. If its zeroed to the rifle and as long as you can see the reticle in the dim light I wouldn't think the scope quality would matter that much.

Are you looking for magnification or simply more precision and consistency? A red/green dot optic goes a really long way.

And they weigh a lot less.

Commissar von Toussaint wrote:
Are you looking for magnification or simply more precision and consistency? A red/green dot optic goes a really long way.

And they weigh a lot less.

I mostly look for a set of eyes in the dark I was using a green lenses flash light but am moving to a red lensed light. (I've read some critters can't even register that color, this is a poor explanation of what I have read. ) So the big thing for me is can I see the reticle or not. So I am unsure about an illuminated red or green dot. My thinking, and it could be way off, is more light in and a black reticle. I was looking at mill dots because I thought it might be easier to use than what I have but I am still looking around. I'm open to at least considering illuminated as long as the light I use wont make it impossible to see. And I don't know if that will happen or not. I'd think a Green dot with a red light might work but I'm not sure having never used an illuminated sight.

 Grey Templar wrote:
Yeah, though the more important issue is if you are zeroed and how consistent is the air rifle. Air rifles, especially the cheap ones, aren't exactly high precision so the quality of the scope can only do so much. If its zeroed to the rifle and as long as you can see the reticle in the dim light I wouldn't think the scope quality would matter that much.

I realize air rifles can be inaccurate, I shoot the same pellet and don't jump around. I think mine is in the 200 dollar range but I've had it for 5 or 6 years now so I can't say for sure. It's a .22 break barrel but I may move up to a .25 at some point. Dad got the .25 but He doesn't use it much anymore. I wanted a PCP but keeping it charged seemed difficult when I was looking at them before. I know a PCP will make everything much easier, Zeroing will be easier for sure.

I don't want to throw more money at this than is practical. Just hope to find something fairly reliable and I will adjust my system as best I can.

Thank you both for taking the time for me.


Edit.
After giving it some more thought I have picked a red/green/blue dot sight for air rifles that doesn't cost too much, it's mot that dissimilar from the ,I think it was, the M68 sights we used before I got out of the army. It's not going to be a durable but I do want to give it a try. I feel like I shoot fairly well with Iron sights and once this is dialed in Might be what I was looking for. I can save up for an upgrade.

After a crippling ammo shortage, some of the more obscure calibers are coming back into production. It's interesting to see that .32 S&W Long is among them. This was once a ubiquitous caliber around the world, and (at least in the US) revolvers chambered in it can be found at prices than can only be described as "dirt cheap."

Modern shooters consider it grossly underpowered, but no less than Teddy Roosevelt himself pushed for its adoption by the NYPD back in the day. It has mild recoil but twice the horsepower of .22 LR or .25 ACP.

Twice the power of .25 ACP is still decidedly wimpy.

 Grey Templar wrote:
Twice the power of .25 ACP is still decidedly wimpy.

The .32 in your hand is better than the Desert Eagle you left at home.

Also, shot placement > caliber, every single time.

I'm considering buying a 1911. My Dad gifted me a SGS 1911 22 last year and it's been a lot of fun to shoot. I got thinking that maybe a 1911 would be a good guy to buy myself on my Birthday in a few months. This keeps me more or less on the same platform. Not sure if I should get it in 45 or 9MM and I don't know if I should buy a full sized or look for a shorter model, if it is a thing. I'm planning to get my CWP but FL. may pass permitles carry this next year. I live way out in the sticks and there are packs of dogs out here and even around town from time to time so I am strongly thinking about the CWP because I don't want my wife or I to be mulled by dogs. Or worse.

I saw a video recently, but I can't recall how current it was, saying surplus 1911's were around and in the 500 dollar range. Another reason I was considering that pistol.
Any thoughts on that? Or any recommendations for that mater.

As an opinion of frankly negative value?

Which one makes the biggest bang?

I mean, if you’re torn between two shootas, why not go with the best Dakka sound?

You can definitely get good 1911s in the $500 range, and even extreme budget ones can work well. Just stay away from the really really cheap ones. IE: If one is selling for $100 there is probably a reason.

As for full size vs compact, I would say whichever is more comfortable in your hands. This goes for all pistols. It is important that a pistol fit good in your hand so you can control it. 1911s are not small pistols, people with tiny hands might have trouble fully gripping it so see what works for you. An oversized or undersized pistol could be a liability in a bad situation. Too big and you will have trouble hitting anything or managing the recoil because you can't grip it properly. Too small and you might have issues operating it as fine motor skills vanish under stress.

If the purpose is to use against packs of dogs, go with the 9mm. You'll need the greater capacity and the round (especially with good self defense ammo) will end a dog quickly.

With 1911s the 'commander' versions have a shorter barrel but the grip Is the same as a full length. Easier to conceal but the shorter sight radius makes it less accurate. At short ranges probably not an issue, especially if you train up a bit.

But honestly, for any predators 'in the sticks', get a decent carbine. I live 'in the sticks' and between a Ruger 10-22 we keep in a case on the utility vehicle, my Taurus Judge,, my wife's little .38 loaded with snake shot, and one of the ARs predators are handled. Use the pistols against snakes which tend to go after the chicken and duck eggs (the little .38 gets carried while feeding critters in the warm months). Coyotes, opossums, foxes and other predators get taken with the long guns.

 warhead01 wrote:
I saw a video recently, but I can't recall how current it was, saying surplus 1911's were around and in the 500 dollar range. Another reason I was considering that pistol.
Any thoughts on that? Or any recommendations for that mater.

The 1911 platform is probably the most supported handgun in the world. Sorry Glock fans, but the sheer depth and variety of after market slides, barrels, frames, etc. is staggering.

The fit and feel in your hand is paramount. One reason why you see 1911-style pistols in so many calibers is that the operating system is so unique. If you're going to carry it for personal defense, "cocked and locked" is the standard posture, and that means you must be able to reflexively remove the safety with your hand in a firing grip. Another area of concern is the grip safety - if you cannot maintain a firm grip on the backstrap, it will not fire. I don't know if your .22 is set up with all that, but just keep in mind that range shooting is different from the real world. Most ranges don't allow drawing from a holster, so be sure to get snap caps in whatever caliber you choose so you can practice that at home.

As I said above, shot placement trumps caliber, so if you shoot 9mm better, go with it. Honestly, you can get 1911s in .380 ACP that will have milder recoil and will work against human or smaller sized adversaries. Normally, I'm not big on ammo capacity, but if you're dealing with a pack of critters, that argues against a standard 1911 which (thanks to modern engineering) can hold 8 rounds in the magazine (standard mags are 7). Any modern 9mm can double that.

If you are looking at practical shooting, stay away from surplus. Just about any surplus pistol you buy (especially on the low end of the cost spectrum) will need some remedial maintenance.

 warhead01 wrote:
I'm considering buying a 1911. My Dad gifted me a SGS 1911 22 last year and it's been a lot of fun to shoot. I got thinking that maybe a 1911 would be a good guy to buy myself on my Birthday in a few months. This keeps me more or less on the same platform. Not sure if I should get it in 45 or 9MM and I don't know if I should buy a full sized or look for a shorter model, if it is a thing. I'm planning to get my CWP but FL. may pass permitles carry this next year. I live way out in the sticks and there are packs of dogs out here and even around town from time to time so I am strongly thinking about the CWP because I don't want my wife or I to be mulled by dogs. Or worse.

I saw a video recently, but I can't recall how current it was, saying surplus 1911's were around and in the 500 dollar range. Another reason I was considering that pistol.
Any thoughts on that? Or any recommendations for that mater.

I was mentioning I purchased a Tisas 1911 on Black Friday. Both my brother and the local gunstore owner were curious as to it's quality, and since the store had a gun range, we did a 4way comparison. We compared my sub $300 Tisas, a $600 Kimber, mid grade Rock Island Armory, and my brother's $1500 S&W custom shop.

Obviously the S&W was hands above the others. Surprising though, we basically all agreed the Tisas came in second. Less tooling marks than the Kimber. And less rattle in the parts than either the Kimber or Rock Island.the biggest complaint was the plastic grips on the Tisas did feel cheap, but that is easily fixed with a set of $30 grips and 5 minutes of your time.

In addition the Tisas comes with two mags and a REALLY nice case, complete with an o-ring seal. If this was any other manufacturer it would easily be a $500-$600 gun.

 cuda1179 wrote:

Obviously the S&W was hands above the others. Surprising though, we basically all agreed the Tisas came in second. Less tooling marks than the Kimber. And less rattle in the parts than either the Kimber or Rock Island.the biggest complaint was the plastic grips on the Tisas did feel cheap, but that is easily fixed with a set of $30 grips and 5 minutes of your time.

In addition the Tisas comes with two mags and a REALLY nice case, complete with an o-ring seal. If this was any other manufacturer it would easily be a $500-$600 gun.

I am not a "1911 guy," but I know a few and by all accounts Kimber is not what it used to be in terms of quality. It's almost reflexive for a 1911 collector to sigh whenever Kimber is mentioned.

The problem with any 1911 is that unless you're going to get one of those crazy extended mags, ammo supply will be limited, forcing you to carry extra mags and do combat reloads if a pack of dogs shows up. Again, for normal carry, five or six rounds are likely enough, but a bunch of dogs (which is the scenario we are looking at) requires more quantity.

The Tisas come with 2 8-round mags. Admittedly that isn't much better than 7-rounders, but still. 10 round mags are around for a reasonable price, and I've seen some 12-rounders. Anything more than that and you are looking at a ridiculously long mag. If you want more capacity you'd need to go with a double stacked magazine.

 cuda1179 wrote:
The Tisas come with 2 8-round mags. Admittedly that isn't much better than 7-rounders, but still. 10 round mags are around for a reasonable price, and I've seen some 12-rounders. Anything more than that and you are looking at a ridiculously long mag. If you want more capacity you'd need to go with a double stacked magazine.

Yes, 8-round magazines are common for 1911 platforms, and the issue here is with potential packs of dogs. For that specific threat, I'd go with a compact 9mm carrying 15+ rounds.

On the topic of 1911 in .45 or 9mm, depends on the shooter both kill things, on dealing with wild dogs attacking people, always found a chemical spray worked well to drive them off, but most attacks will happen at night, so get a weapon light if at all possible.
I lived/Stationed in Alaska and we had wolves attacking people's dogs when out on walks, and when I lived in some lower 48 states , had coyote and potential wild/feral dog run-ins, only one I had to shoot was a coyote that was trying to tear his way into a garage door, the others the spray worked or even just a shot in the ground near the animal chased it off.
I am more concerned with 2 legged wild dogs anymore, and swear by the .45acp in a 10 round Mccormick mag, works fine... but now I am dealing with oversized Black bears in my area... so upped my hip carry, long guns are always the preferance but hard to always have on hand.

My brother once invited me to hunt on the land of a friend of his in Oklahoma. For Oklahoma the land was hilly, lots of bushes, and lots of trees. My brother said when he went out there it was basically an eradication mission. The only thing bigger than a raccoon were packs of feral dogs and packs of feral hogs. Both are dangerous and you hunted in groups, no solo hunters. When they spotted a pack of hogs he said he mag dumped his 12 gauge semi auto (slugs) and the other guys did the same with 308. When you kill a dozen hogs per day and they keep repopulating you know you have a problem.

 cuda1179 wrote:
My brother once invited me to hunt on the land of a friend of his in Oklahoma. For Oklahoma the land was hilly, lots of bushes, and lots of trees. My brother said when he went out there it was basically an eradication mission. The only thing bigger than a raccoon were packs of feral dogs and packs of feral hogs. Both are dangerous and you hunted in groups, no solo hunters. When they spotted a pack of hogs he said he mag dumped his 12 gauge semi auto (slugs) and the other guys did the same with 308. When you kill a dozen hogs per day and they keep repopulating you know you have a problem.

It's a pretty tasty problem though.

Wanted to say thankyou for all the input. I've bookmarked a few things now to dig into. You've all be very helpful.

On the dogs issue, it got me thinking about our run in with a bear one night. we'd only just gotten chickens back then. One night a bear and her cub had lifted the coups I had built and were, as you can guess, eating our chicks we had just got a few days before. I chased them off with a black powder revolver and my winning personality. (We have electro netting now and they haven't come back around in years.) So I'm wondering if dogs would react the same way to that pistol's report. We have dogs turn up from time to time, some were dumped some just got out and got lost. I tend to chase them off with a hard cattle wip. But that's not a pack of dogs.
I just don't see the need to shoot at one dog who may just need to get home.

 warhead01 wrote:
Wanted to say thankyou for all the input. I've bookmarked a few things now to dig into. You've all be very helpful.

On the dogs issue, it got me thinking about our run in with a bear one night. we'd only just gotten chickens back then. One night a bear and her cub had lifted the coups I had built and were, as you can guess, eating our chicks we had just got a few days before. I chased them off with a black powder revolver and my winning personality. (We have electro netting now and they haven't come back around in years.) So I'm wondering if dogs would react the same way to that pistol's report. We have dogs turn up from time to time, some were dumped some just got out and got lost. I tend to chase them off with a hard cattle wip. But that's not a pack of dogs.
I just don't see the need to shoot at one dog who may just need to get home.

Someone else mentioned spray, and that's not a bad way to go. I think having both pepper spray and a compact sidearm is a pretty good way to go through life in general. Seems like it can handle most adversarial situations.

Then again, I'm just some dude on the internet, so what do I know?

 warhead01 wrote:
Wanted to say thankyou for all the input. I've bookmarked a few things now to dig into. You've all be very helpful.

On the dogs issue, it got me thinking about our run in with a bear one night. we'd only just gotten chickens back then. One night a bear and her cub had lifted the coups I had built and were, as you can guess, eating our chicks we had just got a few days before. I chased them off with a black powder revolver and my winning personality. (We have electro netting now and they haven't come back around in years.) So I'm wondering if dogs would react the same way to that pistol's report. We have dogs turn up from time to time, some were dumped some just got out and got lost. I tend to chase them off with a hard cattle wip. But that's not a pack of dogs.
I just don't see the need to shoot at one dog who may just need to get home.

Feral Dogs are a problem precisely because, unlike wild animals, they do not have a fear of humans. Bears are especially skittish unless you get between a mother and her cub.

They might flee from a gunshot, and it will probably give them a little pause, but it depends on them knowing what it means. In a large enough group, it may do nothing. Warning shots are for bears and cougers. Feral Fido gets lead on the first go.

This is about the only thing IMO more scary than feral hogs. A hog will leave you alone at the least. Dogs will treat humans as prey.

 Grey Templar wrote:


Feral Dogs are a problem precisely because, unlike wild animals, they do not have a fear of humans. Bears are especially skittish unless you get between a mother and her cub.

They might flee from a gunshot, and it will probably give them a little pause, but it depends on them knowing what it means. In a large enough group, it may do nothing. Warning shots are for bears and cougers. Feral Fido gets lead on the first go.

This is about the only thing IMO more scary than feral hogs. A hog will leave you alone at the least. Dogs will treat humans as prey.

Any wild animal that decides people are prey can be a serious problem. Many years ago we lived out in the country and a large feral cat took an unfriendly interest in our toddler. Normally, feral cats are skittish around humans, but in this case, shouting or throwing rocks had no effect. The cat ignored the shouts and simply dodged the rocks while maintaining its sinister vigil. A shotgun ultimately solved the problem.

Happy new year all. I have acquired something I never thought I'd own- a Mateba 6 Unica autorevolver. It's effectively a semi-automatic revolver; everything above the trigger cycles under recoil, recocking the hammer and advancing the cylinder. If that wasn't odd enough, the barrel is aligned to the 6-o'clock position on the cylinder, like on the Chiappa Rhino (which was designed by the same guy, Emilio Ghisoni).

Doesn't have any especially practical purpose, but it is by far the softest-shooting .357 Mag revolver I've experienced. Gotta try .38 Spl next. And re-watch Ghost In The Shell.

 catbarf wrote:
Happy new year all. I have acquired something I never thought I'd own- a Mateba 6 Unica autorevolver. It's effectively a semi-automatic revolver; everything above the trigger cycles under recoil, recocking the hammer and advancing the cylinder. If that wasn't odd enough, the barrel is aligned to the 6-o'clock position on the cylinder, like on the Chiappa Rhino (which was designed by the same guy, Emilio Ghisoni).

Doesn't have any especially practical purpose, but it is by far the softest-shooting .357 Mag revolver I've experienced. Gotta try .38 Spl next. And re-watch Ghost In The Shell.

Wow, I am really jealous of you right now.