billt

Part of the problem with older Mini 14 rifles was in the gas block, along with the way it was attached to the rifle. If you disassemble the rifle and inspect the face of the slide block and the rear of the gas block assembly, you may find that the face of the slide block strikes one side or the other of the gas block, rather than making a uniform and symmetrical imprint. This asymmetrical contact causes fliers. This is the area that was improved. These improvements were part of an extensive retooling operation the entire Mini 14 assembly went through in 2006-2007. Also added during this time were thicker barrels to help prevent opening of groups as the barrel heated up. The result was improved accuracy over the older Mini 14 rifles.

I picked up this pair at a local shop here in town that carries some nice stuff. I've had my eye out for a Long Slide Springfield for some time, and Scottsdale Gun Club has them on their web site, but almost never in stock. Springfield doesn't produce a lot of them, and they tend to go fast when they come in. This gun points beautifully, and the fit and finish is superb. The gun has a nice thick, bull barrel on it which is considerably thicker than other models. It also comes with a ambi safety, and nice adjustable target sights. He had just gotten the Range Officer Model in, and it was the first one I'd ever seen. I had read a few write ups about it, and the gun has been very well received. Anyway we got to haggling, and he made me an offer I couldn't refuse, so both left with me. I think Springfield makes some of the nicest 1911's out there, and these 2 are really nice. I'll get both of them cranked up later this week. I still got to get to the range with the 2 Mini 14's. Most likely that will be tomorrow.

I picked these 2 up a couple of days ago. Both are the newer Tactical Mini 14 Models, one in Stainless, and one in blue. Both are identical except for finish. The blued model has a slightly longer over all length. I have a NRA Edition Mini 14 I got a couple years ago when they came out. It has the Hogue Overmolded stock with the gold NRA Medallion set in the pistol grip. Both of these have the standard synthetic stock. The Ruger Mini's are some of the most pure "fun guns" out there. The blued model came without scope rings and 2, 20 round magazines. The Stainless model came with rings and one 20 round magazine. I'm planning on not scoping them, and running them with iron sights. The sights supplied are adjustable, large aperture, front protected blade type. These newer models have the thicker barrels, along with Ruger's improved method of attaching the gas block that is supposed to help eliminate tweaking and stress in the barrel itself. This caused a lot of the older models to walk all over the target as the barrel heated up from a lot of continuous rapid fire. The newer models are much more stable, and more accurate in that regard. The guns are typical Ruger and built like a tank, and the actions cycle nice and smooth. I've handloaded a ton of .223 / 5.56 MM so I'm anxious to get them to the range next week. The weather is finally starting to break here. It was just 63 degrees this morning. It's time to get out and shoot after a long, hot Summer!

I picked up this Rock River Arms LAR-9, 9 MM AR-15 Carbine last year, and it's been a really good performer. What I really like about it over the Colt is the lower is a dedicated 9 MM. It is machined from solid as a 9 MM, and it doesn't have the magazine block pressed in like the Colt, and as a result magazines, (Colt, C-Products, Pro-Mag), all fit nice and tight with very little wobble. This rifle easily hits 12" steel gong target at my club range out to 200 yards with a little practice. The cost of 9 MM FMJ ammo is affordable enough to where this gun goes to the range with me most every time. Bill T.

I think if they would have based the .357 Sig on the 10 MM Auto case, instead of the .40 S&W, they would have really been on to something. Bill T.

Cartridges like the .38 Super require reloading to achieve their maximum potential. It is much the same with the Weatherby Mark V Magnums. The legal profession has caused ammunition makers to back way down on power levels in factory loaded cartridges. You now have to go to specialty ammo makers like Garrett, Cor-Bon, Buffalo Bore and the like, and pay a fortune, for hot loaded factory ammo with some balls. It is the same with loading manuals. I have Lyman, Speer, and Sierra reloading manuals from the early 70's, and maximum loads were much higher than loads published in the latest manuals. When loaded "to the hilt" the .38 Super can, and in fact does, approach .357 Magnum power levels with the same weight bullet. Bill T.

If you want a hot loaded .38 in the 1911, go with the Super .38. The .357 Sig has nothing on it. The .38 Super has been around for ages. Clyde Barrow used it successfully in many of his get aways. It was designed to run in the 1911 platform, and does so very well. Bill T.

Does anyone own and shoot one? I'm toying with the idea of getting one in the future, but I've heard they can be somewhat temperamental as far as ammo, and reliable functioning. Also I've heard they can be finicky with magazines. Springfield Armory makes a really nice Stainless model, and Rock Island Armory also makes them in a couple of different configurations. The ammo cost is a big plus with them. For someone who really enjoys shooting a 1911, you can do a lot more of it in 9 MM, than with .45 ACP. It is also substantially cheaper to handload for. I've heard nothing but good about the Rock Island guns. Everyone I've talked to who owns one has nothing but praise for both the quality, as well as the functionability of them. Some people shy away from them because they are made in the Philippines, but many of the current line of the Springfield 1911's are made in Brazil by Imbel. Armscor who manufacturers the Rock Island Armory line is known as one of the top firearms manufacturers in the world. I have also heard that the Philippine Army is outfitted with 1911's built by Armscor. They sure as [censored] represent a fantastic value for the money. Most are priced in the high $300.00 range for the standard Mil-Spec version, to the mid $400.00 price point for the Tactical Models that have the goodies like a skeletonized hammer, and Novak sights. Anyway, I just wondered if anyone on the board has some 9 MM 1911 experience they could pass along, good or bad. Bill T.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhxqIITtTtU I'll leave it up to you to try and distinguish which one. Bill T.

I like this new Ruger 1911. It's nice the way they've accented the color of the Stainless with the blued, (or blackened), operating controls. Nice dovetailed Nokack Sights are an additional plus. The street price on this gun will be in the high five hundred dollar area which makes it a real bargain. I'll wait until the availability gets a little better near the end of the year before I pick up one. The Remington R-1 Models took about 6 months before they became plentiful on the market, and prices stabilized. There is a resurgence in 1911 popularity, and not everyone is standing in line to dump 2 grand plus on a new Ed Brown or Les Baer in a rancid economy, so this Ruger will undoubtedly sell very well. Between their SR-556 AR-15 and this new 1911, Ruger is going in the right direction sales wise. Bill T.

It is a Mauser Rifle. I bought it to "collect it", and shoot it. Your being completely ridiculous. Is a fully restored classic car sold at Barrett Jackson deceptive? Why not? Nothing is original. It's all been "sanded and cleaned up". It represents nothing original that rolled out of the factory other than what it is, not was. The guns are exactly what they are, and just like Barrett Jackson, people buy them because that is exactly what they want and like. Guys like you need to get over that fact. It's a big deal to you. It isn't to me and other Mitchell's Mauser owners. We own, and are satisfied with them far more than we would be with some beat up, shot out, old, "original" war relic. You need to stop picking fly $h!t out of pepper and learn to live with that fact. Bill T.

And just how have I helped to deceive anyone? You guys just don't get it. Mitchell's buyers are not "deceived" simply because we don't care about the very thing you continually squawk about. I knew I was buying 2 Yugo M-48 rifles. It wouldn't have mattered if they said they were chocolate covered Swedish Widgets. Give people some credit for God's sake. You people act like if we don't have a "Mauser collector" within arms length before we buy, we're going to get screwed somehow. People buy what they like and want. Mitchell's gives that to a great number of people who want nice, clean, good shooting Mauser rifles. It's as simple as that. Stop trying to make it into this great big underlying thing it isn't. How "deceiving" is it, when most every time I go to the range and uncase my Mitchell's rifles, someone inevitably asks me where I got them? I tell them Mitchell's, not Home Depot. How "deceiving" is that? Bill T.

People who buy from Mitchell's want a nice clean Mauser. They deliver that, period. You can't find cleaner, nicer ones. I tried for years. I, like most Mitchel buyers are not all wrapped up in "historical significance". We want rifles that don't look like they were used as tomato stakes. And judging by the number of rifles they sell, there are a lot of us. The bottom line is this. Mitchell's sells a lot of rifles to a lot of satisfied people who want what they want. This is regardless of how many people who supposedly "know Mausers" say different. They have been very unsuccessful at telling satisfied people they shouldn't be. It's fun to listen to them regardless. Bill T.

If most who bought Mitchell's guns felt there were misrepresented, there would be far more complaints. Most who say they misrepresent aren't buyers of their guns, just criticizers. For what it's worth all numbers on my guns match. Bolt, Receiver, stock, and floor plate. Bill T.

These are 2 Mitchell's Mauser rifles I picked up a few years back. There is nothing wrong with Mitchel's Mausers. People say they overcharge. They don't, and here is why. I scoured gun shows here in the Phoenix area for over 2 years looking for a couple of nice Mauser's. I found none anywhere near as nice as what Mitchell's provides. Most of them were overpriced, beat up, old war relics. Mitchell's provides you with a near perfect rifle. They shoot every bit as accurately as they look. I get compliments on them every time I take them to the range. Everyone wants to know where I got them. The rifles come packaged with all of the accessories including a beautiful bayonet and scabbard, all in immaculate condition. Mitchell's has a top AA rating with the BBB. That isn't because of unsatisfied customers. They also have a money back guarantee on every rifle you buy from them. They delivered my rifles in just 2 days from the time I placed the order. You can look as I did, but you won't find better Mauser's for the price. I know because I looked for almost 2 years, and all I got for my efforts was frustrated. Bill T.

I hate hearing stuff like this. Especially when there is no reason for it. If you contact the company itself and they can't give you a decent explanation, what are you supposed to do? This kind of thing can kill a company. We now live in the information age where this kind of news is transmitted in a heartbeat. You would think because of that these companies would bend over backwards to try to give good, dependable service. Actually the more time goes on, it seems the worse service gets. You would think these companies would catch on, or else they simply don't care. Service in this country has been going downhill for years. Bill T.

In coming up with a number of targets per day, you have to keep things in perspective. 6,000 targets in an 8 hour period would equate to 750 targets per hour. That breaks down to 12.5 targets per minute, or a target every 4.8 seconds. That would be all but impossible to achieve when you consider the actual amount of time required to call for a target, acquire it, and shoot. Now factor in reloading the gun, shooter fatigue, etc. I've shot 400 targets in a day, and I was exhausted afterward. I can't imagine shooting 2,000 plus targets and achieving any kind of decent score simply because of the fatigue factor, and how you would be shooting to get a high round count. A bit like trying to play 18 holes of golf in an hour. Speed alone will effect your score in a negative way. Bill T.

One thing you must remember about the AR-15 as opposed to most other semi automatic rifles, is that it is all but impossible to over lubricate one. Again, the reason for this is it's direct impingement gas system. It tends to blow off much of the lubricant that is applied to the Bolt Carrier Group. Running an AR-15 dry is asking for trouble. The Bolt Carrier Group is easily removed and disassembled, so there is zero reason to "run it dry". I like to use a combination of grease and oil. It tends to stay on the parts longer, providing better overall lubrication in the process. I grease the 4 rails the Bolt Carrier itself rides on, as well as the Cam Pin and Bolt. I then use oil over that. By using a combination of the 2 it allows the grease to slightly thin out and get into all of the areas that require lubrication. The grease also helps the oil to stay put better. These three products will keep any AR-15 rifle running slick as snot for years, and all three cost under $20.00 at most any auto parts store. The fancy Hypo type applicators can be gotten at most any pharmacy for .50 cents or less. I've even had them given to me for the asking. And the nice thing is they are refillable. Bill T.

I'm currently shooting 2 new Springfield M1-A rifles. A NRA Camp Perry Edition National Match, and a SOCOM-16. Both are fantastic shooting rifles. I would recommend purchasing new over used. The reason is with a used gun you don't know what type of ammo it has been fed. These rifles can be damaged by shooting the wrong kind of ammo in them. Hunting ammunition, for example, that has been loaded with slow burning powder can damage the gas system and bend the op rod. Springfield even publishes a list of what type of ammunition should not be fired in them. If you buy used you have no way of knowing. Besides, the used ones are not that much cheaper. At least not the ones I have seen. That to me would be of more importance than the parts, of which there is no quality issue with in the new models. The guns run fine. Bill T.

I don't know if by "Black Plastic" you are refering to the AR-15 or the Beretta CX-4 Storm, or all of the above. With that said I have a Rock River Arms LAR-9, 9 MM AR-15 Carbine that is a fantastic shooter. It has the standard black furniture, but they do make wood furniture, (buttstock, forend and pistol grip) for AR-15's if you wished to go that route. This gun is a lot of fun and it is easy to hit targets out to 200 yards with it quite easily. Bill T.