Astro14

I had my HRA (a 55XXXXX serial number that came from the CMP with a TE of 1 and ME of 1) out at the range just a couple days ago...and just finished cleaning it up a few minutes ago. Went shooting with a former fighter pilot friend of mine - who's never shot a Garand before. shocking...but true...and we brought my new 1911...to make it a complete "greatest generation" appreciation day... Happy New Year! Astro

Kimber makes a fine pistol...glad you're enjoying it!

Tom, Clevy and others inspired me...and I thank you for doing so... This is the rifle that Mrs. Astro got me for Christmas. It shoots very well. Not crazy recoil, but you feel it, about like a 1903 Springfield...I'm using the Prvi Partizan 7.5mm FMJ, which I got for $15/box. I only bought 10 boxes...but now wish I had bought twice that as it seems to be out of stock... Love the straight pull action. It works smoothly when moved with "authority"...baby it and it seems notchy...I used TW-25B grease as the only waffenfett I could find was more collector's item than gun care product. Cleaned the rifle when I got it, and of course, the patches came out quite black...reckon that was the Automattenfett...a bit of Linseed oil on the stock and she looks just great.

I bought that Gerber tool...but have yet to use it...just tucked in the MagPul grip of my AR-15... I've got to clean my AR soon, and I'll try it out! Cheers, Astro

The greatest battle implement ever devised! I enjoy shooting mine...it will always be among my favorites. Mine isn't anything special in terms of collectibility. It's an H&R built in the 50s, with a 6,XXX,XXX serial, but it is a CMP rifle that my brother got me for my 50th birthday...so it will always be special to me.

I'm looking for gun grease that is equivalent to Waffenfett, the Swiss Army grease used for the K31 rifle (among others).Background: for Christmas, Mrs. Astro is getting me a Swiss K31 rifle. I've downloaded the Swiss Army manual for the rifle, and it's quite particular that only grease should be used.The grease of course, is Waffenfett, which is used to clean the bore, lubricate the straight pull action, and to wipe down both the metal and the stock (!). Since it's used on the wood, walnut in this particular case, beech in later models, I reckon that it can't be petroleum based. That would harm the wood.I've seen a few European websites that sell it, but nothing here in the US. I've only found it on EBay as part of historical/collector surplus Swiss Army cleaning kits. So, what's the US equivalent? Or, alternatively, where can I buy it here?Thanks in advance,Astro

I'm about to join you guys in the K-31 owner's club. More on that when the rifle shows up (OK, it'll be under the tree on 25 December)...in the meantime...I'll start a thread about lubricating this rifle, and look forward to hearing from you guys. Cheers, Astro

Are you certain that she wasn't inspired by Katness Everdeen from " The Hunger Games"? My youngest picked up a bow about the same time... But she also enjoys shooting a Glock 19 and an AR-15.

I've noticed that there are starting to be some upscale (clean, new, professional) shooting ranges in various parts of the country and one just opened in my current town of Virginia Beach. They've got 4 bays of shooting lanes. What's nice about the place is the layout: big, open, carpeted, well-lit in the showroom and the shooting bays have electronically controlled targets, which can be programmed to face/turn, bulletproof glass between bays, great ventilation, climate control, and best of all, a Range Safety Officer. Most of the ranges in town are small, poorly lit and ventilated, concrete floors, and not as supervised as they should be. That layout and price point seems to attract the Mall Ninjas...and it isn't always a pleasant shooting experience. The price per visit is $20/lane, but a membership allows you to reserve a lane (no showing up, seeing all the other folks and standing around for a few hours). My wife and I signed up for a year, paid in advance. Just the ability to reserve a lane is worth it to us, both busy/professional folks who don't have time to stand around hoping to get a lane, but the whole atmosphere and experience is really nice. I wonder if this is a trend? Better atmosphere = better clientele and a better experience? http://www.colonialshooting.com/vab/

I think that the key point is this: it should be a gun that she regularly shoots and one that she is comfortable with. To me, that means a simple manual of arms: safeties and other complex weapon features will not serve her well should she find herself in need of a firearm. The stress of that situation makes it difficult to remember any manual of arms (safety, racking slides, etc.), so I think simple is best for defensive use. Power in a cartridge is meaningless if she can't consistently get those rounds on target. 9mm is a good choice, as it's controllable for most folks. I regularly shoot an H&K USP compact in .40S&W...pretty good recoil, but I am most comfortable with that gun because I've put several thousand rounds through it. I've also got a 10mm Glock, even with full power loads (Buffalo Bore JHP) I find it easy to shoot, but I would not place it in the hands of my wife or daughter. So, good pistol recommendations include the 9mm Glock models, a .357 revolver (6" preferred and loaded with .38 SPL if recoil is a concern), or any other DAO/Striker pistol that she shoots well. My wife is a bit of an exception. She's military, so she has spent a lot of time at the range with the M9 service pistol. When it came time to get her first gun, she went with what she knew and was comfortable with. My younger daughter tried out several pistols when she learned to shoot. Glock 17, Glock 19, S&W 5906, and the Beretta 92. She liked the Glock 19 the best of those and she shoots it well. A word on training: get as much of it as you can afford. Punching holes in paper at XX yards does little to prepare a person for a gunfight. My three kids, for example, got a demo/lecture on function and safety in the house on Day 1. On Day 2, we went to a training range (laser only, computer scored, military facility) and learned the basics of sight alignment, trigger control using the M-16 and M-9 (with some time reserved for silliness with the M-240 and M-2) without the smoke, noise, or recoil of live fire. On Day 3, we went to a range. All that training has enabled them to shoot well. However, even though they are really good at hitting a target, I would not consider them prepared for an actual defensive encounter with a firearm. Training for that should include: 1. Education on the rule of law on the use of force in her jurisdiction. 2. The basics of weapon operation and malfunction/clearing, e.g. tap & rack drills, reload drills. 3. Extensive practice in reaction/speed shooting. Training to shoot quickly and accurately in response to a command/threat presentation. 4. Judgement shooting, shooting using a scenario training range/simulation that requires determination of threat, identification of innocent/friendly. Shooting a gun is one thing...but being actually prepared to use it effectively and wisely is quite another...

My wife likes her Beretta 92 in 9mm. Still her favorite. My 14 year old daughter prefers the Glock 19....when she's not shooting an M-4 style AR-15...

Finally found some Russian surplus ammo after trips to 4 stores and took the Mauser out yesterday. Worked just great! My aging eyes are, once again, the limiting factor with iron sights and yes, if I want reasonable hits, I will have to replace the front sight. It hits 2" left at 50 yards, but he groups were reasonably tight and by holding just a bit right, was able to hit the bull a few times. From the looks of it, it's led a hard life. Well from now on, it will lead an easy life of being kept clean, resting in a safe, and being taken out once in a while to the range. A good retirement for an old soldier...

Update: on the range with the Springfield yesterday - what fun! Recoil is mild, frankly. I was on the 50 yard range and at 50 yards, I could dial in the windage, but had to hold about 15" under the target to hit it. I used the buckhorn part of the sight, and the peephole with the sight blade up and the blade as low as possible...seemed about the same for hits. I was more accurate with the peephole. There is a definite jump and delay when the hammer falls...lots of moving mass, I suppose...but hits were good, given how I was aiming... In deference to her age, I only put 20 rounds through, but they were enough to get a feel and get dialed in. I used Ultramax cowboy action loads, 405 GR cast bullets, about 1100 fps. Actual black powder-level loads with cast (not jacketed) bullets are hard to find at the moment. This was the only box I could find in trips to 4 different stores, but I've got some on back order at Midway. Thanks for all your tips and notes, sure made it easier to understand what I was doing on the range. Cheers! Astro PS - was with my stepson, and we had a mix of old and new. I had the Turkish Mauser and this was the other rifle we had with us: http://www.dpmsinc.com/AP4-308762-NATO_ep_125-1.html Sure interesting to see the evolution of a battle rifle...if I had brought the Garand, we would have had every step along that evolutionary arc...

Thanks Barry! I'll keep your advice in mind!

Had the Springfield checked out by the local gunsmith. The guys there were appreciative of its condition (good wood, no dings or cracks, no rust, original) and liked the Buffington sight (they all knew what it was). So, one of these days (and soon) I will take the old girl out to the range and I will keep in mind your experience with targets at 100yds... Cheers, Astro

Local gunsmith checked it out, headspaces correctly for 8mm Mauser, bore looks good (he was surprised). From what I can tell, it was reworked in Ankara (arsenal) in 1935 but the parts all look like they're older. Front sight is frozen, so windage may be an issue when I take it to the range, but I am looking forward to shooting it...at least a few times...

Thanks - will check it out. Arrived today, but I won't get a chance to try it out for a bit. Cheers, Astro

While in Florida past week (vacation) I came across a Turkish Mauser rifle. 8mm chambering, a bit of pitting in the bore, rifling looked sharp, and bore looked straight. Action was very smooth. Stock is beat up but complete and original, and I would call this one in fair condition. I bought it ($100, a memento of a very enjoyable trip). I realize it probably has limited collectible value - I just thought it was neat. I intend to take it to the range once in a while (I will choose loads on the lighter side in deference to its age). and otherwise, simply give it a good home. So, before it arrives (I had it shipped), what do I need to know about these?

Happy New Year!

Just finished this book, http://www.glockthebook.com Fun read. I too am a fan. Reliable, ergonomic, simple. I own 6 Glocks.

Quite a rifle. Would love to give it a try...but shouldn't this be in the bolt action section?

Actually, Gaston Glock was in the metal fabrication business. Which included bayonets supplied to the Austrian Army...that's how he came to know of the new pistol contract being considered....

These guys perhaps? http://www.columbusmachine.com/oprod.htm

Thanks Barry - I appreciate you taking the time to go through that. The rifle functions well - throws brass at about 2:00. I used Mobil 1 synthetic grease on it and it seemed to operate smoothly. I specifically used the American Eagle 150GR M1 ammo - don't want to overstress the rifle... I've joined the CMP forum, lots of good discussion there. It was the flat spots on the main spring that caused me concern, and I will replace it soon. Will set up the account on Orion 7 and start there, including the mainspring and a combination tool. Got a gas cylinder wrench from Amazon - aluminum bar stock cut to hold the cylinder and barrel - so I don't mess that up. I will have to read up on the fit there, just a teeny bit of play in the front sight, not sure if that's because the lugs on the barrel are worn, or the fit is off in the gas cylinder lock. Sight has been good. Manual that came with the rifle made a point of that as well. Didn't field strip the sight, didn't reckon that it needed it... Not too worried about "all matching"...just wanted a good shooting example of that rifle...and though this is my first, I don't think it will be my last...hey, this hobby is cheaper than my car hobby (I would say, like Garands, you can't have too many Packards, but that can run into money...)... So far, it's been a great rifle - a great present. Thanks again for all the information. Cheers, Astro

Since carrying one in AOCS (Aviation Officer Candidate School....think "An Officer and a Gentleman" with Richard Gere), I've wanted an M1 Garand. I have even bought and read Hatcher's book on the rifle's history. So, for my 50th birthday, my brother and mom sent me a check, with which I bought my first Garand. It arrived from the CMP a few weeks ago, an H&R Service grade, throat and barrel measured out at 1, some dings in the stock, some missing finish on the trigger guard and op rod tip and overall, I couldn't be more pleased with what I got. Field stripped it (with the Gunny's words of 27 years ago describing the parts echoing in my head), cleaned up all the preservative, greased it and took it to the range on the day it arrived. 56 rounds of American Eagle 150gr M1 ammo later, all I can say is, WOW....what a lot of fun. Some moderate but smooth recoil, lots of noise, good accuracy and smooth function. Yep, my thumb is still intact, in case you were wondering. So, my questions for this group: Best source for parts (main spring looks worn, would like to replace)? Best source for maintenance/cleaning/lubrication practices? Any recommendations on either owning or shooting one? Thanks in advance for your help. Astro