Drivin down to Monroeville, tommorrow I'll go to the PGCA gun show. Haven't been there since last march, something's just gotten in the way of each one. Now I'm looking to study some Enfields, CZ-52s, AKs, ARs, AR parts, and other fun stuff.
In honor of this occasion, here's a song I wrote back at the end of the Clinton administration, to the tune of "The Gambler".
You got to go to the gun show
Buy lots of ammo
Forget Janet Reno,
Just buy what you please
And if they try to fight
Pull out the Bill or Rights
Take the good old Sec'n Amendment
And shove it in their face.
__________________
Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
Well my main goal was to look and learn. And I got to look at almost everything I'd wanted to.
I got to check out some Gibb's Enfield Carbines, including the 45/70, all except the one with the nickel finish. I got to see what sort of unrecessed boltface they have. I got to see some 1917s in person, worked the action a little, and basically got to look them over. I recently got interested in Enfields, and had not previously thought to look them over or what to notice about them. Strangely enough, I don't really think they're my cup of tea, after all my thoughts of getting special ones and freakishly converting them. Maybe I'm just too used to the Mauser type actions. The only Enfield action I found comfortable was the Summit Carbine in 45-70. Strange. But maybe the other one I tried was a fluke.
I checked out a Nagant carbine and was impressed with how smooth the action was, and how one can ease down the firing pin by hand. I think I may go for a full length 91/30 or so.
There was a MAS 49/56 in 308 that said it had new springs and a modified gas system, suggesting it's an improvement over the questionable conversions out there. At $200 it was tempting, but the basic truth is that I have absolutely no need for one. Would be a cool thing to have just to check out and compare, but I have more important gun-goals.
Also saw a Czech VZ-52 in 7.62x45mm for $200, also tempting, but also something I really had no use for, especially having no idea where to find ammo for it.
I searched all over the place for a CZ-52 to czech out (ha ha, pun?), and finally found one among a few Makarovs. I found the Maks a little more comfortable than I remembered them, but having nothing near the balance of compactness and substantiality that my Steyr has. The CZ-52 definitely looked respectable, though the barrel axis was a little high for my tastes (I'm a barrel axis nazi, spoiled by my Steyr and apalled by Smith and Wessons) and the grip was a little short for my gorilla hands. If only they made grip extensions for CZ-52s. I hope they become as popular as Maks, cause with the same aftermarket accessories they could be sweeet. I guess the Maks are more popular cause they're better for CCW. Anyone tried the CZ-52 with a laser site? If I got one it would be target and varmint only.
A guy gave be a nice demo of a recoiling FAL bayonet, where it moves with recoil as to not change the point of aim. I almost picked up a FAL bayonet and flash hider combo to put on some bolt gun, but I have no idea what bolt gun, so I didn't get it. Maybe next time.
One rifle I was considering was/is a generally standard double stack AK. SAR-1s were at a minimum of $350 at several tables. I thought about it. The toughest decision was on a stamped Norinco long barreled version, they didn't know whether it was an NHM-91 or a MAK-91. It was offered at $400 private sale. It had a Choate stock set. And it was painted in a camo finish. But I don't want camo finish. I found the bipod setup pretty attractive, but I couldn't tell whether it would help or hinder accurate shooting. It had a standard AK rail on the left of the receiver. And its muzzle had some threaded band over it that screwed off to reveal a threaded muzzle. Well that was an a ttraction and a worry. It could mean having an illegal weapon, even though no one buyinh or selling did anything illegal to it. I could supposedly strip it down, then have a good muzzle brake welded on, but that would take time during which I couldn't use the gun I paid for, and I'd have to pay money for a brake and the welding. And I really didn't like the camo finish, So I'd end up spending time and/or money refinishing it. Not something I'd be averse to, but when it all added up, I just couldn't justify it. I had to think pretty hard though. The bipod setup would have been great if it didn't hinder accuracy too much. So after stopping back to look and suggesting I might wanna haggle though not giving any numbers, and after they told me they could only take cash (sensible, being private sale), I ended up leaving the gun show without it.
Other sights were a de-milled 1917 Enfield that could be made operational if rebarreled, restocked, and cleaned extremely much. Saw a few good prices on Pre-Ban Mini-14s (<$600). Saw an AR-180b. Oh yes, and i got to handle a Beretta Storm. EXTREMELY light weight. Everything seemed smooth about it. Too pricey for me, and not filling a need of mine, but it seemed like a good gun for some people. Saw some good prices on pre-ban AKs, but I didn't really have need of them nor could I justify the price, however good, when I gould get the functional equivalent for less. Did see a pretty new Hungarian Arsenal AK. I like the edged handguards they have. Saw a Tanker Garand in 308 for $650. Saw a *******ly sporterized 1917 in 30-06 - why sporterize it in the original caliber? Arrrgh!
I saw a guy demonstrating the AK and AR LULAs - very cool, my girlfriend wanted to get me one for Xmas, but I told her not until I was sure what guns and corresponding mags I would have in the near future.
I didn't get to see any MP-153s or IZH-27s, EAA shotguns I've been looking at. Nor did I get to do some of the AR-15 examinations I wanted to. That'll have to wait till next time, but that's ok, because I'll be alone next time. Today I came with my girlfriend, who needed to be cared for, ie fed and otherwise sustained, as she can't substitude gun-gawking for food as some of us can.
So what DID I buy? For GunGeek's 22nd birthday, I bought him two boxes of CCI 22 Velociter ammo for About $3 each. For myself I bought a $15 Czech VZ-24 bayonet for my Czech M98/22. Not the same model, but it was long, befitting of my full length Mauser.
I think last gun show I spent more on food than in the show. Today I think it broke about even.
__________________
Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
Hey, you guys should be flattered I didn't buy some of the stuff I was looking at, because I know I could do better. The CZ-52 was in the $160s, I know I could just order one from AIM or somewhere like that and pay less overall. I started liking Mosin Nagants more, and there may be one in my future, also obtainable for less money. As I said before, unless the one was a fluke, I should leave Enfields to those who like them instead of freakishly converting them. Though I may go for a Gibb's Summit in 45/70. I dunno. Maybe I should force myself to become a lever action guy.
The NHM-91 (as I presume it was) was very very very tempting, but in the end I think I'd spend more making it into what I wanted it to be, when I should just do that in the first place to a Saiga. So barring a great deal on a better one, I think a homedone Saiga conversion will be my AK. Or maybe my first AK. We'll see.
__________________
Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
WELL WHAT DID DOKTOR FRANKENGUN FIND??? 
we need details!
:lucky: :cheer: 
