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A Good Article about what to do with Guns & Ammo after a Flood

NSSF: What to Do with Firearms and Ammunition Affected by Flood Waters

(Editor’s note: For our Texas readers who’ve survived Harvey and for our Florida readers now staring down the barrel of Irma, the NSSF and SAAMI put out some solid advice for those who may attempt to restore firearms or salvage ammo that has been exposed to water.)
Firearms owners who have seen their guns and stored ammunition submerged by flood waters in storm-wracked areas are probably wondering if their firearms and ammunition can be salvaged and safely used.
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute® (SAAMI®) and National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) point to two helpful documents containing guidelines to assist gun owners in making sound decisions related to safely handling and treating or disposing of these items, emphasizing to always err on the side of caution and safety.
SAAMI, founded in 1926, is an organization that creates and publishes industry standards on firearms and ammunition. NSSF is the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry.
The SAAMI document “Guidance on Firearms That Have Been Submerged or Exposed to Extensive Amounts of Water” points out two major concerns about firearms that have been exposed to water: parts susceptible to moisture and rust damage such as metal parts, wood stocks and grips, and optics; and, secondly, infiltration of the action, barrel and safety systems by grit, silt and other foreign debris.
Always unload firearms before beginning any treatment process.
It’s important to limit moisture and corrosion damage to the component parts of the firearm. This can be accomplished by disassembling the component parts and using up to two coats of a moisture-displacing lubricant such as Hoppes #9 MDL or WD-40 to clean and stabilize the parts while, importantly, following the product’s directions so as not to damage, for instance, plastic or synthetic parts. Another tip is to allow wood stocks and grips to air-dry and not be force dried by exposure to heat.
The document emphasizes that once the firearm has been thoroughly dried, consideration must be given to having the firearm inspected and serviced by the manufacturer, an authorized service center, or a qualified gunsmith before putting the firearm back in service.

Dealing with Submerged Ammunition

To help firearms owners determine what to do with ammunition that has been affected by water and moisture, SAAMI offers another helpful document, “Guidance on Ammunition That Has Been Submerged in Water.”
Discussed are differences in moisture resistance between centerfire, rimfire and shotshell ammunition, and potential hazards associated with “drying out” cartridges, including possible deterioration and damage to cartridges due to drying methods.
Another serious hazard that could result from using compromised ammunition is the potential for a bore obstruction due to partial ignition of either the priming compound or the propellant powder charge, or both. Firing a subsequent round through an obstructed barrel can result in bodily injury, death and property damage.
SAAMI provides the following cautionary conclusion: “It would be impossible to ascertain for certain the extent of the deteriorating affect, if any, the water may have had on each individual cartridge. Therefore, the safe answer is that no attempt be made to salvage or use submerged ammunition. The ammunition should be disposed of in a safe and responsible manner. Contact your local law enforcement agency for disposal instructions in your area.
Resources:
Guidance on Ammunition That Has Been Submerged in Water
Guidance on Firearms That Have Been Submerged or Exposed to Extensive Amounts of Water
About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.

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Only In America -Legally Buying a MG

I found this on the Web one day. So I thought I would share it you.
Sadly until I move out of the People’s Republic of California & back to America. I will not be able to follow thru on this myself.
 
Grumpy
/www.thegunwriter.com/14837/how-to-buy-a-machine-gun/

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/02/17/how-to-buy-a-machine-gun/
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/05/21/machine-guns-legal-practical-guide-full-auto/

How To Buy A Machine Gun – YouTube

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The Awesome Long Range .22-250 Remington

Image result for 22-250 rifle
Your standard Remington 700 in 22-250. Its a great rifle after you make sure that the trigger group is squared away.
Or if you really want to go “Whole Hog” then. You do a whole lot worst than with a High Wall in the caliber.
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Image result for 22-250 ammo
So way back when I was in University, which was a hell of a long time ago. I started to hear and read about this round. That & a few like minded classmates of mine. Told me about what they had experienced with it.

  Now I am very skeptical type of person. So of course I did not believe all the stuff that I was told about this round by these folks.
  As the years passed by & I started my career at pretending to be a School Teacher. I slowly was able to start buying more & better guns.
So one fine day. While out doing the Saturday errands. I stopped by one of the Local Gun Emporiums to see if there was anything worth looking at.
  Where of course, the owner had set up a crafty ambush for me and my wallet. In that he would put up in a prominent place. What he called the Special of the Day Deal.
  So in I go and almost automatically turn my eyes to this spot. This time the gun in question was a Ruger Number 1 in surprise! 22-250. It was also outfitted with a nice Redfield Scope. All this for around $900.
 Well there went my allowance for while!
Image result for ruger # 1 in 22-250
  But let us move on to the Range and what i found out. For once my friends from College were not so full of brown sauce. Now granted that the Number 1 is a fine rifle. Two I was able to get my hands on some really good hand loads.
  It was really the first time that I was able to put a couple of rounds in an area the size of a quarter. Now I know that there are a lot of good shots out there reading this. But for me it was a very nice feeling to be able to do this myself.
(Pity that I gave it to the Son & Heir for a gift. But he lets me shoot it when ever I want to. As he is the best kind of Son)
  What it is good for out in the field?
  I would not recommend it for shooting anything bigger than a small wild boar. The round also is very hard on the meat. That & it can create some really awesome looking wounds.
  But if you want to do some serious long distance shooting like at Coyotes or Ground Squirrels. Then you could do a whole lot worse than this round!
https://youtu.be/jYf607xz1rM
Now for some technical information that is better written Than I could do.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
.22-250 Remington
22-250 Remington.JPG
Type Rifle
Place of origin USA
Production history
Designer Grosvenor Wotkyns, J.E Gebby & J. Bushnell Smith
Designed 1937
Manufacturer Remington
Produced 1965-Present
Variants .22-250 Ackley Improved
Specifications
Parent case .250-3000 Savage
Case type Rimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter .224 in (5.7 mm)
Neck diameter .254 in (6.5 mm)
Shoulder diameter .414 in (10.5 mm)
Base diameter .469 in (11.9 mm)
Rim diameter .473 in (12.0 mm)
Case length 1.912 in (48.6 mm)
Overall length 2.35 in (60 mm)
Rifling twist 1-12, 1-14
Primer type Large rifle
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
40 gr. (2.6g) BT 4,224 ft/s (1,287 m/s) 1,585 ft·lbf (2,149 J)
50 gr. (3.2g) SP 3,945 ft/s (1,202 m/s) 1,728 ft·lbf (2,343 J)
55 gr. (3.6g) SP 3,786 ft/s (1,154 m/s) 1,751 ft·lbf (2,374 J)
60 gr. (3.9g) BT 3,580 ft/s (1,090 m/s) 1,708 ft·lbf (2,316 J)
64 gr. (4.1g) Power Point 3,500 ft/s (1,100 m/s) 1,741 ft·lbf (2,360 J)
Source(s): Hodgdon [1]

.22-250 Remington maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters (mm) / Imperial (inches).

The .22-250 Remington is a very high-velocity (capable of reaching over 4000 feet per second), short action, .22 caliber rifle cartridgeprimarily used for varmint hunting and small game hunting, though it finds occasional use on deer.[2] This cartridge is also sometimes known as the .22 Varminter or the .22 Wotkyns Original Swift.[3]Along with the .220 Swift, the .22-250 was one of the high-velocity .22 caliber cartridges that developed a reputation for remote wounding effects known as hydrostatic shock in the late 1930s and early 1940s.[4][5]

History[edit]

The .22-250 started life as a wildcat cartridge developed from the .250 Savage case necked down to take a .224 caliber bullet. In the early days of the cartridge there were several different versions that varied only slightly from one to the next, including one developed in 1937 by Grosvenor Wotkyns, J.E. Gebby and J.B. Smith who named their version the 22 Varminter.[3]
The .22-250 is similar to, but was outperformed by the larger .220 Swift cartridge. However, it is in much wider use and has a larger variety of commercially available factory ammunition than the Swift. This makes it generally cheaper to shoot. The smaller powder load also contributes to more economical shooting if a person is doing their own reloads. Despite common myths regarding longer barrel life on a 22-250 vs the Swift or other calibers, that is directly related to shooter habits, allowing the barrel to cool between volleys and the speed of the bullet, an important factor for high-volume shooters. Both the Swift and the 22-250 shoot at very similar velocities and bullet weights so barrel wear when used and cooled equally is identical between the two calibers. Due to its rimless case the 22-250 also feeds from a box magazine with ease.
In 1937 Phil Sharpe, one of the first gunsmiths to build a rifle for the .22-250 and long time .220 Swift rifle builder, stated, “The Swift performed best when it was loaded to approximately full velocity,” whereas, “The Varminter case permits the most flexible loading ever recorded with a single cartridge. It will handle all velocities from 1,500ft/s up to 4,500ft/s.”[6]
Sharpe credited the steep 28-degree shoulder for this performance. He insisted that it kept the powder burning in the case rather than in the throat of the rifle, as well as prevented case stretching and neck thickening. “Shoulder angle ranks along with primer, powders, bullets, neck length, body taper, loading density and all those other features,” he wrote. “The .22 Varminter seems to have a perfectly balanced combination of all desirable features and is not just an old cartridge pepped up with new powders.”[6]
Accuracy was consistently excellent, with little need for either case trimming or neck reaming, and Sharpe pronounced it “my choice for the outstanding cartridge development of the past decade.” He finished by saying he looked forward to the day when it would become a commercial cartridge.[6]

Commercial acceptance[edit]

In 1963 the Browning Arms Company started to chamber its Browning High Power Rifle in the .22-250, at the time a wildcat cartridge. This was a risky yet historical move on Browning’s part as there was no commercial production of the .22-250 at the time. John T. Amber, reporting on the development of the Browning rifle in the 1964 Gun Digest, called the event “unprecedented”. “As far as I know,” he wrote, “this is the first time a first-line arms-maker has offered a rifle chambered for a cartridge that it—or some other production ammunition maker—cannot supply.” Amber foresaw difficulties for the company but “applauded Browning’s courage in taking this step”. He said he had his order in for one of the first heavy-barrel models, expected in June 1963, and added, “I can hardly wait!”[6]
Two years later in 1965 Remington Arms adopted the .22-250, added “Remington” to the name and chambered their Model 700 and 40 XB match rifles for the cartridge along with a line of commercial ammunition, thus establishing its commercial specification.[7]
The .22-250 was the first non-Weatherby caliber offered in the unique Weatherby Mark V rifle.

Military acceptance[edit]

Both the British Special Air Service and the Australian Special Air Service Regiment used Tikka M55 sniper rifles chambered in .22-250 for urban counter-terrorism duties in the 1980s, in an attempt to reduce excessive penetration and ricochets.[8]

Performance[edit]

Typical factory-loaded .22-250 Remington can propel a 55 grain (3.56 g) spitzer bullet at 3,680 ft/s (1122 m/s) with 1,654 ft·lbf (2,243 J) of energy.[9] Many other loads with lighter bullets are used to achieve velocities of over 4,000 ft/s (1,219 m/s), while still having effective energy for use in hunting small game and medium-sized predators.
The .22-250 is currently the fastest production cartridge, surpassing the .204 Ruger. This round is loaded by Hornady under their Superformance line and is a 35 grain, non-toxic, fragmenting varmint bullet at 4450 feet per second (1356 m/s) from a 24″ barrel.
It is particularly popular in the western states of the USA where high winds often hinder the effectiveness of other varmintrounds in prairie dog hunting. Many states in the USA have minimum caliber restrictions on larger game such as deer, although most states do allow the cartridge to be used for big game.

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Israel & Guns

**************
Trigger warning! Some Serious Bragging coming up!

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     About 10 years ago. My wife up and told me that we were going on a tour of Israel. Okay says I and off we went.
  To say that it was a trip and a half would be an out right lie. It was easily one of the best vacations that I ever took in my life period.
Now after taking one of the longest flights ever in my life. With a lay over at the Paris Airport. (Where I was very careful to not make any Frog Jokes. The Wife was impressed by my self control for once.)
  We got there in the middle of night at the Tel Aviv Airport. Now I was expecting a very serious hassle to get into the place. Instead all we got was having your passport stamped and out the door to the Cab.
  On the other hand, getting out of the country can be a real experience. As they take their security real seriously. It took us 2 plus hours just to get on the plane home.
  Now I am not going to give the usual blah blah about the place. Or go into the incredibly complex political problems.
  But instead here is what I saw as a Gun Lover.
  In that it seemed to me. That everyone had a gun on them. It was like here with us & our Cell Phones. That and the large variety of weapons carried around was huge.
  From standard issue Gali Assault Rifles, a whole lot of M-16′ s, a M-1 carbine at Masada, To a Browning Hi Power, a whole lot of Berettas and even a Glock or two.
  But strangely enough I never did see an UZI Submachine Gun while there. Go figure!
Image result for uzi
  The other thing was the total acceptance by society of having folks carrying guns. But then Israel is still kind of a Frontier Society. Because it is located in a very tough neighborhood.
   Some other things I like to share with you. Since almost every one was really nice to me & the Wife.
   Since I pretend to  being a “Veteran”. (I still wear a high & tight) The locals once they knew this were very friendly to me. As almost everyone there is drafted into the Army after High School for a couple of years. Even the women!
  The also asked a lot of questions about the US Army. So it was a real ice breaker. Since we were able to have a common experience to share. Then things could branch out from there.
  Also the Israelis that I met were a lot of fun to be around. They are not as hard nosed as some folks believe. They can even be some real jokers at times. Once they know you.
Image result for israeli people
  But when push come to shove they can be as hard as nails. Which can happen in a New York second.
  Another couple of hints if you go. As an American you can join the Israeli Defense Force. A lot of folks have & I have not heard anything bad about it either.
    Also do not go there like we did during the Summer time. It’s like the Hottest & most Humid place. I have been to outside of Mississippi. You just have to feel it to believe it.
  Also do not order a Bacon Lettuce & Tomato Sandwich for obvious reasons. But they do have some great beers there. They even have Coronas Beer.
  The food is pretty good too. The only strange thing is that you can have a salad for breakfast there. (There are a lot of vegetarians there)
Again go figure but it’s their country!
Here is some stuff that helps you get a feel for the Gun Culture of the Place.
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I am willing to bet that is one Teacher who has no discipline Problems with her Class
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You will see this a lot over there!
As a lot of the kids are on leave and the Army encourages them to take their guns with them.
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This place has some of the best beaches that I have ever seen by the way. As they also have some great views!
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Bottom line about this place.
I would go back again. But not during the Hot Season.
Hopefully I will be able to soon.
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Now here is a Rifle in 223 Remington. That I would want!

The Rifle that is shown below here. Is a Ruger M77 Mk II Heavy Barrel Rifle chambered in 223.
Hopefully someday I can…..
A. Afford it
B. Find one to buy (They are might scarce around here in the People’s Republic of California)
 
Image result for Ruger M77 MKII .223 Rem
 
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Image result for Ruger M77 MKII .223 Rem
Come on Lottery or Some Kind Soul donates some money to the cause!
*Hint there is a place to donate at the bottom of the page!*

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The Ruger # 1 Rifle

 

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  By Now you know doubt have figured out. I really like this Rifle. That & to be totally frank with you oh gentle reader. I really do  think that Bill Ruger was totally inspired to bring this forth in the Mid 60’s.
  In that it is one very pleasing to the eyes rifle. Since there is a total symmetry to it and I will not go on about the ergonomics of it.
  It is like a classic painting or a great looking car. One more dash of paint or line & it would of be ruined. But it wasn’t!
  Another thing that just entered into my feeble mind. Is the matter of engineering. In that with this kind of action. Is that you really can put just about any caliber into this series of gun. From little tiny rounds like the 22 Hornet to all the way up to the “Guns of Navarone” caliber.
 Inline image 2
 (Note to younger readers, Its a great Movie by the way !)
But let us move on folks!
  Image result for ruger #1
  Then there is the ego thing about it. Since when you go to the range and uncase it. All of a sudden a lot of folks will start looking in your direction. As it seems to say. “Hey I only need one shot! That and I can afford it.”
  Also generally in my experience. Ruger wisely decided to put some of the best looking wood that I have ever seen on them. For me at least is is very important for me. As I just hate plastic on general principals.
  But best of all. This rifle for me at least so far. Has been one of the most accurate ones that I have bought right out of the box. Especially with the smaller calibers. Like the 223 or the 22-250 for example.
Image result for ruger #1
  Now is this the perfect rifle? No not really. It does have a few issues that come to mind.
 The 1st being that they are VERY expensive. The cheapest one I have bought so far set me back $700. (It was a 458 Win Mag for my Son’s College Graduation present)
  The other thing is this. Now I do not know about you. But every one of these pieces that I have been around.
  Is that they have the most inadequate and HARD recoil pads. That I have ever seen so far.
  So off to the Gun Shop for a tuneup for you. Even the 22-250 got a new pad. (Yes I am that big a pussy now a days, when it comes to recoil !)
Image result for ruger #1 recoil pad
I could not even dream about shooting a big round like this. With the ridiculous recoil pad that is shown here. It would be a case of No way Jose!
Now here is some more info on this rifle and other technical stuff

Ruger No. 1

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ruger No. 1
Ruger no1 243 right open.jpg

Ruger No. 1 rifle (with underlever down to open action)
Type Falling Block Rifle
Place of origin United States
Production history
Designer Bill Ruger
Designed 1966
Manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
Unit cost $1299[1]
Produced 1967 – present[2]
Variants Standard, Varmiter, Light Sporter, International, Tropical, Medium Sporter.
Specifications
Weight 7 pounds (3.2 kg)[1]
Length 36.5–42.5 inches (93–108 cm)[1]
Barrel length 20–28 inches (51–71 cm)[1]

Cartridge Various (see article)
Action Farquharson-Style Hammerless falling block
Sights none, or open sights

Sturm Ruger Ni. 1 falling block action

The Ruger No. 1 is a single-shot rifle, with Farquharson-styleinternal hammer falling block action, manufactured by Sturm, Ruger. It was introduced in 1967.[3] An underlever lowers the block allowing loading and cocks the rifle. Lenard Brownell, commenting on his work at Ruger, said of the No. 1: “There was never any question about the strength of the action. I remember, in testing it, how much trouble I had trying to tear it up. In fact, I never did manage to blow one apart.”[4]
A shotgun-style tang safety works on the hammer and sear. Available with an Alexander-Henry, Beavertail, or Mannlicher style forearm in a multitude of calibers.

Available cartridges[edit]

Over the years, the No. 1 has been chambered in several different cartridges, among them .204 Ruger.22 Hornet.218 Bee.222 Remington.223 Remington.22 PPC.22-250 Remington.220 Swift6mm PPC6 mm Remington6.5 Creedmoor.243 Winchester.257 Roberts.25-06 Remington.264 Winchester Magnum.270 Winchester.270 Weatherby Magnum6.5mm Remington6.5×55mm6.5×284 Norma7×57mm7mm-08.280 Remington7 mm Remington Magnum7mm STW7.62x39mm.308 Winchester.30-30 Winchester.30-40 Krag.30-06 Springfield.303 British.300 Winchester Magnum.300 H&H Magnum.300 Weatherby Magnum.338 Winchester Magnum.357 Magnum.375 H&H Magnum.375 Ruger.38-55 Winchester.404 Jeffery.405 Winchester.416 Remington Magnum.416 Ruger.416 Rigby.45-70 Government.460 S&W Magnum.458 Winchester Magnum.458 Lott9.3×74mmR and .450/400 Nitro Express

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The Broom Handle Mauser – C96

Related image
Image result for The Broom Handle Mauser - C96
  Now I have been lucky enough to shoot two of this pistols in my life so far. Both of which were chambered in 9mm Luger.

  To say that this is a very strange and somewhat sinister looking Pistol is pretty much on the mark. Because it does look very weird. That & it never has been adopted by any of the major powers as its standard side arm.
  But on the other hand. It has soldiered on, throughout the world. It was with a very young Lt. Winston Churchill in the Sudan. To the Russian Secret Police in the emerging Soviet Union . Who used it to liquidate its enemies of the Revolution.*
Image result for young winston poster
  Its was also very popular with the White Russians.  This gun was also widely used in the Chinese Civil War and WWII. Sadly most of them were melted down. Especially when Mao took over China.
  Now to the other points that I have observed about it. First off the good news.
  In that I thought it shot very well for a 80 plus year old gun and design.
Image result for The Broom Handle Mauser - C96
  I also liked the fact that it had a very good trigger and the sight picture was better than the same era gun – The German Luger.
Image result for the luger pistol
  That & it just looks like one very serious & bad ass gun.
  I also found that they are fairly accurate with few misfires or stove pipe jams.
  But if one is to use the wooden stock though. This somehow cuts down dramatically the problems of feeding. I just wish I knew why.
Image result for The Broom Handle Mauser - C96
  Now for the not so good news. If you do not have the stripper clip for it. You can easily get a minor version of M-1 Garand thumb. When you are trying to load it one round  after another one. Generally is not a good idea to do it.
   RIGHT! Now moving right along. Another “issue” is cleaning this puppy in the field. Is well, Let us say it’s very challenging task to say the least. Also to reassembling it, that can be a nightmare too.
  Since almost every one of them is a hand made gun. With some really tight tolerances. Also it should be mentioned about the amount of machining that it took them. It must of been a staggering number of man hours to comprehend.
  But they are a beautiful gun to behold. Because of the workmanship showed on them Even most of the Chinese knock offs are very good. All things considered.
This cut away picture shows the huge amount of machining and designing that went into the invention of this. The 1st reliable Semi Auto Pistol.
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You had to use a steel stripper clip to load this Red Nine WWI Broom handle. Since this gun came in both 30 Mauser & 9 MM Luger.
So a Large 9 was cut into the grips and painted red. So that a busy trooper, Would not hopefully use the wrong ammo in it.
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Here is also a pretty good U Tube Video about the C-96
also a video about disassembly that might be useful to somebody.
Now from Gun.com a well written Piece about the C-96

A Sweeping History of the Mauser C96 Broomhandle Pistol

It’s one of those guns that turns heads and a great number of shooters over the years, from soldiers to generals from directors to royals, have holstered the unconventional C96  ‘Broomhandle’ Mauser to seemingly elicit this very response from would-be onlookers. Yet, aside from its design choices (and, as we’ll see, flaws), the C96 pistol, chambered in either 7.63x25mm or 9mm Parabellum, was a considered one of the best sidearm options out there when it first debuted in 1896.  The reigning high velocity pistol of its day, the world would not see a hotter handgun until the introduction of .357 Magnum cartridge in 1935.  And around the turn of the century, it seemed like just about everyone, from Germany to China, was making them.

The Gun That Mauser Didn’t Want Made

Despite the name, Paul Mauser did not design the Mauser C96. Credit goes to the Feederle brothers, Fidel, Friedrich, and Josef.  Fidel was a higher up in one of Mauser’s workshops and he and his brothers worked up a prototype in this facility (without the knowledge and then against the wishes of Fidel’s big name boss) for what they called the P-7.63 or Feederle Pistol.
Paul Mauser C96 Handgun Pistol
In spite of his reservations about the broomhandled handgun, Mauser was a businessman first (as it turns out, most gun tycoons are) and, with the oddly alluring design finalized in ’96, he put the pistol into production at his Oberndorf-Necker factory in Germany.  Originally called the “Mauser Military Pistol” (in hopes of courting lucrative military contracts) not a single country’s armed forces adopted it as their primary sidearm—though this didn’t stop Mauser from continuing production of the weapon until 1939 as the gun caught fire on the commercial market in other countries.
The first group to truly embrace the pistol were British officers and this was largely the fault of legendary British gunmakers Westley Richards, who imported and resold C96s for private purchase (usually from military personnel).  This lead to a taste for imported Broomhandles among the middle and upper classes and the C96 sold out in its first year of manufacture.  It would maintain this pace right up until the start of WWI.

Description and Variants

C96 Mauser Handgun Pistol
The first C96s were pure, albeit unorthodox, handguns—a box magazine in front of the trigger, a longer barrel and the namesake grip that to some eyes is shaped like a broom handle. It came with six, 10, or 20 round magazines and, because the muzzle velocity was so high, the gun was “approved” out to almost a 200 foot maximum effective range.
Later models however began to sprout various odd appendages such as wooden shoulder stocks that doubled as carrying cases or holsters or lengthened or widened the grips and barrels.  Indeed, the length of the barrels in some models was so long, some derivative could be considered carbines. Other variants included, in addition to the shoulder stock/case, holsters that would accommodate a host of strange assortments like spare clips, cleaning tools or other survival gear.  Some examples even have clips on the weapon to attach accessories.
The very first military model was produced in 1912 and used throughout World War I. It had a barrel length of 5.51 inches, and was one of the derivative models that sported a shoulder stock and brown leather holster. The military models originally fired the 7.63mm rounds, but the demands of the war forced makers to upgrade to the more powerful 9mm Parabellum rounds. Those models had a large red number 9 engraved into their butts (and are among the most collectible C96s). They weighed 2.69 pounds, had 10-round straight-box magazines, and had a muzzle velocity of 1,420 feet per second for the 9mm rounds.
Some C96 variants even had fully automatic capabilities but the rate of fire was so high on auto that a 20 round magazine was gone before the shooter could bring the weapon to bear on a downrange target.  Handguns are not well suited to fully auto firing mode as the recoil pushes the muzzle upwards even in the hands of an expert and the ammo was usually spent before you could arrest the muzzle climb. On semi-auto it was a different story as the pistol performed very well when fired singly or with bursts of two or three rounds.

Around the World from Germany to China

Mauser manufactured approximately one million C96 pistols between 1896-1939 but that number does not reflect the unknown thousands and perhaps millions produced in Spain and China.  These figures have been largely lost to history because of poor record keeping from manufacturers in these countries.
C96 Mauser Handgun Pistol with Stock
The list of wars and colonial insurrections that this weapon saw service in would make your eyes to glass over but notably it was carried by Winston Churchill in the Battle of Omdurman, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, T.E. Lawrence (a.k.a. Lawrence of Arabia) during his adventures in the Middle East and of course Han Solo  (Lucas chose the C98 as the design for Han’s DL-44 Heavy Blaster in the Star Wars Trilogy).
The biggest end user ended up being China, initially during the Chinese Civil War and eventually as a military and police staple. In China the C96, now called the Shanxi Type 17, was unique in that it was chambered in .45 ACP and nicknamed the ‘box cannon’ (盒子炮) due to the square shape of its internal magazine and the fact that the weapon was carried in its own “box”, actually a holster that doubled as a detachable stock. Other famous Chinese models were the Hanyang C 96 and the Type 80. The Spanish names were the Astra Model 900 and the super rare “Royal” MM34 machine pistol.

Swept Into the Dustbin of History

When the gun worked, it was a formidable weapon, but glaring design flaws held the gun back as shooters began to favour other modern semi-automatics. The first stumbling block (and the one from which all other problems stemmed) was the devices damnably complicated cartridge feeding system.
Rounds were fed into the magazine in front of the trigger mechanism from above by means of a strip clip. This system was clumsy but functional. The real problems came during the intricate set of internal processes that had to be performed before a casing could be ejected and the next round chambered.
C96 Mauser Handgun Pistol with Stock
Like many handguns, the bolt slid to and fro in a barrel extension.  Upon firing the weapon however (or more accurately pulling the trigger through), a locking assembly underneath the bolt would seal off the breech through a system of tongues.  Delaying the bolt movement delayed the action by a split second and was meant to keep the chamber closed until any built up pressure had dropped to a safe level. After that, the bolt was allowed to move back in order to carry out the cycle of extracting and ejecting the spent round casing, and then reloading and recocking the weapon for subsequent use, courtesy of a return spring.
It sort of boggles the mind. For what it’s worth, the gun did work, it just took a very long walk to get there and this extremely complicated cartridge feed system caused so many problems in the field (field maintenance was almost out of the question) that it eventually led to the military model’s demise.
The second reason was the cost.  Seeing how convoluted the mechanics of the gun were, it should come as no surprise the Broomhandle was downright expensive to manufacture.  So expensive in fact it was totally cost prohibitive to equip any sizable number of ground troops with them (and contributing to the fact that the C96 was usually an officers gun).  When military brass moved on to designs like the Colt 1911, the Broomhandle began its steady decline in popularity.

The Trials of Collecting the C96 Mauser

C96 Mauser Handgun Pistol Case Collector
As mentioned earlier, the C96 was mass-produced not only in Germany but also in China and Spain, presenting a veritable minefield for the unwary historian or collector.  The first issue a prospective collector has to contend with is this: Mauser never licensed the Chinese and Spanish versions, making these “unauthenticated” models less desirable on the collectors’ market than ones made in Germany (though this is not to say a foreign made Broomhandle, like the rare Spanish Royal, is worthless).
Complicating things further is this cold hard fact: all of Mausers records burnt up in 1945 when the Allies took Germany, meaning even the Germans have a hard time authenticating whether a C96 was actually made in the Faderland.  Still, this doesn’t mean collecting Broomhandles is fruitless or a money pit.
For starters, because there were so many produced and so little documentation to support them, Broomhandles are usually priced to move in shops and can be found at auctions and gun stores at reasonable prices.  Second, there actually are indicators on the pistol that can determine the date and the country of origin.  For example, if you come across a Mauser C96 with a faded red number 9 engraved into the butt, you’ve just found an original example from the 1912 run and easily a $10,000 handgun. Finally (and once again because of the guns proliferation and lack of identifying paperwork) historians acknowledge that there are still Broomhandle pistols carried by historical figures that are known to exist but are currently floating around “lost” on the market. The gun carried by Emperor Selassie, for example, is still out there and would fetch a pretty penny at auction.
Accordingly, new collectors would do well to close read their history books when evaluating a C96 for purchase.
Some other Technical Info that I found on the Net.
* This is a Very Shocking use of the Broomhandle in the Terror of the Early Days of the Soviet Union. I still can not believe how calmly these folks went to their deaths all the while knowing its their last moments on Earth.
https://youtu.be/HUrz9id6hks

Yeah, yeah I know! You thought I forgot about Hans Solo and his gun. While here it is a highly reworked & very tired C-96. That was brought over from a English Studio for its part in Star Wars.
Inline image 4

https://youtu.be/la7uuFsCIrg

Attachments area
Preview YouTube video Mauser C96

Preview YouTube video Mauser C96 Broomhandle Tutorial disassembly and reassembly

Preview YouTube video Chekist – Чекист ‘1992’ Russian film (Eng-Subs) ‘P1’

Preview YouTube video Han Solo Kills Greedo (Original)

Categories
All About Guns

Why I keep on buying Sporterized Bolt Action Rifles

Forums.NitroExpress.com
 
Why I keep on buying Sporterized Bolt Action Rifles – You Will Shoot Your  Eye Out

    Some how it seems that I have never been really loaded down with bags of excess bags of cash. Not I am not complaining about it.
  I also really respect those folks who thru hard work and even harder thinking have done so. More power to them is all that I will say.

  So while I have a couple of Model 70 Winchester locked away. I even have a Pre -64 one too. Which I can honestly say that they are very fine rifles and always shoot true for me.
  But the majority of my rifles in the safe are either modified Mauser 98 or the modified 1903 Springfield’s Rifles . So why do you ask is this so?
  Well here goes the old fool again.
  As the Sainted Col. Townsend Whelen* said once a long time ago. “The only interesting rifle is an accurate one”.
  I also know for a fact that he owned a piss pot full of Sporterized rifles. Before he sadly passed away long ago to a well earned trip to Gun Writers Valhalla.
 Even today if one keeps a sharp eye open. It is still possible to buy a nice sporterized 1903 Springfield or Mauser 98 for under say $600 U.S.D. Sometimes even less if the Gun Gods are happy with you.
  Now try doing that with any of the modern bolt actions that are up for sale lately.
  Like for example  a Browning or say a Model anything Winchester or even a Ruger. If you do so then well done my boy & the first round is on you!
  As it seems that most of these new rifles are now being price at over $1500 or better. With no frills or whistles and with a plastic almost everything on it nowadays.
    Now since I do not know how its is in your neck of the woods. But where I come from. That is one hell of a pile of money & not a good deal for Joe six pack.
  Now this is what I have done in the past. I also hope that it can continue for me & you also.
Related image
 As usually I have to do the following things to it for it to become a solid shooter.
1. Give it a good cleaning.
  I do not know why! But a lot of  folks never clean their guns. But then I use this against them. When I am bargaining with the seller. Yes I am shameless whore when it comes to money at times.
2. I almost always have to replace the recoil pad.
  As you can guess by now.  I am very allergic to steel butt plates for some silly reason.
3. I put in a Timney trigger in place of the original trigger system.
  It just amazes me how much of a difference this makes at the range. Bottom line it’s usually money very well spent.
4. Up grade the scope and have it bore sighted.
  This is service is usually free if I buy it at a shop. It will also save you a lot of time and ammo when you zero in.
  Now there are some good outfits that put out some fine rifle scopes. I myself am partial to BSA. But to each his own. But then I myself just cannot afford Leupold Scopes or Zeiss ones either.
Image result for bsa rifle scopes
 Now if you want something a bit different. Like say another caliber.
  You can do this with a sporterized 1903, 1917 Enfield or 98 rifle. As I have either owned , shot or seen many variables of calibers in a custom rifle.
For Example – 22-250, 220 Swift, 243 Win,. 7×57, 35-06, 308, 6.5 Swede. And a lot of other calibers that I can not remember right now.
  Now if you really have some desire to build a real muscle gun. A 1917 Enfield has one of the strongest action ever made.
Image result for 1917 enfield sporterized
  So you can rebarrel it for some mighty big calibers. If you want to go down that road.  Like the 458 Win Mag for example.
  But hopefully someone else has done the deed beforehand and now you can profit from this.
Image result for custom mauser 98
******WARNING, WARNING WILL ROBINSON!!!*******
   This is where some serious cash can be spent.In my experience I have spent a thousand dollars on one barrel redo alone.
  Should I have done it? God alone knows. But now I have a 6.5 Creedmore, a 220 Swift and a 243 Winchester that will shoot better than I ever could.
How about you?
  Well that is between you and your wallet. So I shall leave it there for you to decide.
Bottom line – If they are well taken care of. These rifles will be on the firing line for the next century or two. Since their are made of good Steel & Wood.
  They also have the Mauser extraction system built in them. So that you will never really worry about ejecting a spent cartridge.  They are also very tough and reliable.
  Plus it is a one of a kind rifle. That will get the job done and done right. If the person behind it has the right stuff!
  The only major problem might be in getting ammo for them. But that is not an insurmountable one to a motivated Americans.
Image result for custom 1903 springfield
* The Good Colonel was a real Wild man in his times. My Uncle gave me his Magus Opus Book “Mr. Rifleman” to me back in Xmas 1969. I still have it and I am still learning things from him and it.
  Which probably means two things . I am not too bright and two it’s one hell of a book.
Image result for mr rifleman book cover townsend whelen
Categories
Other Stuff

One of the Funniest Lists about the US Army

Sadly I ran across this List well after the Army & I had a very amicable divorce. But none the less, It really captures some of the spirit and humor of Presidents Reagan’s Army.
 
I hope that you like it
Grumpy
 
 

Image result for the 1980s us army funny meme

Skippy’s List: The  things Skippy is no longer allowed to do in the U.S. Army

Explanations of these events:

a) I did myself, and either got in trouble or commended. (I had a Major shake my hand for the piss bottle thing, for instance.)
b) I witnessed another soldier do it. (Like the Sergeant we had, that basically went insane, and crucified some dead mice.)
c) Was spontaneously informed I was not allowed to do. (Like start a porn studio.)
d) Was the result of a clarification of the above. (“What about especially patriotic porn?”)
e) I was just minding my own business, when something happened. (“Schwarz…what is *that*?” said the Sgt, as he pointed to the back of my car? “Um….a rubber sheep…I can explain why that’s there….”)
To explain how I’ve stayed out of jail/alive/not beaten up too badly….. I’m funny, so they let me live.
The some of the 213 Things….
1. Not allowed to watch Southpark when I’m supposed to be working.
2. My proper military title is “Specialist Schwarz” not “Princess Anastasia”.
3. Not allowed to threaten anyone with black magic.
4. Not allowed to challenge anyone’s disbelief of black magic by asking for hair.
5. Not allowed to get silicone breast implants.
6. Not allowed to play “Pulp Fiction” with a suction-cup dart pistol and any officer.
7. Not allowed to add “In accordance with the prophesy” to the end of answers I give to a question an officer asks me.
8. Not allowed to add pictures of officers I don’t like to War Criminal posters.
9. Not allowed to title any product “Get Over it”.
10. Not allowed to purchase anyone’s soul on government time.
11. Not allowed to join the Communist Party.
12. Not allowed to join any militia.
13. Not allowed to form any militia.
14. Not allowed out of my office when the president visited Sarajevo.
15. Not allowed to train adopted stray dogs to “Sic Brass!”
16. Must get a haircut even if it tampers with my “Samson like powers”.
17. God may not contradict any of my orders.
18. May no longer perform my now (in)famous “Barbie Girl Dance” while on duty.
19. May not call any officers immoral, untrustworthy, lying, slime, even if I’m right.
20. Must not taunt the French any more.
21. Must attempt to not antagonize SAS.
22. Must never call an SAS a “Wanker”.
23. Must never ask anyone who outranks me if they’ve been smoking crack.
24. Must not tell any officer that I am smarter than they are, especially if it’s true.
25. Never confuse a Dutch soldier for a French one.
26. Never tell a German soldier that “We kicked your ass in World War 2!”
27. Don’t tell Princess Di jokes in front of the paras (British Airborne).
28. Don’t take the batteries out of the other soldiers alarm clocks (Even if they do hit snooze about forty times).
29. The Irish MPs are not after “Me frosted lucky charms”.
30. Not allowed to wake an Non-Commissioned Officer by repeatedly banging on the head with a bag of trash.
31. Not allowed to let sock puppets take responsibility for any of my actions.
32. Not allowed to let sock puppets take command of my post.
33. Not allowed to chew gum at formation, unless I brought enough for everybody.
34. (Next day) Not allowed to chew gum at formation even if I *did* bring enough for everybody.
35. Not allowed to sing “High Speed Dirt” by Megadeth during airborne operations. (“See the earth below/Soon to make a crater/Blue sky, black death, I’m off to meet my maker”)
36. Can’t have flashbacks to wars I was not in. (The Spanish-American War isn’t over).
37. Our medic is called “Sgt Larwasa”, not “Dr. Feelgood”.
38. Our supply Sgt is “Sgt Watkins” not “Sugar Daddy”.
39. Not allowed to ask for the day off due to religious purposes, on the basis that the world is going to end, more than once.
40. I do not have super-powers.
41. “Keep on Trucking” is *not* a psychological warfare message.
42. Not allowed to attempt to appeal to mankind’s baser instincts in recruitment posters.
43. Camouflage body paint is not a uniform.
44. I am not the atheist chaplain.
45. I am not allowed to “Go to Bragg boulevard and shake daddy’s little money maker for twenties stuffed into my undies”.
46. I am not authorized to fire officers.
47. I am not a citizen of Texas, and those other, forty-nine, lesser states.
48. I may not use public masturbation as a tool to demonstrate a flaw in a command decision.
49. Not allowed to trade military equipment for “magic beans”.
50. Not allowed to sell magic beans during duty hours.
51. Not allowed to quote “Dr Seuss” on military operations.
52. Not allowed to yell “Take that Cobra” at the rifle range.
53. Not allowed to quote “Full Metal Jacket “ at the rifle range.
54. “Napalm sticks to kids” is *not* a motivational phrase.
55. An order to “Put Kiwi on my boots” does *not* involve fruit.
56. An order to “Make my Boots black and shiny” does not involve electrical tape.
57. The proper response to a lawful order is not “Why?”
58. The following words and phrases may not be used in a cadence- Budding sexuality, necrophilia, I hate everyone in this formation and wish they were dead, sexual lubrication, black earth mother, all Marines are latent homosexuals, Tantric yoga, Gotterdammerung, Korean hooker, Eskimo Nell, we’ve all got jackboots now, slut puppy, or any references to squid.
59. May not make posters depicting the leadership failings of my chain of command.
60. “The Giant Space Ants” are not at the top of my chain of command.
61. If one soldier has a 2nd Lt bar on his uniform, and I have an E-4 on mine It means he outranks me. It does not mean “I have been promoted three more times than you”.
62. It is better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission, no longer applies to Specialist Schwarz.
63. Command decisions do *not* need to be ratified by a 2/3 majority.
64. Inflatable novelties do *not* entitle me to BAQ or Separation pay.
65. There are no evil clowns living under my bed.
66. There is no “Anti-Mime” campaign in Bosnia.
67. I am not the Psychological Warfare Mascot.
68. I may not line my helmet with tin foil to “Block out the space mind control lasers”.
69. May not pretend to be a fascist stormtrooper, while on duty.
70. I am not authorized to prescribe any form of medication.
71. I must not flaunt my deviances in front of my chain of command.
72. May not wear gimp mask while on duty.
73. No military functions are to be performed “Skyclad”.
Categories
Uncategorized

Maintaining a proper Military Bearing

Now I know that this will not amuse a lot of Officers and Senior NCO’s. But Oh well!