Monthly Archives: February 2007

PTR-91 stuff

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So tomorrow I’ll go out and vet the PTR-91. I actually used to own a genuine HK93 carbine when I was a kid. It was a fantastic gun. Never bobbled a round and took abuse like a trailerpark housewife. Sadly, mags were prohibitively expensive even twenty years ago. So, I traded it off for a CAR-15 since mags were only $5. I wonder where that gun is today. It’s the first gun I ever regretted trading off. Sure, there are others I’ve regretted trading off since then but that was the first one. Price? Guy had it for sale in the paper…for $600 I could have had either that or the Uzi. I took the HK figuring it was more practical in terms of accuracy and range.

So why the PTR-91? Well, the CETMEs and various HK clones cobbled together by outfits like Century (especially Century) and Hesse have left me cold. Reviews are mixed but usually negative. On the other hand the PTR’s seem to be getting a good reputation and after examining one it seems like a solid gun. More importantly, I feel that if I have a problem with it the GunPimp will work with me to get it resolved or refund my money. So, just like drugs, it pays to know your dealer.

Anyway, HK91 mags are less than $2 so for $100 I can have at least fifty mags. Put that in another perspective – $100 gets you:

4 M1A mags (if youre lucky)
7 AR-15 mags (new or used)
10 AK-47 mags
10 Ruger 10/22 25-rd. mags
20 FAL used mags (from DSA)
50 HK91 mags

Of course, its not exactly as clear cut a ratio as you would think. To be able to buy the $2 mags you have to buy a $1000 rifle. So which is the better value? The $1000 rifle that takes a $2 magazine or the $500 carbine that takes a $10 magazine? Cant say because then other issues come into play …reliability, ergonomics, parts availability, power, penetration, etc.

So, and I’m sure you can see this conclusion coming, its really subjective. I like the idea of plunking down the greenbacks and in ‘one fell swoop’ getting my magazine supply needs completely filled with excellent condition OEM mags for one crisp $100 bill. In actuality, it’ll be more like 70 mags for $100 but I like round numbers.

So the plan for tomorrow? The good Captain will be bring his genuine pre-ban HK91 and some accessories for it. Ammo will be out of an SA battle pack. We’ll shoot for groups using his HK claw mount with a Leupold of some type in it. Objective is to see if, given same scope and mount, both rifles will shoot groups of equal size. After that it’ll be open sights at fifty yards. Then swapping parts (such as stocks, slings, etc..swapping bolts is never a good idea). Of course, comparative functioning and reliability will be observed as well….distance of ejected brass, perceived recoil, etc, etc.

The Captain was also nice enough to turn me onto a few websites for spare parts and the like. Although the HK has a reputation for handling neglect and not breaking (“The Mexican army carries them if that tells you anything!” – Bostons Gun Bible) I would like to err on the side of caution and I don’t mind spending another $50 for a firing pin, a buncha springs and some pins.

I very much hope this rilfe compares favorably against the genuine article. I want to like it.

PTR-91

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Well, a PTR-91 has found its way into my bunker. Since I already had about 40 HK91 mags sitting here it seemed silly not to have a gun when the mags are less than $2 ea. (And before anyone points it out, yes Im aware of Tapco’s ’50 for $50′ deal. Im also aware its sold out.)

Will shoot it this weekend against a genuine HK91. The barrel is heavier on the PTR so perhapsthe stry I was toldof it being mroe accurate thatn the HK91 is true. Im more concerned to see if it’ll share the HK91’s reliability.

AR group buy info

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I checked out ATF’s various newsletters to check a few things. These days a person can fax a copy of an FFL, rather than snail mail, and that faxed copy can be used as long as its checked against ATF’s ‘ EZCheck website. What this means is that you can have your dealer email a scanned & signed copy of an FFl rather than go through the tedious and laborious process of nagging your FFL into please getting the damn thing in the mail.

I needed to look into this because I really wanted to make this as easy on myself (and you guys) as possible. Obviously, some dealers are in the 21st century and some are not so snailmailing an FFL is fine but emailing one would probably be more efficient.

So…Im going to go ahead and set up the webpage along with a countdown timer. I’ll set March 16th as last day for ordering with the final order to be submited that day. As I said before, it’ll be $102 for a completely stripped lower, or $122 for the same with a letter of non-build to allow completion into a pistol. Shipping will be a flat ten bucks with insurance/confirmation extra. This will include shipping to Alaska and Hawaii as well. Obviously, no orders outside of the US. Any order received w/o an FFL is going to be refunded. I will, however, keep a list of FFLs up that I have received so you can see if one of them is near you. BUT, you’ll have to make sure to okay it with that FFL before anything gets shipped. I dont care when I get the FFL as long as its before the deadline. If you wanna pay for a lower (or three) but youre not going to be able to get the FFL out until you make your biweekly run into the city or something, thats fine….just try to get it in by the deadline. The reason for this is because if I order a lower with your money, and you wind up not being able to get a dealer to take delivery, Im stuck sitting with your lower indefinitely or, worse, having to refund your money and ‘buying’ a lower that I might not want or need (or be able to afford). So order whenever and as often as you like, but if theres no dealer to ship it to by the time the deadline rolls around, youre gonna get a refund. Tip: if ordering more than one, make sure your dealer is very, very clear about if their transfer fee is for each receiver or per order…avoid surprises that way.

I’ll have the page up in the next day or two.

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Last of the Mountain House orders went out today. The replacements for the wrong stuff they sent me arrived yesterday. Everybody should have their stuff by the middle/end of next week.

AR lower group buy possibility?, Sportsmans Guide stuff

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Someone asked about a group purchase on stripped AR lowers, specifically Stag Arms lowers. I hadn’t given it any thought but after running the numbers I’d say that if the interest is there, yeah, its possible. However, AR receivers are much different from a buncha FD’s in terms of shipping. Theres that whole FFL thing to deal with. Here’s some ideas about how it would go:

  • Any order would require an FFL before any stripped lowers could be shipped.
  • Buyer pays any fees that their local FFL requires.
  • Shipping would be a flat $10.00 regardless of number of lowers. One or a dozen, its ten bucks.
  • Insurance/delivery confirmation is at your discretion and expense.
  • There’d be a 3% surcharge for PayPal and credit card payments.
  • Price would be $102 ea. Stripped lower.
  • If you wanted a letter stating the receiver had never been used to make a rifle (so you could then make it into a rifle or pistol) it’s an additional $20 per receiver.
  • Buyer is responsible for making sure their local laws allow them to have AR’s.

I think that would cover pretty much everything. If this were to pass it wouldn’t be until the later half of March. That gives everyone time to free up a couple hundred bucks. If theres enough interest, I’ll go ahead and set it up.
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New Sportsmans Guide HQ (military surplus) catalog showed up today. Two things jumped out at me:
BX7M-107904 – 24 pairs of Trigger Finger Mitten liners $24.97
These things are normally used with the large shells but they work great all on their own. At $1.04 per pair you can leave a pair in your car, backpack, at work, and still have plenty to store away. They also work great with just about any pair of large mittens used as outer layers. Good value on these.

BX7M-103629X – 5 New German Military Pant Liners – $14.97
If you’ve got one of the Flectar parkas I’m always pimping then you’ll recognize these pants as being ‘mates’ to the parka liners. Sizes avail. Are limited to XL,2XL,3XL but European XL may translate to an American large. For $3 a set it might be worth trying.

Food, reloading, Stag AR

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Of the MHFD’s that arrived the other day, fifteen cases were for me & the girlfriend. (Because, really, al my acquisitions now are for me and her rather than just me). So, she see’s the five foot high stack of boxes in the kitchen and says “You know, I think we’re doing okay for food.” I agreed and said it was probably time to move onto something else. Her reply? “Ammo.” Well, you can never really have enough, can you?

Just got back from CostCo with 2 50# bags of rice to replace the pre-Y2K stash that I’ve finally finished. The girlfriend helped me funnel both bags into a 15 gallon blue barrel and didnt think there was a single thing wierd about the whole thing. Anyone else, their wife or girlfriend would roll their eyes and sigh someting about ‘wierd interests’.
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Ordered up the .38/.357 conversion for the Dillon Super1050 today. .38 Special ammo ( and to some degree, .357 Mag ammo) are dirt cheap to load and quite versatile. Plus, I;ve got about a dozen guns here chambered for them. Most of the .38 ammo will get LSWC or LRN bullets for general use. The rest will get 125 or 110 JHPs. The .357 ammo will mostly get 125 and 158 JHPs and some will get heavier bullets designed more for penetration than anything else. Quantity desired? 5,000. One evening with the 1050 will be all it takes.
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Got the dealer package for Stag Arms today. Their lowers are cheap, cheap, cheap and more interestigly, you can pay an extra $20 and get a letter from the factory stating the lower you have was never built into a rifle. This leaves you open to build it into an AR pistol if youre so inclined. If we get another assault weapons ban those ‘pistoled’ receivers would probably be worth more, IMHO, since you vould hten build them into rifles or pistols.

MH arrival

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MH stuff has arrived. If youre local, c’mon down Sunday between noon and 5, or during the week during the same time.

Everything arrived EXCEPT they sent Jamaican Style Chicken w/ Rice insted of Mexican Style Chicken w/ Rice. Theyre sending the correct stuff but if you had the Mex rice in your order its gonna take a few more days. The Mex rice in the ProPak, however, did show up.

Kifaru, MH, Guliani

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Yummy.

Got my Kifaru E&E bag today. I like it alot. Very heavy duty, modular in ways that leave all sorts of possibilities open and fairly well designed. What I really want is a Marauder backpack (in olive drab if anyone is in a generous mood). I like what Ive seen so far in terms of materials and, more importantly, design. Just wish the stuff wasnt so bloody expensive.

The girlfriend has opined (which, not coincidentally, rhymes with whined) that I already have a fairly decent collection of backpacks sitting around here. Like handguns, sex toys and kitchen knives there is no one pack that ‘does it all’. Thus, I will collect as many of the bloody things as I want.
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Toady is Monday. MH supposedly shipped last Friday. I’m guessing it could be here Thursday, but more likely Friday. Believe me, you’ll hear about it here as soon as it gets here.
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Looks like Rudy Guliani is throwing his hat in the ring. I’d expect he’d get the GOP nomination. However, although he’s a better choice than Clinton dont think for a minute that he’s a friend to your rights, guns or otherwise. Remember how they used to say Musolini made the trains run on time? Rudy reduced crime in NYC but read about the cost…the guy was more than happy to wink and nod when it came to cops playing it fast and loose. I’m telling you, kids…..buy ’em cheap and stack ’em deep.
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