Firearms XIV - All the Calicos Are Over There - General

[QUOTE=Grenadiac;51492726]Awesome find! What'd you pay for it? Looks like it's in great shape, especially by Chinese import standards. I don't see any aggressive pitting on the usual spots.[/QUOTE] I paid $1k- which I think (it's hard to tell with how prices fluctuate) is rather high for a refinished/rechambered mismatch. The gun show where I normally find my weird stuff overcharges like crazy on WW1/WW2 stuff (Nagant revolvers for $900 [I]are you fucking kidding me[/I]), and none of the local gun shops or pawn shops have anything of the sort, so I decided to just bite the bullet and pay Gunbroker prices. Now that I think about it, I don't even know for sure if it's Chinese, I just assumed it is because it's been mixed, reblued, and rechambered for 9mm typical of the imports. [QUOTE=Grenadiac;51492726]If it's just the frame and barrel that are mismatched, you shouldn't have any of the reliability issues endemic with Chinese imports. Tear it down when you get it and see if the lockwork is all numbered to the frame and that the bolt and bolt stop are numbered to the barrel. Also pull the grips, there's a serial number on the inside of each panel. Knowing how much of a frankengun it is will be helpful when it comes to diagnosing any issues it may have. A lot of the 70s and 80s Chinese imports were imported in parts bins and assembled at random and since these are hand-made, hand-fitted guns you can imagine how that caused problems.[/QUOTE] Yep, gonna go over it with a fine-toothed comb. The seller says the barrel and frame is one serial number, and all the lock frame parts are another, so I'm hopeful that that should minimize the amount of incompatibility issues. I've also read about the rust issue with the grips so I'm going to check them, but I'm planning to replace the grips with a modern repro pair with the thicker grooves for the sake of looks and comfort. I also ordered a set of Wolff springs that I intend to throw in right from the outset, just to minimize wear and tear. [QUOTE=Grenadiac;51492726]Be careful putting it back together because there's some component (I can't remember which) that can go in upside down. If that happens and you put it back together that way, it won't come apart again and a gunsmith will have to drill through the frame to free it.[/QUOTE] I read about that, I was planning to follow [URL="http://askmisterscience.com/1896mauserbackup/disassembly.htm"]this guide[/URL] but now I can't recall which part it is that I need to be careful about. Edit: [url=http://askmisterscience.com/1896mauserbackup/jam.htm]Found it[/url]. After the three-hour nightmare of reassembling my Calico's trigger pack, I'm going to be [i]very[/i] cautious with this gun. [QUOTE=Grenadiac;51492726]Let me know how it shoots. I almost envy people with 9mm brooms because they're so much easier to get ammo for, but then again I wouldn't modify mine for a million bucks.[/QUOTE] Thanks, I'm pretty excited. The only thing that I'm concerned about is that I totally forgot to ask whether it has an intact stock slot, and the pictures don't show. I have a stock I got with the intent to use it with an airsoft M712, but if this one has the slot then I'll definitely be using the stock for it.

I added a bunch of stuff to that post so make sure you're caught up :v: I want to say $1000 is high, but I'd be lying, that's about bottom of the barrel for a broomhandle in good shape, so you got a good price. I paid $900 for my matching, bringback German broom but that was nothing more than luck. Bolos run way lower. A local shop had a complete broom that was found in a stream and super super heavily pitted for $700 and it [I]sold[/I] in less than a week. The Wolff springs are a good call, I forgot to mention that but really that's the first thing you should do with [I]any[/I] broomhandle. Number one reliability issue with brooms is worn out springs. Mangled stock slots are the exception, not the rule on C96s. You're more likely to find a stock with a cut iron than a pistol with a deactivated slot. Good find once again. I don't know if I'll ever be as giddy again as I was when I got mine. You won't regret it, unless the bolt flies out and lodges in your brain.

[QUOTE=Grenadiac;51492840]You won't regret it, unless the bolt flies out and lodges in your brain.[/QUOTE] Hah, yes, going to try to avoid that one. Per your edit, I will definitely be examining the bolt stop for peening- I was going to buy a replacement right off the bat, but then read that most of the bolt stops sold online are taken from other Mausers and consequently also used, so figured it'd be kind of pointless to replace a bad one with another bad one. I'll be taking vanity shots when it comes in, so I figure I might as well take a shot of the bolt stop too and solicit your advice on whether it needs replacement.

[QUOTE=DaCommie1;51481698]I just called Nikon to find out where my scope is, they gave me tracking info, and the tracking info tries to claim Purolator attempted delivery on Friday. Horse shit they did. Now it says it missed a connection (what connection could it possibly miss if it's only going to one place, which is the downtown sorting hub?) and that they'll attempt delivery tomorrow.[/QUOTE] Hello DaCommie1, Our apologies for this incident. Could you please email me your tracking number? I'll look into this for you. Regards, Vincent Social Media Coordinator / Customer Care Team Purolator Inc. E-mail: [email]customer.care@purolator.com[/email] [url]www.Purolator.com[/url] Follow us on Twitter: [url]http://twitter.com/purolatorhelp[/url]

[QUOTE=catbarf;51492872]Hah, yes, going to try to avoid that one. Per your edit, I will definitely be examining the bolt stop for peening- I was going to buy a replacement right off the bat, but then read that most of the bolt stops sold online are taken from other Mausers and consequently also used, so figured it'd be kind of pointless to replace a bad one with another bad one. I'll be taking vanity shots when it comes in, so I figure I might as well take a shot of the bolt stop too and solicit your advice on whether it needs replacement.[/QUOTE] One more thing for now - don't use those cheap 8 round clips. I see people selling these for C96s all the time, even some reputable dealers like e-sarco: [url]http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/mauserc96broomhandle8rdstripperclips-originalmilitary.aspx[/url] They are Soviet clips for 7.62 Tokarev and will ruin your clip slot. Invest in real C96 clips. I buy mine from Numrich: [url]https://www.gunpartscorp.com/ad/1105090.htm[/url]

[QUOTE=catbarf;51492872]Hah, yes, going to try to avoid that one. Per your edit, I will definitely be examining the bolt stop for peening- I was going to buy a replacement right off the bat, but then read that most of the bolt stops sold online are taken from other Mausers and consequently also used, so figured it'd be kind of pointless to replace a bad one with another bad one. [/QUOTE] You might want to talk to a gun smith or a machinist to make a replacement one before you fire it.

[QUOTE=Lone_Star94;51492969]You might want to talk to a gun smith or a machinist to make a replacement one before you fire it.[/QUOTE] Like I said, I know a guy who machines new ones I think UncleJimmema was also looking into making new ones. If the stop isn't visibly damaged, it is fine to shoot. I still have the 101 year old factory original stop in mine, numbered to the rest of the gun. If they have visible cracks or peening they need to be replaced, otherwise there's no reason to.

Wow, thats neat. I havent seen a support person come to fp in a long time.

[QUOTE=Grenadiac;51492956]One more thing for now - don't use those cheap 8 round clips. I see people selling these for C96s all the time, even some reputable dealers like e-sarco: [url]http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/mauserc96broomhandle8rdstripperclips-originalmilitary.aspx[/url] They are Soviet clips for 7.62 Tokarev and will ruin your clip slot. Invest in real C96 clips. I buy mine from Numrich: [url]https://www.gunpartscorp.com/ad/1105090.htm[/url][/QUOTE] I had skipped those 8rd clips because it seemed dumb to use 8rd clips in a 10rd gun, but I didn't know they weren't even for the same gun. Funny you should link those ones on Numrich, because yesterday I placed an order for ten of them, qualifying for their bulk discount and bringing the price down to $3.55 apiece. I was a little bit concerned that modern Chinese repros might not work as well as originals, as that's been my experience with rifle clips (Chinese Mosin and Enfield strippers are a total pain in the ass). Do the C96 ones work well or are they a struggle to load? [QUOTE=Lone_Star94;51492969]You might want to talk to a gun smith or a machinist to make a replacement one before you fire it.[/QUOTE] Well, I'll definitely check its integrity, but I think replacing one that looks fine would be overkill. The originals aren't known for having bad metallurgy, so should show peening long before experiencing a failure. New springs should help too. If there's any doubt about it though I'll be getting a replacement.

Mine work fine, they are made like the original clips including fire blued springs. I would only like them more if they were brass instead of steel like the WW1 era clips. Yes, the guys selling those 8rders are just trying to get rid of junk by passing it off as something else. It's pretty dishonest. I had some which I quickly stopped using because they didn't feel right in the gun, and later when I bought some 7.62 Tok surplus I found the rounds loaded on those exact clips and it all made sense. Speaking of which, if you do ever reline to 7.63, don't mind people saying 7.62 Tok blows up your gun. It doesn't - this is a myth but there is some truth to it. In the 80s there was a bunch of surplus Czech ammo available. People with cheap mismatched shot-out 80s Chinese imported C96s with weak springs bought the cheap 7.62 Tokarev ammo to run in them. Czech ammo runs hot sometimes due to manufacturing variations and can cause bolt stops to fail in cheap mismatched shot-out 80s Chinese imported C96s with weak springs. If your gun is in good condition and you aren't firing dirty surplus 7.62, it won't hurt it. The bullets are the same diameter and are nominally loaded the same, it's just that the Russians rounded down to 7.62 and the Germans rounded up to 7.63. The C96 is a very strong action capable of handling immense pressures. No C96 in good working order should have anything to worry about from any ammo you can cram into the chamber. :v:

[QUOTE=PurolatorHelp;51492917]Hello DaCommie1, Our apologies for this incident. Could you please email me your tracking number? I'll look into this for you. Regards, Vincent Social Media Coordinator / Customer Care Team Purolator Inc. E-mail: [email]customer.care@purolator.com[/email] [url]www.Purolator.com[/url] Follow us on Twitter: [url]http://twitter.com/purolatorhelp[/url][/QUOTE] Holy shit I forgot about this account. The scope arrived yesterday anyways so it doesn't really matter anymore.

[QUOTE=Grenadiac;51493210]Speaking of which, if you do ever reline to 7.63, don't mind people saying 7.62 Tok blows up your gun. It doesn't - this is a myth but there is some truth to it. In the 80s there was a bunch of surplus Czech ammo available. People with cheap mismatched shot-out 80s Chinese imported C96s with weak springs bought the cheap 7.62 Tokarev ammo to run in them. Czech ammo runs hot sometimes due to manufacturing variations and can cause bolt stops to fail in cheap mismatched shot-out 80s Chinese imported C96s with weak springs. If your gun is in good condition and you aren't firing dirty surplus 7.62, it won't hurt it. The bullets are the same diameter and are nominally loaded the same, it's just that the Russians rounded down to 7.62 and the Germans rounded up to 7.63. The C96 is a very strong action capable of handling immense pressures. No C96 in good working order should have anything to worry about from any ammo you can cram into the chamber. :v:[/QUOTE] I did a fair bit of reading on this issue and became convinced that the fears were overblown- logically, it would make no sense for the Soviets, who had a ton of Bolos, to copy the round used in that gun but then increase the pressure to the point where it was no longer safe in this pistol they liked in the first place. [I]But then[/I] I did research on modern rounds and found that, for example, Prvi Partisan 7.63 Mauser is rated for 1509fps, while Prvi Partisan 7.62 Tokarev is rated for 1722fps, both pushing an 85gr projectile. So because the loadings may differ, I guess the key is to make sure that the rounds are loaded to levels safe for the gun. I can understand why a lot of C96 shooters also reload their own ammo. And really I have no complaints with 9mm so I don't see myself relining to the original caliber any time in the foreseeable future. The collector's value is already diminished by the rechambering in the first place so might as well stick with the more common round.

[QUOTE=DaCommie1;51493302]Holy shit I forgot about this account. The scope arrived yesterday anyways so it doesn't really matter anymore.[/QUOTE] [I]~My task is completed, I will return to slumber until I am summoned againnnn~[/I]

[QUOTE=catbarf;51493450]I did a fair bit of reading on this issue and became convinced that the fears were overblown- logically, it would make no sense for the Soviets, who had a ton of Bolos, to copy the round used in that gun but then increase the pressure to the point where it was no longer safe in this pistol they liked in the first place. [I]But then[/I] I did research on modern rounds and found that, for example, Prvi Partisan 7.63 Mauser is rated for 1509fps, while Prvi Partisan 7.62 Tokarev is rated for 1722fps, both pushing an 85gr projectile. So because the loadings may differ, I guess the key is to make sure that the rounds are loaded to levels safe for the gun. I can understand why a lot of C96 shooters also reload their own ammo. And really I have no complaints with 9mm so I don't see myself relining to the original caliber any time in the foreseeable future. The collector's value is already diminished by the rechambering in the first place so might as well stick with the more common round.[/QUOTE] I shoot Winchester whitebox 7.62 Tok through mine and have never had any issues, no noticeable peening on the bolt stop or anything and it's something like 1600 fps. I doubt the Prvi stuff would be any different insofar as wear on the gun goes. I wouldn't bother relining it, either. It's $200 for a permanent alteration to let you shoot a rarer, more expensive, less versatile round, and at best it has no impact on the value of the gun, at worst it lowers it since it's now been caliber converted 3 times. :v: I am personally of the opinion that .30 Mauser is theoretically just as good or better than 9mm for general purposes but it's not the cartridge that won the popularity contest so at the end of the day 9mm is "better" for availability and a wide range of flavors.

I'm looking to get a new 9. At my local range I shot an old old CZ75 they had and I really loved it. I probably wouldn't want to buy something older, any thoughts on the new 75s they've been putting out?

Fantastic. Also look at the P07 Duty if you're interested in something slightly smaller.

So, guys, I'm still debating. Both the CZ P-07 and 09 are in my price range for after Christmas. I'm looking at getting one for carrying as well as (mostly) for competition. Which do you guys think is the better buy?

Finished building my AR! [t]http://i.imgur.com/iAF2lHH.jpg[/t] Since my scope finally showed up yesterday, my first AR build (not my first AR, I had one before this) is finally finished. The challenge with this was to not pay full price for anything. Here's the parts list, and type of discount for each part: SFRC-15 (blemished lower) White label Chinese buffer assembly, charging handle, and LPK (no taxes) Magpul CTR stock in grey (20% off) Colt Canada IUR 15.7" (blemished Danish contract) Ares Armor Black Nitride BGC (25% off) Nikon M223 3-12x42 BDC600 scope and M223 mount (employee discount for working at a Nikon retailer) The mag is just a PMAG I put in for the picture. I don't count it as part of this build because I didn't buy it for this gun specifically. Price was about $1800, full retail would have been around $2500+, with the biggest savings being in the upper and scope.

Amazing craftsmanship on this "Cartel" style PS90: [url]http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/07/fn-ps90-supreme-bling-edition/[/url] [t]http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_5004.jpg[/t] [t]http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_5005.jpg[/t] [t]http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_5006.jpg[/t]

[QUOTE=Hunterdnrc;51495319]I'm looking to get a new 9. At my local range I shot an old old CZ75 they had and I really loved it. I probably wouldn't want to buy something older, any thoughts on the new 75s they've been putting out?[/QUOTE] I have a CZ-75B that was police surplus. Absolutely no complaints, and honestly I don't feel a need to have one of the newer ones. The original 75s are basically all the best parts of a Glock and 1911 combined, plus a really low bore axis to boot.

[QUOTE=Hunterdnrc;51495319]I'm looking to get a new 9. At my local range I shot an old old CZ75 they had and I really loved it. I probably wouldn't want to buy something older, any thoughts on the new 75s they've been putting out?[/QUOTE] Ive got a CZ75b Omega. Best pistol I own, and I own HKs. I cant recommend one enough

So TIL Hornady XTP doesn't fit in my RAMI. I think it bullet is too long before it starts to round off and gets stuck on the rifling.

It's the shape of the actual bullet I'm pretty sure, here's one pictured next to a round of federal and I've put a couple hundred of those down it without a single problem. The slide returns to just a smidge before full when I try to load one. [t]http://i.imgur.com/EWDyhct.jpg[/t] [editline]8th December 2016[/editline] It's probably before it hits the rifling in reality now that I think about it, but something in there is too tight for that shape.

[QUOTE=Cyke Lon bee;51495665]Ive got a CZ75b Omega. Best pistol I own, and I own HKs. I cant recommend one enough[/QUOTE] Not even gonna front I don't know the differences between the P07,09, 75B/Omega/Convertible or whatever. Some assistance on this front would be helpful.

[QUOTE=Hunterdnrc;51498803]Not even gonna front I don't know the differences between the P07,09, 75B/Omega/Convertible or whatever. Some assistance on this front would be helpful.[/QUOTE] The P07/09 are poly framed guns that use the omega trigger, and were the first pistols to have the swappable/convertible saftey to decocker. The 75B is basically just a 75 with a firing pin block and using the original trigger. The omega was originally a 75B that was given a simplified trigger group that made it less expensive, and some people thought it made for a better trigger pull. The current omegas as of this year are all convertible, ie the 75B Omega can swap the ambi safety to a decocker and back, same with the PO1 Omega, SP-01 Omega, etc. The current models also use the hammer, trigger, and sights off the P07/09 series.

The P07 is the best handgun ever made. [editline]8th December 2016[/editline] I refuse to listen to any facts disputing this.

Picked up a new Wheel Gun. An Excellent condition S&W Mod 10-6. Bluing is near perfect other than some barely noticeable rust on the bottom of the grip. As promised, pictures of this neat piece of history. [IMG]http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a449/altiod22/IMG_20161208_150350_zpsley4abvm.jpg[/IMG] Dat case hardened colors! [IMG]http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a449/altiod22/IMG_20161208_150428_zpszhvlkmkc.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a449/altiod22/IMG_20161208_150552_zpsnosy7vd9.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a449/altiod22/IMG_20161208_150827_zps2fzokxzj.jpg[/IMG]

I'm jealous

Great deals on magazines: 12 Gen 3 PMags for $100 [url]http://www.primaryarms.com/MAG557-BLK-12PK[/url] 10 Yugo BHO AK47 mags for $90 [url]http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=MAK47Y30[/url]

[QUOTE=MAC21500;51501164]Great deals on magazines: 12 Gen 3 PMags for $100 [url]http://www.primaryarms.com/MAG557-BLK-12PK[/url] 10 Yugo BHO AK47 mags for $90 [url]http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=MAK47Y30[/url][/QUOTE] I've got enough of the PMags, and I don't own an AK. You got any of these? :v: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz9jNE9svCA[/media]