another gun thread

[the armourer]

That looks to be about a 2 1/2" barrel. For what you want it for I'd recommend a 4". You'll have a little better control and a lot less muzzle blast when using .357 loads with the 4".

And Dave is correct about handguns. I'd rather have a rifle in my hands when SHTF. I'm a disciple from the Jeff Cooper school of thought in that a sidearm is for immediate reaction to a threat and you use it to fight your way to the rifle. If you go into a situation where you know there is trouble, you should have your rifle in the first place.

I personally like the M-9 (Beretta 92). It's one of the few high-cap handguns I can grasp comfortably(I have big hands but short fingers). If I had to choose a handgun that I would carry without test firing it first, it would be the Beretta. They always run right. I have 3 of them, well actually 2. I blanked one as a demonstrator when I had my blank ammo business. I need to convert it back to live one day.

[ydx7]

Can anybody tell me wether or not the Taurus*, Astra 357, or Mossberg are good deals? I'm going out tom(Fri) morning, and if I don't go then, I wouldn't again until around Labor Day. I'll try to remember to check here before I go.

* I'll probably pass on this

[ydx7]

I didn't visit any of them.

[ydx7]

I'll be going to pawn shops and thrift stores Friday. I'll also be visiting gun store #1(see my Jul 9 post) and one I've never been in before. If I don't find anything, I'll be visiting #2 and #3.

Nobody told me if the stuff at 2 or 3 were good deals, or even worth buying. I think Astra only made a 357 between 1972 and 1988, so I think I can talk them down, but by how much?

PS I should be adding new posts to my beer thread next weekend.

[ydx7]

Hello. Is there anyone here?

[ydx7]

I'll be checking this thread once more in the morning after I get my oil changed.

[the armourer]

A .357 Astra for $250 is a pretty good deal. Astra is an old company with pretty good quality. If money is not a problem, I'd look at the Taurus too. Very well built with an outstanding factory warranty. You can get a nice Taurus .357 for around $400. For me personally, I'd go with the Taurus. You won't be disappointed.

I'm picking up a new shooter today too. A Uberti-made Cimarron Richards Type 2 Transitional cartridge conversion. .45LC with 8" barrel. It's not an exact detail-correct copy but it's the only one currently available commercially. I've been waiting a year for one. Next will be the Type 1. I'm having a Type 1 custom built in April that will be nickled with real ivory grips. Hopefully I'll have it in hand by next X-mas. I really dig those early Colt conversions.

[ydx7]

I was running late, so I didn't visit those 3 gun stores. I did visit the one I never went into. That was a waste. They were almost empty.

There was another store that recently popped up. They had a lot of stuff, but almost all of it new, including a buttload of M4.

I'm going to visit those places tomorrow.

[ydx7]

Quick update. Bought the Astra. Will go into more detail in the future.

[ydx7]

The Friday before Labor Day, I went out to visit the pawn shops, thrift stores, and gun stores in the north half of the city. I once again got a late start, so I visited most of the gun shops on Saturday. I also went to a military surplus store.

Friday, I went into a pawn shop that only had a few long guns. I don't recall seeing anything noteworthy. This was the place that once had 3 "tactical" shotguns.

Next, after visiting a thrift store, and seeing the non-pawn shop had moved once again, I saw the shopping center had a gun store. Mostly what I remember is that they had almost all new stuff, and prerequisite buttload of M-4's. Another guy looking around told me that this place had only been around about 6 months. I also told him about visiting the store I hadn't been in yet. He told me the owner is weirdo, and that their whole inventory would fit in less than one case.

I went in the store I'd never visited. The guy was right. The barely had anything; like less than 10 handguns and 3 or 4 long guns.

That was all for Friday. Saturday, When I was sitting in bed, I heard a commercial for the local Cabela's. They were having a gun show. I went to the website and called to ask for some info.

After going to the store and getting some antifreeze and going back home to put it in, I was on my way.

My first stop was the military surplus store. When I saw the online map, I thought the road I would be on would become or merge with the other road I needed to be on. After looking up Cabela's, I should have double-checked, and at least remembered the name of that other road. You can guess what happened. Thankfully when I could see I was WAAAY lost, I was in an industrial area(most of the street I was on was not in the safest place for me to ask directions), and thankfully there was a tire store that was open where the guys told me how to get where I wanted to go.

When I went inside the surplus store, it didn't look as airy as it does in the commercials. I was there to pick up a coat, so I fortunately got right to the aisle I needed. I found a black army fatigues coat that fit. There were a bunch of different kinds of coats. They also had motorcycle jackets, but I didn't look through them because I wasn't in the mood.

I looked a bit in the footwear area. Besides military boots, I think they had work boots. They also had motorcycle boots, but I think they were all Harley-Davidson($$$$).

Over where they had hats, they had a type of military hat I was interested in, but not in the size for my big head. They also had those leather hats similar to what Gyro Captain wears, but they were $30 bucks. There were some other hats a bit like that for about half the price, but they looked kind of dorky.

When I got to the checkout counter, just for the hell of it, I asked if they sold non-spring-loaded asp-style police batons. The guy said yes, and told me they had a 21in and 26in. He showed them to me, and I chose the 21in for $24.99. When the checkout person was getting ready to check me out, I saw a small box on the counter with dental implements. I bought a mirror, and one of those tooth-picker things with a curved one on each end.

I next made my way to Cabela's. The parking lot was packed, but I was fortunate to get a close spot. There were tons of people coming in and out. I went over to the gun section. I don't know what they meant by "show", unless they had stuff marked down a bit. I hope they didn't have other stuff set up in another area, but I don't think that was the case. There were a lot of people waiting to be served. There were a lot of guns, but barely any used ones. A guy I was chatting with remarked that some of the new ones probably weren't. All were $$$$. When I went to my car, there were some Canadian goose decoys set up outside. Some had heads that moved, and made me think at first that they were real.

After buying some doughnuts, and getting gas(for the car, not from the doughnuts), I went to store #1(see Jul 9 post). The Taurus was gone. I don't recall there being anything else of note.

After stopping at a thrift store(not for guns of course), I drove over to stores #2 and #3. I went into #3 first. I got to talk with the guy behind the counter for a while. He told me the Mossberg had been sold earlier that week. They had a coach gun, but it was new. There was a Remington 870 they wanted $250 for. It was a 4-round model. I decided I would find out what I could do on a trade-in for my SKS. I brought it in. The owner came out of his office and said they don't buy/sell AK/SKS. The guy behind the counter told me about another store that may take it. It was in the same area where I got gas earlier.

I then went to #2. I looked around a bit. The Astra was still there. Since I had cash, and Astra isn't a known brand, and was an older gun, I was able to talk down the price to l$230.26, tax included.

Finally, I went to the place the guy at #3 told me about. It was very small inside, but their racks and cases were full. Again, it was almost all new stuff. The used long guns were in a rack in the customer area. The only thing of interest was a Maverick 12ga for $175. I don't know how many rounds it could hold.



I was planning on going somewhere on Halloween, but I think I need to get my car fixed. I may still do something if they do it fast(I get there right about when they open). I was also planning on doing some beer reviews, but I'll see what happens with my car.