Where is everyone? Part deiux....

[jetmex]

Been a while since anyone posted, hope everyone's doing ok.

Since the last post - my youngest son David turned 17 a few days ago.  We adopted a black Lab named Iggy from a rescue shelter.  And we have have two grandbabies on the way, boy and girl, due in August and September. 

Haven't touched an RC airplane in four months and don't miss it at the moment.  And I'm looking for a recommendation for a good small caliber rifle to play with.  Not for anything serious, not many varmints around here any more.  I'm looking at a Mini-14, but I'm open to other suggestions.

What's new with you guys?

[balsum fractus]

I pop in here most every day, but figgered that everyone was tired of talking about the weather....bin doing some spring cleaning, landscaping (only 5200 more Lbs of rocks to haul!!), and fixing vehicles.

I am the proud owner (but not by choice!) of a $4000 tooth - CNC'ed and everything!  If they had told me up front what the price tag was going to be, I would have had them pull it!

And lessee..oh, bought a new (to me) truck with a 496 in it. No insurance on it yet, so haven't had the chance to see what it will do...

Likewise I haven't touched an RC plane since the New Years fun fly, however, heading out next weekend to a big fly in, so I hope my fingers have real good memories..

No grand kids yet, though Sooper pilot is getting pretty serious with an incredibly gorgeous lady. The youngest has her boy friend, but has no intentions of getting into any kind of serious relationship for a long, long time...

[stetto]

I'm not internetting so much anymore. Like Nony I do stop here when I do get online, but my attention has been toward other areas, like getting this house rebuilt before it caves in on itself.

I did buy a new camera the other day, a Nikon 16.something MP. I'd like to get a new bumper to set it on, but the Dodge is paid for and hasn't been in the shop since I bought it in 1998...

Our Grandboy Richard is coming to spend the weekend with us today. We don't see him but twice a year or so, and we are excited...

RC? Not the soda-pop, then?

[jetmex]

Can't have RC without Moon Pies!!  Much as I hate to admit it, I burned out pretty badly.  I think having to deal with flying machines all the time here at work (and not the kind I particularly like) has a lot to do with it.

A $4000 tooth?  Wayne, you better sparkle when you grin!   

Stetto - we're working on the house also.  Master bathroom is up for renovation, getting estimates this week.  Our grandson spends every Monday with us, which is loads of fun.  Drives Pat and his mom nuts.  Or as Jessie puts it, "He's such a boy!!"

[Onepoint]

Well I could pop in daily with the usual, "no rain today" report.  But I figure that would get monotonous too quickly

Actually I have been busy, they gave us irrigation water early, so I have been futilely trying to make it wet.  Although today the sky actually gave about a 10th inch of some weird wet stuff, looks just like iced tea without the tea.  I have seen in books before I know. 

I have not been flying too much, just a little bit to remind me I suck, the weather has actually been worse this spring than it as all winter for cold and wind, but I did manage to get the runway all bladed nice and smooth, and hopefully will test fly the Fantasy racer soon.


Did I hear something about guns?  I know one of these guys may know something about them 

Right now they seem to be a hot commodity again as the election runs up.

The new Minis are pretty decent, they redesigned them a little and they are more consistent in accuracy.  The problem is they still suffer from availability and cost of magazines.  And depending on which one they are a little more difficult to put a scope on.

Whats your budget?   An AR-15 is still the thing others are compared to for the 223/ 5.56 round in a semi auto.  They are also the most versatile and modular of any rifle design out.  Kind of like legos for men as some keep telling me. 

There are also AK designs if you like the wood stock, particularly Veprs and saigas,  or for that matter even AR-15s have wood for them now too.

[jetmex]

No rain here, but the humidity has been unusually low, so it's been pretty nice.  Don't expect that to last too much longer.

Budget?  What's that?     I don't know Honcho, what's a good ballpark starting price?  I was looking at AR's at the last few gun shows I've been to and the prices are all over the place, depending on what you want.  Don't need anything fancy, but I would eventually like to mount a scope on it.  Since I shoot left handed, I'd like to know if the cartridges possibly ejecting into my eyeballs is as much of a problem as I've heard.  And while I'm asking, I read somewhere that there's a difference between 5.56 barrels and .223 barrels.  Can you shed any light on that?  Everyone tells me I want a 5.56 but no one can tell me exactly why...The basic Mini 14 in these parts is going for about $650.  BTW - here is a shameless plug for my daughters' side business - shooting accessories for women.  http://gunsare4girls.gostorego.com/  In case anyone is interested...

I haven't flown in so long I don't know if I remember how.   I converted the Mig from tailerons to conventional ailerons and elevators.  That was five months ago and it's still on the bench!

[balsum fractus]

I hear it is just like falling off a bicycle.....you never really forget how.......

[stetto]

It's raining here now. Full of lightning and thunder, good wake us up in the morning stuff, only this started up shortly after midnite. There is an inch of water in the guage, so the farm may be spared!

There are people around here who are already eating lettuce, turnips, spinach and the like out of their own gardens; It has been a long, luxurious (but dry) Spring. I don't have the guts to plant so early. I put the sweet corn in this last week (two weeks after most neighbors field corn has come up) and the tomatoes, onions and other veggies were planted yesterday morning. I will harvest around the same time as last year.

[Onepoint]

I hear it is just like falling off a bicycle.....you never really forget how.

Yeah it just looks like you have. 


Do you want a 16" carbine or 20" rifle?

The standard Milspec AR ejects them forward about about 30-45 degrees for lefties so they don't get brass face, but there are companies that sell lefty versions too like Stag Arms.  Some of budget models, like the DPMS sportical, low pro classic etc  lack the shell deflector on the upper and will have them flying past your nose.

  Scoping will be easy on an flat top AR than just about anything because there are so many after market mounts made just for them.  Probably looking in the $750 up area for a basic rifle.

If you can live with a non lefty version I suggest something like this - http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1STR5035MLS&name=Spikes+Tactical+5.56%2f.223+16%22+Midlength+Rifle&groupid=11

Mid length gas system, chrome lined barrel with a 1/7 rifling twist so you can shoot any ammo up to 77gr.

Unless you have a local dealer who is pretty competitive and works with you, you may be better off mail ordering it.  Sometimes even a cheaper way into an AR is to buy a lower half separate from the upper, the upper can be mailed straight to you, while the lower has to go through a dealer for FFL transfer.  Its just 2 pins that push out with your thumb to separate the halves, which you will have to do to clean it anyway, so its not like it takes classes in rocket science to do that.   

Looks like you have several transfer dealers that are close.  http://www.gunbroker.com/FFL/SearchForFFL.aspx?st=Zip%20Code&sv=77346

I say sometimes because a complete lower right now is likely going to runs $250 or more shipped, so depending on what upper you pick, if its $550 which is a low average for a left hand carbine upper, you might run across a complete rifle for as much or less locally.  Although the lefty versions usually carry a higher retail  price.   So you would probably be looking at around $800+ for a Stag upper and what ever complete lower with shipping and a couple mags. Where a lefty rifle off the shelf some where is probably going to be $900 or more.


I don't know a heck of a lot about the minis,  I decided I wanted a 223 semi auto and started looking,  I thought maybe a mini would be the thing for the price, but went with a Saiga 223 because it was a lot cheaper at the time, then later found an AR for the same money as minis were going for so just never went that way.  I think the newer ones all have the Ruger scope ring bases on the receiver, where it used to be only the ranch rifles had them. 

A lot of guys like them, they are more complicated and a little harder to clean than an AR, but pretty reliable from what I gather, and like I said the new one have better barrels so they don't have the accuracy problems the earlier ones did.  The only thing that has never changed is the mag issue, the only really good ones are from Ruger and they cost a premium.

OK now the 5.56 vs 223 thing, get your pillows ready, you will likely nod off.   

223 SAMMI, (SAMMI being an industry standard for caliber specs) is a little tighter in the chamber than 5.56 NATO.  223 can be more accurate, but 5.56 is more reliable.  Most of my guns are 5.56,  the chamber is one of many things that impact accuracy, and I have never really noticed much difference with the ammo I usually run.  While both will fire nato or 223 cased shells, sometimes nato spec'ed cases can have problems extracting or sometimes even chambering in a 223, especially steel cased ammo.   So to avoid those issues people just like to get the 5.56 chamber which according to theory shoots anything.

[jetmex]

Thanks for the info Honcho.  I did a little digging and that Saiga 223 looks like a pretty neat little weapon for the price. They have a 7.62 and a 5.54 version as well.  Do you have one, and how are they as far as reliability?  We're probably going to do some gun shopping once the work on the house is done.

http://legionusainc.com/saiga-rifles-for-sale.html

The gun guys here in the cave told me that the 5.56 is a little hotter shell and requires a stouter chamber to handle the pressure.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

[Onepoint]

Well...I have 3, 2 223s and a 5.45, as well as other AKs I have built or bought over the last few years.  For a while there were demilled parts kits to be had cheap and plentiful, allowing a person to build a rifle from the demilled kit for around 250 to 300 bucks all in.  At least until they tried to slow down imports of them by requiring the barrels be cut in half and the sources in the former Soviet block started to dry up. 

Anyway, Saigas  are basically an AK74/ 47 that is sporterized enough to satisfy the govt for import, but the action is the same as any AK meaning its probably as or more reliable than any semi auto rifle in existence.

They are a bargain for what they are,  but I will run through the cons.  One big knock is in off the shelf form the trigger has something to be desired since they moved it back from original position using a lever mechanism so they could use a monte carlo stock and get rid of the pistol grip, making it a long pull and mushy feel.   

The other thing is AK sights suck IMO.

Magazines can be an issue,especially in the 5.45 and 223, the best ones by far are the military hi cap mags,  unfortunately right now they are getting scarce and expensive, I was buying them for 8 bucks or less, now they are bringing $25+ and hard to find in stock, there are some US made ones, but some are not worth having, in fact what ever you buy, avoid ProMag mags like they have leprosy.  Tapco mags are not bad for all calibers and easy to find. 7.62x39 mags are still plentiful and relatively cheap.

The good news is, there has been a whole industry grow up around converting them back to the true AK74 configuration, including drop in triggers and parts for about anything.  And It takes no more than a dremel with cut off wheel, screw driver, chisel and drill to do, with many online tutorials showing how.   Sights  are also easy enough to change with multiple options to change the irons sights or get a mount and use a sight or scope.   Cost for a basic conversion of trigger is $100 to $150 depending on what stock you want to use.  Those are options that can be done anytime and not needed just to use it.

I also made pistol grip stocks to sell for them that needed no conversion, of course you still had to deal with the trigger.  Tapco also came out with a similar thing later.

The pros are they are dead reliable though, accuracy wise not too bad, ammo makes a big difference in that, but they are capable of using any ammo where some other rifles may have issues with particular brands.  Definitely fun to shoot and you ill never break or wear one out.

Right now the best deal going is the 5.45 for ammo, you can get surplus ammo for as low as 15 cents around, its corrosive however meaning you have to clean every time after you shoot, and there is lots of cheaper commercial stuff for a around 25 cents around, and even some pretty accurate varmint rounds made in the USA by Hornady.

223 is a good choice, its more accurate than the 7.62x39, ammo is mainly the issue with that, but it has less recoil as well, steel cased ammo for either is about the same money, but with 223 you also can choose all kinds of brass cased ammo which is much more consistent, of course costing more.

7.62x39 is a good round,  I just have never really cared for it, because its not accurate enough if you are trying to target shoot, has a little more recoil and tears up my target back board a lot quicker which annoys me.    Makes a great plinking round, a usable hunting round with the right ammo and probably a great self defense round as well although I would have care in that role as it will penetrate multiple walls.

They make them in 308 as well, not near as cheap to shoot any  more unfortunately, but they bring it to new level of heavy hitter in the AK design.  The x39, 223 5.45 work very well in 16" versions, 308 tends to best in the 20"

Just to show off-

My 1st Saiga in 223 I converted back to AK74 configuration.


Another 223, with different modification.


5.45 version, this is just a basic conversion needing only the stock, pistol grip and bolt and trigger group.  Well I did change the front sight block because I had one, but its not needed.  It also shows the side rail scope mount, which are great being removable and yet retain scope zero.



And on the 223 vs NATO thing, they are sort of right, military spec'ed  barrels like on AR-15s and the Saigas are built stronger in the chamber area for more over pressure, because in design they were made for full auto, so they are beefed up, where the average commercial bolt action does not have quite the over build in the barrel profile at the chamber.  But a lot of guys hand load very hot loads in them anyway.  223/5.56 is one you really don't have to worry about over pressuring with any factory ammo no matter what the the chamber is in a military based design, its more of a potential function issue.

Although more money, also keep an eye out for Veprs, they are the Cadillacs of the AKs.

Lots of AKs to look at here  http://centerfiresystems.com/ak_firearms.aspx

[jetmex]

Good info, thanks.  Looks like that's pretty much along the lines of what I'm looking for.  The girls are doing a gun show this weekend, I may head down there as well and see what's available.

[Frazz]

I've been lurking around     just havent replied to any threads.  One reason got a different computer and forgot my dang login stuff.  Im getting older I guess.  Our kids are all doing ok and staying above water so far, which is good.

Wife and I went on a cruise in March, going to Cozumel, Belize City Belize, Roatan on Isla Roatan, and Grand Cayman Island.  Went on a submarine in Grand Cayman and we got down to around 120 feet.  That was really really cool.  Othar than that we didnt spend much money, but did at each stop eat some local food and drink some beer.  I had some Belikan beer at Belize City, in fact it was so good I had several    and brought a tiny tad home to put up on the trophy travel shelf I have at home.

I have a few guns that I have bought in the last few years, one being an ar-15.  I did shoot at my sons house, an ak-47.  It was alright but his wife had a 22 pistol that I honestly had more fun shooting.  I only bought my .223 stuff for zombies and the like.  I probably have 15000 rounds of various ammunition around now.  I dunno, you just never know how much the government wants to protect us by removing items a guy needs to protect his family with.

Say... we havent had a good story in a while have we....

[jetmex]

So Frazz was out shooting zombies when one day when this....

[balsum fractus]

..tree hugging, tofu eating enviromentist weather guesser yelled...