The Official 2nd Amendment Appreciation Thread

That's why I suggested the Loaded model lol

Even you can admit the Loaded is pretty nice.

Sure, at that price point. Although the guys at James River armory are making a very nice M14 these days and are competing well with SA. Just need more production. I don’t know if their receivers are forged or cast. All SA’s are cast.

Rockola M14 - James River Armory
 
GW, I might have something for you.

I'll send the email to Freak.

I'm glad I'm a source of entertainment for you guys, and I really enjoy the banter and the picking that goes on here. But just to set the record straight, "Mrs. GW", who by the way is Diana...the love of my life...and a two-time breast cancer survivor, is a loving, graceful, intelligent, beautiful, UT Vols and Georgia Bulldogs and Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins loving, did I mention beautiful and intelligent?, God-fearing, collard cooking, baby-you-do-what-you-think-you-need-to-do wife...actually called me one time at 2am after I chased a carjacker from Jacksonville past our house; said "what's going on?"; I told her it was me chasing an armed carjacker and she said "Okay, I love you, be careful" and hung up; and I'm just getting started here.

You get it. Lord willing, you have one by your side.

Now, where was I?

Oh..email to Freak. Right after this. DTH, thanks for the info. I'll change directions, then.

Bedtime. Tomorrow.
 
Speaking of old rifles, have you guys seen the retro AR line from brownells? Very interesting.

Price is $1299. I’m not sure I can get my head around that, you can get an original Colt for around that cost. I guess we will have to see the quality of production, first.

They are also releasing a copy of the original AR10. I guess we will see. Brownells has a good name in the industry, I suspect quality will be top notch (hope so)

Brownells Retro | Brownells - Firearms, Reloading Supplies, Gunsmithing Tools, Gun Parts and Accessories
 
I'll send the email to Freak.

I'm glad I'm a source of entertainment for you guys, and I really enjoy the banter and the picking that goes on here. But just to set the record straight, "Mrs. GW", who by the way is Diana...the love of my life...and a two-time breast cancer survivor, is a loving, graceful, intelligent, beautiful, UT Vols and Georgia Bulldogs and Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins loving, did I mention beautiful and intelligent?, God-fearing, collard cooking, baby-you-do-what-you-think-you-need-to-do wife...actually called me one time at 2am after I chased a carjacker from Jacksonville past our house; said "what's going on?"; I told her it was me chasing an armed carjacker and she said "Okay, I love you, be careful" and hung up; and I'm just getting started here.

You get it. Lord willing, you have one by your side.

Now, where was I?

Oh..email to Freak. Right after this. DTH, thanks for the info. I'll change directions, then.

Bedtime. Tomorrow.

Freak won't. Give me a minute here
 
So, low and behold, I do have a "junk drawer" with old parts and whatnot in my basement. And happened to have an older A frame mount that's yours and I don't take no for an answer. Two rails on either side of the FSB that puts a scout light at around the 11 and 1 positions. There is a removable section that sits flat on the barrel, but I never used it.

There is some corrosion on the screws I did a quick cleaning job on, but wouldn't hurt to hit them with a wire brush and some CLP again when you get it.

Let me know when you're on and I'll post my email again. I keep getting sordid letters from Volly when I leave my email up too long.
 

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.... But thanks for setting me straight on what it's going to cost to own a decent .308 rifle.
.......

Thanks for the info.


If a decent .308 is what you seek, have you considered a bolt gun? Today, more than ever, there are many very accurate choices that would be considered precision rifles in .308. Here's several that are a whole lot of rifle for the money:

For under $500:

Savage 11 VT
Many entry level long range shooters are using this for a platform but it's still a budget production gun with production level quality control. If you get a good one, it's a lot of gun for the money.

If you're willing to spend $1000, you can get a rifle that is capable of better precision than 99.9% of the shooters at the average range can get out of it. Check out these 3 rifles:

Tikka T3x CTR
Howa HCR
Bergara HMR

If you're only going to shoot out to 200 yards, there are variations of the Tikka and Howa that are even less than $1000. Both of their barreled actions are an extreme value regardless of the variant.

ETA..... Also for just over $1000, take a look at the Ruger Precision Rifle. I don't think it's as good of a rifle as the previos three I mentioned but it certainly appeals to many that are enjoying them.
 
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Entirely depends on how much and of what you're shooting. If you're shooting 500 S&W, 416 Rigby, 338 Lapua, etc you can save a lot over a pretty small amount of shooting. If you're loading for 9mm you can take a pretty cheap factory load from 23c per down to 16c. (more if you want to shoot lead/plated bullets) In .500S&W you can take the cost of "cheap" 1.82 factory down to 60c.

If your volume stays low in "standard" calibers it would take a long time to make up the initial set up costs. If you're shooting much and/or shooting less common calibers you can make it up pretty quickly.

I shoot ~150 rounds a week w my .45
 
I shoot ~150 rounds a week w my .45

I'd suggest a single stage press if you were to get into it. Generally, it pays for itself over the long run if you keep up that level of firing.

Don't get all crazy with a progressive reloader to start. Learn the basics on like a Lee or RCBS single stage. If you stick with shooting a lot, move up in the world to a progressive.
 
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The hitching post?

I don't remember the name. It was on the main drag between Knoxville (Claxton?) and Clinton. Clinton was a lot smaller then (mid-80's); I was a sailor with a whopping 4 years of maritime conquest under my belt; I went out drinking with a couple of friends and this really hot young lady who turned out to like girls more than I did (another story for another time); and let's just say if it weren't for good friends and great luck there's no telling where I might have ended up.


Some days I marvel at how I made it this far.....
 
If a decent .308 is what you seek, have you considered a bolt gun? Today, more than ever, there are many very accurate choices that would be considered precision rifles in .308.

Appreciate the info, but I was looking more for a tactical style rifle. Once GV opened my eyes as to what that would cost, I wisely decided to be happy with my AR.


I don't really need anything heavier, I was just lusting for another gun. Thankfully, I believe I have washed that out of my system now.
 
Appreciate the info, but I was looking more for a tactical style rifle. Once GV opened my eyes as to what that would cost, I wisely decided to be happy with my AR.


I don't really need anything heavier, I was just lusting for another gun. Thankfully, I believe I have washed that out of my system now.

I told you that's the high end. Plenty of range toys to be had under that price.
 
I shoot ~150 rounds a week w my .45

By my quick reckoning (and using 230gr FMJ bullets vs lead or plated which can be had cheaper) you'd be looking at saving around $20 a week per 150rnds.

Note that calculation is made with "free" brass, meaning it's been already fired and would otherwise be thrown away. You can buy new brass of course but that would have to be included in the price, at least for the first firing.
 
I'd suggest a single stage press if you were to get into it. Generally, it pays for itself over the long run if you keep up that level of firing.

Don't get all crazy with a progressive reloader to start. Learn the basics on like a Lee or RCBS single stage. If you stick with shooting a lot, move up in the world to a progressive.

I'm sure a lot has changed, but back in the early 90's I dabbled in reloading, specifically .45. I started with an RCBS "Rock Crusher" single-stage, and then moved up to a Lee progressive. My only issue with the progressive...and it may not be an issue anymore...is that with a progressive press, you have to watch everything on every pull/push: the case feeder, the sizing die; the primer feed on the return stroke; the powder charge; and then fiddling with the bullet seater. I could never get more than 4 or 5 rounds in a row before I had to stop and adjust something. Still, it was fun, and I saved a lot of money once I recouped the cost of the press and dies after pressing out a few thousand rounds, so...go for it. FYI, I was using used TZZ (military) brass, and I could easily get 5 reloads per case before the cases started to split.


Good Luck with it.
 
By my quick reckoning (and using 230gr FMJ bullets vs lead or plated which can be had cheaper) you'd be looking at saving around $20 a week per 150rnds.

Note that calculation is made with "free" brass, meaning it's been already fired and would otherwise be thrown away. You can buy new brass of course but that would have to be included in the price, at least for the first firing.

The only problem with using the cast bullets is the lead fouling that will build up in any firearm. And honestly, the FMJ tend to be fairly close in price.

Initial setup (let's just the RCBS Rock Chucker for example) from Midway's price:

RCBS kit: $330 (includes everything except tumbler)
Frankford Tumbler: $140

So, around $500 just to start and not including cleaning media.

Roughly $35 for large pistol primers
Roughly $90 for 4 pounds of powder (depends on brand)
Roughly $170 for 1,000 230 grain FMJ loads

Not even getting into the brass, but just in case (no pun)

Starline .45 ACP brass (1,000 casings): $182

Looking at a grand to cover start up costs provided you don't have your own brass to begin with. So, it will take a while to pay off at a more limited firing schedule.

But...

Take $15 for a 50 round box for PMC loaded 230 grain FMJ which comes out to $45 a week. And in turn, creating your own brass that can be used pretty frequently in reloading (or say a generic up to 20 times to be safe). So, yeah, reloading is cheaper in the long run.

Also, it's a fun hobby to get into.

Anyway...
 
Lol. I hear that's pretty rough. Looks like it anyways. Right across from the classiest strip club around... that's considered knoxville tho I think. On clinton highway tho

I was feeling brave once and attempted to go in...

On the door was a list of people who were banned from the premises. I pushed on the door but it was locked. The people sitting around inside looked up with their drinks in and gave me a dirty stare, so I high-tailed it out of there.
 
The only problem with using the cast bullets is the lead fouling that will build up in any firearm. And honestly, the FMJ tend to be fairly close in price.

Initial setup (let's just the RCBS Rock Chucker for example) from Midway's price:

RCBS kit: $330 (includes everything except tumbler)
Frankford Tumbler: $140

So, around $500 just to start and not including cleaning media.

Roughly $35 for large pistol primers
Roughly $90 for 4 pounds of powder (depends on brand)
Roughly $170 for 1,000 230 grain FMJ loads

Not even getting into the brass, but just in case (no pun)

Starline .45 ACP brass (1,000 casings): $182

Looking at a grand to cover start up costs provided you don't have your own brass to begin with. So, it will take a while to pay off at a more limited firing schedule.

But...

Take $15 for a 50 round box for PMC loaded 230 grain FMJ which comes out to $45 a week. And in turn, creating your own brass that can be used pretty frequently in reloading (or say a generic up to 20 times to be safe). So, yeah, reloading is cheaper in the long run.

Also, it's a fun hobby to get into.

Anyway...

Slugging one's barrel for correct sizing and lubing properly can just about eliminate leading as much of an issue. To you point though it does take a little more commitment. I had a friend that's no longer with us that would cast me bullets and I'd made many of clone of Bill Wilson's loading.

.45 ACP | Bill Wilson Signature Load | 875 FPS - 5 Barrel-http://shopwilsoncombat.com/

I don't shoot nearly as much anymore and plinking loads are usually the plated variety (Berry's or Rainier, whichever is found on sale) that are sufficiently cheaper than FJ's for such use.

For brass if you're lucky enough to have a range that doesn't frown on such things you can pick up common calibers for free just lying there. (always inspect such brass carefully of course, I don't even bother with brass that's got a Glock "smiley") For new brass +1 on Starline.

Keep an eye out for used equipment as some people just don't get into it and some people move onto progressives. Just an example here's a local listing.

Reloading supplies - sporting goods - by owner - sale
 
The only problem with using the cast bullets is the lead fouling that will build up in any firearm. And honestly, the FMJ tend to be fairly close in price.

Initial setup (let's just the RCBS Rock Chucker for example) from Midway's price:

RCBS kit: $330 (includes everything except tumbler)
Frankford Tumbler: $140

So, around $500 just to start and not including cleaning media.

Roughly $35 for large pistol primers
Roughly $90 for 4 pounds of powder (depends on brand)
Roughly $170 for 1,000 230 grain FMJ loads

Not even getting into the brass, but just in case (no pun)

Starline .45 ACP brass (1,000 casings): $182

Looking at a grand to cover start up costs provided you don't have your own brass to begin with. So, it will take a while to pay off at a more limited firing schedule.

But...

Take $15 for a 50 round box for PMC loaded 230 grain FMJ which comes out to $45 a week. And in turn, creating your own brass that can be used pretty frequently in reloading (or say a generic up to 20 times to be safe). So, yeah, reloading is cheaper in the long run.

Also, it's a fun hobby to get into.

Anyway...

Interesting. Thanks. I'll look into it
 
Slugging one's barrel for correct sizing and lubing properly can just about eliminate leading as much of an issue. To you point though it does take a little more commitment. I had a friend that's no longer with us that would cast me bullets and I'd made many of clone of Bill Wilson's loading.

.45 ACP | Bill Wilson Signature Load | 875 FPS - 5 Barrel-http://shopwilsoncombat.com/

I don't shoot nearly as much anymore and plinking loads are usually the plated variety (Berry's or Rainier, whichever is found on sale) that are sufficiently cheaper than FJ's for such use.

For brass if you're lucky enough to have a range that doesn't frown on such things you can pick up common calibers for free just lying there. (always inspect such brass carefully of course, I don't even bother with brass that's got a Glock "smiley") For new brass +1 on Starline.

Keep an eye out for used equipment as some people just don't get into it and some people move onto progressives. Just an example here's a local listing.

Reloading supplies - sporting goods - by owner - sale

The range I go to has a bucket of spent brass and people are welcome to help themselves to it - within reason
 
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