A long time friend asks if I can "clean up" his fathers and then his shotgun. It was my friends first one and says it has sit for several decades. I say of course.
He brings me a Remington Model 58 in 16 gauge. This is the first gas operated model offered by Remington. I get to it.
Disassembly quickly showed that everything needed a bath.
Everything that could fit got stuffed into a ultrasonic cleaner. Springs were replaced and attention was given to the gas selector knob. You controlled the amount of gas to the action of the shotty by selecting "H" or "L" denoting high or low brass. I used sight paint to bring that back.
Then the shell latches came out. Supposedly you CAN reassemble the gun without staking them back in but that seems to require about 4 hands, a third eye, and a dead chickens fresh blood arrayed in a replica of the Remington logo. I got the tool to put them back in.
Then attention to the metal. Look at the engraving!
Finally get it all back together.
Now the best part. Function check! It shot fantastic. Although only made from 1956 to 1963, this shotgun and the lessons learned from it morphed into the venerable Model 1100 that is still made today.
I am very proud to give this shotty back to my friend so that he can pass it down to his grandson when the time comes. What a great piece of history. Thanks for dropping it off my friend!
So on May 19th, I left for the NRAAM in Louisville KY. Met up with some friends for Dinner upon arrival and showed up the next day at the Media desk to check in.
"Blogger huh?" They pull this blog up and much hilarity ensued.
Behind the media desk shot as this Blog is pulled up =)
80 Thousand + attendees. About the same as Indy, but I found the venue not as crowded. May have just been me though.
Attend an Instructor update. Although I can understand instructor push back to the new blended learning, I also understand instructor's negative feedback. I have no solution to this change in format except to say it appears the NRA is protecting itself on professional and legal levels with the blended online and instructor approach.
Over 700 instructors attended this seminar.
So, off to a booth or two:
Convention staff all said the same thing. Attendees were polite and well mannered. LPD Officers actually thanked me for being there. That seems to be a standard of these annual meetings.
They were kind enough to allow their human and his friend to come along! Murph and The Shekel were present as well. A great evening was had by all (I hope).
Really good to see friends, have some food and shoot some stuff! Too short as always and I really don't entertain guests that often. Hope I'm not rusty.
Care package for my four legged friends was graciously provided by another friend over at Excels at Nothing. They as before were a big hit!
In a previous post I misidentified a Winchester Model 94 as a Model 9422. I felt bad. So I immersed myself in these lever guns and Mr. Curmudgeon presented me with one for "Cleaning" this past weekend.
The .32 Smith and Wesson Long Military & Police is a double action revolver on the square butt K frame with five screws. This one is one of 4,813 manufactured c. 1948-1950.
I took it to the range today after a light cleaning. Both double action and single action shots at 7 & 10 yards.
A great revolver even if it does rotate the wrong way =) .
Everyone that shot my M1 Garand said that at the Blogshoot last weekend. While I can say "I did that myself" that is technically true but the Instructors at the CMP watched everything and tested everything we did during that 3 day class. They had the tools and knowledge to insure you left with a great M1.
Here is a link to the first post on that class. You want a Garand? Better hurry.
"I have the biggest balls here." I cannot argue with that. They are made of lead to boot. Here is my friend Nancy showing everyone how to kick it old school.
After years of watching her load and fire this thing I have noted it is the same thing every time. Same stance, same hold, same loading procedure. Lessons for modern things as well.
Huh. I just talked to Mr. Curmudgeon about the Winchester Model 94 Classic in 30-30 here. He reports he acquired it *cough* 30+ years ago and has never shot it.
We will rectify that tomorrow! And yes it is a shunned after 1964 Model but guess what. It is here. We will go shoot it. Shooting long guns in a 25 yard indoor range is sorta like kissing your cousin. You don't want anyone to know you did it, but at least we can see if the thing functions and if it does, well. I'll stretch it out at Murph's Blogshoot!
Oh, I will not be shooting these though! They came with the rifle.
A Winchester Model 9422. In .22 WMR. This thing has been around for over 40 years. I remember shooting this rifle in my early teens. Glad it is still here.
Here we see a Walther PPK, Browning and new Colt XSP, all in .380 ACP. They got a workout last weekend. Oh, and here is a M&P 9 with a Lightguard. I know that guy running it =)
Just busy lately. So I got a line on a Python and went to it. Like a moth to a flame. I blame this guy.
The thing is I cannot take pictures of shiny stuff it seems. I can make a small aperture, crank up the ISO setting, putz with the lights, but for now this is the best I can do for these.
The 4" Python has a friend now! Oh, and a new little sister!
Colt Mustang XSP. I'm impressed. The Bodyguard and P3AT have been retired! They should have come out with thing 10 years ago!
So I actually had some quality time with some 1911's. Two Commanders pushing 30 years old and a new M45. The 1911 has detractors, but IMHO, they are hard to beat.
As a bonus they are fun to shoot as well! Even more so with good friends.
I find interest in the companies and others circling the technically dead Company known as Colt.
Yes, overpriced, yes, no real innovations in years, etc. I get that. The "Rampant Pony" only gets you so far even if you know what that is now.
I tell my students in CCH class to not carry a Handgun you care about.
I am going to break my own rule this weekend and carry a close to 30 year old Colt I bought new with an El Paso holster.
Why? Because I can first, second because after actually taking this to the USTC for a three day class surrounded by the wonder nines, it needs to take a trip.
