vanfunk
Member
Hi All:
I’ve been surprised recently by some acquisitions that I was skeptical about at the time of purchase, but have since won me over. Here’s my list and the stories behind them:
Walther PPK stainless (newest model, Ft. Smith): my son was slow to take to the shooting sports, but now at 16, he’s all-in. A few months ago, we were perusing the handgun counter at the LGS and his teenage eye sparkled as it set upon that iconic shape under the glass. I had had a PPK years ago (Interarms) and, while I admired its good looks, it was uncomfortable to shoot and the skimpy sights made it hard to hit with. I sold it and never really wanted another. Well, my son was having none of his Dad’s wisdom and really, really wanted me to get it. Ok, ok, I bought it along with 3-4 different brands of FMJ ammo. We took it to the range and set our targets and plates out at 15 yards. I had to admit that this iteration of PPK sat better in my hand than the one from 20 years ago; the extended beavertail and pinkie extension magazine made enough of a difference I guess. Let me tell you, the thing can just plain shoot. It’s been completely reliable with ball and JHP ammo, it shoots right to the sights at 15 yards, and it looks damn hot. I’ll never carry it (SIG P365 9mm is way better) and it’s not really a range gun per se, but man is it fun and my son loves it. Keeper!
L.W.R.C. R.E.P.R 7.62x51mm NATO. Mine has the 20” heavy stainless barrel from Proof Research. This was an expensive impulse buy. I was in a store I don’t normally frequent and wasn’t really in the market for an AR-10. Well, I got talking to the owner and, good salesman that he was, he brought down the “Reaper” and really talked up its accuracy and reliability. He just kept singing its praises and bringing the price down by $100, then $200, then $400… well, crap, I bought it. Getting it home I thought, “What the Hell am I going to do with this thing? It’s a P I G pig, it’s about a mile long and now I’m going to have to spend serious money on glass, too. I just kinda figured I’d end up selling it and getting my money back since it was such a good deal. Well, it worked on my conscience a little bit and I decided to scope it up (Burris XTR 3-15x, a good, undervalued scope IMO) and try it out. Off to the range I went with this crew-served weapon, along with some FGMM 175 grain fodder. 7 sighing-in shots had me centered at 100 yards so I turned to the 200 yard target. Katie, bar the door. I laid 5 shots into a little less than 1.25”. Since then I’ve done better, and I’ve done worse, but I know this rifle is a 1/2 MOA gun all day long. Unbelievable.
FN SCAR 17S 7.62x51mm NATO. Similar to the above, I didn’t really want this rifle. I already had a Daniel Defense DD5 AR-10, and M1A loaded, and I had just gotten the R.E.P.R. I had read for years about the SCAR but thought they’d been overhyped. But there I was, at the LGS again, handling a gun I didn’t like, want nor need at all. It felt clumsy and tall. The rails on the forearm were like cheese graters on my hands. The UGG boot stock looked comical. Then there was the price, steeeeep. And no glass. Buuuut, this particular one was $800 off list, brand new. And the non-reciprocating charging handle version… looking better. What the Hell, I went for it. Then I got a deal on a used but LNIB Trijicon TA11 ACOG to put on it. Nice package. At the range, it all came together… the rifle was light, shouldered beautifully, recoiled mildly (truly amazingly light recoil) and Holy-Hell did it shoot! Even el-cheapo M80 surplus ball has never failed to function or throw a group larger than 2”. FGMM, if I splurge on it, will hand right around 1MOA. Absolutely stellar rifle. Not overhyped. Does exactly what it’s supposed to do. Love it!
What’re your stories?
Thanks!
Vanfunk
I’ve been surprised recently by some acquisitions that I was skeptical about at the time of purchase, but have since won me over. Here’s my list and the stories behind them:
Walther PPK stainless (newest model, Ft. Smith): my son was slow to take to the shooting sports, but now at 16, he’s all-in. A few months ago, we were perusing the handgun counter at the LGS and his teenage eye sparkled as it set upon that iconic shape under the glass. I had had a PPK years ago (Interarms) and, while I admired its good looks, it was uncomfortable to shoot and the skimpy sights made it hard to hit with. I sold it and never really wanted another. Well, my son was having none of his Dad’s wisdom and really, really wanted me to get it. Ok, ok, I bought it along with 3-4 different brands of FMJ ammo. We took it to the range and set our targets and plates out at 15 yards. I had to admit that this iteration of PPK sat better in my hand than the one from 20 years ago; the extended beavertail and pinkie extension magazine made enough of a difference I guess. Let me tell you, the thing can just plain shoot. It’s been completely reliable with ball and JHP ammo, it shoots right to the sights at 15 yards, and it looks damn hot. I’ll never carry it (SIG P365 9mm is way better) and it’s not really a range gun per se, but man is it fun and my son loves it. Keeper!
L.W.R.C. R.E.P.R 7.62x51mm NATO. Mine has the 20” heavy stainless barrel from Proof Research. This was an expensive impulse buy. I was in a store I don’t normally frequent and wasn’t really in the market for an AR-10. Well, I got talking to the owner and, good salesman that he was, he brought down the “Reaper” and really talked up its accuracy and reliability. He just kept singing its praises and bringing the price down by $100, then $200, then $400… well, crap, I bought it. Getting it home I thought, “What the Hell am I going to do with this thing? It’s a P I G pig, it’s about a mile long and now I’m going to have to spend serious money on glass, too. I just kinda figured I’d end up selling it and getting my money back since it was such a good deal. Well, it worked on my conscience a little bit and I decided to scope it up (Burris XTR 3-15x, a good, undervalued scope IMO) and try it out. Off to the range I went with this crew-served weapon, along with some FGMM 175 grain fodder. 7 sighing-in shots had me centered at 100 yards so I turned to the 200 yard target. Katie, bar the door. I laid 5 shots into a little less than 1.25”. Since then I’ve done better, and I’ve done worse, but I know this rifle is a 1/2 MOA gun all day long. Unbelievable.
FN SCAR 17S 7.62x51mm NATO. Similar to the above, I didn’t really want this rifle. I already had a Daniel Defense DD5 AR-10, and M1A loaded, and I had just gotten the R.E.P.R. I had read for years about the SCAR but thought they’d been overhyped. But there I was, at the LGS again, handling a gun I didn’t like, want nor need at all. It felt clumsy and tall. The rails on the forearm were like cheese graters on my hands. The UGG boot stock looked comical. Then there was the price, steeeeep. And no glass. Buuuut, this particular one was $800 off list, brand new. And the non-reciprocating charging handle version… looking better. What the Hell, I went for it. Then I got a deal on a used but LNIB Trijicon TA11 ACOG to put on it. Nice package. At the range, it all came together… the rifle was light, shouldered beautifully, recoiled mildly (truly amazingly light recoil) and Holy-Hell did it shoot! Even el-cheapo M80 surplus ball has never failed to function or throw a group larger than 2”. FGMM, if I splurge on it, will hand right around 1MOA. Absolutely stellar rifle. Not overhyped. Does exactly what it’s supposed to do. Love it!
What’re your stories?
Thanks!
Vanfunk
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