introduction and hello with question

[jesterforever]

Hi my name is Justin and I am a 25 year old OEF OIF Veteran (03-04 Camp Slayer, BIAP Compund, 314th Chem, Baghdad Iraq) Currently a resident of Greenville SC I just bought a 3 BR home in greenville and renovations will be under way soon. I have recently been re-acquiring weaponry mostly for defense to start with and soon moving to pleasure pieces.
I bought a Mossberg Maverick 12 ga. pump action full-tube with ACOG scope) dont ask me why they stuck that on but at least i can see my irons under) and a CZ model 70 .32 auto for concealed carry. I also have a S&W model 10 V .38 that I am trying to trade for my landlord (slumlord lol) grandmother who needs some kind of protection. Trying for a smaller frame, lighter weight, similar caliber revolver (doesn't have to be newer)
I have been a very avid gun collector in the past and have been trying to get back into it since I am now disabled with a lot more time on the old hands. At any rate I have owned before and have fired a few fine pieces that I already have formed fairly strong opinions about, and since I have always been rather picky, most of them were pretty good items. That list is as follows:
SKS that I modified with a synthetic folding stock and scope 7.62x39 (no extended mag i never saw the point in disrupting prone unsupported firing)
SAR-1 Romanian AK Semi-Auto Variant 7.62x39
Russian Mosin Nagant Full Size 7.62x54R
Mossberg 500 Police Issue Pistol Grip Only Pump 12ga. (full tube)
Mossberg Maverick with ACOG Pump 12 ga.
Bushmaster XM-15 with Solid Stock .223
Ruger 10/22 Rifle Sythetic Stock Version .22 LR
CETME Model C Synthetic Stock Semi Auto .308
Marlin 30/30 Standard Lever Action
Ruger P94 Semi-Auto .40 Caliber
SIG P239 .357auto
STAR BM 9mm
CZ 70 .32
Smith and Wesson Model 10 V .38 SW modified to 38 Spec.
Sears Roebuck .22LR Bolt-Single Shot

And being in the military I have become very familiar with these:
m-16a1 .223
m4 .223
m249 SAW belt fed open bolt full auto .223
m9 (beretta 9mm)

Seeing as I have sold all but the CZ, the maverick, and the .38 I am slowly getting back into collecting, but disability doesnt really hash out that much more for fun rather than food, which is fine. Hey at least i can apply for a free hunting licence now that im a cripple hehe.

I have been mostly searching of late for recreational pieces (target, hunting) that are good quality, well manufactured, low price) and have been eyeing some popular knock off models that are in my range price-wise.

Finally, the question is this. I need any owner of one of these (knock offs) to tell me the average price of these things and what I should look for. Mainly loking for now, are full size frame semi auto pistols, assault style rifles, mid-size frame semi-auto pistols, concealed carry lightweight revolvers, and maybe a decent hunting rifle or 2. Most guns that can be modded to synthetic with scope mounts or ACOG with are eye openers by me. I am also a big fan of the cheaper good quality knockoff brands like Llama, Rock Island, CETME, ect. mostly for price reasons.

My dream guns are these:
Desert Eagle .50AE
Wildey .44 Auto
Barrett .50 Cal BMG Semi
AMT Hardballer
M14 Synthetic/Scope
Colt 1911
Colt King Cobra .357
Walther PPK
USP .45 Full Size
H&K G3
Franchi SPAS 12 Semi or Pump
SVD Dragonuv
Mark 3 Ruger .22 LR

Good to be here amongst fellow collectors and enthusiasts and I will cut the novel off here. Thank you, have a good one, and protect your constitutional rights!

 

[JWarren]

jester,

Welcome and I am sorry to hear of your disability. Hang in there.

One think to consider with your questions is what part of the country you live in. It seems that prices vary by location.

Mainly loking for now, are full size frame semi auto pistols, assault style rifles, mid-size frame semi-auto pistols, concealed carry lightweight revolvers, and maybe a decent hunting rifle or 2. Most guns that can be modded to synthetic with scope mounts or ACOG with are eye openers by me. I am also a big fan of the cheaper good quality knockoff brands like Llama, Rock Island, CETME, ect. mostly for price reasons.

I'll do my best with the ones I've had experience with.


Handguns:

- Rock Island Armory 1911: I have the Mil-Spec one. I love it. Others prefer the Tactical, and I have heard nothing but good reviews on both of them.

"Assault" Rifles:

- Saiga line of AK's: If you want a high quality AK at a good price, the Saigas are for you. With the time you have on your hands, it would not be difficult to re-configure back to the Military configuration. You can get .223, 7.62x39, and .308 in rifles. I have the Saiga .308 that I use as my hunting rifle.

- Lancaster Consulting AK-47: Many consider this an excellent AK with a good price, lifetime warranty, and chrome-lined barrel

- Vector Arms AK: I have an older one with the chrome-lined barrel. It is a great mid-level AK. They do not have chrome-lined barrels now, however.

- Del-ton AR kits: If you are more interested in the AR lines, Del-ton makes kits with good reviews. They have a lot of options and configurations. Just get yourself a stripped lower, and you are set. You can built cheaper than buy in many cases.


Revolvers:

- I am gonna leave this to folks more knowledgable than me on this subject.


Hunting Rifle:

- Depends on what you are planning on hunting.

I use my Saiga .308 as a deer rifle.

However, you may want to check on the Savage rifles with Accutrigger if you need a good hunting bolt-action for a good price.

I will probably add one to my collection eventually.



Adding one to your list that may or may not fit into hunting--but still could help. I'd get a Ruger 10/22 22 long rifle at some point. It would give you a lot of opportunities to shoot at a low cost. But I warn you-- if you start customizing it, it will start getting expensive.


I hope it helps.


-- John

 

[the pistolero]

Welcome, jester, and thanks for your service. As far as 1911s go -- I don't know how you feel about Springfields, but I got a parkerized GI 1911 for about $420 out the door in early 2006. It's been a great gun, too, something I'd definitely recommend. As of yet that's the only one on your list I have experience with, though I do hope to change that after the first of the year.

 

[jesterforever]

Thanks for the comments there, pistolero, john. It was really nice to see an active forum for once. Thanks for the help guys. Anyone know anything about someone wanting to trade a small frame lightweight .357 or better revolver for that SW model 10 V i mentioned feel free to let me know.

 

[scout26]

a S&W model 10 V .38 that I am trying to trade for my landlord (slumlord lol) grandmother

You're pretty cold hearted to try to trade your grandmother (even if she is a slumlord) for a gun.

Thanks for you service and sorry to hear about you're disability. (from someone else who's out on disability also.)

Good luck in growing your collection and working on your new house.

Here's my opinion and worth every penny you paid for it:

1. Get a .22 Rifle (Ruger 10-22 or Marlin Model 60) Good cheap plinking fun and a good way to practice your rifle shooting skills.

2. Look into geting into reloading. It'll dramatically reduce reduce your shooting costs since you're on a fixed/limited/tight budget. Check out/Do a Search in the Handloading/Reloading fora here on THR for more advice/details/info. Really good people there to help you get started.

 

[scout26]

double tap

 

[CB900F]

Jester;

Welcome aboard and thanks for your service. My son's currently at BIAP near Stryker, second time around for him.

After looking over your list of dream guns, I sincerely hope you have large hands. Some of those puppies require gorilla mitts to wrap around 'em. For instance, I have an H&K USP compact and that's really a full size gun, not a true compact. The full size USP, Wildey, and Desert Eagle are great big pistols.

As for the SPAS12, I believe somebody in the Klinton administration decided that that particular piece of machinery was full capable of turning you into a slavering homicidal maniac, merely by possessing it you understand, and it's on the very hard to get list. The Barrett, presuming you can obtain it before the 08 elections, will almost certainly require you to possess your very own live-in ATF agent after those elections.

My own advice, get a good bolt action .22 rimfire on that list too.

900F

 

[jesterforever]

cool

ive owned a 10/22 and loved it although i do rather enjoy larger scale wonton destruction of larger chambering calibers. i have been looking into getting another today and i am going to be going for after market glamour for it. such as m4 style telescopic stock, pictinny rail supports for long range scope attachment, c-mags (if possible) for nigh on unlimited firing capacity before reloading, no foregrip for easier prone supported firing fun (one of my favorite firing positions being a SAW gunner even though i trained in drop drills with everyone else on the MCTs at Camp Slayer)

CF900 Ask your boy if he likes those chicken royales from that burger king at BIAP. When I was there 03-04 thats all they had for commercial style food and my goodness I only lived a few kilos away but I would buy em 5-8 at a time and I would spread em around to those who werent on MCTs and didnt have access to casual vehicle use.Sundries snacks and burgers from the burger king along with 5 dollar a carton smokes (sometimes 2.50) along with many electronics for down time were pretty much where my 300$ weekly casual pay went haha. Also ask him if he likes the pool in front of the main palace. The 314th CML Co (my company at the time) fixed that joker up and repaired the pumps making it very swimmable and using decon chems for shocking. (Hehehehe)

 

[jesterforever]

In fact a 1st cav guy, i forget his name but a real cool guy built some ramps for a skate park type area in one of the indoor irrepairable pools out ot that JDAM bombed out building. Think it was some kind of political meeting house or i seem to recall it being called the Baath Party House.

 

[jesterforever]

bump

Im going to a gun show in about 30 minutes and my shotgun news has a FEG PA63 for 99.95 this week woot woot. Hopefully i can get someone at the show to trade me one for the revolver (S&W Model 10 V) comparable values and that FEG is a much smaller frame so my grandma could stash it in the old briefcase. Shes a tough lady for 64. Cancer survivor, still taking care of my cancer survivor grandpa who has no bladder, taking care of 15 rental properties, my older brother (dont ask), and still has time to cook like a master. Taught me everything i know about the cooking. She still gets out in the garden on occasion to run the tiller but hell, her mom (whos still alive at 90something) did that till she was in her 80s but she used hand tools.

Scout26 - You're pretty cold hearted to try to trade your grandmother (even if she is a slumlord) for a gun.

I know a joke when I see one, I wouldnt trade her, but I'd trade my mom for a Colt King Cobra .357....ya got one? Mom looks like an anemic sharon stone hehe.

If anyone has any tips on the FEG PA63 drop a line. Wish me luck at the show. Have a great day all.