I'm thinking of calling it "battle rifle-itis." I think I contracted it from a CMP M1 Garand that I bought last summer.
You see, until that old M1 showed up at my door, I had never owned a semi-auto centerfire rifle. I had owned plenty of firearms, including rifles, revolvers, autopistols and shotguns. I'd fired military style rifles before, including the G36 that is my brother's SWAT-issue weapon (he also has an MP5, but that's another story). For some reason, though, I never had any desire for a black rifle.
Shortly after getting my CMP Garand, I started reading about them. I bought every book I could find on the history of the Garand. I took it to the range with a few hundred rounds of surplus Korean ammo. The "ping" resonated in my soul.
Shortly after that, a friend offered me a like new PTR-91 with a bunch of mags and 400 rounds of surplus .308 for a great price. I figured, "why not" and bought it.
Not long after, I developed a strange craving for an FAL. I couldn't stop thinking about them. My heart would pitter-pat and the sight of an SA58. A used SA58 Para Congo gave me temporary satisfaction, and drained my bank account.
Within a month, the disease reared its ugly head again. I spotted a like new Arsenal SA M7S (AK clone) on the rack at my local toy shop. I had to have it, so out came the credit card.
My basement is now full of surplus .30-06, .308 and 7.62x39 ammo. My safe is too crowded. And yet ... and yet ...
I want more. An H&K SL-8 was calling out to me the other day. I swear that all those AR-15s, that until now have always looked alike to me, are starting to seem, well, desirable.
Is there a cure for this disease?
P.S. My Garand also keeps telling me that she is lonely. She wants sisters. Lots of them.
You see, until that old M1 showed up at my door, I had never owned a semi-auto centerfire rifle. I had owned plenty of firearms, including rifles, revolvers, autopistols and shotguns. I'd fired military style rifles before, including the G36 that is my brother's SWAT-issue weapon (he also has an MP5, but that's another story). For some reason, though, I never had any desire for a black rifle.
Shortly after getting my CMP Garand, I started reading about them. I bought every book I could find on the history of the Garand. I took it to the range with a few hundred rounds of surplus Korean ammo. The "ping" resonated in my soul.
Shortly after that, a friend offered me a like new PTR-91 with a bunch of mags and 400 rounds of surplus .308 for a great price. I figured, "why not" and bought it.
Not long after, I developed a strange craving for an FAL. I couldn't stop thinking about them. My heart would pitter-pat and the sight of an SA58. A used SA58 Para Congo gave me temporary satisfaction, and drained my bank account.
Within a month, the disease reared its ugly head again. I spotted a like new Arsenal SA M7S (AK clone) on the rack at my local toy shop. I had to have it, so out came the credit card.
My basement is now full of surplus .30-06, .308 and 7.62x39 ammo. My safe is too crowded. And yet ... and yet ...
I want more. An H&K SL-8 was calling out to me the other day. I swear that all those AR-15s, that until now have always looked alike to me, are starting to seem, well, desirable.
Is there a cure for this disease?
P.S. My Garand also keeps telling me that she is lonely. She wants sisters. Lots of them.