Do you remember the early M-16 (AR -15) problems: In the beginning of actual combat in VN the marines (I was not one) were left alone with their M-14s. (a fine battle weapon) because...

ghostgotcha Loc: The Florida swamps

In the beginning of actual combat in VN the marines (I was not one) were left alone with their M-14s. (a fine battle weapon) because they tried the introduced M-16 and quickly titled it the "Mattie-Mattell-Plastic-bullet-launcher" and found it wanting. The Army on the other hand were issued the early M-16 and had no choice..... (typical)...One of the problems was with the action of automatically ejecting a spent round and loading anew a ready-round into the chamber. You see the problem had to do with fowling of the action when in use do the fact that the spent gas was sent back directly to the receiver to throw the bolt, instead of using a piston at the forward end of the forearm to ram a carrier rod back and throw the bolt like the M-1, and M-14.

So just why would I even bring this up on here. Well, I suspect quite a few readers may own a AR-15 or plan on getting one. (It is the most popular long gun on the market today) -- and -- I have both a warning and good news for you.

Today.. There is a new AR-15 type firearm evolving on the market. It looks just about like the old AR-15 but It has a new operating system involving a (piston) similar to the old M-1/M-14. I will call this a piston operated system. The old operating system involved what I will call a direct gas inpigenment system (DGIS) which is the old method where some of the gas from firing a round is moved through a tube back into the actual receiver and operating the bolt. Obviously this gas is not filtered or clean, rather from the burning of the explosive powder used to make the rifle go bang.... (just could not resist that little pun) and accumulates in the receiver... Ps. This is why one of the first things they did with the M-16 was to modify the receiver with a "forward assist"....

So. If you just have to own one of these plastic bullet launchers than take a good look at the new action... (the rifle looks almost identical so you have to do the research - look for the word "piston" when describing the action.

I know that H&K, Colt, and even Bushmaster are offering models with the piston system.

Understand. If all you want is something that looks good, and you are only going out to do some hunting or range shooting then either will work just fine. However, if you purchase with the intent of possibly going into the weeds to play the serious game, then put the odds in your favor.

Of course, depending on your MO you might want to look at the M-14 or H&K line of weapons, for serious work.

ghostgotcha Loc: The Florida swamps

Next topic: Which handgun is best for you.

I am not even gonna go into wheel vs magazine hand guns. I want to talk about weapon design and what you need to hit the broad side of a barn.

First. I am going to say that for most people a 1911 style is one of the worse for serious shooting. Don't get me wrong now. I looks and feels great. It has been around for decades and if you are the proud owner of one you probably think it is the best thing since sex.... Well be honest now, can you really hit the broad side of a barn with it? Sure. There are a few shooters who after clearing thousands of rounds can do just that, and maybe even a bit more. But what about the normal part time shooter? Ps. It is not only the 1911 I am talking about, it is most hand guns today... When you put them in your hands they take a lot of focus to hit things - time after time....

There are a few which are very well designed for point and shoot. Not my favorite by any means is the Glock. It is one of the most popular because people can actually hit something with it.

What is the story behind this rant. How do you find out which is best for you. Here is the rest of the story.

When you grasp the weapon how much of the weight is left above your hand. Realize most grips flare out and restrict how far up the weapon your hand can go. Take the 1911 and you have half the iron above the top of your hand. Take the Glock and only the slide will be above your hand. (Take a look in any magazine showing hand guns and check out where you hand is restricted compared to the slide itself.

My favorite... H&K P7... but that is just my favorite. If you want a 12 ilnch barrel and a 410 or 44mag cartridge, then wait a minute, I want to hide behind that barn.

Now look at the two examples a 1911 and a P7... Imagine your hand up on the grip as far as reasonably possible and then look at how much iron is above the top of your hand and waving in the wind....

This is a fact jack!

Ve'hoe

If you want reliability,,,, here is the line up:
AK 47
SKS
Ruger Mini14/30
Galil

If you want a respectably good battle rifle,,,an AR is sufficient nowadays,,,, they are much better than the old A1's

If you want pure puss-,,,,, you need an M1A1, an M14, or a Garand, or maybe a BAR

Stay away from the Barretts,,, and most 50 cals,,, they are too big..

Pistols: 45's
Glocks for reliability, though finicky on ammo
Any M1911 clone (colts are NOT the best) Kimbers are top, sigs, are good, ruger, Remington, then all others,,,, interesting versions are the norincos,,,and phillipine made versions

9 mm:
Glocks for reliability,,, Browning Hipower,,,, no matter who makes it,,, but browning is best, FN next

ghostcotcha wrote:

In the beginning of actual combat in VN the marines (I was not one) were left alone with their M-14s. (a fine battle weapon) because they tried the introduced M-16 and quickly titled it the "Mattie-Mattell-Plastic-bullet-launcher" and found it wanting. The Army on the other hand were issued the early M-16 and had no choice..... (typical)...One of the problems was with the action of automatically ejecting a spent round and loading anew a ready-round into the chamber. You see the problem had to do with fowling of the action when in use do the fact that the spent gas was sent back directly to the receiver to throw the bolt, instead of using a piston at the forward end of the forearm to ram a carrier rod back and throw the bolt like the M-1, and M-14.

So just why would I even bring this up on here. Well, I suspect quite a few readers may own a AR-15 or plan on getting one. (It is the most popular long gun on the market today) -- and -- I have both a warning and good news for you.

Today.. There is a new AR-15 type firearm evolving on the market. It looks just about like the old AR-15 but It has a new operating system involving a (piston) similar to the old M-1/M-14. I will call this a piston operated system. The old operating system involved what I will call a direct gas inpigenment system (DGIS) which is the old method where some of the gas from firing a round is moved through a tube back into the actual receiver and operating the bolt. Obviously this gas is not filtered or clean, rather from the burning of the explosive powder used to make the rifle go bang.... (just could not resist that little pun) and accumulates in the receiver... Ps. This is why one of the first things they did with the M-16 was to modify the receiver with a "forward assist"....

So. If you just have to own one of these plastic bullet launchers than take a good look at the new action... (the rifle looks almost identical so you have to do the research - look for the word "piston" when describing the action.

I know that H&K, Colt, and even Bushmaster are offering models with the piston system.

Understand. If all you want is something that looks good, and you are only going out to do some hunting or range shooting then either will work just fine. However, if you purchase with the intent of possibly going into the weeds to play the serious game, then put the odds in your favor.

Of course, depending on your MO you might want to look at the M-14 or H&K line of weapons, for serious work.

In the beginning of actual combat in VN the marine... (show quote)

Ve'hoe

If you want reliability,,,, here is the line up:
AK 47
SKS
Ruger Mini14/30
Galil

If you want a respectably good battle rifle,,,an AR is sufficient nowadays,,,, they are much better than the old A1's, FN FAL's, HK 90's, M1 Carbine

If you want pure puss-,,,,, you need an M1A1, an M14, or a Garand, or maybe a BAR

Stay away from the Barretts,,, and most 50 cals,,, they are too big..

Pistols: 45's
Glocks for reliability, though finicky on ammo
Any M1911 clone (colts are NOT the best) Kimbers are top, sigs, are good, ruger, Remington, then all others,,,, interesting versions are the norincos,,,and phillipine made versions

9 mm:
Glocks for reliability,,, Browning Hipower extremely smooth and gentle action for small hands and accuracy,,,, no matter who makes it,,, but browning is best, FN next, then any clone,,, even an FEC. Expect to pay 900-1500 for a real browning,,, don't pay more than 400 for an FEC even new......

ghostcotcha wrote:

In the beginning of actual combat in VN the marines (I was not one) were left alone with their M-14s. (a fine battle weapon) because they tried the introduced M-16 and quickly titled it the "Mattie-Mattell-Plastic-bullet-launcher" and found it wanting. The Army on the other hand were issued the early M-16 and had no choice..... (typical)...One of the problems was with the action of automatically ejecting a spent round and loading anew a ready-round into the chamber. You see the problem had to do with fowling of the action when in use do the fact that the spent gas was sent back directly to the receiver to throw the bolt, instead of using a piston at the forward end of the forearm to ram a carrier rod back and throw the bolt like the M-1, and M-14.

So just why would I even bring this up on here. Well, I suspect quite a few readers may own a AR-15 or plan on getting one. (It is the most popular long gun on the market today) -- and -- I have both a warning and good news for you.

Today.. There is a new AR-15 type firearm evolving on the market. It looks just about like the old AR-15 but It has a new operating system involving a (piston) similar to the old M-1/M-14. I will call this a piston operated system. The old operating system involved what I will call a direct gas inpigenment system (DGIS) which is the old method where some of the gas from firing a round is moved through a tube back into the actual receiver and operating the bolt. Obviously this gas is not filtered or clean, rather from the burning of the explosive powder used to make the rifle go bang.... (just could not resist that little pun) and accumulates in the receiver... Ps. This is why one of the first things they did with the M-16 was to modify the receiver with a "forward assist"....

So. If you just have to own one of these plastic bullet launchers than take a good look at the new action... (the rifle looks almost identical so you have to do the research - look for the word "piston" when describing the action.

I know that H&K, Colt, and even Bushmaster are offering models with the piston system.

Understand. If all you want is something that looks good, and you are only going out to do some hunting or range shooting then either will work just fine. However, if you purchase with the intent of possibly going into the weeds to play the serious game, then put the odds in your favor.

Of course, depending on your MO you might want to look at the M-14 or H&K line of weapons, for serious work.

In the beginning of actual combat in VN the marine... (show quote)

Ve'hoe

A M1911 takes time to learn,,, as does a glock for the force behind the heavy bolt carrier group,,,, A Browning hipower is a really nice middle ground...

I also like a Walther P38,,, which can be had cheaply, and still work, very well,,,

The bottom line is,, pick a pistol you can afford to shoot, and begin shooting,,,, you don't get comfortable or good until you put a thousand rounds through it,,,,, so get cranking..

It is better to use a 22 Ruger luger, that you can hit with, than a 50 Cal Desert Eagle, that you cannot.

Practice, practice, practice!!!

That is what makes you a good pistol shot.

ghostcotcha wrote:

Next topic: Which handgun is best for you. br br... (show quote)

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

ghostcotcha wrote:

In the beginning of actual combat in VN the marines (I was not one) were left alone with their M-14s. (a fine battle weapon) because they tried the introduced M-16 and quickly titled it the "Mattie-Mattell-Plastic-bullet-launcher" and found it wanting. The Army on the other hand were issued the early M-16 and had no choice..... (typical)...One of the problems was with the action of automatically ejecting a spent round and loading anew a ready-round into the chamber. You see the problem had to do with fowling of the action when in use do the fact that the spent gas was sent back directly to the receiver to throw the bolt, instead of using a piston at the forward end of the forearm to ram a carrier rod back and throw the bolt like the M-1, and M-14.

So just why would I even bring this up on here. Well, I suspect quite a few readers may own a AR-15 or plan on getting one. (It is the most popular long gun on the market today) -- and -- I have both a warning and good news for you.

Today.. There is a new AR-15 type firearm evolving on the market. It looks just about like the old AR-15 but It has a new operating system involving a (piston) similar to the old M-1/M-14. I will call this a piston operated system. The old operating system involved what I will call a direct gas inpigenment system (DGIS) which is the old method where some of the gas from firing a round is moved through a tube back into the actual receiver and operating the bolt. Obviously this gas is not filtered or clean, rather from the burning of the explosive powder used to make the rifle go bang.... (just could not resist that little pun) and accumulates in the receiver... Ps. This is why one of the first things they did with the M-16 was to modify the receiver with a "forward assist"....

So. If you just have to own one of these plastic bullet launchers than take a good look at the new action... (the rifle looks almost identical so you have to do the research - look for the word "piston" when describing the action.

I know that H&K, Colt, and even Bushmaster are offering models with the piston system.

Understand. If all you want is something that looks good, and you are only going out to do some hunting or range shooting then either will work just fine. However, if you purchase with the intent of possibly going into the weeds to play the serious game, then put the odds in your favor.

Of course, depending on your MO you might want to look at the M-14 or H&K line of weapons, for serious work.

In the beginning of actual combat in VN the marine... (show quote)

The M14 has always been my favorite weapon. It is accurate and has a longer range, besides, few people get up after being hit by a 30 caliber round - and keep shooting at you. Not only that, but with close in work, you can clobber a guy with it - and not worry about it breaking.

Rainrider Loc: Lovington NM

Ve'hoe wrote:

A M1911 takes time to learn,,, as does a glock for... (show quote)

Amen to the practice. Though I think i will be staying with my wheel. I can get off a lot more rounds with out reloading, ( I never said I had just one) They never jam no mater how many rounds you put through them. Best of all, they really can hit the mud, sand, or what ever be wipe off and fire without a miss.
Oh a good bow can be rapid fire as well, plus the ammo can be retrieved and reused. Then that's for survival use mostly.

rjoeholl

lpnmajor wrote:

The M14 has always been my favorite weapon. It is accurate and has a longer range, besides, few people get up after being hit by a 30 caliber round - and keep shooting at you. Not only that, but with close in work, you can clobber a guy with it - and not worry about it breaking.

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