Or should I say I assembled it. I Assembled an FAL with an Austrian STG58 kit and an Imbel Reciever. I then took the project into the desert and proceded to shoot 40 rounds through it. Is it important?!?! I don't know. But it felt real nice knowing I could Barrel a rifle with nothing more than a file and know it would work without killing a good guy.Just my .02.Btw, you need to build a rifle for the event.

-- nine (nine_fingers@hotmail.com), February 08, 1999

Answers

Let me say you need protection prior to an event. So act accordingly.

-- nine (nine_fingers@hotmail.com), February 08, 1999.

Did you have to do anything to get the headspace set, or the barrel sights lined up? I just wondered if the receivers that you can buy will work without machining to set headspace and such.

-- Mark (b@bbb.com), February 08, 1999.

I take it you have a full auto weapon now. Congrats! I took my 8 shot Defender out this weekend with some 00 buck. Hid targets in bushes, trees, etc... Practiced speed loading, shooting from all positions, etc... Had a "blast" with that 12 ga. Shoot as much as you can afford to, practice makes perfect.

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), February 08, 1999.

While on subject of guns, WalMart has a Mossberg 12 ga. short-barreled pump for $187. Have any of you had any experience with this gun? Would it be suitable for Y2K home defense? Is it reliable?

-- No No (nono@nogo.com), February 08, 1999.

No No No Billy boy, This rifle was built on a semi reciever(like they peddle at the gun shows.) It has all the required U.S. parts as defined by the 94 Crime Bill. Besides, I wouldn't have a Full Auto in 7.62 Nato. Recoil is way too much.Second round is off target. As far as barrel timing goes you just keep removing metal until it is about 3 Degrees below top dead center then you take your wrench and snug it true.It's a try fit,cut a little,try it, cut a little, try it. The whole process took about 45 Minutes to barrel it and about another half hour to finish assembling the gun. Parts kit $200.00, reciever $345.00, US parts to keep it legal $250.00. About$800.00.This is about what the retailers want for one with the thumbhole stock.And I bought it over the course of a year insted of plunking the cash down at once. For head space I used a 168grain Federal Match round with a piece of masking tape on the base of it. Any way, since these rifles were originally designed as MG's their headspacing is "liberal". And it was such an easy fit the Zero was maintained between the front site on the barrel and the back(rear) site on the lower reciever.Now I need to save my bucks and get it refinished.

-- nine (nine_fingers@hotmail.com), February 08, 1999.

nine - looks like you've just found another possibility for post-y2k employment - congrats!

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), February 08, 1999.

-- None (none@none.none), February 15, 1999.

-- None (none@none.none), February 15, 1999.

No No,

I personally don't consider a shotgun to be an optimum choice for self defense, and I'll list why. 1) Very short effective range if you use round shot; if you use slugs you can get more range out of it, but it's still inferior to a good rifle.

2) The ammo is rather heavy. With a .223, you can carry 38-40 rds/lb, 7.62x39 is about 30/lb, .308 is about 18-20/lb. 12-ga is about 6-8/lb. Weight is not a big factor if you stay in the house, but it is a big factor if you have to go foot-mobile.

3) The ammunition capacity is rather limited. Most shotguns hold 3-5 rds, and even extended tube mags generally don't go over 8-9 rds. In a close range fight, you won't have time to reload, and 5-9 rds may not be enough versus multiple opponents.

4) Time to reload is way too long. If you need to reload the whole tube mag, it can take you over 15 seconds. I personally can generally drop the mag on my CAR-15, and reload with a fresh one in under 5 seconds.

5) They can be very awkward to reload if you're prone. 6) Heavy recoil. The recoil is way more than even a .308 rifle, depending on the load used. A 7.62x39 or .223 has little recoil; this makes followup shots much faster. 7) If you are using buckshot, and decide you need to engage a medium range target (a measly 50 yards away), you have to insert slug ammo one at a time. This assumes that the tube mag isn't full; in that case you need to remove some rounds. More time wasted.

There are other disadvantages, but I trust that you get the picture.

What gun you need depends on your situation. If you plan to stick tight and not bug out, you can use a heavier weight weapon. If you need to be able to leave, consider a .223 caliber weapon.

If you are on a low-$ budget, get a SKS/MAK-90, and lots of ammo. Get some SP ammo as it does alot more damage than the usual FMJ ammo. If you can afford $300-$400, get a Ruger Mini-14. If you can afford $600-$800, get a AR-15 series. If weight isn't an issue, get a M1A in .308 caliber.

Having a semi-auto with a large-capacity magazine gives you the most advantages over inferior choices. You can make do with another gun, but if you can, stack the deck in your favor as much as you can. Luck will play a large part of combat anyways, but having the right equipment and training can make a large difference.

If you have other questions, ask. :)

-- Bill (billclo@hotmail.com), February 15, 1999.

That loud moaning you hear in the background is Jeff Cooper.

I'd have to agree.

-- Greybear

- Got Skill?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 16, 1999.

Greybear. :)

I'm definitely not a fan of Jeff Cooper, and I'm not suprised that some people will freak at my post. To alot of people, a shotgun is a symbol of their maniliness, and to denigrate that is sacrelidge.

He's a dinosaur. He did do some good with his early works, but he did far more harm by insisting that IPSC use major and minor calibers, unrealistic ranges and targets, etc. REAL combat shooting is far different from what the IPSC "gamesmen" do nowadays. It was only last year that he realized that.

And his crap about .223's being only good for shooting poodles is a load of dung, and indicates his lack of open-mindedness and willingness to TEST his theories.

Scout Rifle?! Hah. Don't get me started. :) :)

-- Bill (billclo@hotmail.com), February 16, 1999.

You mean you agree with Jeff, or what I posted?

-- Bill (billclo@hotmail.com), February 16, 1999.