Post the biggest gun you shoot

[Kiah]

My biggest. M44 7.62x54r. Ignore the piddly little .223 butting into the pic.

 

[UffDa]

Not counting my 1" bore cannon, my Shiloh Sharps business rifle is my biggest. It's a mere .45-70. A pussy cat compared to some of the Sharps.

 

[The Mastiff]

JoeShredd said: I have the CETME, which I really love; have had the HK 91, which I actually didn't care for...

Joe, was it an ergonomic thing? Too short barrell length, or the recoil in comparison to the FAL/AR10? I've heard a few guys talk about not liking the HK design. It seems to be a love, or hate thing, with few in between

I have had a FAL, and a M14 (SA version), but not an AR 10 yet. They each have strong and weak points. I like the HK for it's extreme reliability. I have never had a malfunction , and I've had it since probably 1986 or so.

My second choice is probably the M14 design.

I've been to armorers schools too for several designs/companies. The different designs all have strengths and weaknesses. HK's weaknesses is usually it's ergonomics to most folks. That's the complaint I've heard the most.

BTW, that curved metal buttplate on the Mosin M44 can hurt if not shouldered right. It's out of proportion to the power of the round IMO. I've got 4 different Mosin models, a fewEnfields including the .308 Indian Mk2, and several Mausers. They're all fun to shoot. Still deadly too if needed. Joe

 

[UffDa]

BTW, that curved metal buttplate on the Mosin M44 can hurt if not shouldered right. It's out of proportion to the power of the round IMO. I've got 4 different Mosin models, a fewEnfields including the .308 Indian Mk2, and several Mausers. They're all fun to shoot. Still deadly too if needed. Joe

I have a M44 and after shooting 20 rounds of heavy ball from the bench, I have a lot of respect for the VC who used them in Nam. Those little guys shot them without even a t-shirt on.

BTW, the last time I shot it at the range the guy next to me started laughing. I asked him what was funny and he asked to shoot it while I watched from the side. There must have been 6 feet of flame shooting out of the muzzle.

 

[The Mastiff]

Yeah, the 7.62X54r in an around 18 inch barrell can cause one flinchitis from the flash and shockwave, along with the damned buttstock. I agree that the 120lb, 5'4' soldiers carrying them must have been pretty disciplined and tough.

I have a 91/30 (?) with the octagonal reciever. that5 has a 28 inch BBL, and it makes all the difference in the world. It's very accurate too. Arsenal refinished like brand new. It's much more fun to shoot, not so much to carry.

My favorite model is a Finnish(?) heavy barrell. It's more accurate than the basic sights ( with me using them) allows. It's a great shooter.

Some years ago there was a lot of very hot MG ammo ( red banded) incindiary that was making the gun show circut. It was very hot stuff. Too hot for the 91 action, causing bolt setback into the reciever. I've found the stuff mixed in with regular API, etc. ( had red with a yellow band maybe? It's been decades)

As part of my vehicle kit I leep a Spanish FR8, and a 50 round bandolier along with pioneer tools, a come along, tools,Commo,Solar battery charger etc. Another really nice design. It has the CETME sights and flash hider on a santa barbara M98 action. It's an 18 inch (Polygon) barrell in not the reduced CETME loads, but full powered 7.62 nato chambering. It's one of my all time favorite knock abouts.

There used to be a store down here called roses that sold them back in the 80's for between 25, and 65 dollars APPX. All century imports, but not parts guns. Were talking mostly matching numbers, except the arsenal refinished ones usually. Joe

 

[Absintheur]

Beautiful FAL! How reliable has it been for you?

LOL that island camo is interesting too.

The FN has been tremendous for me, one malfunction in the first magazine when I originally received it but not a bobble since and I have put about 3000 rounds through it. This winter after the shooting season end I am going to send it to Williams Trigger Specialties and have a set trigger put in it. This company has done work for me on AR's (great set trigger) and H&Ks and they place a lifetime warranty on their work.

The island camo was done as a joke, when I bought my Hakim they were wholesaling for 80 bucks, this was when they were first imported. I bought one out of simply curiosity and was amazed at the accuracy and lack of recoil. That rifle has one me a good bit of coin from guys who refuse to believe a rifle that looks like that will outshoot their big dollar ARs in a combat competition...lol.

 

[Jeff S1]

My Marlin 1895 45/70 & Smith and Wesson M29 blued four inch. Both are a lot of fun, especially the M29, but the blast is a but much. 22 grains of 2400 works wonders and also is perfect in the Marlin 1894.

 

[joeshredd]

Joe, was it an ergonomic thing? Too short barrell length, or the recoil in comparison to the FAL/AR10? I've heard a few guys talk about not liking the HK design. It seems to be a love, or hate thing, with few in between

Mastif... my experience was some 15 years ago... IIRC, I already had the CETME and a buddy got the HK - we shot them together, along with his M-14...

As I recall, the reach on the HK was longer than the CETME, and the felt recoil was different, maybe felt more w/t HK. The CETME just felt better, I guess...

Didn't care much for the M-14, either... It felt better than the HK, but there's a metallic "ting" after each shot that left me feeling it was kinda flimsy, which of course, it isn't. I just had no other real experience with it to gleam any sense one way or the other.

Now, from seeing comparison pics between the CETME, HK and PTR - I really want to try the PTR.

I also have yet to try and break in my AR-10, so I'll hope to throw that into my mix of experience.