Summer Dreamin
On these long, hot, steamy summer evenings a young girl’s thoughts turn to romance.
But I’m not young and not a girl, so my thoughts are turning to the next addition to the family arsenal.
Three things springfield to mind, the first being an upgrade to the sad little Mossberg Plinkster .22 cal rifle that I picked up on a whim for $90 new at Gander Mountain.
Not that there is anything wrong with it, but it just doesn’t give that pride of ownership and it certainly lacks the quality and solidity to do anything fun with. As far as I can see, during several frustrating attempts to clean the darn thing, the entire action relies upon a little ledge of aluminum on the inside of the receiver to function. Just doesn’t seem right. The replacement I have in mind? Probably a bull-barreled .22 Savage with some nice glass on top. I’ve taken a liking to the accutrigger after buying a Savage 10FP-LE2 in .308.
The second want / need is a 9mm carbine, such as the Bobcat – I’ve watched these in action at my IDPA matches and they look like an awful lot of fun.
Lastly, and most confusingly, I really want a 1.4 caliber handgun. Yes, a 1.4 caliber – or maybe a 1.5 (That’s a 45 all right, a 45mm) if I am lucky. Of course these things are not easy to come by, but I maybe have a plan. I have access to machining equipment and think it would be a cool winter project to put together a non-firing, display piece to put on the living room wall. Maybe in a glass case, along with half a dozen inert rounds made especially from shiny brass rod. A huge, honking 30lb lump of steel, with a swing out chamber, like a revolver, but for one huge cartridge. Blued and polished, with “Pelosi Tactical Firearm Company, CA, USA” stamped on the frame. Am I completely mad? Probably.
Under Federal and state rules it seems to be easier to make a real, working pistol and get it registered than it is to make an imitation. It seems that the powers that be (TPTB) are convinced anyone making anything remotely like a firearm must be either selling them to children to play with or ready to point it at plod. The 1988 Federal Toy Gun Law dictates a blaze orange barrel plug inset no less than six mm. That makes it hard to produce a convincing non-firing curio that even looks nothing like anything ever made before.
Anyone out there ever tried anything like this? It seems a pity to compromise on what is basically a large steel ornament with a 45mm bright orange plug welded into the end of the barrel.
August 8th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Make a real one then, if its easier. No one says you have to make a firing pin, or live ammo, for it.
August 8th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Good point!
From the BATF site:
(A6) Does the GCA prohibit anyone from making a handgun, shotgun or rifle? [Back]
With certain exceptions a firearm may be made by a non-licensee provided it is not for sale and the maker is not prohibited from possessing firearms. However, a person is prohibited from assembling a non-sporting semi-automatic rifle or non-sporting shotgun from imported parts. In addition, the making of an NFA firearm requires a tax payment and approval by ATF. An application to make a machine gun will not be approved unless documentation is submitted showing that the firearm is being made for a Federal or State agency.
[18 U.S.C. 922(o) and (r), 26 U.S.C. 5822, 27 CFR 478.39, 479.62 and 479.105]
August 9th, 2007 at 12:03 am
“An application to make a machine gun will not be approved unless documentation is submitted showing that the firearm is being made for a Federal or State agency.”
But they don’t have any sinister plans for us. They just want the prestige of having better weaponry. Uh huh, I buy that. I’ll put it right next to that damn bridge I bought.
August 9th, 2007 at 7:48 am
I find it very sad that a citizen has to get prior written permission to weld together some pipe to avoid a ten stretch. Thats for a non-functional ornament, let alone a machine gun.
It seems that unless I rifle the barrel it may come under NFA rules as an AOW and that bring a $200 making tax… and being over .50 caliber and not a shotgun might pull it under a Destructive Device label.
I did say “confusing”…
August 9th, 2007 at 10:39 am
For 9mm Carbine, I recommend the AR. I have one and love it. Go with RRA.