The Gun show was well worth the entry fee with a selection of excellent displays and a good showing of trade tables artfully tempting your wallet to open in exchange for more 'must-have' items. I returned home with a considerable mass of used books - mostly 'Gun Digest' annuals and overseas magazines. They make a stack nearly half a metre tall on the carpet by my reading chair - and should keep me happy for a few weeks!
- Should be a few ideas for topics to post in that lot! - But the best thing about the trip into town was meeting-up with more than a few old friends. One special guy "Prickles" and I have shot through-out areas of central Australia - mostly south-western Queensland - with a good bunch of Ozzie mates - staying in shearers quarters, eating off the best of ozzie tucker, and exploring some grand big country full of feral pigs.
- Problem is that Prickles has had a serious stroke and it's cramped his style somewhat! - but inside he's still all there and retains a good sense of humour.
Sunday was range day and I burned a few hundred rounds of rim-fire and 9mm ammunition. I was pleased with where the pills hit on the targets - and with all the others enjoyed the sunshine, shooting and talk - and clouds of black-powder smoke drifting away from two of the blokes shooting single-action replica Uberti Colts.
Now, - I've just had a phone call requesting I have a security inspection visit (police) for my handguns. - All completed OK and accompanied with a decent chat and a cuppa.
This type of check is all part of being an endorsed restricted firearms user here in New Zealand - and I don't really object in any way - but I'd guess that US shooters would feel it was intrusive and unconstitutional ?
- There again, there are probably anti-gunners out there who'd consider such checks as irrelevant because they'd "BAN THEM ALL" !
That's what happened in UK (after 'Dunblane') and any keen shooters left there are now using some really odd firearms that work within the handgun ban - such as a "harmonica" muzzle loading pistol that uses five-shot loading blocks.
'Patriot' Muzzle Loading Pistol - made by Zylab
.32" Calibre - legal for British Shooters.
I have only just started to read about the British scene in some old (2005) magazines - but will return to the topic when I have researched more and confirm the current situation. They also seem to have a class of legal "Long Revolver" that has very long barrels and a stock extension that lays back along the shooting arm.
UK Legal Taurus Long Barrel Revolver.
"legal" that is - with a FAC (Fire-Arms Certificate)
And I've also glanced at a story telling about using gas-operated 'soft-air' pistols to shoot UK practical matches ! - Indeed why not - you've got to make the best of what you've got eh.
- It's amazing what you can learn from a $3 box of old magazines. - And best wishes from Gods-own Country to all my UK readers.
Marty K
No comments:
Post a Comment