Busy Week For me.

[5ontarget]

I've been on a mission this year to get a Garand, and an 03. I've been putting off buying the US MilSurps because they are so much more expensive than the European and Asian milsurp guns. As a result, I missed getting a .30 Carbine, which wasn't that big of a deal to me. I'd still like to get one, but it isn't really that important to me. I also missed out on the 03A3's. I did want one of those for the collection. When I heard that the CMP was raising prices, and that they were getting low on 03's, I decided now was the time to act. I drove up to the North Store and bought a Springfield 1903, and a Mark I, both from the 1930s, rebarreled in 1942. While I was up there I also bought a woodless M1 (July 1942)for a future project.

This was after I'd already placed an order for a M1 through the CMP, and also placed an order for a Turkish and German mauser through SOG.
Monday the Mausers came via UPS, Wednessday the M1 came via Fedex. Two cases (~1800rds) of 54r ammo came via UPS the same day. Thursday I drove up and bought the 03's and ~4000rds of 30-06. Last week I bought another ~5000rds of 8mm, most of it on stripper clips. Today, I walk a lot easier, as my wallet is much lighter now. Now, I have a bunch of new guns, and a bunch of ammo, now I need some time and decent weather to go shoot.

I forgot to get pictures of the Mausers, and the 03 Mark I before I started work on them, but I'll put some up showing the work in progress.

Here are some shots of the M1, and the 1903. mmmm, cosmoliscious.

[5ontarget]

Oh yeah, I forgot to add, for those interested, the K98 is a RC with intact guard screws, S/42G with German markings intact. Once I get it cleaned better, I'll do some more research into all the markings.

The Turk, was just kind of added on the order, they are selling for ~$60, and I could no longer hold out on such an inexpensive long mauser. The wood looks like it will be fantastic when I'm finaly done cleaning the camel dung encrusted cosmoline off of it. The metal has lost nearly all of its bluing, where exposed. However, the same camel dung encrusted cosmoline did an excellent job preserving it, and there does not appear to be any significant rust. This cosmoline is much more waxy (with lots of crud in it) than most of the cosmoline I've encountered. The bore is very bright with good sharp rifling. If this thing shoots close to as good as I think it is going to look, I'll be very pleased for the $60 I spent on it. This was definitely better than the cracked stock, wood separating, rusting out fence posts that I've seen at the gunshows. They were advertised as g-vg, and if there'd been more bluing left, I'd rate it vg+/ex.

[MLB]

Wow, you've been busy. I've got to imagine that with all of that ammo coming in via UPS/FedEx, that the guys dread reading your address...