Rifle Indecesion

Nightcrawler

New member
I've been through a lot of rifles. All of them have been military type...autoloaders fed through detachable box magazines. First an AK, then an AR, then an SKS. Then the AK and SKS went, then I traded the AR for a Carbon-15. Then, later, I traded the C15 for a FAL. I have yet to fire the FAL. I can't, as the quarry I go shooting in is filled with three feet of snow, now.

Now I want a levergun. I've decided to stick with my FAL, unless I absolutely don't like shooting it, which remains to be seen, because I'm afraid if I get rid of it for any reason, semiautos will be banned before I can get another one. Not that I feel a particular need for a semiauto. There's nothing a semiauto will kill that another action type won't, and if I ever go to battle, it'll probably be with the M16 the Guards issue me. Maybe the only reason I want a semiauto is 'cause my friend Matthew has an SKS and I hate being outgunned. :) Maybe it's because assault rifles are cool. But they aren't really assault rifles if they're not select fire, and if they ain't assault rifles, they're overpriced varmint rifles that have big detachable magazines that are expensive as all hell these days (except for the AK).

But for some damned reason, I want a lever gun. Not a .30-30, either. I want a carbine, either in a pistol cartridge or .444 Marlin. I'd go to .45-70, but it only holds 4 rounds instead of 5.

Problem. I'm in college now. Money is REALLY tight. As a rule, I can't afford one firearm without selling another. Home defense isn't really an issue, as I have a pistol for that. What I'm really doing with the rifle situation is learing about rifles from experience. I know more about guns than everyone I know (personally) put together. But I haven't shot very many at all. When I go through guns, I gain experience, knowledge, and one more notch on my ammo belt.

I plan on sticking with the FAL for awhile. There are lots of things I like about it, even though I probably won't have the opportunity to fire it for the first time until May. It field strips into like 9 pieces, and I can already take it apart and put it back together blindfolded. It's rugged. But there are some things I don't like. I don't like the magazine release. Being a leftie, the charging handle, being on the left side of the receiver, is awkward to reach. It's heavy. I mean, 10 pounds isn't heavy as a rule, but I'd get tired lugging it around if I ever had to. I don't really like the angle of the pistol grip.

So, what should I do if, after I fire it, I think, "yeah, this is good, but..." and I start getting that itchy feeling for something new? With all the mags I have for it, I know I could get 700 for it around here. With that much, I could buy a levergun AND an SKS to quench my thirst for an autoloader. I'd really like to find one of the shorty SKS carbines, but I've only seen one of those.

So, any advice? Keep in mind, I'm not going to do anything right now. All of this is for months into the future. If Al Gore gets elected, I probably will go ahead and acquire a lever gun, probably not selling the FAL. 'Cause if that snake does get in there, I want a rifle that won't get banned within his first month in office....

I'm having rifle anxiety. MAN I am such a gun nut. LOL
 
alternate calibers

NightCrawler,

You can have a five round magazine put on your 45-70, or go with a 375 Winchester with a six round mag, or you could have Gary Reeder do up a .475 wildcat for you.....sooo many options!!

Lifetime Leverman........
 
Levergun magazine extensions

Where could I go to have a larger mag put on, say, a Marlin levergun? (I like the Marlins more than the Winchesters)

The more I think about it, the more I think I'll sell my FAL. I just got the danged thing, too. My local gunshop owner, Mr. Freeman, is going to think I have some kind of complex. :) I do all my business with him. Anyway, while he wouldn't give me $700 for it, I could put it up for sale, and if people around here would pay $600 for a new MAK-90, they'd certainly pay $700 or more for a FAL with 6 magazines. I've been unwilling to admit to myself that there are some things I don't like about the FAL. I've not yet fired it, but it's too heavy, and the ergonomics don't really agree with me. The magazine relase lever is irritating, and it has no muzzle brake. What I REALLY wanted (and still want) was an M1A, but 1200 bucks was out of my league. Tell you what, I could get 700 for it, pay 300 for a lever gun, and I could SORELY use the extra cash. If Gore slimes his way into office, I'll buy an SKS in stark defiance of PC. If Bush gets it, there'll be no need. :)
 
Made the trade!!!

Traded in my STG-58 Parts gun FAL for a Winchester 94 357 mag carbine, 9 shots, plus got a box of 50 rounds and a 400 dollar check for the difference. The thing is tapped for a scope mount, and is super nice. :D
 
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