NA - BBQ Musings

Ed Haywood said:
Why limit it to handguns?

View attachment 145170

Bonus points for first to ID both.
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The one on the right is a Mosin-Nagant (I have a couple). Looks like an M91 but I can't tell in the pic if it has a hex receiver.

The one on the left, though, I can't identify.

Neither would make a good BBQ gun, though, as they would be a bit awkward in the serving line and while trying to hold onto a plate of ribs.
 
Half Fast said:
So last week, as a result of a decision in a state court of appeals, Florida finally became an open carry state. This has some important implications, one of the more significant being that it provides me with a long-needed excuse to buy myself a BBQ gun.

Now I’m partial to revolvers, so my first thought is a nice .357 magnum, perhaps with a 3” barrel. Maybe darkly blued, with figured dark wood grips. A Colt Python could be a good choice, but they’re rather pricey new. I also like Dan Wessons, and the swappable barrels would be a bonus. I have a 4” S&W 686+ that I like, so another one with a 3” barrel and wood grips could be an option, but I might prefer a 586 for the blued barrel.
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I see swappable barrels as fairly useless. Can't beat a Colt Python. I own a S&W 629 .44 magnum. Dirty Harry gun in stainless. It's a one shot weapon, the recoil is too much for quick shooting but if you get the bad guy (or bad bear) on the first shot its a goner. Other than for nostalgia, I'm not a fan of revolvers. I hope Pops kept his S&W Model 10 .38 special. I liked it.

Half Fast said:
OTOH, I’ve never owned a 1911, and one of those could be lovely, either blued or in stainless. Being vertically challenged, a sub-compact 1911 might fit me better than a full-sized version.
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Nothing wrong with a good 1911. I currently have a Colt MkIV Series '70 (and I had a '80 but I think pops sold it) and all I can say is that, John Wayne notwithstanding, it's not my first choice in a defense weapon. Original pattern 1911's have an undersized ejection port and stovepipe malfunctions are common. Most new or recent production 1911's have enlarged ejection ports. Accuracy wise, they are tack drivers, even the sloppily made, WWII vintage pistols that we shot util they were replaced by the M9.
Half Fast said:
A used Walther PP could be a fun project to dress up, but I think I’d prefer something of US origin for the BBQ role.
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I imported three guns from Germany when I was stationed there. One was a custom built Mauser bolt action rifle built to my specs, second was a HK P9 9mm automatic, ex-Polizie, and a Walther PP Super, chambered in an obscure 9x18 mm round a little bit bigger than a .380, but not quite a 9mm NATO. I wish I still had it. Also ex-Polizie.
Half Fast said:
Of course, any form of plastic blaster (Glock, etc.) is completely out of the question for this role.
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I get it. I feel the same way. My go to pistol is a Sig Sauer P226, a classic DA/SA metal framed pistol. But modern partially resetting striker fired DA only pistols aren't bad. I've fired modern Glocks that have a better DA trigger pull than my P226 single action. When I shot ISPC competition, I used a couple of S&W Model 39's. They are some pretty sweet shooters. Accurate too.
Half Fast said:
Naturally, any choice will also require some premium leather. There’s a saddler near me that makes some beautiful custom holsters and belts if I can’t find an OTS rig I like.

So what thoughts and suggestions do the Pistoleros of America have? Post up some pics of your own solutions for the BBQ gun question.
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Sac Arrow said:
...a Walther PP Super, chambered in an obscure 9x18 mm round a little bit bigger than a .380, but not quite a 9mm NATO.
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One of my regular CCW pieces is a Hungarian FEG PA-63, with custom wood grips. Basically a copy of a Walther PP. It's chambered in 9x18 (aka 9mm Makarov), and that's really a pretty decent round. I carry Hornady Critical Defense rounds in it.

Nice gun, shoots quite well, but the recoil is a pretty stiff snap so I don't run many rounds through it at the range.


Sac Arrow said:
But modern partially resetting striker fired DA only pistols aren't bad.
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Oh, agreed. The modern plastic fantastics are good, reliable, accurate pistols. But they don't have the panache for a good BBQ gun.
 
Sac Arrow said:
Good question. I don't think it's a Makarov. But now that you mention it, I wonder if it isn't.
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9x18mm is the round that Makarov pistols use, hence the caliber is often called the 9mm Makarov. But other guns, like my PA63 and certain Walthers, are also chambered for the caliber.
 
BTW, for you Florida folks, the state has a sales tax holiday on firearms and accessories that runs through Dec 31. Great time to pick up an OC holster, even if you don't have a BBQ to attend right now.
:)
 
Ed Haywood said:
If someone else wants to LARP as Wyatt Earp with a Colt 6 gun or Delta Force operator with a custom .45, why can't I pretend to be a pehotnik redavoy* at Stalingrad?

(*infantry private)
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You bring the Mosin, I'll bring the 5 rd clip of 7.62x54r.
 
Half Fast said:
BTW, for you Florida folks, the state has a sales tax holiday on firearms and accessories that runs through Dec 31. Great time to pick up an OC holster, even if you don't have a BBQ to attend right now.
:)
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Is that part of the "Back to School" tax holiday?
It reminds me of the sign in front of the liquor store: "Teachers, stock up on you back-to-school supplies here".

Florida, you gotta love it. We just need to put toll booths on the inbound lanes of I-4, I-75 and I-95. Start at about $100/car (exempted for residents of more than 10 years).
 
Half Fast said:
I'll have to have you over for BBQ soon. Bring the Mosin Nagant. I have an M95 (hex receiver) and an M44, but neither one is fancy enough for a true BBQ gun.
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I'll bring the Chilean 1895 Mauser with govt issue ammo from 1922. Shoots excellent, and bayonet is excellent for roasting meat.

OTOH if fancy is the goal, we'll go with Grandpa's Belgian Mauser rechambered to .270 Win with fiddleback walnut.
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JOhnH said:
We just need to put toll booths on the inbound lanes of I-4, I-75 and I-95. Start at about $100/car (exempted for residents of more than 10 years).
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I'd rather petition DeSantis to build a wall. Right at the FL/GA line.
:biggrin:
 
Ed, that is pretty fancy eating you are doing in uniform.

I have eaten a lot of date stamped 1942 3 in 1 cold, straight out of the cans, because it was raining, and we had no fire.
For the innocents here, 3 in 1 is 3 meals in one box, intended for one soldier.

Curiously, the 5 in 1s were meals for 5 men in one box, and were much better food.

The 3 in 1 were normally heated on the radiator of the generator, and eaten direct from the cans. 5 in 1 were heated over a fire, and eaten from our mess kits. If we were not on the air, we did not run the generator.

In he '50's, congress required the army to consume more C rations than they bought, so we even ate them in the mess hall a certain number of days a month.

edited to add:
Anybody read Dr Seuss Green Eggs? They were real when he was in service, we were eating them once a week to draw down the stockpile. Mostly, in cakes, with red dye added to make the green a more attractive brown. Scrambled, you had to be very hungry to get them down. Smellled strongly of sulfur, the preservative used.
 
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@Half Fast, an acquaintance just put this snake up for sale. Just need grips and you’re good to go.

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A motorcycle passed me with a visible handgun on his hip. I pointed it out to my wife saying, "that guy will never be a recipient of road rage!" :-)
 
Half Fast said:
I agree with something understated, for the reasons you listed. Ivory is a bit too loud for my tastes, and if I went with pearl grips I’d need a pimp hat and purple suit. Dark, figured wood for me.
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Plus, you probably can't wear ivory or pearl after Labor Day.
 
GeorgeC said:
Plus, you probably can't wear ivory or pearl after Labor Day.
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Well, those rules are a little different here in Florida, though we do tend to favor darker swim trunks when fall temperatures plummet into the mid 80s.
 
A BBQ... Gun? Boy, that's about the most 'murican thing I've ever heard of. And yeah, the Miller Lite in the holster is a "Wisconsin BBQ Gun"... Though we also accept MGD, Spotted Cow, or Leinie's.

If I had a BBQ gun pointed at my head and was told to define what a BBQ gun is, that'd have been about my third choice.

First choice? A small gun that shoots BBQ sauce. Because that sounds pretty American too, and you never know when you're gonna need some tangy meat lubricant.
Second choice? A small gun that functions as a torch. Same purpose that my brother uses a blowtorch for when cooking a steak.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
A BBQ... Gun? Boy, that's about the most 'murican thing I've ever heard of. And yeah, the Miller Lite in the holster is a "Wisconsin BBQ Gun"... Though we also accept MGD, Spotted Cow, or Leinie's.

If I had a BBQ gun pointed at my head and was told to define what a BBQ gun is, that'd have been about my third choice.

First choice? A small gun that shoots BBQ sauce. Because that sounds pretty American too, and you never know when you're gonna need some tangy meat lubricant.
Second choice? A small gun that functions as a torch. Same purpose that my brother uses a blowtorch for when cooking a steak.
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You’ve led a sheltered life. I was in high school in the late 80s/early 90s. We had rifles and/or shotguns in window racks so we could hunt before and after school without having to go home first.

Half or more of the teachers and staff did, too.
 
TCABM said:
You’ve led a sheltered life. I was in high school in the late 80s/early 90s. We had rifles and/or shotguns in window racks so we could hunt before and after school without having to go home first.

Half or more of the teachers and staff did, too.
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You and I are of very similar age. And yes, I remember the guns in the window racks too.

But never heard of a BBQ gun. Maybe that's 'cuz "BBQ" as in smoked stuff wasn't a big thing in WI - For us, it's grillin' brats and drinkin' beer which more often than not happens in the parking lot of Lambeau Field or Camp Randall Stadium or Miller Park (American Family Field, whatever, it's always gonna be Miller Park) and I don't think you can bring guns to the game. We don't have shindigs, hootenannys, or "BBQ"s though the latter is sometimes used to refer to plain old grilling here.

Kinda like how if you order sweet tea here, the waitress will be like "So, uh, you mean you want sugar in it?" Oh no honey, you clearly don't serve the Lord's supersaturated liquid diabetes here.
 
I'm guessing Columbine and subsequent copycat events put an end to gun racks in school parking lots in most places.
 
Ed Haywood said:
I'm guessing Columbine and subsequent copycat events put an end to gun racks in school parking lots in most places.
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Columbine was a decade after the Gun Free School Zone Act went into effect (and was subsequently struck down by SCOTUS) and half a decade after it the 1995 Act went into effect.

And yeah, the impetus for the 1990 act were two instances where a student was shot dead on a campus; one in 1988 and another in 1989.
 
TCABM said:
You’ve led a sheltered life. I was in high school in the late 80s/early 90s. We had rifles and/or shotguns in window racks so we could hunt before and after school without having to go home first.
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Or midday clay pigeons, if you had a free period. I've heard foam gliders make good target drones as well.
 
GeorgeC said:
Or midday clay pigeons, if you had a free period. I've heard foam gliders make good target drones as well.
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4-H did (and still does) have a youth shooting sports element as does the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation. I have a couple of friends who have sent kids to college (one at A&M) on shooting sports scholarships.
 
In high school ROTC we had a live fire range on the school grounds. Yeah ... I'm a getting old(er).
 
Daleandee said:
In high school ROTC we had a live fire range on the school grounds. Yeah ... I'm a getting old(er).
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We had a range at my HS too. Not exclusive for ROTC but they were heavy users along with the competitive team. These days my kids team needed to use a range at Izaak Walton. Much less convenient.
 
Daleandee said:
In high school ROTC we had a live fire range on the school grounds. Yeah ... I'm a getting old(er).
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Jeez, I feel like I'm old but when I was in high school there were just rumors that such a thing existed in a basement that you could no longer get to. At this point, it's the "school of Theseus"; the only remaining portion of the school that still exists from when I went there is the pool, which was constructed while I was there.
 
Half Fast said:
Just ordered one of these:

Should arrive next week. I’ll put a few hundred rounds through it to shake out any problems, then decide on engraving. Have to get a holster made for it, too.
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My son had a Kimber 1911. Not as fancy as that one. It's one of the top three 1911's I've shot on the range. My ex-boss's Colt Gold Medal being top and the SIG my son bought me being #2. I think you'll like it!
 
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