Firearms torture
Ensconced as your humble correspondent currently is in Cathey’s bosom, life has pretty much reverted of hedonistic bachelordom as this is (on & off) an ‘unaccompanied’ secondment until mid September. There are however a couple of downsides. Firstly, as maddening as they can be at times, I miss my ... dogs. Secondly, at nearly 44 years old, there is simply no way that my body can recover from Hong Kong's hangovers pace of life quickly enough these days. So, after nearly two weeks out on the screaming this week has been a little more sedate, mainly because Megacorp has very kindly flown Family FM out for the half term break. Needless to say, my schedule has been a little more restrained now that the handbrake is in town, which for the sake of my liver/kidneys/waistline is probably just as well.
Anyway, aside from half a ton of junk & two very petulant children, Mrs FM brought out my unopened post from the UK which comprised two categories: firstly, final demand notices / written threats from money lenders to pay the usurious rates of interest & secondly, my Firearms Certificate which has just come back from the Police after my last variation application.
Deep joy!
They even acquiesced to all my requests
Even deeper joy!
So I now have empty ‘slots’ for a .17 rifle, a fully moderated .223 rifle, a .303 rifle & a brace of .44 black powder pistols. Therefore, upon getting home in the autumn, I will be able to indulge my compulsive firearms purchasing disorder with a vengeance.
Now regulars will know that I bought the pistols some months ago now but haven’t picked them up because I have been laggardly in getting my FAC varied. So that’s just a question of popping 10 miles down the road to get them.The .303 is going to be quite easy as my favourite gunship has several very nice looking Lee Enfield No.4’s under refurbishment at the moment. That will be a case of a 60 mile round trip & cutting a cheque. Sorted.
However, the .17 & the .223 present more problems as there is nothing out there (available in the UK in a left handed version) that really appeals. So I am now faced with the prospect of two custom builds … quelle hardship I know!
Current thinking is that I will base the .17 on a Savage because the CZ/Brno isn’t available with a heavy barrel as a left hooker. In fact all I am proposing to do is to junk the stock & fit it with something a bit better. In the UK, all Savage rimfires already come with the barrel cut for a moderator so it will just be a case of screwing on my existing T8.
The .223, will prove a little more difficult. If Steyr produced their excellent Scout in a left hooker I'd just get one of those. Sadly they don’t, so something a little more proprietary is in order. Because the biggest constraint is the action, the chances are that I will base it on a blueprinted Remington & indeed a lefty one of these
(available from Rimfire Magic) fitted with an over the barrel PES moderator would fit the bill nicely.
The real complications are however more fundamental & serious. The second hand 7.62mm Blaser LRS leftie that I looked at a few months ago is still available... oh & favourite gunsmith currently has another really nice looking Mauser which will be ready shortly & I fancy building an ersatz Short Slide Rail K98 to compliment my Long Slide Rail K98k. But Nipper is growing up fast & will need a 28g shotgun soon.
I know, I know ... the answer is to sell the kids to a passing Austrian, beg my local Firearms Licensing Office for yet another variation & just go and buy the lot. At least if I have sold the kids I'll be saved the cost of a half decent shotgun!
Comments
I have a similar problem, I am parting with 6 service rifles today as I want the slots for sporting rifles, (no need for Bisley then) I have a friendly RFD who is one of my stalking students and I have known him 20 years, he is doing me a rake of new CZs at trade less 10%
Work that one out, I think one a month (I need glass on top too) and I will have a new 6.5, .22-250. .223, .243 and for fun a 7mm and a 7.5mm sporter to be built very slowly!
Posted by: TimC | May 27, 2008 8:29 AM
Jeff Cooper lamented, several times, the lack of a southpaw version of the Scout. It seems dumb not to have built one.
Posted by: Jeff Wood | May 27, 2008 9:34 PM
The Steyr Scout is over-rated.
You can easily build a better rifle for the price of one.
Posted by: Kristopher | May 27, 2008 11:06 PM
each to his own re the scout, the problem over here is that its difficult to test drive a rifle and harder to get shot of one you dont like!
Posted by: TimC | May 28, 2008 10:19 AM