Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!decwrl!ucbvax!jade!jkh From: jkh@jade.UUCP Newsgroups: mod.rec.guns Subject: A Miscellany of Topics Message-ID: <1022@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> Date: Tue, 29-Jul-86 18:45:44 EDT Article-I.D.: jade.1022 Posted: Tue Jul 29 18:45:44 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 31-Jul-86 00:30:15 EDT Organization: University of California, Berkeley Lines: 76 Approved: jkh@ucbjade Author: Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI Article: 7:8 Hi, folks! 1) I recall some mention on one of these lists (mail.firearms or mod.rec.guns) in the past of the Charter Arms Explorer pistol (the handgun that is based upon the design of the AR-7 rifle). If anyone is interested in these, now would be the time to buy one. The latest (1 August 86) issue of Shotgun News has a back-cover ad from Lew Horton Distributing Co. (175 Boston Rd., Southboro, MA 01772, (617) 485-3060) for these with a banner headline announcing them as "Another exclusive closeout!". So I suppose that Charter is discontinuing them. They come with an 8" barrel and include an extra 6" or 8" barrel at no extra cost; the price is $69.95. Extra magazines are $6.39, scope mount $8.82, and a package deal with the mount and a Tasco 4X pistol scope is $119.95. Kolpin carrying case is $6.79. No mention of price or availability of the 10" barrels. If you wanted one, now is the time to give a call to your local friendly FFL holder... 2) The 90-round .223 magazines. We previously had some discussion about these and I posted a comment as to how the design looked suited to the AR-15/M-16 but not to the Mini-14, which someone wanted one of these for. Since that time I saw them listed in ads in Shotgun News with blurbs saying that they were available for *both* the AR-15/M-16 and the Mini-14. I was surprised but pleased that they seemingly had overcome the configuration problems I mentioned. These are now listed in various ads in Shotgun News. For example, Ashland Shooting Supplies (209 Orange St., Ashland, Ohio 44805 (419) 289-3631) has them showing the brand to be "MWG", and the price is $54.95 (retail $89.95); specify whether for the Mini-14 or AR-15/M-16. The ad copy says "perfect balance in rifle while fully loaded"; this seems incredible to me, since the design is a snail-drum with all the weight on the left side of the rifle. But I've never actually handled one, so maybe they have worked magic and it really is balanced... J&G Sales lists a 90-round drum for the AR-15/M-16 only (no picture, so I can't tell if it is the same one, but I think it is) for $59.95; also, Southern Ohio Gun Distributors has it for $59.95, again mentioning only the AR-15/M-16 version (with a picture, so I can tell it is the same). Other advertisers listing only this version, at this price: Bill's House of Guns, Aeromarine Inc., and F. J. Vollmer & Co. (won't bother with addresses for these at the higher price). 3) Fancy flashlights: lots of the gun dealers also handle the fancy high-priced flashlights, like Mag-lite and Streamlight. I've long considered getting one of these, not for any real need, but just to have (like 90% of everything else I own!). Anyone have any comments on these? A couple thoughts I've had -- since I wouldn't be using it constantly, like a police officer (their primary customer) would, I think it might be better to buy the version that uses replaceable ordinary batteries and not rechargeable nicads. This would not only be cheaper, but would avoid the "memory" problem you get with little-used nicads. Also, I don't think I really intend to beat people over the head with it, which is admittedly one of the primary reasons for law enforcement to buy such heavy-duty flashlights. Anyone have any comments as to C-cell vs D-cell models, size of head, number of cells, etc.? [I recall an amusing story I read many years back about Streamlights -- there was this police sergeant who had one of their top models and who used to play with it, turning off streetlights. He would shine it at the top of the light pole, and it was bright enough that the amount of light from it that got into the lightshield on the photoreceptor up there would fool it into thinking it was daylight, and the circuit would shut down the streetlight! Always sounded like something I really should have... :-)] 4) New gun: There are ads in this Shotgun News for a new .22 called the Calico M-100. It appears to be from the folks that made the old American 180 .22 submachine gun (& semiauto variant). It has some sort of top- mounted 100-round box magazine, pistol grip, a folding stock, and rather racy lines (the magazine doesn't seem to protrude at all, but is faired into the gun, lying along the top rear). Dealer price is $225-$230. I have not seen any write-ups of this; anyone know anything about it? Looks like a neat toy... Well, that's all for now. Regards to all! Will Martin wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA (USENET address of ...!seismo!brl-smoke!wmartin may still be working)