BAG day

BAG day was yesterday.

I considered buying something - anything - just to say I had. Then I realized that really defeats the whole point of the matter.

Without getting into specifics, I have handguns in minor and major calibers, I have rifles from tiny rimfire to mid-bore centerfire, and I have shotguns in the more popular gauges.

I certainly don't have ALL the guns I would ever want. I want a 5.56x45 carbine. I would like to replace my .357 that went down the road two months back (perhaps with a pony). I'd like a large-bore rifle of some kind. I'd like a less-common-gauge shotgun (28ga, I'm looking at you).

However, the reality is, I have what could be (is) considered by many to be a complete collection of firearms. (Rimfire rifle and pistol, centerfire bolt gun, centerfire semi-auto, pump shotgun.) Anything I'm likely to acquire in the future is going to fill a particular desire, not a hole in the safe.

So I didn't buy a gun yesterday. I did buy a miter saw. :-)

BAG Day, Round 2

Actually, this was a trade, not a purchase, but it's still a new-to-me acquisition!

UPS tracking info got all FUBARed - it had actually been delivered to my FFL on 4/14, but he didn't open packages until late that night and I was out of town for the weekend. I picked it up Monday. Traded away my S&W 647, which is a sweet little rimfire for small game hunting, but I decided it wasn't quite my cup of tea.

So, without further ado, BAG Day #2!









It's an Interarms Virginian Dragoon, 7.5" barrel, in .44Mag. Beautiful single-action with one of the nicest triggers I've ever felt on a wheelgun. No kidding, this has a cleaner break than any S&W I've shot in SA, and perhaps two or two and a half pounds.

It's a three-digit serial, so dates to the mid-70s. On the butt it's engraved "Sic Semper Tyrannis" - the Virginia state motto, which translates to, "Thus always to tyrants". Words to live by...

Range report later this week, I expect. Any pet .44Mag loads out there?

BAG Day Arrives!

Well, this is actually half the post I'd been planning on, thanks to UPS not delivering my other acquisition to the pusher last night. That'll have to wait for next week.

I put up a teaser post last week, with a chance to win shiny prizes. Only six of you, my faithful readers, decided to enter. That made me feel sad. I expect compensation from each and every one of you that chose not to guess.

I reckon the box was a bit of a giveaway, but not as much as I'd feared. Some folks don't know their S&W boxen so well!

I shot the twin to this gun last year at the range, when an NYPD buddy came to visit. They have three choices for their duty gun: a Glock, a Smith&Wesson, and a SigSauer, if memory serves. All in 9mm.

He chose the S&W. I fell in love with it. I'd been keeping my eyes open for a full-size 9mm bottom-feeder for a while. Glocks don't feel "right" to me - they're fine guns, but I don't care for them personally. I've nicked my thumb and web on the slide on them due to no beavertail. I still would like either an M&P9L or a XD9, but like Weerd I have a poor reaction to stuffing ten rounds in a 15-17-round magazine well.

This model was introduced in 1990 or '91, and other variations of it were in existence earlier, so pre-ban magazines are out there, not hard to find, and not horribly expensive because the gun itself is less popular. It came with two pre-ban magazines and I found a deal on a few more that should be here next week.

So with all that leadup, and no further ado, the 2010 ZerCool BAGDay purchase:

A Smith & Wesson 5946; DAO 9mm with fixed Novak 3-dot sights, some duty wear, and two beautiful pre-ban magazines. (All photos from my Palm, so please forgive quality issues.)







And one of the BEST things about this particular piece of machinery:


Not ALL of my guns are "Made in America" ... but the VAST majority are. In fact, a quick count shows that all but TWO are homegrown. (My Springer 1911 and the Bersa Thunder .380 are both imports.)

Are there well-made import guns? Absolutely. Glock and the Springfield XD series come immediately to mind, as well as RIA 1911s, some of the Taurus line... There are good deals to be found in imports... but dammit, GUNS are AMERICAN. "God made Man. Sam Colt made Men equal." "The finest battle implement ever devised." ".45ACP, God's own round, JMB PBUH." "Ma Deuce." We just do them right.

So, yes, another "Springfield, MA" piece has found its way into the safe, and I am pleased. Range report forthcoming; this may be my new IDPA gun as well.

BAG Day

I'm a hair early on this one, but there's another that should arrive next week. Maybe even right on time for Buy A Gun Day!

For now, though, it's time for a guessing game!

What's in the box??

A correct* answer will win a special prize from me.




* - Correct make and model. Because "a gun!" is, while technically correct, unspecific. :) If there are multiple correct answers by the 15th, I'll have the Mrs pick one at random. One entry per person, void where yadda yadda yadda.