What is, in your opinion, the coolest gun youve handled

[Double-O-Dave]

Hi Ed Fowler:

Thank you for your post about the Colt Conversion by Alonzo Crull. I did a quick internet search and found the following information on this gentleman that I thought was very interesting:

Shooting with Hobie

Regards,

Dave

 

[italiansport]

I've noticed that several in this thread have really enjoyed shooting Thompson's. Up until a few years ago I used to assist in maintaining the 250+ rentals we had at our local gun club. We had everything from Thompson's,UZI's, H&K MP5's,P90's and just about any type and brand of rifle shotgun or pistol imaginable.
I had free rein to "test fire" any and all of these whenever I felt it was necessary and this was often the case when one was malfunctioning. With the amount of use the rental machine guns received parts replacement was a constant activity.
Jim

 

[rwsmith]

Somebody mentioned theThompson.....

Shooting machine guns isn't for me but I would like to fire a short burst from a Thompson. Just enough to feel that 'climb'.


I think it was best to shoot to the lower left side of the target and let it climb and move to the right. Or maybe that's just personal technique.

One of the coolest things on 'Sons of Guns' was a police chief that wanted to update a Thompson into a modern weapon, feeling that the basis was very good. They put on some rails and a few other good to have accessories. I can't remember if they did anything to the actual GUN, but when they tried it out, everybody was immediately impressed. It really spit out a lot of lead in a short time.

 

[Ron M.]

My Uncle Lefty's .38 S&W Model 10....

Being in Massachusetts for the summer, visiting my aunt and uncle in the early 1970's, my uncle gave me his old Model 10 S&W and a box of cartridges. I was probably 18 at the time. He told me to go out in the woods behind his house and have some fun. "But don't do anything stupid"....My first revolver experience. No earmuffs, no eye protection except for my glasses, no RSO standing by...it was a ....blast.

 

[JaPes]

It belonged to my Dad. He died when I was 10 years old. I'm 42. Most of his material things are long gone. Other than 1/2 my genetic code, this is the only thing I have of my dad's. He bought it in 1970. He cleaned, lubed, and put it away in 1974: the year I was born. It sat in climate controlled storage. My mom kept it safe and hidden. A year ago, she gave it to me.

I don't shoot it often. When I do, I get to share an experience with my Dad.

 

[Abflyboy]

H&K MP5 supressed is close to the top of my list

M2 was a bit of fun when I got to put a few hundred rounds down range

But I can't really decide between my M1 Garand or my RPR at the moment as far as "Coolest Gun"

 

[StakeOut]

Shooting machine guns isn't for me but I would like to fire a short burst from a Thompson. Just enough to feel that 'climb'.


I think it was best to shoot to the lower left side of the target and let it climb and move to the right. Or maybe that's just personal technique.

One of the coolest things on 'Sons of Guns' was a police chief that wanted to update a Thompson into a modern weapon, feeling that the basis was very good. They put on some rails and a few other good to have accessories. I can't remember if they did anything to the actual GUN, but when they tried it out, everybody was immediately impressed. It really spit out a lot of lead in a short time.

The NYPD Emergency Service trucks had M1919 Thompsons when I first worked in the Unit.They were very low 2 digit serials and some were among the 1st made.

It was said that the NYPD had #2 to #20.

Yep,I got to fire them for free.

They were replaced by the god awful S&W Model 76 9mm submachine gun.

Sorry to say that most if not all of those great Thompsons were destroyed or secreted away?

 

[Jim NNN]

My dad's Winchester '73. Long octagonal barrel, in .38 cal. He got it as a teenager in the 1930's. A neighbor gave it to him, and my brother has it now.

I also have my dad's .22 cal. Steven's Buckhorn rifle that he bought brand new back in the 1930's, probably when he was 15 or 16. It's really hard for me to imagine my dad at that age.

 

[paul s]

German FG42 1st model

 

[rwsmith]

Aw man......

I've noticed that several in this thread have really enjoyed shooting Thompson's. Up until a few years ago I used to assist in maintaining the 250+ rentals we had at our local gun club. We had everything from Thompson's,UZI's, H&K MP5's,P90's and just about any type and brand of rifle shotgun or pistol imaginable.
I had free rein to "test fire" any and all of these whenever I felt it was necessary and this was often the case when one was malfunctioning. With the amount of use the rental machine guns received parts replacement was a constant activity.
Jim

Looks like I'm going to have to test function on that Thompson......DARN!!

 

[TheHobbyist]

Maybe not the coolest to some but...

When my however many great grandfathers came to the US to homestead from Germany, the locals gave him a gift. It is a Belgian Damascus barrell shot gun with two hammers.

The thing is fully engraved...I mean literally every screw on it too. It has the most unusual mechanism for opening, it is a long arm underneath that you move to the side, which opens the breach to then drop in the two shells. Supposedly, part of the stock is made with carved whale bone...i think this is not accurate and just made for a good story. My guess on its age is 1870-1880. It is still in the family. Believe it or not, it is still in operable condition, although with the barrell and age I obviously nor my family will shoot it.

 

[Ed Fowler]

Hi Ed Fowler:

Thank you for your post about the Colt Conversion by Alonzo Crull. I did a quick internet search and found the following information on this gentleman that I thought was very interesting:

Shooting with Hobie

Regards,

Dave

Thank you very much, learned a little more about him. I did know that Hamilton Bowen held him in high regard and that is a compliment.

 

[Squarebutt]

Pedersen Device on a 1903. The owner was in town for a gun show, and a friend of mine knew him. We went through a couple hundred rounds, with a big blue tarp spread out to catch the precious brass.
Next up was a Springfield M14 modified to semi-auto. It was loaned to our club briefly before Uncle Sam repossessed it for duty in the sandbox.
Also went through a magazine of 9 mm. on a friend's S&W M76. It ran fine, but it's no Thompson.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

So, a little story.....

I was at a Dallas Safari Club Expo about ten years ago (I go annually!). I was in Butch Searcy's booth B. Searcy & Co. The All-American Double Rifle looking at several guns that he made and a few others that he was selling. Those expensive double guns are always cool, I've handled guns at the DSC expos and in the Beretta shops in NYC and Dallas with price tags in the $150 to $200K range and Butch's were a mere $25K to $50K. So we're talking top of the line cool guns.

But I'm not that rich and a lot more practical so I start looking at some more normal African bolt guns, a Gibbs something, a .416 Rigby, you get the picture. None are what you would call inexpensive but, okay, I'm having fun. While he's letting me check his guns out one rifle catches my eye. It's kind of plain, not bedazzling, and has a price tag of around $3500. I'm not going to buy that that day, either, but at least it was reaching the realm of affordability. It's a REAL rifle, I mean it looks all business, top notch bolt action (which I love), looking like this gun will get it done and I mean boy howdy! The caliber is .500 Jeffrey.

You might not know Butch Searcy but he's a large, impressive man, not a little squirt like me. I don't know if he's 6 feet or not but he has massive shoulders, expansive chest, I mean you want him ON YOUR SIDE!

He watches me pick up this .500 Jeffrey and put it to my shoulder. He looks at me and his face loses all expression and he says, in a muted voice:

"Now that one will hurt ya...."

Coming from HIM, that was an impressive statement - and that's why that .500 Jeffrey is the coolest gun ever!

 

[BigBill]

At a LGS at his gun club range I shot a FA M14. In his shop I shot a FA 1927a1 Thompson it was awesome.

 

[clang444]

In the Summer of 1984 I was with the 5th Combat Engineer Bn when we got to go out on a Saturday to shoot our 90mm recoilless rifles.

It was awesome. Loud as hell, huge back blast area, and you could actually watch the round go down range through the sight assembly. Did some serious damage too.

 

[ameridaddy]

ICS Yoda - "Now that one will hurt ya...."

I've admired the art of those double rifles, but I'd never want to shoot one.
Reminds me of something I read or heard once:
A 160 lb. Englishman with a 16 lb. rifle fires at a 16,000 lb. elephant at 16 yards.
The Englishman goes down; the gun goes down, the elephant goes down.
Whoever gets up, owns the others' possessions.
If none get up, their possessions are divided according to the law of the jungle.

 

[Mike Z]

I also have fond memories of the H & K MP5. But for pure coolness factor, a Thompson with a drum magazine.

 

[richcory]

16"on a Battleship.

Winner of the "Biggest Gun" right here. Any challengers?

 

[Texas Star]

Ernest Hemingway's double rifle. A friend bought it at auction in, I think Main a few years ago. He collects old English double rifles. At my last count he had 42. Really cool guns.

I'm guessing that you mean the US state of Maine, not down on Main St. in some town.

Seriously, do you recall the maker and the caliber?