Temptation!

Better Stock Up Before Obama Makes Us Quit Clinging To Our Guns!

This just showed up at Collector's Firearms:

It's a sporterized Swedish Mauser Carbine in 6.5 x 55 mm with a Williams peep sight. Date on the receiver is 1917, and the folks at CF claim it's in excellent condition.





I'm *SO* tempted to go put this on layaway, but I have some reservations.

Here's the benefits...

*It's a great caliber for anything in Texas, barring some really enormous feral hogs.

*It's the perfect size and price for a "disposable" truck gun. Meaning, if someone breaks into the truck & steals it, I'm not out a lot of cash.

*With the micrometer peep sight and the inherently accurate 6.5 x 55 round, it's perfect for anything out to around 250 yards. Unless you go for antelope way out west (which I am not inclined to do), you generally won't take a shot much past that hereabouts.

*I don't yet own a Sveedish Mauser.

*The low recoil makes it suitable for almost any shooter.

*The stock looks like a solid, well-crafted piece of lumber, and for a sporterized battle rifle, the overall quality looks good. It's not a "Bubba Special".

OK, the downside...

Collector's has it for only $250. Why?

Being a premium firearms boutique, they usually tack on a tariff of $100 past usual market price unless there's something demonstrably wrong with the gun. I'd expect this one to run $350-400 at the CF shop. Sure, it's got no collector value after sporterization, but it appears to be a solid piece with no obvious abuse.

So, what's the catch? Could the barrel be shot out? Won't hold a zero? Does the chamber look like a 20 year old garbage disposal?

I might just have to go have a look-see for myself... Hope it's still there on Saturday!

UPDATE: Waiting for the weekend was a tactical error! Rifle is already gone!!