The Gun Blogs

You know how sometimes you just happen to find something you like, and even though you like it just fine the way it is, you can't help but futz around with it?

Well, I'm that way with my Winchester model 1300 12 gauge shotgun. I bought it a ways back as a basic home defense gun. Here's what it looked like when I brought it home:

That's box-stock. It's the National Wild Turkey Federation version (hence the "NWTF" on the stock) which is a basic shotgun for hunting, well, turkey; I was drawn to it simply because of the black matte finish and the inexpensive price tag (under $300, new, and it was drilled and tapped and came with a Weaver rail for mounting a scope).

Here's what it looks like today:

Modifications include an ATI three-round magazine extension (for a maximum of 8 rounds), Tac-Star pistol grips fore and aft, and a fiber optic sight. Future modifications include some sort of light, heatshield with ghost ring sights, and a sling.

This is rapidly evolving from a house gun into more of a SHTF shotgun, though. Might be time to find a nice unassuming piece like Bruce got for a house gun...

(Cross-posted at Toys in the Attic).

Okay, so I finally got my C&R license last month (soup-to-nuts, it took less than four weeks from the time I sent in the application to the time I received the license. I was unaware the .gov could move that quickly...)

I recently made my first C&R-qualified purchase (a Turkish Mauser that was so cheap I couldn't pass it up) - will post pics once I have a chance to clean her up a bit.

And now I have my first honest-to-goodness C&R order placed - a CZ-52 7.62X25mm handgun (living in the Volksrepublik of MA, I swore that the first gun ordered by mail would be a handgun just because...) :)

Needless to say, I am going to have to put an axe through my computer, because if I stay online any longer I am gonna buy myself into the poorhouse...

'Cuz, those Sistemas are looking pretty tempting. And who can resist a Nagant revolver for under $100? I've got to get a Mosin Nagant M44 carbine to go along with the 91/30, right?

Oh yeah. I'm in trouble...

Got a general question for everyone.

I've got a possible chance to trade a Sig 229 plus some cash for a Colt Gold Cup National Match 1911. The gentleman with the Colt has told me that he is interested in the Sig and will get back to me later this weekend. Here's a picture of the Colt.

Now, I own two .40 S&W pistols. One's a Smith & Wesson SW99 full size; the other is the Sig. I tried to get him interested in the SW99, to no avail. I picked the Sig up cheap, in LNIB condition from a local cop who had picked it up as an off-duty (private) gun but found it to be too heavy. I bought three pre-ban hi-cap magazines (I'm in MA) and one 10-rounder, and the gun came with two 10-rounders and two holsters. I blogged about it at Toys in the Attic here.

When I got the Sig, it was with every intention of parlaying it into another firearm, knowing that what I paid for it was at least $200 less than what it was worth. I've shot it a couple of times, and it's nice.

I've heard the National Match Colt's referred to as the "Holy Grail" of 1911s - in that they're the definitive standard for how a 1911 should shoot. However, I've also heard that Sigs are considered some of the best pistols out there.

So, I guess my question is, is this a fair trade? If yes, why am I hesitating; if no, why is the Colt going so cheap?

Any thoughts/opinions/comments/anecdotes would be appreciated...