Ranger Firearms & Mercantile » Gun Reviews http://rangerfirearms.com/blog 1130 Hosptial Rd, Ft Walton Beach (850)-862-5486 - M-F 10-6, Sat 9-4 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:26:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Range Time with the CZ75 BD http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/04/range-time-with-the-cz75-bd/ http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/04/range-time-with-the-cz75-bd/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:23:12 +0000 Ranger http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/04/range-time-with-the-cz75-bd/
Cz75

The CZ75 is one of the classics of modern pistol design.  It has seen extensive use throughout Europe as a military and police pistol since it's release in the mid-70's.  It has been copied extensively since by other companies.

Highlights include the internal style slide and low bore axis – providing easy recoil control.  Most are all steel or steel w/alloy frames for strength.  Actions depend on the specific gun model, but most are double action / single action and have smooth trigger pull.  In 9mm, nominal magazine capacity is 15 rounds.

The CZ pictured is a used CZ75 BD (decocker version) that we have in stock.  As the target shows, it shot to point of aim with a mix of S&B and Winchester 115g and 124g 9mm ammo during a recent range day.  If you're looking for a good buy on a used CZ, this one is available for $369.00 w/1 15rnd magazine.  Additional magazines are in stock for $25.00 each. 
]]> http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/04/range-time-with-the-cz75-bd/feed/ 0 Uncommon Mosins Part II http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/03/uncommon-mosins-part-ii/ http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/03/uncommon-mosins-part-ii/#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:19:04 +0000 Ranger http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/03/uncommon-mosins-part-ii/ Last week, we received another crate of 20 Mosin Nagant 91/30 rifles imported by PW Arms.  This turned out to have one of the most unique mixes of uncommon 91/30 markings we’ve had to date. In the previous post, we showed the MO marked double date Mosins in the batch.

Double dates are always neat to find, but East German marked are even rarer.  For some perspective, last year Ranger handled hundreds of Mosins with perhaps 10-15 double date rifles.  Over the last 10 years, we’ve looked at thousands of Mosins and collected 2 East German marked rifles – a 91/30 and a M44.  East German Mosins are identified by a large ’1′ or ’2′ in a triangle.  The ’1′s appear to be much more common.
What a surprise then to find 5 East German marked rifles all in the same crate!  Below are pictures of 4 of the 5.
They include:
Izzy Ex-Dragoon 1925
Tula with a partially scrubbed receiver
Izzy 1929 with a 4-digit serial number
Tula 1932
Dscf0935 Dscf0932 Dscf0933 Dscf0934

See the full gallery on Posterous
]]> http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/03/uncommon-mosins-part-ii/feed/ 0 Interesting Mosin 91/30′s Part I http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/03/interesting-mosin-9130s-part-i/ http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/03/interesting-mosin-9130s-part-i/#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:13:31 +0000 Ranger http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/03/interesting-mosin-9130s-part-i/ Last week, we received another crate of 20 Mosin Nagant 91/30 rifles imported by PW Arms.  This turned out to have one of the most unique mixes of uncommon 91/30 markings we've had to date.

This post shows the two MO marked double date rifles plus a bonus round receiver double date we received from Century Arms recently.  

The double dates are as follows:
Tula 1929 / 52
Izzy Ex-Dragoon 1927 / 53
Tula 1940 / 45 round receiver

Check out Part II for a more remarkable find.

Dscf0931 Dscf0929 Dscf0930
See the full gallery on Posterous

]]> http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/03/interesting-mosin-9130s-part-i/feed/ 1 Shooting the FN-49 http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/02/shooting-the-fn-49/ http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/02/shooting-the-fn-49/#comments Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:02 +0000 Ranger http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/02/shooting-the-fn-49/ The Belgian FN-49 was a transitional semi-auto rifle released as it’s name implies in 1949.  The design actually pre-dated WWII but was unbuilt due to the German invasion of Belgium.  It utilizes a piston-driven tilting bolt later refined and used in the ubiquitous FN-FAL which is still under production.

It was produced under contract for many countries and calibers including 7×57 Mauser (Argentina, Chile), 8×57 Mauser (Egypt), and 30-06 (Luxemburg).  Many of the 7×57 models were later rechambered to 7.62 NATO (308 Win).  The 30-06 chambering is generally considered the ‘best’ which makes Luxemburg rifles command a premium, increased by the fact that this was also the smallest contract.  The Egyptian FN-49′s are the most common in the US.
The photo shows 2 Luxemburg FN-49′s that we’ve had in the store this year.  As the video shows, recoil is pretty mild given the gas driven action and full size/weight of the rifle.  We used surplus Greek 30-06 ball ammo for our shooting.  With all 30-06 gas rifles including Garands, M1A’s, and the FN-49, care should be taken to use appropriate ammunition to avoid damage.  Bullets should be in the 147-168g weight with medium speed powders.  If in doubt, Hornady and others make ‘Garand’ specific loads that ensure proper functioning and pressure levels in these historic guns.

]]> http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/02/shooting-the-fn-49/feed/ 0 Shooting the Zouve Rifle http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/02/shooting-the-zouve-rifle/ http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/02/shooting-the-zouve-rifle/#comments Sun, 20 Feb 2011 12:32:15 +0000 Ranger http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/02/shooting-the-zouve-rifle/

The Remington Zouve rifle was one of the 1st true rifles used during the Civil War (having a thicker and shorter barrel than a rifle musket).  A 58 caliber, it shoots the same 500 grain Minie ball as the more common Springfield and Enfields.

Here Sarah shoots a replica Zouve using real black powder and Minie ball cast from a Lee mold that we carry at the store. Recoil is surprisingly light due to the weight of the rifle.

]]> http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2011/02/shooting-the-zouve-rifle/feed/ 0 Remington Zouve Video http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2009/11/remington-zouve-video/ http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/2009/11/remington-zouve-video/#comments Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:03:52 +0000 Ranger http://rangerfirearms.com/blog/?p=80 The Remington Zouve is a fun black powder rifle available at reasonable cost.  We took one in a Euro Arms Zouve replica on trade recently at the store and decided to give it a good test firing this weekend at the range.

Remington Zouve rifles were built late in the Civil War and there is some debate as to whether they saw combat use or not.  Thousands were sold as surplus in near-new condition and Zouve’s are some of the best preserved US arms of the period.  Reproduction Zouve’s have been built by a number of firms over the years and are a low-cost way to own and shoot a civil war era rifle.  Zouve’s are 58 caliber rifles, the same caliber as the more common Springfield and Enfield rifles of the North and South.

We cast up some original .575 diameter Minie-Balls from a Lee Bullet mold for our range shooting.  These weigh in at 500grs and have a hollow base which expands to engage the rifling.  The Minie-ball was a breakthrough in projectile design for military muzzleloading rifles as it eliminated the need for a patch – drastically reducing loading effort and time (at least with a clean rifle).

Standard loads are 60-70grs of FFg Black Powder.  For ‘plinking’ we reduced the load to 50grs which combined with the fairly heavy rifle yielded mild recoil and grouped about 2″ high at 25 yards using the shortest sights.

Here’s Ranger Firearms own Sarah Z taking her turn with the Zouve:

Ranger Firearms carries a complete line of Black Powder guns, supplies, and accessories.

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