u/TapTheForwardAssist

Occasionally I run across accordions labeled “Hohner International” in one- or two-row diatonic button format. Are those a really low tier of product, and are they made in China (or some and some not), or basically where do they stand with folks casually messing with button accordion?

TLDR: local shop has a Krag that looks to be unmodified metal but shaved down stock. Is $399 reasonable, and what should I look for to assess value, stuff to argue to haggle down, etc?

**UPDATE**: I just glanced before, went back in and asked to handle it. Barrel doesn’t look cut, but it’s for three holes from being tapped right around where the 1898 and Springfield Armory engravings are. So I assume that tanks any collector value, so $399 would be way high? Also when they cut the stock they put on a rubber butt-pad, so no metal plate. Thing is, for my purposes I’d almost rather it isn’t collectible because I want it as a cool shooter, and since it’s already tapped for a side-mount I’d just get another mount and put one of my many thrift-shop El Paso Weaver scopes on it. Btw bolt was very smooth and trigger excellent. What would be market value for modded stock and tapped on an 1898 in Colorado?

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An LGS has a sporterized Krag in stock, still in 30-40, for $399. I only looked briefly but I believe the metal is original, just the stock modified.

I’m actually fine with the modified stock since I’ve kinda been looking for a clean “bubba”, and if the modified stock doesn’t have particular value I might actually trim it to a shorter LOP since I’m 5’6” and my fiancée is 5’1”, unless a sporterized stock somehow still has more value unshortened than shortened. And I’m not at this time interested in an original or repro stock to make it period-correct.

I’ve heard for ages about the “butter smooth” bolt on the Krag, and the side magazine looks cool. I handload so 30-40 ammo won’t hurt my wallet quite as much.

I had been idly looking for a sporterized 6.5mm Swede, but this is pretty cool too. Is this a decent deal (maybe can haggle them down?), or just keep shopping for sporterized bargains? MAS, or Carcano would be other sporters I’d be keeping an eye out for.

So for this one, what are known issues with Krags to look for, things to observe to see if the metal has been modified and thus drops even more value than the modified stock? Open to any ideas.

TL/DR: I want to build a decent and cool (but ideally under $1000) 10/22 build for my girlfriend, such as would be suitable for an Appleseed course soon, but then we could down the road scope and bipod it so she can very casually feel out Precision/tactical 22LR matches.

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My girlfriend had been planning to learn to shoot for years before I met her, so I’ve been taking her to the range and she absolutely loves it. I know coaching your romantic partner isn’t advised, but I’m a former Marine and was for years a certified RSO, so it’s working well for her.

She’s mainly fired my Henry Youth (she’s tiny) 22LR levergun, and various range folks have let her try their gear a bit since most of mine is in storage in another state. We’ve discussed and agreed that the plan is several more months with what we have, then if she’s still keen I’ll build her a 10/22 and I’ll pay for a weekend Appleseed training course for her.

I don’t want to go “buy stock and modify over time”, I’d rather build something reasonably cool (but not insanely pricey) from the jump. I don’t know if this is too ambitious but I kind of want to build her a decent Appleseed rifle with Tech Sights to learn irons, but also a build that we can easily later scope so she can try *casual* NRL22 shooting. I’m already planning to build a Base class 22LR bolt for myself, and it’d be nice if she could come with and casually compete, and if she gets serious later go to bolt.

Any suggestions on what receiver, barrel, chassis, stock, iron sights would be good for a versatile build to later scope? The stock will be a big issue since she’s tiny and left-handed, so I want to be sure we can figure something that fits her. She’s been pretty fascinated by the “tactical” bolt guns some folks at the range have, so something along those lines but downsized and for a semi would please her.

Thanks for any ideas!

I posted last week about how my girlfriend is shipping for her first pistol. We’re putting a CCW on the list for start of next year, so for the moment looking for a range and HD pistol, so not prioritizing small and light yet.

Yesterday we went to a big-box store for the second time, did some dry-firing. After trying a CZ PCR and a Beretta 92FS, she concluded that she doesn’t enjoy the trigger reach and heavy first-shot pull of a DA/SA hammer gun,‘but she’s tried several striker guns and really liked the trigger weight and reach.

Strikers she’s tried: Glock 43 and 42, Beretta APX carry (she didn’t like it), subcompact and compact SIG 365, Walther PDP-F (liked those last two)

What I think she should try dry-firing next: CZ P10, H&K VP9 and VPSK, Sprinfield Echelon, several S&W strikers, FN 509 (I’m feeling she’d really like it).

She’s still undecided on Full vs Compact, while I’ve gently pushed the point that a tiny subcompact 9mm would be less fun at the range and Full or Compact makes more sense for a pistol you don’t really plan to carry.

To head off the obvious questions: she’s left-handed and tiny, but she doesn’t vibe with revolvers and she’s able to rack every one of a dozen pistols she’s handled. She’s vaguely aware of single vs double stack, but hasn’t found single to be notably better sitting yet despite her small hands.

Thanks for any suggestions!

25 year ago when I was newly enlisted in the Marines, a buddy had a Beretta pistol that I’m trying to track down the model name of.

It was stainless/Inox, absolutely it was single-stack with a slim grip, definitely 9mm, but it was almost surely a Compact and not just a slimmer M9. Any thoughts on what that model would be?

TLDR: my tiny girlfriend wants to buy her first gun (after a month more or two of range practice), and so far she likes most the metal DA/SA with decock pistols along the lines of the CZ PCR. What other pistols, compact or full-size (CCW would be next year), should she feel out? She’s also left-handed, and if perchance a pistol comes in a single-stack 9mm variant, that would probably help with reach.

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I’ve been taking my girlfriend to the range and she’s just loving shooting my 22s and a little 9mm. For years before she met me, she was fixing to take a class and get her CCW, but we discussed it and she concluded she should get a full-size/weight 9mm and get familiar with it first, and then next year she’s planning to get a Ruger LCP and take a CCW class.

To head off the obvious questions: she has the grip strength to rack anything she’s tried in a store, and she’s tried revolvers and it’s not her thing.

We went to a big-box outdoor store this week and she tried an LCP and its competitors and is pretty solid on LCP for next year. For a medium/full range/HD first gun, she tried a Glock 43, Walther PDP F-series (“designed for women”), a Sig 365 Rose, whatever that mid-compact Ruger 9mm is, and a 1911.

But right as we were about to go, she tried handling a CZ mid-sized hammer/decock pistol and declared that so far that was her favorite. We didn’t try the DA/SA trigger yet because it had a lock and we were just casually shopping for now, but checking triggers is a top goal on the next visit. I was stoked she liked the CZ because my main pistol is a CZ PCR (9mm DA/SA decock), which I hadn’t told her so kinda tickled she vibed with it.

So if we’re going *roughly* with a mostly metal 9mm exposed hammer and decocker DA/SA (she’s still pondering compact vs full size), what are other things to consider for a small left-handed woman with small hands? I’m thinking SIG, Beretta, and HK (albeit those tend to have polymer frames) are high on the list to check out. What else? And what single-stack 9mm exist along those lines (if she concludes double-stack grips are too bulky) other than the SIG 239v

I’m looking at buying an LC Charger Pistol in 5.7, and potentially adding a cool folding or sliding stock to it. But the ones I really like are $250+, so I’m considering getting an adorable one while I try out the gun and make sure I dig it before I add pricier mods.

Is there any reasonably affordable stock (folding or fixed) that can go on an LC Charger Pistol and is legally marketed as a brace?

I’m getting my girlfriend into shooting, and she’s curious about clays sports. I’ve only shot them a handful of times but really enjoyed them, got a little money to play with and thinking about picking up a 28ga for us.

Unless 28ga is a horrendous idea, I’m really drawn to that niche chambering. Also overall feeling an o/u but open to alternatives. A decade ago I got a Beretta Silver Pigeon in 28ga for like $1200 on a store close-out, but a year later I hadn’t gone shooting and needed some cash so I sold it. I’m not ready to commit to spending $2500 for a second one, but inclined to an affordable o/u 28ga as a sort-of-replacement and if I end up using my cheaper one a lot I’ll bite the bullet and buy another Beretta 28.

My local gunshop has a KOFS Cavalry 28ga o/u for $550, which is the going price online, and I skimmed around and reviews seem to say it’s good for the price. But also open to hearing about the CZ Drake ($200 more) Steven 555 (same) or similar options. Not leaning heavy to semis but open to ideas. Feeling really really set on 28ga unless it’s a terrible idea (I handload).

For context, I’m a stocky guy but only 5’6 and the girlfriend is 5’2” and 90lb soaking wet, so a shotgun that’s friendly to smaller folks would be great.

Thanks for any suggestions.

TLDR: I know a 30-something Navy enlisted nuke vet who’s been living in poverty since he got out a decade ago. We’re meeting for coffee this week, and I want to set him pondering about options to use his VA benefits for college or trade school. How can I put some ideas in his head that might put some fire in him?

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I work in logistics and frequently cross paths with a younger Navy vet in his 30s who used to be an enlisted nuke PO. From snippets he mentioned, it seems that since he got out, a decade or so ago, he’s worked extremely low-wage jobs, periods of homelessness, etc. He’s currently a low-level warehouse supervisor making slightly more than burger-flipping money. He’s never touched his GI Bill.

The kid is a wizard with electrical stuff, repairing warehouse equipment, and since making junior supervisor his extremely meticulous attitude and eye for details have made him great at inventory tracking, hunting down errors, etc.

I’ve talked with him a bit about going to college or trade school, and he believes he does have the full GIB. Our area is low cost of living, so as best as I can google if he went to school he’d make almost as much in MHA as he earns working full-time now. We did also discuss that he could collect MHA and still work part-time at the warehouse a few evenings for pocket money and résumé continuity.

So my question is: what are some ideas I could pitch him to consider using his GIB on? Folks at the VA I should suggest he check in with? Potential careers for a guy good with electrical, computers, inventory, auditing, etc that won’t be replaced by AI or offshored?

He’s a good guy, and as a vet who’s faced challenges I want to encourage him to make plans to advance his life far beyond where he’s at. He’s admitted that he can’t keep working for the next 30 years for less than $20/hr, but he’s hesitant to take a leap, and I’d like to figure out a good way to support him in thinking about his options.

Thoughts?

Looking for a micro-compact CCW option when anything larger is difficult. But I absolutely despise manual safeties on an SD pistol.

Were any 32 or 25 Berettas offered without a manual safety? Would it be absolute folly to buy a DAO model with a manual safety and remove or glue it in place?

I’ve been getting into baritone this year, but it’s a little frustrating that there are cool uke variants not normally offered in baritone. But I’ve learned there are “baby baritone” string sets that achieve a DGBE tuning at 17” tenor ukulele scale.

I kinda want to get an Outdoor Ukulele banjo ukulele, because I’ve loved their indestructible synthetic regular ukes. Any issues that would make “baby baritone” strings less visible? Would the tension difference lead to a less compelling sound?

About 15 years ago I acquired plastic NAFs by Northern Spirit and Sounds We Make, to take traveling, and both are excellent. I kinda wanted a “pocket” size NAF also in synthetic, but at the time couldn’t find anyone making such.

Is anyone making a compact/pocket NAF in plastic these days, that’s good enough quality to justify buying?