Gun Collector's Gazette

Better picture of Colt Combat Government

The pictures I posted of my Colt Combat Government were rather poor so here's a better one for your enjoyment.

Feldschiessen 2010

Yesterday my wife and I participated in the world's largest shooting competition, the Swiss Feldschiessen (field shoot). Every year over the course of one weekend more than 140'000 shooters flock to their local shooting ranges to compete in a 300 meter rifle and/or 25 or 50 meter pistol program. The event is sponsored by the Swiss government and organized by local shooting clubs. Only rifles and pistols used by the Swiss Army (plus some pistols used by Swiss police forces) are permitted.

The Feldschiessen is a free event and everybody can participate. For Swiss citizens even the ammunition is sponsored by the government. Citizens of other countries have to pay for the ammunition but since nobody checks your ID that may not happen in every case. If you shoot at least 80% of the maximum points (88% for pistol) you receive the so called Kranz Medal (wreath medal).

My wife and I took our SIG PE 90 and the SIG P210 to the local range, shot the 300 meter rifle and the 25 meter pistol program, and came home with the four Kranz Medals you see below. A successful weekend indeed!

 

K31 Range Report

Last weekend I finally took my Swiss Karabiner 31 to the range. It was my first time shooting a K31 and boy was I surprised how much of a kick the 7.5x55mm Swiss cartridge develops in the carbine! I know the round well from the Sturmgewehr 57 (SIG SG 510) but the repeating mechanism and the rubber stock of the 57 swallow a surprising amount of the recoil. My shoulder took quite a punishment until I had figured out how to position the stock against it properly (that is, not on top of the collar bone).

The straight pull bolt action is pretty smooth and with some practice you can reload very quickly. I shot the K31 at the 300 meter distance that is customary in Switzerland and while the steel sights make it harder to aim than the more modern Swiss Army rifles I was able to shoot it almost as accurately. Not bad at all for a World War II era rifle!

You can still see older shooters compete with K31s in Switzerland and they seem to be competitive enough. They all exchange the steel sights for a diopter sights setup, though, something I may do as well if I decide to shoot the K31 more regularly (once my shoulder has turned back to its original color). 

A handgun 91 years in the making

It's probably old news by now that Remington is getting back in the 1911 business after a 91-year hiatus but I just found out recently. From the pictures I really like the new Remington Model 1911 R1's clean, classic design. Just the way I think a 1911 should be. The price at $699 seems very low for a quality weapon, I hope they didn't cut too many corners (except for the ejection port ;-).

 

Karabiner 31 and Karabiner 11 in parts

Finally a picture of the Swiss Karabiner 31 as promised. (The bolt is missing for security reasons. I don't keep the rifle bolts in my workshop.) Above the K31 you can admire the stock of a 1922 Karabiner Model 11 (the K31's predecessor) and in the next picture you'll find the rest of the K11 in parts. It's one of the best preserved former Swiss Army carbines I have come across (especially one 88 years old!). I'm about to give it a good cleaning and lubing.