I went to a gun show a few weeks ago and got a Norinco AK-47.

I'm having trouble loading the image from my phone so I'll put one up later. It is a different design from the look most people attribute to the AK. It seems more like a long range rifle than most AK's. Anyway, I've got some work to do on it. I want to replace the stock and foregrip on it.

I also just found out that my KAHR 9mm is worth much more than I thought (and paid for) so I'll be swinging by the next show to trade it out for a larger caliber handgun.

Any suggestions?

Define large caliber handgun. Do you want a semi-automatic? Revolver?

Really, if you want a semi-auto, a 9mm capable of handling +P+ rounds will do anything you could ever want and you can plink around with regular 9mm rounds for cheap. If you're dead set on a larger round for whatever reason, 10mm is pretty nice but ammo can get expensive.

For a revolver I have a hard time recommending anything other than .357mag due to its ability to shoot .38 special as well for target practice.

If you can't tell, I like to shoot A LOT so the ability to fire off cheap ammo for target practice is relevant to me.

If you're just looking for a conversation piece or hunting handgun then yeah, look for a larger caliber.

For manufacturers, its really hard to go wrong with Sig even though they can get expensive. Worth it though, imo.

I have a .357 Ruger revolver and I love it. My wife has a .40 cal XD compact and it also shoots very well and holds 13 rounds. I've never liked the way my KAHR 9mm fires and I've also never liked that it was such small caliber.

I more or less was seeing if anyone here had a handgun they really liked that they would recommend. I was thinking about getting a Kimber .45 compact since I have always heard good things about them.

did you get the Norinco with the thumbhole stock? It's not hard to convert it to a standard Kalashnikov configuration.

I just bought a 1934 Mosin Nagant. Pure piece of history.

(04-05-2012 01:38 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  did you get the Norinco with the thumbhole stock? It's not hard to convert it to a standard Kalashnikov configuration.

I got the Norinco AK-47 Hunter.

Ah, this one:



A Kalashnikov is a fine weapon, I own one and swear by the platform. Here is the Norinco in her true form:



I don't know if you can convert the "hunter" set up to original configuration.

here's mine:

What other calibers have you shot? I don't like .40 for some reason...snappy recoil I guess. My M&P 9 is great. My next semi-auto will be an XD in .45.

(04-06-2012 09:51 PM)johnnylightnin Wrote:  What other calibers have you shot? I don't like .40 for some reason...snappy recoil I guess. My M&P 9 is great. My next semi-auto will be an XD in .45.

I've shot just about everything. I carry a Walther PPS in .40 but I like most any firearm. ComBloc are my preference.

So I login for the first time and see a thread called "guns, Guns, GUNS!". I knew I'd like this conference...

(04-09-2012 08:51 AM)BruceB83 Wrote:  So I login for the first time and see a thread called "guns, Guns, GUNS!". I knew I'd like this conference...

Welcome to the family.

(04-06-2012 09:16 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  Ah, this one:



A Kalashnikov is a fine weapon, I own one and swear by the platform. Here is the Norinco in her true form:



I don't know if you can convert the "hunter" set up to original configuration.

The Hunter is not easily converted to anything. It has a larger trigger guard and trigger than the traditional AK design and therefore doesn't even have holes for a pistol grip. I looked up some videos online of a guy who took a Hunter and converted it to a Gahlil clone. It looks pretty nice so I may go that route. Should only run me around 300 bucks or so.

if you don't mind me asking Paul, why did you choose the Hunter config? Was there a reason why you did not want a traditional Kalashnikov styled platform?

(04-09-2012 06:23 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  if you don't mind me asking Paul, why did you choose the Hunter config? Was there a reason why you did not want a traditional Kalashnikov styled platform?

Well, aside from the fact that I talked the guy into knocking 50 bucks off of it...

Once I had it in my hands I found that I really enjoyed the weight and feel of it. From what I understand this design is a little more accurate at a longer range. Not much but any little bit helps. It was about 100 bucks cheaper than the standard designs I was seeing once I finally bought it.

Don't worry though, I'll be getting another one in the standard design. I'm only at 8 guns right now. That number is way too low. Though I should probably stock up on ammo before I buy another gun.

Good stuff brother. I agree you should purchase some ammo for stockpile. I recommend buying a spam can of 7.62x39. You can usually find them for a good price, they are sealed shut and must be opened with a can opener, the ammo stays "fresh", and they are good for barter if need be. I have several.

Where do you buy your ammo? I have found it hard to find a good place or places to get all I need. Plus, everything I need is expensive. .40 hollow, .357 hollow, 7.62 x 3.9, etc...

I got 200 rounds of military grade 7.62 for about 54 bucks which I thought was a hell of a deal. It was a surplus ammo at the gun show. Hell, .357 is about a buck a bullet if not more some places.

I buy my ammo the same place I buy my guns, High Caliber Gun and Pawn here in Prattville. they carry 7.62x39 in milsurp for really good prices. You gotta buy foreign import 7.62 because the American-made rounds are insanely expensive. If you want to drive up I can help you get the spam can ordered and we can arrange a day for you to pick it up. Just let me know.

I'm still looking to purchase my first gun. I've never had much experience with em, so I've been trying to do some research to see what would be a good fit. I think I'm leaning towards a Ruger .357/.38. I think it's a GP100, or some sort. Bought a house recently, so I'd like something to have in the house, but at the same time, I'd like something to make for some fun gun range visits and that my wife would also be comfortable using (which is mainly why I'm leaning towards the revolver route). I was thinking about also maybe getting one of the cheaper pump action shotguns. I constantly see adds in the Academy sales paper for various pump actions selling for $150-300. Recommendations and thoughts?

First of all, if you are only going to purchase one gun do NOT go cheap. with guns you get what you pay for, so be willing to spend the money to get quality. For a smaller caliber handgun I highly recommend Walther's PK380. It's a semi-auto magazine fed weapon...but the look, reliability, and performance are excellent. Plus, it's a Walther so you can't go wrong. Price is usually just under $400 which is very fair.



I'm a true believer of Walther, I own the PPS in .40 cal. Walther is one of the finest gun manufacturers on the planet, so you will be happy with any one of their world-class weapons. I love my PPS. You may recognize the name from the James Bond series, he has always carried the Walther PPK. These two models are modernized "big boy" versions of that iconic firearm.