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Rimfire Firearms .22, .17 and other Rimfire Handguns and Rifles |
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#1
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My Grandfather's Mossberg 351KA 22lr 1960-68
Very fun story I thought I'd share:
I recently inherited my grandfather's Mossberg 351KA from my uncle. My grandfather passed away several years ago and while I'd hoped I would have gotten some of his rifles when he passed, they all went to my uncle (his son) instead. I made peace with that. On Thanksgiving we were talking about guns and my uncle asked me quite out of nowhere if I'd wanted it. Um, yes! He hadn't shot it in decades and shared that it jammed constantly and needed to be cleaned up. It's in great condition, does not look like it's ever been dropped. Just a little rust around the front site. I'll figure out how to get that off later. It's a tube fed with a plunger, ammo fed through a groove in the stock. The action wasn't very smooth at all, my uncle was right, it was very tired. Even found a cob web in the feed tube. I broke it down and oiled it up, worked the action a few times and it just kept getting smoother and smoother. Took it to Prado in Chino and gave it a whirl. Fed it CCI Mini Mag. Initially the plunger wasn't pushing hard enough to get a round into the feed ramps, so I started off with a single round loaded into action. Held my face back a little since I didn't know how it'd shoot, and pull the trigger. Plink! It worked! Eventually I found that if I loaded 10 rounds with the plunger it'd work, so I got to test semi-auto. Fantastic. No jams, perfect ejections, and lots and lots of fun. I loved that I got to shoot, and now own, one of my grandfather's rifles. He was the family patriarch and loved by all so it was a very special day for me. Moral of my story - future laws permitting - save a gun for your grandkids. Give them a piece of you.
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CA Ex-Pat US Navy Veteran NRA Life Member Springfield Armory & Smith&Wesson & Remington & Henry & Marlin ------------------------------------ "Why does anyone need an AR-15? You mean you don't know? So what kind of reporter are you? It's easy! It's a great friggen gun!" - Alan Korwin, 2015 Last edited by PartyBarge; 01-10-2020 at 11:56 AM.. |
#2
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Come visit the Mossberg Forum on Rim fire Central, lots to see and learn about all things Mossy.
I have a 44US and a 144LSB, they are well made rifles at their price point. http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/
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Bob B. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(") |
#3
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Thanks for sharing, that’s a great story. It’s nice that you ended up with your Grandfather’s gun.
My grandfather lived on a farm and had a 22lr and a 12 gauge that he kept in a gun cabinet in his hallway for decades. A couple years before he passed away, the farmhouse was burglarized while he was out and the guns disappeared. It would have been nice to have inherited one. I’m glad to hear that you appreciate what you have. |
#4
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Older guns hold a special place for me---they just seem to be made with more care than many of todays guns---particularly older 22s---many were made with less regard to a "price point", for example older Colt Peacemaker 22s---you'll never see that level of workmanship on new guns!
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#5
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Had to look it up online. Haven't heard of it before. Looks like fine gun. Glad it works reliably for you. With a long barrel/sight radius, I would guess that it shoots accurately too.
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#7
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Quote:
The steel wool will knock the rust off without taking the surrounding bluing off. Keep it oiled so it won't continue rusting.
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Randall Rausch AR work: www.ar15barrels.com Bolt actions: www.700barrels.com Foreign Semi Autos: www.akbarrels.com Barrel, sight and trigger work on most pistols and shotguns. Most work performed while-you-wait, evening and saturday appointments available. |
#9
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If it was willed, it's an act-of-law transfer regardless of direct bloodline.
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#11
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I have a Savage 1904 single-shot boy's rifle that my grandfather used to hunt jackrabbits in southeastern Colorado about 1910. I take it t the range occasionally and make sure it still works. I also have two Model 12 Remington pumps, a shortbarreled carbine made in 1919 and the other with a long, octagon barrel from 1926. I remember my father trading a 1903 Springfield for the carbine about 65 years ago. The other came from another grandfather. Both look beautiful and shoot perfectly.
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#12
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I just knew that eventually some compliance enthusiast would rain pi** down on the OP's party. Sounds to me like it is an undocumented family heirloom.
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#14
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Will do thanks.
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CA Ex-Pat US Navy Veteran NRA Life Member Springfield Armory & Smith&Wesson & Remington & Henry & Marlin ------------------------------------ "Why does anyone need an AR-15? You mean you don't know? So what kind of reporter are you? It's easy! It's a great friggen gun!" - Alan Korwin, 2015 |
#15
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I still enjoy shooting my Dad's Mossberg 142a. Learned to shoot on that 50 years ago. It outshoots a 10/22.
Dad learned on it. Me, brother and Sis learned on it. Grandkids learned on it. Friends kids learned on it. I like the older rifles. I always look at the used racks at the LGS and gun shows. |
#17
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Great story, thanks for sharing. I've been a big fan of Mossbergs since my Navy days in Vietnam. Have a few 500's & 590's scattered about my house, for just in case.
My sweetest shotgun is an old Western Field by Mossberg rebranded for Montgomery Wards. Paid $75 years ago. Sweet piece, in pristine condition; nice wood, bluing nice & shiny & engraving sharp as the day it was etched. Shoots smooth as silk. Occasionally hangs over my mantle .... It's a safe queen now. There's nothing like show casing an old gun to bring about good conversation. Semper Fortis ....
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~~ Happiness is a warm gun!! ~~ Last edited by MyMalteseFalcon; 01-15-2020 at 8:35 AM.. |
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