C&R Handgun Suggestions

[TN_Hiker]

Anything I should be looking into or watching out for?

 

I see there's thing like the Nagant Revolver out there on places like AIM Surplus that are extremely cheap, but I hear the ammo is extremely expensive/hard to come by.

 

I'd probably pick one up just because it is so cheap sometime... but are there any others I should watch out for? Any "mosins" of handguns?

[TrickyNicky]

There are a few choices out there. Remember it a C&R license, not a surplus license. Get creative and you will see there are lots of things that fall under the approved list. The hard part is convincing people who don't know what is all about to ship to you.

For instance, there are certain hipowers that are eligible (and some that are not) good luck finding any hipowers at most of the surplus dealers though.

If your looking for a good shooter, get a Walter P1 or P 38. Unique enough to be cool, accurate and reliable to boot.

[Jonnin]

Anything I should be looking into or watching out for?

 

I see there's thing like the Nagant Revolver out there on places like AIM Surplus that are extremely cheap, but I hear the ammo is extremely expensive/hard to come by.

 

I'd probably pick one up just because it is so cheap sometime... but are there any others I should watch out for? Any "mosins" of handguns?

what are you looking for, auto? revolver? other?  

nagants are neat and you can make or use other types of ammo in them, though the official ammo is hard to find.  I think it will eat a variety of 32ish cartridges.

 

I love my makarov and highly recommend one but beware not all are C&R.

[TN_Hiker]

I'm not sure what I'm looking for honestly. I'm mostly familiar with semiauto handguns. I've never owned, let alone fired, a revolver. I thought if I could find a Nagant it might be a cheap try it out gun. I just thought I'd see what suggestions were out there that wouldn't break the bank.

[Jonnin]

I'm not sure what I'm looking for honestly. I'm mostly familiar with semiauto handguns. I've never owned, let alone fired, a revolver. I thought if I could find a Nagant it might be a cheap try it out gun. I just thought I'd see what suggestions were out there that wouldn't break the bank.

I have no idea what is on the list for revolvers....  probably a lot of 38 S&W and similar 1900ish era obsolete cartridges.   If its to shoot, go over the list looking for something that has ammo sill in production, probably a 45 long colt in there somewhere for example?
 

[TN_Hiker]

Is this list part of the packet of information I still have coming to me? 

[Jonnin]

http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/curios-relics/

 

 

there is one big pdf and a bunch of little ones that update the master list.  They need to merge it all into one list but its all there anyway, if not exactly in a nice format.

Edited February 22, 2013 by Jonnin

[dou44]

i love the cz82 i have it shoots great .

[TrickyNicky]

The packet will have a list from I think 2007 unless they've updated it in the last 6-7 months.

One word of advice, if your looking for a revolver don't let the Nagant away your opinion. Horrible triggers and a quirky design. If you want a good revolver for little cash look for and old Colt Official Police. Those are some sweet guns right there, beautiful trigger pull and accurate. You'll be happy.

[Guest Broomhead]

i love the cz82 i have it shoots great .

 

Can't go wrong with a CZ-82. Czech police issue, 9mm Makarov ammo (9x18mm instead of standard 9x19mm Parabellum) is still produced and available, nicely designed and they were, when I had my C&R, nicely priced.

[LCPfraTN]

The ammo for the Nagant revolver is not hard to find anymore online, and you have a choice of surplus and new ammo. The price on the new stuff isn't real cheap, but not ridiculous either. In fact. the prices have been coming down over the last few years. So, I'd pick up a Nagant revolver...they are a mechanical marvel.

 

I concur with the P1 and CZ-82 recommendations already made, and the P64 is another nice 9x18 choice that can still be found sometimes.

 

More and more wheelguns are becoming eligible every year, so good luck hunting for them! :2cents:  

[TN_Hiker]

http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/curios-relics/

 

 

there is one big pdf and a bunch of little ones that update the master list.  They need to merge it all into one list but its all there anyway, if not exactly in a nice format.

Thanks for the link.

 

And thanks everyone else for adding some suggestions.

[Guest BCR#1]

Yugoslavian, Polish, Russian, Romanian, Chinese and Hungarian tokarevs in 7.62x25. Czech made CZ52 pistols in 7.62x25. East German and Russian military makarovs in 9x18. Polish P64 pistols in 9x18. Certain GP35 Browning hi-powers and the list goes on and on.

 

Most of my pistol collection is made up of C&R pistols. While not cheap on price anymore, they're still fun to collect.

 

Bill

[ttocswob]

Aim has Priv Partisan 7.62x38mm Nagant ammo for $21.95 - available, and almost cheap now. Stuff is reloadable, but not for the faint of heart.

 

Nagants actually shoot rather well if you just pretend it's a single action.

[DMark]

And don't forget that the "list" is the Curios part of the C&R.

 

The Relics are firearms which were manufactured at least 50 years prior to the current date and do not have to be on the list.   

 

See Federal firearms laws, 27 CFR Section 478.11

 

http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/curios-relics/

[BigK]

Take a look at http://www.southernohiogun.com . You have to have a C&R license on file to see availablility, but you can see their current catalog. It'll have relatively up-to-date prices, but more importantly lots of pretty pictures and a good idea of what you can get with your license.

I can't agree more with the CZ 82 recommendations. It's one of the most accurate lil guns I own and it feels like a million bucks in your hand. I ordered a second one in January on a Thursday from SOG for $260 and it arrived the following Monday.

Nagants are tempting for the price, but if you've shot one, you'll feel like you over paid, LOL. They have nearly a 20# trigger pull and that's NOT an exaggeration. But, they're neat and unique and you CAN shoot them SA. They recoil about like a .22 or a good pellet gun. For about $40 more you can get a Taurus 82 revolver in .38 Special.

Tokarevs are neat too and decently priced. They have a VERY powerful round that rivals many modern cartridges. Only problem is they are very uncomfortable to shoot due to the 90 degree grip angle. CZ52s have a little better angle, but they aren't any more fun to shoot unless you get the 9mm barrel too.

The 2 C&R handguns that have been tempting me the most is the Walther P-1 (9mm - $340) and the FEG (9mm - $330). I'm leaning toward the FEG, b/c it looks like a CZ 75 clone. Edited February 23, 2013 by BigK

[gjohnsoniv]

Nothing wrong with a Nagant, fairly accurate and yes, nearly a 20lb pull on double action. Not terrible on single action though. Also the CZ-82's are great. Fun to shoot and comfortable in the hand. Good accuracy too. I was hitting human sized targets at 50 yards with on the other day.

[1gewehr]

Nagant pistols are surprisingly accurate.  I use .32 H&R mags in mine, especially for reloading.  You lose a bit of performance since you don't get the chamber seal that the 7.62 Nagant brass provides.  But for the price difference, I'll live with it.  A 100gr JHP over 7.7gr of 2400 gives 1100fps.  If you use any case except the Nagant case, stick with jacketed bullets to avoid leading up the recess in the barrel where the Nagant case mouth fits.

 

Most of the Nagant pistols have a LOT of gummed-up oil in the mechanism.  Just cleaning it out usually helps a lot.  There is also a clever trick of using a small hex nut as a spacer that lowers the trigger pull.

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=56731

[LCPfraTN]

Thanks for posting the tip for reducing the trigger pull weight on the Nagant revolver. I usually just shoot single action, but I'll have to try this out for double action use. 

[espacef1fan]

Is there a shop in the Nashville area that has lots of C&R guns?

[TrickyNicky]

Not that I've found as a general rule. Also don't know of any shops that will allow you to correctly utilize a C&R anyway. To the best of my knowledge they'll still want you to fill out your background check and pay the fee.

Anyway, half the fun is being able to receive guns through the mail. I love answering my door, receiving my package and opening it to find an old gun. Lots of fun.

[TN_Hiker]

I wondered if there was any use in trying it in a normal shop. I didn't figure so. 

 

And yes, it was awesome getting my rifle I just bought sent to the house  :D

 

I'm still thinking about a Nagant revolver. I saw SOG has some in stock. Can anyone comment on how reasonable their shipping is? Apparently they just add it on after you've placed your order... I paid about 15 dollars to have my M38 sent to me from Classic Firearms, should I expect about the same price for a Nagant revolver from SOG?

[ttocswob]

I wondered if there was any use in trying it in a normal shop. I didn't figure so. 

 

And yes, it was awesome getting my rifle I just bought sent to the house  :D

 

I'm still thinking about a Nagant revolver. I saw SOG has some in stock. Can anyone comment on how reasonable their shipping is? Apparently they just add it on after you've placed your order... I paid about 15 dollars to have my M38 sent to me from Classic Firearms, should I expect about the same price for a Nagant revolver from SOG?

 

Add a 3% upcharge for credit card, and all handguns are shipped 2nd day air by 'law', cost me about $20-something a couple of years ago. And if you can, you save shipping if you buy 2 or more - only a few more dollars for each additional pistol.

 

AIM has both Russian surplus (4.75/15) and Priv (21.95/50) I suggest the latter as it's non-corrosive and reloadable. $12 shipping on a $120 order, YMMV.

[high_speed_chase]

CZ82 is a good choice, I just purchased my 3rd about 2 weeks ago from SOG. Ordered on Tuesday and received on Friday at my front door. Magazines are pricey, so get a deal with 2 mags if possible. Tokarevs are not bad but ammo is getting scarce and only 9 shot maximum, Yugo M57.

[CelebrateWood]

The only shop I have found that has any kind of selection and doesn't think anything that is not a black plastic gun is worthless is The Franklin Gun Shop off 65 at the Highway 96 exit.