3/1/13

Well, I got the 7.62x39 back from the gunsmith yesterday.  I'm both happy and annoyed at how they did the flash hider.  I'm annoyed because they wound up drilling out the threads and zooking the thing on just like I'd suggested originally.  I'm happy because it reduced the cost from $100.00 to the original $60.00 I was quoted last weekend.  I guess I'm also happy that they knocked it out in such a timely manner, unlike Elk Castle’s six week lead time from their gunsmith.  So, here’s how it went down.  Yesterday I was in a Marketing Town Hell meeting running the sound board when my phone rang.  Well, it vibrated in my pocket since I had it muted, but I digress.  I checked after the meeting and it was Winchester Gallery saying my gun was ready.  Well, this was around 1130 h and I knew that my day was shot after getting that news.  I did manage to hang out until 1500 h before bailing out.  I went to Winchester and got the gun out of hock.  It looked really good too.  From there I stopped in at Military Gun Supply to see what they had in stock.  They had about a dozen ten-round stick magazines for the Saiga 12 on hand!  The problem was they were $75.00 each.  I hemmed and hawed about it for a bit then finally broke down and bought two.  The “werewolf” behind the counter really pushed for me to buy more but I resisted.  Go to the MGS store in south east Fort Worth and you’ll see the “werewolf” about whom I am talking.  Once you see him you’ll know what I mean.  Anyhoo, from there I went to the shop.  I disassembled the gun and cut off the tangs.  I reassembled it and noticed that there was still some interference in the rear causing the nose of the gun to “rise up” in the fore end of the stock.  I debated some sort of positive retention on the barrel but knew I was going to have to disassemble it again once I got home to install the railed gas-tube and sling stud.  I went home.  There I did disassemble it again and discovered that while the Ultimak railed gas-tube fits the gun nicely, the gun no longer fits the Kushnapup stock.  I was annoyed.  I'm going to have to trim some plastic away to make it fit again.  I tried, unsuccessfully, to do it at home but it was a losing proposition.  I mounted a Velcro strap to the inside of the gun case, along with a hook, and hung the gun up for the time being.  Oh, I re-installed the factory gas-tube and Kushnapup stock as well.  I'll bring the thing with me to the shop in the morning but won't plan on working with it until after lunch so John and I can concentrate on cars again.  Speaking of cars, I assume we’ll finish painting and install the fuel cell mounting framework thingy and look at plumbing the thing to the fuel pump.  I'm not sure where we stand on running fuel from the pump to the engine, but I'm thinking now about just running a long hose under the car from the pump to the regulator.  I'll discuss it with John and get his opinion.  In fact, I think I'll text him now.  He does not have a problem with it except that it might be a bit more spendy than a metal tube.  Hmm, I'll probably go to Orally’s or Vato Zone “on my way” to the shop in the morning and buy fifteen feet or so of fuel line and the one brass fitting we need so’s we can knock this job out.  Oh, I guess I'll need some 1/4-20 bolts and nuts to secure the frame to the car as well.  I need to make a list.  Done.  And since I've been staring at the screen for five minutes not trying to think of more to say, I guess the rant is done as well.  I'll talk to y'all again Monday.