What are your OTHER hobbies???

[iNuhBaD]

Just thought I'd ask to spur discussion of what other things all of you do for fun hobbies/activities?!?!?

I'd be willing to bet that for SOME OF YOU rotorcraft building & flying isn't your ONLY hobby/activity! What are some of your 'less expensive' hobbies that all of you do to pass the time when flying weather isn't right, or you're waiting on other Aircraft Parts to arrive?

I'm currently reading & researching the feasibility of starting a Gyro build, but I already have one hobby that (until now) has consumed most of my 'disposable' income...

...I'm a Hoplophile. I love Arms, Armor, and Armaments - in other words, I'm A 'Gun Nut'.

I've been shooting since I was 6 years old as a hobby - just a .22 bolt rifle most of my life. Then when my older brother went into Law Enforcement, I accompanied him to a 'Qualification Shoot' when I was younger. I got to try their AR-15 rifles, their Heckler & Koch MP5 Submachineguns (for their SWAT team), and I must admit, I got hooked. It was SO MUCH MORE FUN than the little target plinking rifles I had grown up with!

So, during college, I got to know many people in the Law Enforcement (LE)community, made many friends, and I eventually became a certified AR-15 rifle armorer. I've built many AR-15 rifles (Semi-Automatic Civilian version of the M-16 / M-4 rifle), and I got into competition shooting with handguns, shotguns, and rifles. Over time and TONS of practice (TENS of thousands of rounds), I've become an incredibly good marksman.

My friends in the LE community got me connected with LE instructors, and I started taking Tactical / Defensive shooting courses with LE officers, and competing both WITH, and AGAINST them (in timed competitions, stress shoots, etc.).

Now that the war has been going on for years, due to unbelievable demand, the AMMO PRICES SKYROCKETED!!!

Bullets that used to cost $0.09 to $0.14 per shot now cost in excess of $0.55 per shot! I can no longer afford to SHOOT much due to this war... I tried signing up for the military, but they won't take me due to Asthma & Allergies.

So... I LOVE building things, and I love studying and understanding the Physics and Mechanics behind firearms... As such, I've decided to delve deeper into BUILDING guns. AR-15 rifles are INCREDIBLY EASY to 'build' - it's mostly Assembling them, checking headspacing to ensure they're safe, and then test firing them. I'm certified by two manufacturers now, and was offered a job to build rifles for an Evenings & Weekends part time job, but to be honest, I've gotten pretty BORED with that rifle system. It's too EASY to build them.

I've started training & learning custom 1911 45 Auto Pistolsmithing (trained under a gunsmith for a while) - but they're pretty expensive projects to undertake considering each custom pistol is in the $1200+ range!

So, last year I started building Semi-Automatic AK-47 rifles out of imported parts kits. It requires more metalworking, drilling out old rivets, a little machining, grinding, etc... Much more involved. There are tricky laws one has to abide by (Importation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms Laws), but once you understand them fully, it's easy to build these rifles legally.

This is the first AK-47 rifle I built (on the left-in my right hand), and my ?7th? AR-15 that I've built for myself (on the right-in my left hand):

At this moment, I was hooked on building legal, semi-automatic AK-47's...

Their fairly CRUDE construction, and SIMPLISTIC design is something to be admired - there's no wonder it's the dirt-cheap weapon of choice the world over...

I can buy an AK-47 parts kit for $99. Put it together with a US-made (You need a Background Check to buy this part) reciever for $15 to $55. Install a US made semi-automatic trigger group for $30. You have to throw away the Fully Automatic Trigger parts it comes with before you start building the reciever or else the ATF can get you on 'Possession with Intent to Manufacture a Machinegun' - a Felony, Tens of thousands of dollars, and at least a Decade in Federal "Pound me in the Arse" prison.

Gotta watch that carefully! Also, you have to meet importation 922r Compliance laws. Meaning you need at least 6 US made parts in the gun you're building, or you're in violation of importation laws (another felony you want to avoid) - The Reciever (Serial Numbered Part - you need a Background Check for this) counts as ONE, the trigger parts bring the total up to 4 parts, plus a new pistol grip and muzzle attachment bring up the parts total to 6, so now you can build a Kosher AK-47 - for a total investment of about $275 to $300.

I've built some AK-47's now, and many people are doing it, so I wanted to be a bit more 'Different'. I started getting into building more 'Custom' guns that are MUCH more complicated, and time / labor intensive... My current project is known as a "Frankengun MG-47" or some people call them an "AK-42". This is an ODD MUTT built from scavenged parts from two different firearms: World War 2 German MG-42, and an AK-47 Parts kit. It is a Chain-Fed, Semi-Automatic rifle that fires the 7.62x39mm Russian AK-47 round.

Thus far, there have only been 4 completed prototype rifles built by different builders around the US. It's made of parts from those two rifles, as well as 1.5" x 1.5" Square Steel Tubing (and misc. other fabricated parts).

Here are 2 of the handful of completed prototypes other builders have made:

(they all look differently because each one is CUSTOM built with different parts & design approaches)

Note that although these LOOK like automatic machineguns, they are only SEMI-Automatic, firing only one bullet each time you squeeze the trigger! They are LEGAL, and FUN to shoot! They comply with all ATF regulations, as well as Importation laws.

I can't QUITE start my build yet, because I have to wait for more Semi-Automatic parts to arrive (to comply with laws), but I already have SOME of the parts to start, but I have to sit on them until the other legal parts arrive. And I need to buy another AK-47 parts kit sometime to scavenge some parts for this rifle build. But for now I have the German MG-42 parts:

One of the really NICE things about building this type of rifle is that it fires using METAL BELT LINKS! Which means it doesn't use 'Magazines' or 'Clips' for a feed mechanism! If there's ever another 'Assault Weapons Ban' (AWB), I don't have to worry about being limited to only TEN SHOTS. It feeds via belts & the minimum belt capacity is 50 rounds, and since they're interconnectable, you can link up an INFINITE amount of ammunition. Although it's not PRACTICAL in any way to link more than 200 shots together because it's HEAVY. The gun will weigh an estimated 14 to 15 pounds, plus another 9 pounds for a 200 round belt of ammunition.

One of my friends with a similar Belt-Fed rifle has linked up to 2300 rounds into one Loooooooong belt that ran down the length of his entire driveway! That was pretty cool to see!

So... I can't start on this project yet, because I've got to be in compliance with laws (State, Federal, & Imporation), so until then I sit and wait anxiously for my parts to arrive (a feeling I'm sure you're all familiar with waiting for that crate to show up)... Then I can begin. The only difference with my wait is if I ordered parts in a specific sequence, and if I possessed certain parts at the same time that equals a prison sentance! So, I order one set of parts, throw out the 'Bad/Evil/Illegal' parts as soon as the kit arrives. I wait two weeks to ensure the garbage truck took them away, and THEN order the next set of parts, throw out the 'Evil/Bad/Illegal' parts from that set, wait a while, and THEN, I can start building the rifle.

It's a time consuming process, and it makes me antsy, but I don't think my wife would appreciate me being arrested for something so stupid, so that helps me be patient. One builder jumped on an online forum posted a photo of his progress to date on a project, asked for advice on how to fit a certain part on the next step in his build - and quite CLEARLY in the background of the photo, you could see at the back of his workbench there was a Full-Auto trigger mechanism part that he hadn't thrown away prior to building! He got busted with a Felony... Was pretty stupid of him to NOT throw away the parts and comply with the laws. The ATF takes firearms building VERY SERIOUSLY!

I know some people don't feel too 'fond' of firearms, and I often get people asking me "Why would you own a gun like THAT!?!?!"

Well, I own them because I CAN, because they're FUN to SHOOT, and because it scares and pisses off Liberal Anti-Gun Zealots who would rather infringe upon the freedoms of other individuals under the guise of 'Feeling Secure'... Honestly, it's doesn't have much of a PRACTICAL use unless hordes of undead zombies rise from the grave and swarm the living. But I don't foresee that happening anytime soon. HAHA!

So... What other hobbies do you guys do besides building & flying???

 

[iNuhBaD]

Wow... Nobody does ANYTHING other than building/flying rotorcraft?

 

[CLS447]

Enjoy firearms myself......I was getting into them too much. Now I have my friends spend their money on them.

I'm glad to be back at my #1 hobby....gyros!

I was a Class 1 & 3 gun dealer for a while.

https://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4895

check out this old thread...

 

[Arnie Madsen]

Wow... Nobody does ANYTHING other than building/flying rotorcraft?

We are still reading the article .... give us a bit more time to respond .... ha...!!

Welcome to the forum , I am enjoying your article .

Talk later
Arnie M.

 

[iNuhBaD]

Oooooooooh!!! You had a M-60 and a STERLING!!!

I've AAAAAAALWAYS wanted to shoot a Sterling! Those little buggers are SWEET!

Edited to add: I'm hoping it's feasible for me to make the 'switch' over to flying for a hobby! These GUNS are highly dependent upon both AMMO prices, and FUEL prices (getting out of the city to a decent range)! At least with a Gyro, I'll mostly have to contend with fuel prices (but I anticipate there's 'accessories' that will suck up a sizable amount of cash too).

I've never owned a Class-3 gun. I have several friends who do, but I understand and can live with the fact I'll never be able to afford FEEDING such hungry monsters! Those guns go thru ammo QUICK!

In '06, the transmission on my '85 Oldsmobile died, so I wanted to donate it to the Children's Cancer Research Fund (CCRF). I called 'em up and they WOULDN'T LET ME! They said my car was too old and had too low of a parts scrap value.

I called up a range owner, a salvage truck driver, a few of my local class 3 friends, and several companies. We started the first 'shoot cars for cancer' event. Had about 80 people come out to a shooting range, packed the car with bottles of tannerite, and shot the hell out of my Oldsmobile! We got sponsorship from Federal Ammunition, DPMS and a few other places that donated money for the cause, and stuff to be raffled off (cases of ammo, shot glasses, hats & clothing, and all kinds of cool stuff). We raised a SIZABLE chunk of money, and everyone had fun blasting my car with 50 cals, a browning 1919-A4, and a slew of other fun Auto toys.

The money went to the Children's Cancer ward at the Fairview-University Medical / Children's Hospital, and some went to kids through the Caring Bridge organization. The CCRF didn't think my car had enough of a scrap value. We reduced the amount of 'scrap' that was left of it, and we raised nearly 12 times what the car was worth in GOOD drivable condition!

This was just me having fun after about 22,000 rounds went into the car. A little Red Dawn humor!

So, how did you make the switch over to the Gyro side?

 

[CLS447]

No, I never got into anything that expensive, that belongs to a rich friend !

I had mostly subguns & I sold them all to him also.....at the old prices. I feel better because he CLEANS them. They went to a good home !

The most costly one that I owned was an MP5 done by Vollmer with 3 shot burst pack....back then the dealer cost was $2750.....I don't think you can touch them now for less than 8K !

He's also got an M2 HMG (ma deuce). He bought 10,000 rds of ammo for it at a buck a round. I have just heard that 50cal is about $4 a round now !

I could go on & on.........

BTW that sterling was built on a STEN tube.

OH he also has a legal MINT MG42 FASTTTTTTTTT. Its so valuable he doesn't shoot it anymore. It was captured by a naval commander & bought back here & registered under the amnesty act.

 

[Bob Simmons]

I like to go to gyro fly-ins. I like to watch new guy's learn how to fly. I like to see the excitement of them making this dream come alive. I like to cook and fish sometimes. I give up guns back in 1972 after I did my hitch over sea's. I like to see a play now and then. My biggest kick in life is being a gyro pilot. I suppose I'm dull, But I am happy for you.

 

[CLS447]

BOB you aren't THAT dull !! (kidding)

I wished we were coming to BDs to see you all again....but not this year. BUMMER!

Once you fly a gyro, most everything else can seem pretty dull ! How bout it ?

 

[Scary Gary]

I like gun's .
Aaaaaa shooting .
Ahhhhhhh firearms .
Then Aaaaaaaa there's my gun collection .
I like shooting gun's .
Gun's .
I like cleaning my gun's . " A clean gun is a happy gun " .
I like talking to my gun's .
Then there is my assortment of gun's .
Shooting gun's .
I do like listening to my gun's .
Now I don't always agree with my gun's , because their a little to left leaning for my taste . But I'll listen .
I like shooting gun's .
I like gun magazines .
Gun book's .
And flying .
And things that fly .

 

[RotoPlane]

Gary.....you are one weird dude....but a funny one! You can't be too far gone though, cause you did own a Stinson....if it was a 108-3, forget about the weird part.....

 

[iNuhBaD]

:lol: LoL! Gary & Bob, you guys are funny!

 

[Racer]

Racing, Gyro's, Riding my Harley and stealing cars, Simple life I know but it works for me.

 

[GyroDoug]

Mathew,

Most of us are pretty concentrated on Flying. While there are lots of other things that I am involved with, I don't know of anything that would seem worth mentioning after you went through what you do with guns. But I think what you have learned to do with guns is commendable. I really enjoy shooting guns and own a few but I have never learned anything about gunsmithing. My hats off to you and what you do. Now if you would apply some of that zeal to building Gyros you could really accomplish something that would get the rest of us excited. Best of luck!!!

Gyro Doug

 

[Arnie Madsen]

Mathew , stick around here for a while and we will get you building a gyro or helicopter.. I know you need one because that car you shot up (love that picture) I can see there are no bullet holes in the roof. You need to mount one of your rifles on a gyro and do some strafing runs from above.....

I enjoy reading about your hobby and build projects , pretty impressive . I used to do a bit of Target shooting 25 years ago , never was too good at . I would set up a 5 gallon pail at 500 yards and could hit it maybe 3 times out of 10 shots with a 7mm Ruger Remington Magnum Rifle.

My older brother Bernie is a rifle enthusiast and I know for sure he would like to join you in the firing pit , I will warn him not to park his car in the wrong place , you guys are wild ... !!!!

Around 1925 my dad was in the Royal Danish Army and got a few awards for his shooting accuracy. It turns out his motivation was because the top shooter would get weekends off. He said he got every weekend off.

Here is a picture of the rifle I built . Just kidding , same last name but not likely related. Built in Denmark it is a 1958 design , one of the first "lightweights" and used some aluminum components.

 

[WaspAir]

other hobbies - hiking and climbing

other hobbies - hiking and climbing

I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa last summer. It was the first time I've ever been above 19,000 feet with my boots still firmly planted on the ground, and much higher than I've ever been in a gyro. My Casio altimeter watch showed atmospheric pressure at only 14.7 in. Hg (vs. 29.92 standard sea level) so I was above half the atmosphere. Despite being almost on the equator in July, the temperature on the final climb (in the dark to hit the top at dawn) was colder than a well digger's butt in the Yukon, and there was plenty of glacier around.

 

[Scary Gary]

Gary.....you are one weird dude....but a funny one! You can't be too far gone though, cause you did own a Stinson....if it was a 108-3, forget about the weird part.....

It was a 108 and that is it . Not a -1 , -2 , or -3 just a 108 . It was also the oldest Stinson i've seen .
I bought it in 88 and it had not seen daylight sense 1964 it took me two weeks to get the hanger doors open to pull it out . 100% aoriginal 207 TT sense new .
I loved that plane .

 

[StanFoster]

I used to be heavy into competition muzzleloading. I built my guns from scratch...and competed at the state and national level. I was very into it....and thought nothing would tear me away from that wonderful hobby..until I went to Mentone 2002 and got back into gyrocopters.

Anyway....here is a link to the NMLRA site. Each year they have qualification shoots in each state. The top 5 from each state get to go to the nationals in the fall. In 1997 I won Illinois' tryout....and had the highest score in all 50 states....giving me the once in a lifetime Top Gun award.

Two years later in 1989 I won the national musket championship. I peaked in those three years....and I will go to my grave vividly remembering the last shot I had to make to win that 1989 championship. I was in the final running with a lawyer from Indianapolis...named James Tucker. His sister is Mariom Quayle....spell? the vice president Dan Quayle's sister. Anyway James was done and there were tons of people watching as I had to make my final shot at 100 yards offhand. I had to shoot an 8 to tie.... I had five minutes to shoot my last shot of five. Everytime I placed the gun to my shoulder....I would start shaking. Its a mental game and I finally got under control....held the rifle to my shoulder as dozens of people were down the firing line looking through their spotting scopes. My shot went off and it felt good. I heard several "its a 9" all down the range. I beat James by one point scoring a 324-x to his 323. I have the wonderful plaque and a lifetime memory on the fireplace. It kind of was down hill from there....its very hard to stay on top of this game...and thats when the fun went out....

Here is the link to the Top Gun I won in 1997. If you scroll down to the Musket section...you will see the top ten national qualifiers...and our scores. We came from all over the U.S...this was hair raising serious fun!

https://www.muzzleblasts.com/archives/vol2no5/articles/mbo25-5.html


Stan

 

[scottessex]

I like sunsets, long walks on the beach, kittens, and........Oops sorry...




I enjoy firearms and sport shooting,
building custom motorcycles.
Custom automotive paint and airbrushing.
restoring classic cars.
I used to surf.
House remodeling. and home improvement projects.
Gardening.
I like engines, all types.
Fabricating useless items on mill and lathe.
Aircraft, mostly gyro's.
Potato guns.
Beer.

 

[Timchick]

Your belt fed MG project looks very cool.

I used to paintball, used to skydive, used to shoot a lot, used to ride motorcycles, now just trying to fly and buy accessories to make going to fly-ins better. I've owned some neat rifles in the past. I had an FN-FAL, HK-93, AR-180, and a few normal rifles. All of them good rifles. I've also had a few handguns, Glock, 1911, Browning hi-power, CZ-75, Colt Python, Sig Sauer, etc.

 

[animal]

well I still have an M-1 carbine. but just for home protection. only shot it on new years so far. been alot of home invasions around here lately, hope I never have to use, it, but it is good to know I have it to protect my self and my 87 year old mother.

I also build custom Harleys, go to bike shows and club partys ( support "81")
I like to make things for my bike on my lathe/mill combo machine. have brought home several throphys for my bikes. I use to rise exotic reptiles ( caimens,and montior lizards)
and I have build and sold several gyro and helicopter projects. building a falcon gyro now. and plan to keep and fly this one.

your guns are cool a buddy of mine was a class 3 and had a water cooled browning,a 50 cal BAR, and several other neat guns, he has since sold them. but a story come to mind many years ago he had his guns in the driveway and a rookie cop pulls in and tryed to arrest him for haveing machine guns. the sargent shows up, he showed his papers and the rookie had to apoligize and say have a nice day.

what was funny was the Rookie never saw the M24 tank in the back yard...lol
now my buddy just restores ww2 military trucks and tanks. he is retired army and was in the first gulf war.

anyway welcome to the forum. your gun work it great. look forward to seeing what you can do with a Gyro build. and hey the FAA is alot easyer to deal with then the ATF.