Inadvertant gun shopping.

[G.A. Heath]

I went to Lubbock yesterday (08/05/10) and while I was there I figured I would start looking around and planning my next purchase. Instead I started to hit my usual string of gun shops (according to plan) starting with the Gun Shack, followed up with Sharpshooters, then I hit West Texas Military Surplus which I followed up with a visit to a branch of my bank and then back to West Texas Military Surplus. At that point my day, and budget, were done. The reason I hit that one store twice was a used 97 vintage Sig 226 (9mm) with a Hogue grip and four 15 round mags.

Now the grip was assaulted to allow for a thumb rest and the case has a sticker that says "Law Enforcement" under the Sigarms logo (No its not a red case gun). The finish is in very good shape and the internals have a minimal covering of residue. The best part is that the price was very nice. I have to give a big shout out to Randy and his bunch for great customer service and excellent prices. Three of the magazines have the Sig logo (Legit Sig mags) and two of those are marked LE/govt. use only. The down side is that it needs new sights as the tritium has exceeded its useful life.

This gun will get fast tracked for carry once I get around to getting new sights on it. I haven't decided if I'm going to send it to Sig for their "Sig Service Plan" or if I will get the sights and install them myself. I plan to shoot it a bit first and get a holster for it.

[cougartex]

Very nice, congratulations.

[hirundo82]

Very nice. I love SIGs, have 2 (P6 and P220, both West German-marked) and my next gun purchase will likely be a SAS P229 (as soon as I get the $$).

I refuse to buy SIGs with the tactical rail--I think it ruins the looks, plus it supposedly weakens the frame--so I'm pleased to see yours doesn't have it.

[G.A. Heath]

Very nice. I love SIGs, have 2 (P6 and P220, both West German-marked) and my next gun purchase will likely be a SAS P229 (as soon as I get the $$).

I refuse to buy SIGs with the tactical rail--I think it ruins the looks, plus it supposedly weakens the frame--so I'm pleased to see yours doesn't have it.

One of the reasons I bought it.

To be honest I looked at and handled a lot of guns yesterday. The list includes 1911s, Gen 4 Glocks, XDs, XDms, sigs, and more. Even managed to find a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 38 (The new one with the polymer frame and laser). This one Sig stood out and demanded I buy it. If any of you Lubbock area guys are looking for a friendly gun store check out Randy with West Texas Military Surplus.

[A-R]

Nice find, GA. I was eyeing some P226 and P228 trade-ins at GT Distributors a month or so ago - from Texas Attorney General's office, investigative folks I'm guessing? They're gone now.

[Salty1]

You cannot go wrong with a Sig, they are the finest shooting guns from any production built manufacturer. I of course am Sig biased and have been called a "Sig snob". Enjoy shooting it and come back and give us your thoughts once yo have some rounds through it.

[G.A. Heath]

Ok, got it to the range, and made a few discoveries. First off it is a shooter. Secondly I can't carry it as soon as I would like, I need a holster or another body for my mtac to fit it. And out of all the 9mm ammo I took to the range, it ate everything except one round (Which fell into the range bag and wasn't found until I got home).

[troglodyte]

I have to give a big shout out to Randy and his bunch for great customer service and excellent prices

Best place to buy a gun in Lubbock. I've gotten where I don't even bother going to the others places unless I'm just bored or I absolutely have to have something Randy doesn't have.

[G.A. Heath]

Since I make a 60 mile drive to get to Lubbock I almost always hit at least two gun stores while I'm there and WTMS is always one of the ones I hit.

[troglodyte]

Dawson, Gaines, or Yoakum?

[G.A. Heath]

Gaines, Although I am known to frequent Dawson, Terry, Yoakum, and Andrews counties.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

G.A. Heath:

Can you give us a little "back story" on the mags marked "Le/Govt use only"?

What does this really mean?

I assume that they may have a better spring or something,
and that you are in no legal jeopardy for owning mags marked as such.

Thanks in advance.

SIA

[G.A. Heath]

G.A. Heath:

Can you give us a little "back story" on the mags marked "Le/Govt use only"?

What does this really mean?

I assume that they may have a better spring or something,
and that you are in no legal jeopardy for owning mags marked as such.

Thanks in advance.

SIA

Essentially they are regular "Hi Capacity magazines" that were made during the Clinton "Assault Weapons Ban" Which lasted from 1994 through 2004. During this time regular folks were prohibited from purchasing new magazines with a capacity of more than ten rounds. Once the ban sunset We normal folk were once again able to buy such magazines and the LE/Govt. use markings became meaningless. Today these markings have no meaning other than showing the age of the magazines and that they were originally sold to a LE or Govt buyer. There is no legal jeopardy for owning magazines with such markings, although there always remains the possibility that an officer will not know this and might cause someone grief over them.

[InfoTechCHL2007]

Nice. Congrats.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

G. A. Heath:

Thanks for the reponse to my Q.

SIA