AZ Deuce
July 04, 2017, 17:06
For the last month and a half possibly longer, I've only heard the chirping of crickets as far as BM59s have been concerned. I have a theory, but was wondering why it's so quiet on the Italian Front?
I ordered a JRA BM59 receiver like a lot of others did, and after a 8+ month wait, canceled the order, and went another route. It wasn't long after that, all of a sudden JRA starts selling completely built BM59s on their investment cast receiver. I thought it was strange and rude on their part, for not selling us builders the receivers we had ordered, and instead kept them for their own builds. At least that's how I saw it.
Now I could be wrong about this, but that's how I see it. So I was wondering except for the first 200 or so receivers did anyone who waited 8 months or longer ever get their receivers?
I read the second review in Firearms News where 2 different JRA complete BM59s built on their investment cast receivers had issues, the second one they received had an out of spec JRA receiver. After that report everything regarding BM59 receivers and or builds got really quiet, even over at Shuff's Forums.
So I'm just trying to figure out why all the enthusiasm in all things BM59 just went quiet?
I bought a re-welded National Ordnance "Americanized" BM59, had my machinist/gunsmith friend strip it, machine it to take the Beretta front mag catch assembly with the hollow 8mm tube/pin, install and headspace a SARCO BM59 barrel, and am just waiting on him to refinish it so I can do the final assembly.
I know some of you shuddered at the thought of a welded receiver, but I fired the rifle several times before tearing it apart and the receiver worked great, these things were built in the late 60s and early 70s and if they were going to come apart, I figure they'd have done it by now.
Will it be collectable? NO! None of the JRA's will either, they're just shooters, if you want a collectable BM59 you either buy a Beretta BM62 or 69, or a Springfield/Beretta BM59 from back in the 80s. Will the new builds be fun to shoot? Well YEAH!
I do expect current build BM59s that were built on original Garand receivers and had the heel remarked in the style of the actual Italian builds will be worth more money than the rest of the current builds. I'm betting anything built by Shuff will be worth more than the rest, but you better keep your paper work, for I've read that he does not mark his builds.
If any of you did build a BM59, did you add one of those stripper clip guides to the receiver. I was kind of anal about having the stripper clip guide, as I know that was an option with Beretta, but every Beretta built BM Type rifle (except the BM69) imported to America had them, I was determined my build would too.
The Nat Ord receiver I used had one from back in the day, and since it ran so well, and the machining was so good you could only tell it was a re-weld from looking at the inside of the receiver, I decided to go that way.....as I was tired of waiting on my much promised (I called them twice was told I was only a few numbers down the list) but never delivered JRA receiver.
Anyway that's how I see the current BM59 situation, but I live a sheltered life, and don't know any of the real players, so I was wondering if somebody could set me straight?
I ordered a JRA BM59 receiver like a lot of others did, and after a 8+ month wait, canceled the order, and went another route. It wasn't long after that, all of a sudden JRA starts selling completely built BM59s on their investment cast receiver. I thought it was strange and rude on their part, for not selling us builders the receivers we had ordered, and instead kept them for their own builds. At least that's how I saw it.
Now I could be wrong about this, but that's how I see it. So I was wondering except for the first 200 or so receivers did anyone who waited 8 months or longer ever get their receivers?
I read the second review in Firearms News where 2 different JRA complete BM59s built on their investment cast receivers had issues, the second one they received had an out of spec JRA receiver. After that report everything regarding BM59 receivers and or builds got really quiet, even over at Shuff's Forums.
So I'm just trying to figure out why all the enthusiasm in all things BM59 just went quiet?
I bought a re-welded National Ordnance "Americanized" BM59, had my machinist/gunsmith friend strip it, machine it to take the Beretta front mag catch assembly with the hollow 8mm tube/pin, install and headspace a SARCO BM59 barrel, and am just waiting on him to refinish it so I can do the final assembly.
I know some of you shuddered at the thought of a welded receiver, but I fired the rifle several times before tearing it apart and the receiver worked great, these things were built in the late 60s and early 70s and if they were going to come apart, I figure they'd have done it by now.
Will it be collectable? NO! None of the JRA's will either, they're just shooters, if you want a collectable BM59 you either buy a Beretta BM62 or 69, or a Springfield/Beretta BM59 from back in the 80s. Will the new builds be fun to shoot? Well YEAH!
I do expect current build BM59s that were built on original Garand receivers and had the heel remarked in the style of the actual Italian builds will be worth more money than the rest of the current builds. I'm betting anything built by Shuff will be worth more than the rest, but you better keep your paper work, for I've read that he does not mark his builds.
If any of you did build a BM59, did you add one of those stripper clip guides to the receiver. I was kind of anal about having the stripper clip guide, as I know that was an option with Beretta, but every Beretta built BM Type rifle (except the BM69) imported to America had them, I was determined my build would too.
The Nat Ord receiver I used had one from back in the day, and since it ran so well, and the machining was so good you could only tell it was a re-weld from looking at the inside of the receiver, I decided to go that way.....as I was tired of waiting on my much promised (I called them twice was told I was only a few numbers down the list) but never delivered JRA receiver.
Anyway that's how I see the current BM59 situation, but I live a sheltered life, and don't know any of the real players, so I was wondering if somebody could set me straight?