Got a Public Security!

[lowell66dart]

Well, most of it. Saw this go up on a local sportmans website classifieds. Terrible picture. 30 round duckbill w/100 rounds, missing the original mag in the picture. Asking $600. Wasn't interested. Next day it's still there and I notice a phone number so I shoot him a text and ask for better pics. When I saw the low serial number I got excited. Called him and made an offer of $500 and he said deal. Picked it up today and found the bolt cover drilled and tapped and not numbered so that was a bit of a bummer but he still is in contact with the daughter of the deceased owner so I brought a spare mag with me and he will contact her with some pics and who knows I may get lucky and find the originals. If not it looks like some scrubbed parts are going on. Never saw this ammo before. It's labeled hunting loads.

[lowell66dart]

Couple more

[Phosphorus32]

Cool. Why do they always have to mess with the scarcer ones.

Herter's is Cabela's house brand (just their packaging), so it's hard to know who actually made the ammo.

[High Noon]

Its a nice rifle!! 

Even with the "customized" parts you have an interesting one to add to the collection, that you can shoot and enjoy. 

[lowell66dart]

Thanks guys. To tell the truth I knew nothing about these rifles a few days a go. When I got the pics I searched the importers database here and found the info about Kengs and the 416 rifles. This is a keeper for sure.
I have a scrubbed bolt cover inbound. Just waiting to see if the prior owner can come thru with contact info to get the original parts.

[Matchka]

Well done. The 'Public Security' seems to be a lot less common, at least on the auction sites, than 2-3 years ago. 

[Larry D.]

Nice catch, Lowell.

[Chevy Boy]

I own a great deal of 7.62x39mm "hunting" ammo marked as such, and none of it looks anywhere as nice as those soft points. May have to start keeping an eye out for Herter's in this neck of the woods...