so I think I want a tank

[midcounty]

I have really been thinking that some day I may take the plunge and buy a tank at some point. So I have some questions. First off I can't afford any of the ones that cost as much or more then my house. I see there are a number of options in the 70k and below range. Not saying I can afford that at this time, but maybe in the future. So here are things I am concerned with. What tanks are the easiest to maintain? Easiest to transport, and hopefully with my current M818 or maybe I will have an excuse to buy a 916 or 920. Easiest for a tank newbie to operate? Best investment, incase I don't like it and sell later? Easiest to get parts for? And, can import tanks be obtained with live main guns, if properly registered ofcourse? Thanks for any input.

 

[CanonNinja]

tanks are like boats, they're more fun when they belong to someone else. Transportation, places to actually use them, maintenance, etc kinda take the novelty out of it. M113/114s are probably the easiest to get into and work with, and are light enough to tow with a 5 ton, probably pushing it with a 114 on a pintle hitch with a 2.5 ton

 

[Flyingvan911]

A tank it very expensive if it is worth anything at all. Then you need a big truck and trailer to haul the 20-30 tons (atleast) of tank. If it is overwidth, you need permits. It will be most likely be overweight (80k) so you will need permits. If you want the gun to fire, you need permits. A tank is like an airplane or a yaucht. Be perpared to spend a fortune.

 

[midcounty]

Saw a small British tank a while back, don't recall model, that was 8' wide, weight was about 7 tons. That would be more my style I believe. I am a class 2 manufacture, know about NFA stuff, but have never got in to destructive devices, so am unfamiliar with having a live gun on the tank.

 

[Flyingvan911]

That sounds cool. When I think of a tank, I usually think of the big, heavy stuff.

 

[MrM4]

I am a class 2 manufacture, know about NFA stuff, but have never got in to destructive devices.

If your a 07/02 FFL you will see that it is writen on you lic. that it doesnt cover DDs, however you can always form 1 a DD. BATF may allow you to do a DD or 2 under your lic but you will need to talk with them.

Most likly you will need a good machinist to reactive the gun. There are many things that have been done to "demil" the cannons on these things, from cement in the bore to welding the breach or cutting a hole the size of the bore threw the barrel.

 

[Stalwart]

If you want an actual "tank" not an APC, SPG or other tracked armor I can only really recomend one that fits in your price range: British FV101 Scorpion tank like in my avitar. They are easily transportable (about 8 tons), reliable, have rubber padded tracks and FAST!

My Scorpion Tank - YouTube

 

[135gmc]

A word to the wise - if you are tall, or a little wider than you were when you were 18, you're in for a heap of problems. Just about anything armored is designed for skinny little 18 year-olds. Once you have a few years and a few pounds on you, they get real crowded real fast. And it's even worse if you want something from WWII - they're even tighter--getting into one is like putting on wet blue jeans.

If you really want armor, think about a WWII M3 scout car, or a half track. Parts are still fairly available, they are roadable, and they even fit into a garage. If you want heavier iron, look at anything wheeled. British equipment is available at fairly reasonable prices, but parts can be a challenge. There's also the V100 armored car and Soviet equipment as well. Soviet has the advantage that no one really knows what they are supposed to look like, so you can re-engine and no one will worry about it. A coat of OD paint militarizes anything....

Sherman's are neat, but they cost way more than they should. The M5 Stuart is a fairly common collector's tank since it's small and light, but they get very snug if you aren't skinny and 18.

 

[therealsundance]

Only $69,000.00!

 

[midcounty]

If you want an actual "tank" not an APC, SPG or other tracked armor I can only really recomend one that fits in your price range: British FV101 Scorpion tank like in my avitar. They are easily transportable (about 8 tons), reliable, have rubber padded tracks and FAST!

My Scorpion Tank - YouTube

That is the model I was looking for. How hard is it to maintain and get parts for? What did they do to demill the main gun? Any problem areas I should know about if I were to buy one? 50mph just looks like an insane ride in it Your video just made it harder for me not to want one.

 

[m109a3uk]

Good fun to have one, good fun to drive, good for the wow factor but they cost to move are a pain to work on as most stuff needs the pack out not to bad on a truck but a real pain on armour.

 

[midcounty]

If your a 07/02 FFL you will see that it is writen on you lic. that it doesnt cover DDs, however you can always form 1 a DD. BATF may allow you to do a DD or 2 under your lic but you will need to talk with them.

Most likly you will need a good machinist to reactive the gun. There are many things that have been done to "demil" the cannons on these things, from cement in the bore to welding the breach or cutting a hole the size of the bore threw the barrel.

Yeah, I am aware my license doesn't cover DD's. Depending on how they demilled, I may be able to reactivate on a form 1. However, I am wondering if any ever were imported with live guns that could just be transferred on a form 4. It's more of a standpoint of originality then really wanting to shoot it. The Scorpion tank posted above seems to fit what I am looking for, and a live 37mm would be cool

 

[DieselBob]

I have really been thinking that some day I may take the plunge and buy a tank at some point.

I call shotgun.....

 

[midcounty]

I stand corrected on the cannon. I had 37mm in mind, but I see it was a 76mm. That is even better

 

[midcounty]

I call shotgun.....

Maybe some day

 

[Stalwart]

Hard to maintain compared to what exactly? Compard to a Jeep? Then it's a nightmare, compared to other armor . . . not too bad at all. The British plug and weld the barrel but that will NOT pass muster by the ATF. As I understand it now you won't get the barrel into the US at all these days. I had to cut the breach and we cut a bore sized slot in the barrel but that was 10 years ago.

I've been 65 mph and it was still accelerating and it is a VERY smooth ride.

You can get any parts you want but it'll cost you, PLUS shipping from the UK. Based on the last set of tracks I bought, plus shipping, it costs me $12-15 per mile in track wear alone. Aside from grass, I don't use it off road.

As for size, I'm 6'2" and was still able to get into it and use it when I weighed 350+ lb. OK, it's much easier now that I weight 225.

 

[F18hornetM]

Oh this should be good. Preston, Md will have its own armor...way cool

 

[Stalwart]

To my knowledge none left British service without going through the Proof House that certifies that the gun is dead. So no, none should be in the US with a live gun. If you have a Museum you can get them in live . . . the hard part is convincing the British not to break them first.

The Simitar is the same chassis and has an even cooler high velocity 30mm RARDEN cannon that can auto fire in 6 round bursts.

 

[B3.3T]

Like a Scorpion, this is what you want:
CVR-T Sabre

A real tank, not some APC.

 

[wehring]

Sabre

Alan, I was thinking about your Sabre when I was reading this thread.

I have a live 20mm Oerlikon KAA machine-cannon that will fit this turret. It fires 1000rpm and is a pre-DS so it is a keeper if you ever drop your license. C2 SOT holders can bring in one DD per year w/o paying for the tax stamp.

Buy Alan's Sabre and my Oerlikon and have a turn-key tank with LIVE ordnance.

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112