airedale

Can't help myself, I am a Slut. An old guy, not in the best of shape, was working out in the local gym. Looking around, he spotted a beautiful sweet young babe. He asked the trainer who was helping a client nearby, hey coach, "What machine in here should I use to impress that cute, sweet young thing over there?" The trainer looked him up and down slowly and carefully, and then said, "I would try the ATM in the lobby".

I just purchased an old school vintage Browning Explorer 1 on ebay, I setup and sold these Brownings when I worked in a sporting goods store back in the late 70s to late 80s. I always liked them but owned and shot a Jennings back then. Don't know how much hunting I will do with it but I do have a back yard range and shoot my old Bear recurve quite a bit for fun and will be doing the same with this classic Browning. Al

Syracuse got only a dusting of snow from that storm, bare ground there most of the winter. Any struggling they are having is because of their administration not snow.

This is what we call a snow storm around these parts about 20 miles north of me. Syracuse weatherman Jim Teske took a ride up there to see it for himself.

The last dozen years or so I have been getting a flu shot and have not had a case of the flu. Last year's flu shot early on was said not to be effective against the strain going around so I passed and don't you know I caught the flu and was sicker than a dog. It is recommended that old goats like me get the shot and this year there was no screwing around, I got mine early and so far so good. Al

There are three things I look for when putting a scope on a slug gun. First off because of the relatively short range slug guns are used I want a scope with as big of field of view as possible. The lower the power the more field of view there is so I personally prefer a 2.5X, a 3X or a 1X4 variable which is plenty of magnification for typical slug ranges. Also because of hefty recoil I like a scope with long eye relief. You do not want a scope that has to be close to your eye when sighting through it with a heavy recoiling gun. Back when I worked in the gun shop the number one destroyer of scopes was a slug gun's heavy recoil, cheap scopes and slug guns do not go together well, buy the very best quality scope you can afford. My current slug gun wears a Leupold 3X. Al

The Mossberg 500 is a classic pump shotgun that has been around many years with a proven reliable solid track record. The bird barrel slug barrel combo was probably the number one seller for slug shotguns in the gunshop I worked in back in the late 70s and 80s. No rifled barrels back then, the slug barrels were smooth open choked bores with adjustable open sights, they were drilled and tapped for a weaver scope base on the receiver for anyone wanting to mount a scope. The cantilever system will work much better when switching back and forth between your two barrels. Don't know a thing about the scope that came with your new Mossberg but you are right about looking to change it out if it is an el cheapo. The recoil from a shotgun firing slugs is pretty hard on a scope so you want to have one of good quality and plenty of eye relief. Congratulations and good luck hunting with your new outfit. Al

There was an outfit out of Wyoming a few years back reproducing the old Marlin Ballard single shot rifles in many custom configurations and chamberings. I contacted them about chambering this model with a shorter and lighter contour barrel in a rimfire 22 mag and they said they would, just send them the money. I was a little light in the wallet at the time and had to decline. The company folded a few years ago so even if I win the lottery I am screwed. Al

I hear you dbhunter, when I was a young guy raising a family the new guns were not very easy for me to come by. In fact for many years I had to work two jobs to support my gun loving habit and it has taken me well over fifty years to acquire what I have. Al

Today's project my 22 LR Winchester 52B target rifle, technically not a single shot I use what is called a single shot adapter but it will function fine with a regular five shot magazine, she is called the fly swatter. This rifle will put good ammo in the same hole at 25 yards and do almost as well at 50 yards. Because my vision ain't what it once was I took off the Redfield Olympic target sights and mounted an older Redfield 3200 20X target scope and now I can pick off flies on my 25 yard target consistently and do pretty well at 50 yards. The trigger needs to be worked on and set with a little more weight of pull as it is a virtual hair trigger and the gun can be slam fired so that is today's project. Al

Mine is a 22 LR over a 410, when I carry this gun afield I have shells in my pocket to handle most small game situations, high powered 22 shells like velocitors, 3 inch 410 shotshell along with a few Brenneke slugs and so far so good. I would love to get an old side button model with 22 mag on top and 20 ga on the bottom for the times I am going to seriously call varmints. Al

I have a keen interest in the new Henry single shots coming out this year, I like the top lever opening style of these rifles along with those walnut stocks. A 45-70 single shot has been on my mind for many years and these new Henrys may fit the bill with both price and design. I have 500 or 600 various weight 458 cal bullets laying around along with a little Leupold 2.5 compact scope that will work out perfect mounted on that brass model but that curved metal buttplate looks painful if the trigger is pulled a few too many times, will just have to suck it up LOL. Al

This time of the year I am usually in the gun room doing little things to my firearms that in my mind improves them for my tastes. I have always been a big fan of single shot rifles, they hold the same charm for me as double shotguns do. While some may shy away from the single shot rifles because of just having that one shot I have used them for hunting almost since the beginning and have found that having one shot was not very much of a factor the vast majority of the time hunting. Anyhow a few days ago I pulled the single shots I currently have from the safe and started my annual tinkering. First up my Winchester Low Wall 22 LR falling block, worked on the trigger a bit and mounted a higher magnification scope. This rifle is one of my favorites, nothing more fun than taking the Low Wall out to my back yard range on a warm afternoon with a brick of ammo and trying to drill flies on the targets at 25 and 50 yards. Next up was my little Savage 30 G, a Steven's Favorite copy 22 LR falling block, new set of open sights were on order and the flat finish on the stock was spruced up with a few coats of Tru Oil. Next on the list the Savage 24 combo gun, she needed a set of sling swivel studs installed and I also gave it a couple of coats of Tru Oil. My Ruger Number One in 222 Remington Mag, this little rifle was the first of several Number Ones I have owned, the others went down the road but this one has a permanent place with me, killed a lot of Woodchucks with this one. Changed out her old Leupold straight 8X for a scope with a little with more power. And last but not least the new kid on the block a TC Encore, I have a couple of barrels for this rifle, 223 and 22-250. A trigger job was in order for this one and she got the Bellm trigger setup. Spring is around the corner, can't wait for some good weather to shoot and evaluate. Al

Sig Sauer P938 9mm Al

If there was ever the gun to have dreams of owning near the top of the list for me would have been a Winchester Model 21 Grand American, about as good as it gets. Al

I have made several deals in the past parting ways with guns that today I would not think of doing so I can feel your pain, it would take some doing to get me to give up a Model 21 Winchester. As for the Parker repro they are almost too pretty to use. The doubles you still have are some pretty good ones, I remember seeing a couple of those gamecock models, they are nice. Al

For a small gun I prefer the simple thin inside the waistband clip on type, protects and keeps the gun clean, carry's comfortable, no rubbing chafing problems and conceals well. Al

One of my hunting partners purchased a new 20 ga Bobwhite last summer and I got to shoot it at some clay targets, it is a nice double and mechanically the same as a Ringneck except it does have the false sideplates. At this time I believe the CZ doubles are the very best buy for a new double, a lot of quality and gun for the money. Al

I agree with Dan a Nitro in good condition will serve you fine, a couple of other decent and affordable American doubles are the later Savage Fox especially the BSE with the walnut stock or an LC Smith Fulton model which is a boxlock similar to the Nitro and both are priced in the same range. Al http://www.savageshooters.com/content.php?303-Savage-Side-by-Side-Shotguns-1961-1987

Those old Lefever Nitros are a solid workhorse model that were made to be used and last, they were actually made by Ithaca Gun. Great to see those family firearms passed down and stay in the family and hunted with ZEM18. Yes I have looked at the Connecticut RBL doubles many times at the gun shows, they are beautiful doubles and actually priced reasonable for what they are but for me I am still a tad light in the wallet for one of those. I give Galazan a lot of credit for reproducing and making those high grade Fox and Winchester doubles here in the US but they are way too steep in price for me. The double I really had hopes of acquiring was the recent Ruger Gold Label, I liked everything about it when it came out and although it was not cheap it was priced in reach of the average guy. Like the Marlin LC Smith of the late sixties Ruger just threw in the towel after just a few years of production because of build problems and keeping the cost down. Al

I saw a couple listed in the "One Gun Thread" so instead of hijacking I thought I would start a separate thread on double barrels. Like Pygmy I purchased an Ithaca SKB 280 20 ga with the English straight stock back around 1969. For many years it has been my go to small game gun especially for the snowshoe Hare and it will be will me until I croak. In later years I purchased an LC Smith sidelock 12 ga featherweight, made by Marlin who owns the LC Smith name in the late 60s for only a couple of years. It is pretty much an exact copy of the original Fulton Elsies as most parts will interchange. Marlin in the end could not keep the costs down and it was discontinued which was a shame.I do not understand why an American company can not come up with the ingenuity and manufacture a competitive priced double. The LC Smith fits me perfect and I can shoot really well with it. A few years ago I picked up an CZ 28 ga and it is a sweet light little double with beautiful lines and balance and fun to shoot, I finally got myself a used MEC loader for 28 ga and can now bypass the expensive factory ammo which can be hard to come by. I know a lot of folks look at side by side double as a gun of the past but I find a certain charm in using them for hunting. Some day I might try a small ga field model over and under double, I once owned a Winchester 101 Trap model and that was all it was good for "Trap shooting" and I never got hooked on that so the 101 went down the road. CZ Ringneck 28 ga LC Smith Featherweight 12 ga Ithaca SKB 280 English 20 ga

For me it has to be plural "The Guns", I have several of my Dad's firearms that I will not part with and they will be handed down to my two son's. The past several hunting seasons I have made it a point to hunt with my Dad's guns and try to take some game with them. His Marlin 95 45-70 was the last gun he took a Deer with and I have used that one several times with success. This year I broke out his old Winchester 88 284 and never had a shot at a buck, hopefully next year that will change. The next one in line to be used is his old Savage 99 30-30 that was manufactured in Utica in the late 30s when my Dad worked there before he signed up for the Navy. Just bought some 30-30 dies to load some ammo and will be playing around with that rifle this summer. This year I used his like new Franchi 48 AL 20 ga for the first time small game game hunting, Dad purchased it for Deer hunting and it had a Buck barrel for firing slugs. I found a 24 inch vent rib barrel with screw in chokes, put that on and man that thing is sweet. I shot a few clay targets with it to become familiar and took it out and bagged my young Airedale's first grouse flush with it. Have so many good memories of hunting with my Dad and of course I miss him a lot, so for me there is a lot personal satisfaction using my Dad's hunting guns and being successful with them. Al

Because it is only a dream hunt might just as well go whole hog and be transported back in time to the Jurassic period and go on a big time dinosaur safari. My hunting vehicles would be several military HumVees rigged for hunting to haul my hunting party, paleontologist guide, gun bearers, supplies, hunting weapon battery and a shipping container full of ammo. My long range heavy rifle would be a Barrett light fifty autoloader, up close a 460 Weatherby mag for my medium rifle, and three 7mm light rifles, one chambered in 7 mm Remington Ultra Mag, one in 280 Remington and one in 7mm08. For wingshooting those flying reptiles a Ithaca Mag 10 3 1/2 with a crate of various sized buck shot loads. Ahhhh! now that is real dreaming, bring on the T-Rex and get that Barrett light 50 hot! Al

Another good reason why we have elected President Trump who is an NRA member, pro gun and pro hunting, he will have our backs when it comes to this kind of bullshit, I expect this ban will be reversed and repealed. Al

A little article about decoy dogs from expert Gary Strader Decoy Dogs Lure Coyotes To Hunters Gary Strader says his coyote-hunting dog, Toby, had the right balance between aggressive and passive behavior, which made him the perfect coyote hunting decoy dog. Toby, now deceased, was a Dorn, developed by Vern Dorn, from three breeds for specific traits: Australian Shepherd for intelligence and herding instinct, Plott hound for its good nose, and Airedale Terrier for stamina and grit. Strader, a lifelong hunter and trapper, first hunted with Dorn dogs with a friend in Montana and was impressed with the breed. After Vern Dorn died, Craig O’Gorman continued to breed Dorns, and Strader purchased Toby in 1998. They became best friends and hunted together for 11 years. The idea is for the dog to get close to the coyote, engage the coyote, then tuck his tail and lure the coyote to the hunter. “You don’t want a dog that is too aggressive or too docile,” Strader says, noting other breeds will work for coyote calling. “If a dog is smart enough, he will learn.” He suggests using dogs that aren’t too big, about 25 to 30 lbs, so they don’t intimidate coyotes. “When picking a name for a dog, try to pick a name with a long vowel in it,” Strader says. “They can hear longer vowels at a greater distance.” Toby was the “friendliest dog in the world,” and a natural decoy dog. He rode in Strader’s pickup passenger seat and watched for coyotes. Strader learned to read Toby’s body language. Toby was good at reading the level of coyotes’ aggression and responding accordingly. “It’s in a dog’s DNA to chase, but we want a coyote calling dog to get coyotes to chase it, so this is total role reversal for the dog,” Strader says. Strader notes that a dog learns that through experience or from hunting with another dog. The dog’s intelligence and training determine if it’s a good coyote decoy. Good ones are rare. Strader starts training by letting the pup chew on coyote legs and hides as soon as it has teeth. As it grows older he lets it interact with a coyote in a trap. Strader teaches the basics: sit, come, lie down and to watch and go where he points. When he sees a coyote, he growls so the dog learns there will be action, which always gets their attention. He trains the dog to go to a coyote howl by using a caller with a treat in front of the speaker. For more information about decoy dogs and coyote hunting and trapping, Strader has written a book, Master Wolfer, for $25. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gary Strader, BG Ranch, HC 32, Box 532, Quemado, New Mexico 87829 (ph 505 286-6472; [email protected]). Link below has a few photos, the top photo with the red barn covered in hides was when Gary lived in NY. He was using an Airedale back then. http://www.wildlifetech.com/pages/gary.htm