airedale

It is a rare rifle that has accuracy fine enough to actually utilize 1/4 minute scope adjustments so unless I was into competition target shooting I would not be overly concerned with the friction adjustments at a half minute on a Leupold scope mounted on a big game sporter rifle. I have several older Leupold scopes that have both 1/2 minute adjustments and are friction dials. Some were their best varmint scopes of the day mounted on very accurate varmint rifles and I have absolutely no problems zeroing them in to the point of aim and holding zero shot after shot after shot. Once I settle on a load that gives me the accuracy and the ballistics I am looking for I sight in for the longest range I figure to be shooting that particular rifle and leave things right there. I then either memorize the ballistic performance of that load or tape a small ballistics cheat sheet to the stock to use until it is memorized. Below is a ballistics cheat sheet for a 270 firing a 130 gr bullet sighted to hit dead on at 250 yds. As you can see on a Deer size animal a typical heart lung shot can be taken with no problem out to 300 yds, holding just below the top of the back will be good to 400 yds no problem as long as the range is doped accurately. Bottom line I would not worry at all about mounting and using that Leupold Rifleman on a sporter for deer hunting Al

As a long time breeder of hunting-companion dogs I know what you are going through as I have experienced the same thing many times and it is never easy. It is a matter of fact when having a dog that their lives are comparatively short and they are gone too soon, there is not much anyone can say that will make you feel better. As the old saying goes time is the best healer. My personal opinion is to jump right back in and get yourself a new pup, there is no replacing Jenny, like people all dogs are unique and one of a kind but a new pup can go a long way into getting on with things and easing the pain. Al

The Colt Sharps falling block made in the 1970s, would love to own one. Al

My wife is from Redfield and lived there until a young adult, she will tell you the first thing that comes to her mind when she thinks of her childhood living up there is the non stop day after day shoveling of snow in the winter. Al

I have never owned a Taurus handgun so I can not say one way or the other if they are worth owning. I do own two Taurus 22 rimfire rifles, a model 62 and a model 63, both are stainless steel copies of the old Winchester designs with the same model designation. I have nothing but good to say about both of these guns. I have put several thousand rounds through them and they pretty much function flawlessly and are accurate for the class they are in, have had zero repair issues. I have done a few things to suit my taste, both stocks were spruced up with a Tru Oil finish and the 62 had it's sights changed out. They are actually two of my favorite firearms and I use them a lot especially that gallery style pump model 62. Al

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