airedale

Something in a Lever Action more to my liking looks wise, magazine fed 223 Henry "Long Ranger". Al

Looked into getting something to load a few 410 shotshells, I don't do a lot of shooting with a 410 so I am looking for something reasonable price wise. An old Lee handloader would be good enough for what I need, there was a time when they could be bought for $40 to $50 all day long, can kiss those prices goodbye. Between $200 and $300 is the going prices wanted on ebay, "NUTS". Hell I can buy a real loader like a used MEC Jr for those prices SHEEEESH!!! Al

A few more lever rifles trending on the tactical theme. These rifles are expensive! Al

You got that right but there are plenty of folks that like that look. I do like the idea of a 223 lever action. Browning I think chambered their BLR in 223 at one time in a much better looking rifle. Al

Going through this month's American Rifleman giving the lowdown on what is new in the firearms world for 2023. I have noticed several new lever action rifles outfitted with the so called tactical look, I have also seen some of the old standbys getting a tactical makeover outfitted with accessory rails and synthetic stocks. The manufacturers have been coming out with alternatives to the autoloaders. I have read some pretty convincing articles on lever action's ability to be a defense weapon. Fightlite's totally new design is an interesting one, uses some features found on ARs, said to be starting out chambering 223 and300 Blackout with 6mm Arc and 450 Bushmaster down the road. Not my cup of tea but I am sure there are some that will have one in their arsenal. Al

That is quite the catch. Al

Many moons ago I took a 2 year vocational school course in machine shop practice, one of the best things I have ever done. I can recognize good work and that choke tube looks great. Can't wait to hear how it patterns for you. Al

Amazon.

Penetrating oil as mentioned above is good for starters. Heat will get help them loosen, don't use a torch, a hair dryer works best. There are also choke removal tools made for stuck chokes. Al

These black deer are pretty neat looking, more so than the white ones I think. Al

A nice compact little handgun rack that fits on the top shelf of most gun safes. Al

Wild hogs are considered to be a pain in the ass for the environment and especially for farmer's crops, where they are prevalent there is open season on them year around. I have had the chance to hunt them a couple of times and it is about as much fun as I can handle, dogs are the way to go for me, exciting with that possibility of danger. Some folks I know are hammering them on a regular basis, wish there was some good Hog hunting closer by, I would like to get in on the action. Al

Nothing like seeing a young dog coming on to do what he was bred for, they live for that kind of stuff. Al

I am in the same boat, I do not think I am not quite as enthusiastic about it as you LOL, this last storm blew over a tree that knocked down my shooting range 100 yd target I have to get at immediately, this snow should be melted off shortly. I have been using Echo saws for the past few years and have nothing but good to say about them, my big saw is the 590 Timberwolf, it is wearing a 2 ft bar and works great on large stuff. Have fun with that new Stihl. Al

Craigslist is the place to go for speakers, very good ones can be had for a fraction of what they originally cost. Al

One of my all time favorite hunting shows was Dez Young's "Hunting With Hank", I purchased the whole series on DVD and also "Dash In The Uplands", and bought his book to boot. Those shows were hands down the best. Al

I am no expert "audiophile" by any means but I do like to listen to music every now and then, I purchased an old Rowe CD Jukebox, I like the old school lights and atmosphere it brings and she will rattle the windows. I would really like to have one of the old Rowe, Wurlitzer or Rock OLA Bubblers, if I could get my hands on one for a decent price. If money was no object I would have the digital ROCK-OL-A Peacock, but I am a little light for that one, it would be more along the lines of what you are thinking but it will cost some big coins. Al

Regardless of what excuse is used a ban is a ban, I would not be surprised that we will see more creative excuses to ban cameras down the road. Al

I have to think as far as hunter numbers go the amount of licenses issued is probably the best indicator. Everything is computerized with software tailored for the job so being counted more than once is not much of an issue. Data can be searched out showing the number of licenses issued year by year showing the downward trend. One of the biggest differences I can readily see from years back to current times is the huge decline in small game hunting. When I was a kid everyone hunted small game. That is where we got our feet wet and ended up getting the hunting bug. Way too much emphasis on deer hunting with a lot more posted land and seasons that are too long. Add in anti hunting rhetoric, humanization of animals, gun control among other things. Startup cost can be a factor. The people that have money will be able to hang in for years to come, for the average working stiff the future not so good. Al

Over the past 50 years, the number of hunting licenses in California has been on a rapid decline, falling 70% from more than 760,000 in the 1970s to under 268,000 in 2020—even as the state's population has skyrocketed. A look at who runs the state tells everything you need to know. Al

A great time to get to reloading done, 223 on the docket, had a bunch of prepped "Lake City" cases and an old box of FMJ bullets, I figure they will make some good plinking loads, also loaded up a couple of boxes of 55gr Hornady varmint bullets to use up the rest of the cases. Al

The trees grew leaves half way decent but the Apple trees had not a single blossom and the Oaks zero acorns. Hopefully they will bear some fruit and nuts this year. Al

This trend has been picking up some steam, there are several other states that have some sort of ban for trail cameras and you are right about NY the democrats like being on the lead for these sorts of things. Al

Over the past few years California has banned hunting just about everything one would hunt with dogs, add the traditional ammo ban to a host of other garbage laws they have passed and hunting period has been flushed down the toilet out there. Al