airedale

I have hunted both small game and Deer with handguns and there was a time I was quite fanatical about it, a lot of fun sticking with techniques and range similar to those used in archery. Both the 357 and 44 mag are cartridges I have used with modest success on large game. I am a plain Jane revolver person for the most part and stick with open sights, the very large handguns with long barrels and optical sights are not for me as it kind of takes away from the whole handgun theme of lighter weight and portability than one has with a long gun. My problem these days are my old eyes getting a clear sight picture, changing over to the fiber optic open sights now available have kept me in the game. Al

This simplified method will work for you, along with a detailed map of the area you are traveling. As you hit trails, streams, hills etc. shown on your map you will give yourself an approximate location in relation to your starting point. A map is important in a virgin area being hunted for the first time. I do a lot of moving while hunting and as time goes by I become pretty familiar with the landmarks of a block I am in after many hunts and rarely use a map but it is still in my pocket just in case. The video posted below is pretty much how I use a compass while hunting. My favorite compass these days is wrist job worn like a watch, it is convenient and I look at it often. Going on a long distance hike in in very remote country is a horse of a different color , a good detailed map is essential as is a specialized map lensatic compass for map use. The longer and deeper the distance traveled have potential to make for more error coming out to your starting point. There are many youtube videos that give good tutorials on in depth wilderness navigation. It is a fun skill to learn and was essential for me especially when Coon hunting at night in big woods. Al

I am a fan of the bottom ejection design the Remington 17 had along with the Ithaca 37s and the Browning BPS, the main advantage is it is user friendly for both right and left hand shooters also the empty cases are easily found right at your feet, just makes sense. Nice 17 you have there Grouse. Al

Sez the Pete Buttigieg fan

Poetic justice for Cheney- The Traitor Cheney is one of many recipients of poetic justice in the past year, the Cuomo Brothers, Terry McAuliffe, Kinzinger and even the libtard darlings of msnbc and cnn Madow and Stelter have been knocked off their high horses. There will be plenty more going down the toilet as time goes on. The great the "Progressive" experiment has been exposed and people are getting their heads out of their butts and coming to their senses as they can see this country is turning into a major shithole!!! Al

Good quality equipment is a given, half assed equipment can make for a half assed hunt. For me the most indispensable item is a good quality compass, I am a wanderer for Deer and when hunting Rabbits, Hare or Coon with dogs you can end up a long way from where you started, it is easy to get turned around in big woods, learning to use and having a good compass makes getting back to the truck easy. Al

The scope is a discontinued Simmons Atec 3.8x12 back when Simmons was producing high quality Japanese scopes, I purchased several on closeout from "Optics Planet" about 20 yrs ago for rimfire rifles, these were Simmons top of the line models and I have nothing but good to say about them. Al

I look forward to Squirrel hunting, it is my favorite type of hunting these days. I have an accurate Winchester single shot Low Wall 22 sitting in the safe begging for some hunt time, she is a little on the heavy side but I will manage. Al

I have several hunting firearms I have yet to make a kill with, each hunting season I try to get them in the field and take game to see how they perform. So my goal will be to get something in the bag with one of those virgins. I am on a single shot roll the past few years and am leaning to use my TC encore 45-70 or maybe my Dad's Winchester model 88 in 284 Win. One and done for me at this stage of the game, I will kill the first legal Deer I see getting the Deer hunting out of the way as I spend most of my time in the fall woods hunting various small game. Al

I had one get into my coop years ago, my Airedale alerted me something was going on outside one night. Slipped on my boots and grabbed a flashlight and we went out the door and immediately could hear squawking coming from the chicken coop. Looked through the wire and could see a big possum had a Rooster by a leg, even with me shinning the light on him and the Airedale going berserk he would not let go of that Rooster. I opened the door and the Airedale went in grabbed him by the head and it was bone crunching time and all over for the possum. The Rooster had some pretty severe damage to his leg, within a few days infection had set in and he died. When you raise poultry it is like ringing the dinner bell for every stinking varmint in the area.

Back in my Woodchuck hunting days when their numbers were fairly high I would on occasion see a black one, heck these days other than the one living in my back yard I do not see any Woodchucks period. Last Fall I did see a couple of black Squirrels. Al

Howa is a Japanese firearms company that has been around for many years that has a good track record. Their 1500 bolt action rifles have a reputation for good quality, reliability and accuracy. Years ago Smith and Wesson contracted Howa to make a bolt action rifle for them to market, from what I saw of them they were a good buy. Today they market under their own name and make Weatherby's Vangard rifles which are guaranteed to group an inch or under with good quality ammo. If there is a particular model that they make that you like I do not think one would go wrong. Al

Five hens scratching around for food this morning and not a single poult in tow. Al

Par for the course Democrat playbook, can't play by the rules so they want to change the rules on everything. Pack the Courts End the filibuster Redistrict voting Cashless bail Trash Second Amendment Dismiss Law and order across the board And on and on!!

Worked on the rolling block's sights to give me a better picture, put a Truglo fiber optic on front and opened up the shallow V on the rear with a round file, good improvement and much better sight acquisition. Al

As they are right now I would not, with some tinkering mainly with the open sights I would. The Savage sights would be the easiest to upgrade, I can still shoot well enough with fiber optic sights and there are some upgrades for those made for the Savage. The Rolling block sights would be tougher and a challenge. If I can get that rolling block's trigger pull down I may kill a Deer with it. The top Savage has a Lyman tang peep. Even though the Savage 99 is an old design it is still a first rate hunting rifle even today, it is a very strong action that can safely fire high intensity rounds using pointed bullets due to it's rotary magazine. I have a late model 99A in 250 Savage that is a fast handling shooter and I love it.

My Dad left me his model 99 Utica Savage 30-30 from his days when he worked there before going into the Navy, I never had a whole lot of interest in the rifle and it just sat in my safe unused. A friend of mine also has a couple of unused 30-30 rifles he inherited, a mint Winchester model 94 1950s vintage and a nice old 99 Savage straight stock 99A type in 30-30. I also recently acquired an old Spanish made Starr Rolling Block carbine in nice shape chambered in 30-30 at the spring Syracuse gun show. We got to shooting the breeze at a July 4th cookout and decided to make a day available to shoot those old gals and see what they can do, yesterday was that day. I found a vendor that had some once fired brass and loaded up a pile ammo with spitzer and hollow point bullets and had some factory Remington ammo to blast away with. All the rifles were shot with open sights and both of us being old geezers with piss poor eye sight would have welcomed an optic but being as it may we shot decent 50 yard groups well enough for any Deer hunting. I especially had fun shooting the old rolling block, I just liked the mechanics of the thing. The trigger pull though is atrocious, I am not kidding it has to be 15 or more pounds. I had a bit of fun with my pal as I had him try a shot with that rifle to see what he thought and did not mention the heavy trigger. I stood behind him as he zeroed in on the target watching him struggle with the trigger, he turned and asked me how to take the safety off. LOL! All and all pretty much what we expected function and group wise Will give me some projects this winter getting that rolling block trigger weight down and some sights that I can see. Below are the principles, Hornady 165 gr spire points, Sierra 135 gr HPs, and Remington 150gr corelokts Al

I am surprised NY has not jumped on the California Democrat model long ago. Controlling ammo is back door gun control and effective as it skirts the second amendment, just watch and see what happens when they ban traditional lead bullets. Al

Man you are about as full of shit as one can possibly be!!!!!!! Al

If you have a few guns to sell a good investment for around $25 is a current price book like "Modern gun Values" which will give an estimate and education of what their worth is. Amazon has a good selection of such books. Al

Back when family farms were common throughout the state Woodchuck sightings would be an every day occurrence, it is very rare for me to see one around here these days. A few weeks ago I took a trip to Brattleboro Vermont to pick up some Soay Sheep, the grassy edges along major highways always seem to be a good place to spot a few Chucks. On that 200 mile trip both going and coming home I did not see one single Woodchuck, sad. I still have "Chuckles" living under one of my sheds, he gets a free pass from me, he comes out and eats clover on my lawn, so far he has avoided being caught and killed by my Airedale but he has had a couple of close calls. I give him a heads up before I let the dogs out by knocking on a window, he will immediately head for his hole when he hears it. Al

I collect old vintage metallic cartridges and have some with that white residue on lead bullets, I also have some old odds and ends 22 ammo in a jar some of which with pure lead bullets has the same type residue. I use the 22 stuff for informal plinking and as far as I can see it still fires ok and accuracy is adequate enough for that kind of use. As for taking off the white residue I once read that vinegar on a rag will take it off without too much wiping and elbow grease. Al

Right on and as the old saying goes "practice makes perfect". A friend and I are going to be wringing out some vintage 30-30 rifles in a few days, I am waiting on some bullets I ordered for some handloads I am making up, it is going to be fun. Al