Handsome Rob

Freaking rabbit hole got me...... I free floated the 223 upper with a $12 eBay M-lok fore end, switched out the scope for a slightly more versatile Barska Euro 30 3-9. Added a cheap drop in trigger which I stripped apart & did a little stone & polish work. Those 2 things alone shrank my group sizes from 4" average to sub 1" I also picked up a real deal on a 300blk upper (sub $200, no bolt or carrier) & installed a Leopold Mk Freedom 1.5-4 (thanks @Wade195) Still working up supersonic loads for that, but it's showing a ton of promise. I'm now running right at $700, for everything! I still consider this to be one of my better bargain buys!

I'm running either a Kifaru Eastern ruck, or an Exo 5500. I also wear an Alaskan Guide Gear bino harness all the time. I considered a holster for my pack & that would mostly work bow hunting, but my major concern is when I'm elbows deep in an elk or antelope, with my pack off & my rifle a couple of steps away. If it's anything like the GunfightersInc job, it seems like I'd be able to position it almost anywhere from center to my left rib cage, high chest or low belly (depending on the strap lengths on this one) Unfortunately I'm not exactly athletically built & bits of me get in the way..... 5½" From a standard, leather belt holster, I can draw, cock & be on target near as dammit as quick as I could with my g29 or SRH, the only other pistols I've ever really trained with.

I tried a drop leg with my Redhawk in Montana once. Once. As far as I know it's still at the bottom of the basin I threw it in! Chest carry seems to be 10:1 preferred for bear defence carry out west & in AK. I think mostly because it's complete unobtrusive whilst using trekking poles or climbing through thick brush. I thought I'd got it dialled in with my G29 & Safariland drop-and-offset, but it was constantly in my way & I ended up leaving the damn thing in the truck after a couple of days hunting. Apparently trying to get from your hip, around a pack is much harder. Especially if you're pinned. The science (for want of a better word) says that in a big bear encounter, your instinct makes you cover your vitals & tuck up. That makes a low chest carry actually more instinctive. I know it's something I'm going to have to practice with a lot.

I've been looking for a good chest holster for my SBH .44 without spending silly money. It's literally something I'll use maybe 10 days a year. I found a company called Alaris Tactical that make a holster very similar to the Gunfighter Kenai. It's actually called a Kodiak...... http://alaristactical.net/kodiak-chest-holsters.html But it's only $80. Has anyone got any experience or comments on these before I order one? It looks exactly like what I want, at a price I'm happy to pay, but I have nothing in the way of experience to guide me here.

The Wife & I watched it last night. Very good movie. Kevin Costner seems to be much better these days!

In TN, unless you know a private land owner with a BAD hog problem, you can basically forget it. There are plenty around, but chasing the things around the eastern mountains, without dogs, is an exercise in futility. They're extremely wary, have immense ranges & are virtually nocturnal. There's always a chance you might bump into one, every now & then, but you've got to be super dedicated to actually target the things with any chance of success. Honestly, I'd take a run to south Carolina, Georgia, Alabama or Florida to stand a reasonable chance. It's a cheap hunting vacation on public land. Usually a $40-100 license plus traveling expenses. Altamaha wild fowl management area in south Georgia is a quick 8 hour drive & is thick with the things. There's great fishing, primitive camping (or cheap hotels in Darien) and several thousand acres of swampy wetlands to roam around in. It's mostly muzzleloader/shotgun only, but that's absolutely no disadvantage as you can only really see 50yds max in the palmettos anyway! I've never NOT seen hogs when I've been there (and lots of cotton mouths....) & generally average a pig a day, if I put the time in. A good GPS is essential, as is at least one thermacell, and not being afraid of lots of walking in ankle-ball deep water. It's mostly miserable as hell, to be honest. 90+ degrees with matching humidity, but it's the most pork rich environment I've ever hunted, this side of west Texas.

Sorry, I think I'm using the wrong words.... I meant barrel nut, not delta ring!

Is it a 'Get out so I can renovate!' Or a 'Get out so I renovate, then you can move right back in. Sorry for the inconvenience' Situation?

No, it's a true free float. Comes with it's own barrel nut. Not one of the handy clamp styles either.....

Off the top of my head, there's the .17 bumblebee, .240 cobra, .25-20 copperhead (I think...) .25 tomcat, I think 6mm (?) Swift. I know there's a Swift in there somewhere......

Bump. Sorry, replied to another post & this is kinda urgent-er!

Jackie Summers at Franklin County Gun Works in Winchester has always done me proud. From precision machining to lunch-break barrel shortening & re-crowning, transfers, action truing......he's my guy. The shop is a little ummmm... Backwoodsy & he looks like he'd happily murder you, but he's the nicest, friendliest guy I know. His rates are good, his turnaround is quick & his work is stood behind. I won't go to anyone else for work I can't do myself.

Long story short, I need to remove the delta ring from my AR tomorrow, Sunday at the latest & I don't own an armorer's tool, nor do I have the desire to buy one. A: Anyone in Tullahoma have one I could borrow for literally 20 minutes? or B: Is there a makeshift alternative/Obama rigged option I could use? All I'm doing is switching my magpul handguard for a budget free-float job....I can't imagine I'll ever use it twice!

I have absolutely no idea on the shoulder surgery, but I'd maybe consider a small frame, small caliber revolver for weak side carry. No slide to worry about, no tap-&-rack, just point and pull. You'd be amazed how quickly you can learn to shoot left handed with a pistol. Your subconscious takes over and aligns the sight to your dominant eye instantly. The tougher part is learning to manipulate the gun from the holster with your weird hand, but that comes with practice. I'm far from being an expert on, well, anything, but I reckon that something like one of the hammerless Smiths or a Ruger LCR in .38spl in a VERY simple, slip holster should see you right.

But it actually IS catfish! It's really, really catfish!!

It's catfish. It's just catfish.

I talk online to a couple of guys out west that hunt with them & I asked them about availability on your behalf. I got back one "Oooof.....tell him to start reloading" And one "Reload, rechamber or reinvest in a more common caliber" Sorry @orion! On the bright side, if you've got any brass, I'm pretty sure you can get a damn good price for it!

Also, fyi, there is no such thing as a '78 trapdoor. The model is 1873 & it'll be heavily stamped. It's probably the most discussed question on any trapdoor forum & gunvalues board.

Groovy. Pays your money's, posts it in the classifieds.....

If you come back with both feet, you're not trying hard enough..... Even the dogs climb trees to dry out.

I know of a really nice one for sale.......

I'm thinking we need to organise a group trip to Altamaha, south Georgia.......plenty of pigs, never more than a 20yd shot, thick timber & palmettoes, swampy, snakes & skeeters galore & 100% humidity. You'll literally love it or die

Yep. As long as it's your property.

All you folks that refuse to do business with anyone who's money goes to support Democrats: Where the hell do you buy anything?

Talladega National Forest next weekend! I just found out from a friend, we'll be doing a quick backcountry camping/hog trip. I was hoping to have my .300blk upper by then, but I guess I'll be taking my .223 this time around.