Handsome Rob

*slight detour*..... I can't believe they've gone & got Daenerys Targaryen cast as the new Sarah Connor. *totally wanders off the path with this one*.... I also can't believe my freaking phone has spellcheck suggestions for 'Daenerys Targaryen'

This is our little Chickenopolis (as governed by Tink-Tink our Silkie roster) Chickenopolis Town Hall.... And a VERY protective new Mom....

If anyone is in the market for a few young chicks, our tribe of free range inbreds (Aracauna, Buff Orp, Silkie mixes) have had a bumper broody year. So far we've successfully hatched an extra 40+ & we need to thin the herd a little (we only had 12 in January!) There are a few that we've become attached to (Hen Solo, Magpie & Li'l Goldie....yes, we name them. All.) but the rest need good homes. $3 a piece if anyone wants a few.

Yessir. I had it set to 20in/lb, as per Burris specs & it ripped out the very last cap screw. Burris won't do a thing because I lapped the rings, therefore it's my fault. Never had this problem before with any other rings or mounts. Oh well, Seekins here I come!

I HAVE to swear..... You know when you've spent hours leveling a scope? Mounting, lapping,removing, remounting, re-lapping, removing again, checking eye relief, remounting, checking level ad-nauseum? Well, I've been at it since 10 this morning & on the final screw (of 12) torqueing to manufacturer's specs the bastard thing stripped. I want to hurl the rifle, scope, mounts & every damn shooting related object on the damn floor & cry. On the up side, at least I can't return them for exchange. So I have the freaking JOY of spending another $100 on another set of mounts. Awesome.

I just know I'll bollocks it up. I'm having that kinda day....

Not something I have the confidence to try myself, I'm wondering if there's anyone in the Franklin/Coffee county area that could glass bed a rifle for me. I'm still waiting for my barrel to come in, but I figured while I have the bare stock & action I could at least get this part done & out of the way. I've watched a ton of videos & read every tutorial going to do this myself & so far all I've learnt is that I ain't doing this myself!

Never did like greasy meat....:D

Usually we kill the crap out of em. Then eat them.

It's actually really informative. Not just a safety/rules rehash, but a full on basic lesson in ballistics. I learnt a heck of a lot!

His autobiography; Lord Of Misrule, is spectacular. It's amazing how much life he crammed into a mere 93 years.

:'(

No shooting test involved in the LR course, just sit through a 3-4 hour class.

It was looking at the McMillan SL that made me think 'you know, I could do that...'

Yeah.... *lust*

Not the best photo, but you can see that the core had fully mushroomed & shed the jacket. Jacket shedding isn't considered to be a desirable trait, but Sierras are known to be prone to it & they're still super popular hunting bullets. I found both fragments within a couple of inches of each other, so it looks like the round penetrated ¼" of hide, 6" of muscle, the spine & then a further 9-15" of muscle (I found the bullet along the offside scapula) in an internal ricochet before coming apart.

I'm waiting for my barrel to come in right now. I'm having it custom machined to be add light as possible (I specified 2lb max. Most sporter barrels come in between 2lb 8oz & 3lb) I can't find anyone that manufactures a stock that's lighter than the Boyd's as I have it now, without going to a carbon stock & that is a couple of grand beyond me! Right now, I've got the stock down to under 2lb & there's really not much more I can remove whilst keeping it rigid. I've left the wrist/grip as it came, because this is the one area I know would be most prone to failure if I mess it up. I'm looking at scope rings right now, trying to work out what is lightest & I can do a bit of drilling/slotting etc there if needed. I'm not going for a super accurate gun. Anything under a 2"/100yd grouping will be perfectly adequate. This really isn't a rifle I'll shoot much. Enough to work up a load & zero & after that maybe 10 rounds a year, if I'm lucky.

My actual goal here, is to end up with a finished rifle that I have no more than $500 in & weighs under 7lb, loaded with a scope. A tall order, no doubt, most guns in this field are either small-run or full custom & cost well north of $2-grand. There are a few factory offerings that meet my criteria, but that removes all the fun of thinking, planning & building, plus the pride of ownership that comes with making something your own.

I used a Boyd's & hollowed out the butt. I also reprofiled & thinned the forearm. I left the receiver area/recoil lug area alone, but everything else has been hollowed, thinned, narrowed & lightened. I'm having the barrel finished at 20" which I know is 6" shorter than optimal for any 6.5/.264 bullet, but within the limits of what kind can accept in performance loss, whilst still being very light recoilling. My shots will be limited to an absolute maximum of 400yds with the shorter tube & it's mainly going to be a backcountry/high country antelope, sheep & deer rifle. As much as anything, if I'm being 100% honest, it gives me an opportunity to create something & be a metal worker again, as opposed to a poodle polisher! I've always liked the principle of building rather than buying, be it motorcycles, cars, fishing tackle... I don't think I own many things that I haven't modified or tailored in some way!

Well, I'm already invested in this Axis. A Tikka wasn't within my initial budget constraints (under $500, minus scope). I've already replaced the stock & lightened the replacement to within an inch of it's life (I'm already 1lb 3.2oz under factory weight) & I've custom ordered an ultralight profile 6.5x55 barrel that should shed another 8 or 9oz

This pertains more to the Axis than the 110, but I suppose a receiver is a receiver... I'm trying to build an ultralight mountain rifle & I'm down to trying to grasp that final ounce or two. Can any of you think of a reason that I couldn't or shouldn't machine some relief cutouts into an Axis action, basically to match the style & pattern of the new Lightweight Hunter? I'd be leaving the bridge over the bolt, but I'm seriously thinking of milling out the left side of the bolt way, through to the bolt (along the angled flat) plus some relief cuts at the very back of the receiver. Not through cuts, just troughs maybe up to 3/16 deep. I can't see that these cuts will affect the strength by much, but I'm kinda loathe to start milling until I hear from someone who knows far more than I!

Also, if you're not already aware, make 100% sure your lead is dry before you add it to your pot. Deadly serious. If you add a screwed up ball of pipe-Jack that happens to contain a droplet of water, your entire pot very probably will erupt like a science project volcano. Of 650° lead. All over you. It literally only takes one drop of water.

Thanks! They're a lot prettier as a freezer full of sausages! :D Unfortunately I only managed the 2 over the weekend (both on Friday night & only 10 minutes apart) but both ran well north of 150 pounds. I'm not sure exactly their weights, but I do know that boning them both out & packing the meat 2 miles back to the truck in one go, left me wobbly kneed & took 4½ hours! Damn fine pack training for later in the year though! The little 65gn Sierra Gameking that I recovered from the larger pig performed awesomely. 95% weight retention with total jacket separation. Both were neck shots, 1 at 135yds (measured) & the other at 90 paces (80 ish yds) & both hogs dropped on the spot.

Nossir. Ruger Gunsite Scout .223

135yds, neck shot.