Hozzie

Done

I went through this a few years back and here are some things I would take into consideration.  I bought a Polaris Sportsman XP which has been a great machine, but if I had to do it over again, I may have went a slightly different route (not based on Polaris, but based on ATV Type).   For me, there are actually two different types of ATV's anyone should consider.  Your traditional sit on ATV and the new sit in Utility ATV's (UTV).  I am leaving the sport sit in's out of this as for me they are for nothing but running trails.   At the time, I went with a regular ATV to be honest because 1) I didn't really consider the benefit of the sit in's at the time, and 2) they were still pretty new in 2010 so they weren't as popular as they are now.   For me, we use ours as much for work around the house as we do hunting.  Throw a chainsaw on the back, or pull a cart, whatever.   It gets used daily for some chore, even if it is just taking the dogs for a run.  While it does all of those items well, I think there is certainly a case to be made that one of the sit ins with a dump bed on it is much more useful if you plan to use it for utility a bit more than hunting.    A traditional sit on atv has the advantage of being a bit more nimble.  My friends dad has a Kubota  utility atv for around the house and he also uses it for hunting, but he also keeps a regular 4 wheeler because it is easier to work the cattle from it since it is more nimble.    If mine wasn't paid for, I would heavily consider trading up for a good utility sit in atv.  There are different ones out there.  I was always a Honda guy for years, but this last time I traded, the Polaris dealer gave me a deal I couldn't refuse.  It is also the only one made in the US, so that made my Dad happy.  I have been very pleased with it for the last 3 years I have had it.  It does have a belt, but if you are doing any heavy pulling, just put it in low and I have not had anything it couldn't do.     I think any of them are good today with proper maintenance and care.  If it looks beat up, it probably has been would be my only major advice outside of make sure to check out the Utility ATV's.  I think they are much more practical for day to day use and they can go almost anywhere a traditional atv can go.

I received my package last night when I got home from hunting. I would like to thank my Secret Santa for all items. I really like the Nano Light. I had one similar that gave out recently so timing is perfect. It's always good to have another small knife and the gift card will be used towards a pound of powder. The $2 bill and coins is cool. I am not sure if there is a hidden meaning in them, but my mind always tries to go to some connection. I will make one even if there isn't one intended :pleased: . The TGO stickers are great. One will go on my truck and the other in my gun room. Thanks again to my Secret Santa, these gifts are very much appreciated. Have a Happy Holidays.

The rule is 250 yards. Even if you are 300 yards, you can't shoot a deer within 250 yds of the food meaning you couldn't shoot one more than 50 yds away.

This. I do sometimes simply to get a better angle on the picture.

Anyone else out tis morning? Got up to a dead battery so I was a little late, but still in stand by 6:45.

Thanks. I was looking at these the other day as well. I ordered a pair.

I have the N82 and really like it.

  Actually we do know.  They had proper documentation from a Coroner.   I am not saying the officer should have let him go, but we also don't need to jump to dirty bombs.  I think it comes down to a young, inexperience officer who made a very poor decision.  Be glad it wasn't worse, it easily could have been, but this one instance doesn't mean every officer would have let them go.  We have all made mistakes and I am sure this officer will be reprimanded and not forget this one.   It does speak to how PC some think they are forced to be.  Yet another reason I couldn't be a cop.

For me, if the primary purpose is hunting, I would go with a minimum of a 6" barrel, and would recommend an 8". I think 10" is getting a bit unwieldy to carry around, but for the right price, I would certainly consider it. The need for length is of course extra bullet speed. For a backup gun only, 4" or 6" would be ok. I think a scope also goes better on an 8", but that is just me. I may be a little biased. Not a SBH, but it is an 8 3/8 barrel with scope.

I like the idea of keeping it secret.  Mystery always adds to the interest of it for me.  I will thank them in my post when I receive it and that person will hopefully see it.   To be honest, I don't know if mine showed my name or not.  They were sent direct as a gift so I am not sure what they showed.

If I have a tree near enough if I shoot another one, I am going to do this.  Pretty cool.

I hunted for the first 25 years of my life with shotgun only in IL as rifles weren't allowed due to the terrain (too flat).  I have used Remington 870's and 1100's with rifled slug barrels as well as an H&R with rifled barrel all with good results.  I never had over a 60 yard shot because that was as far as I could see in the woods where my stands were.     That being said, is there a reason you want to use a slug vs. a rifle?  While a slug will certainly do the job, I would also prefer to use a centerfire rifle if I had a choice.  I would also say that slugs, especially in a single shot or pump, are not really fun to shoot.  You don't notice it when hunting, but sighting in can be a bit tiresome.  If I was going to get a slug gun for just coyote, i would probably go with a 20 gauge.     I think in the end, you will want to know you can shoot out farther than 100 yards without having to worry about as much bullet drop.  I use anywhere from my 204 Ruger up to 25-06 on coyote and know if I wanted to I could shoot about as far as I could see them.  I am not much for shooting over about 250 yards in most cases though.  Most of the time, any shot I take is 100 or less as part of the fun is trying to get them close. 

Smith Model 629 - 8 3/8" barrel.  I don't have anything in it as it was given to me by my Dad, but I think you could get one for around $700-800 if you look a bit.  I am partial to Smith's over Rugers, but they will both get the job done.

  I am sure I would be pissed, but I also would do what I had to do to protect my rights.  This isn't the only issue where you may have to defend yourself from something unjustified (in your opinion) someone else has accused you of.  I think we all know plenty of people who think they are always right when there is truth somewhere in the middle.  For me, that is why we have a legal system to sort it out.  It doesn't always get it right, but it is the best system we have.   I am not arguing that there aren't cases where this can be abused.  All I am saying is that gun owners can't complain that it is the mentally unstable causing all of these issues and then complain when a state tries to do something to keep people who really shouldn't have a gun from getting or having one.  I realize this is NY and there is plenty of room for suspicion, but we can't (well some can, but it doesn't make it right either) just unilaterally say that because it is NY that we shouldn't somehow try to keep mentally unstable people from having guns. 

My safe is around 900 lbs and it is inside on my floor with no issues.  A lot depends on where in your house you want it and what kind of support is under it.   Can you add support under where you want it as well?   Moisture is a safe's #1 enemy in my opinion.  I would put two safes inside before I put one big one in an uncontrolled climate.

I don't really have an issue with this.  Isn't this what we expect, to keep guns out of mentally unstable persons hands?  It has to go through a judge and they can appeal.  You can argue about how people get put on the mentally unstable list, but we can't bitch about crazy people having guns and using them and also that a state shouldn't use the data they should be using to try and prevent unstable people from obtaining or having access to guns.     There is a lot of gray area of course, but I think the number seems pretty reasonable.

I am one that removes the price I was asking once an item is sold.  I am pretty much on the side of once a deal is done, it doesn't matter what I was asking.  What people ask and what they sell for are in most cases two different things.  I think it sets a false expectation on future deals if people are looking at how I priced something previously.  I may have priced it lower than I normally would trying to get a quick sale, or I may have been a bit on the higher side looking for a trade.     More than anything , I guess I don't see the value in what someone was asking. 6 months ago or more.  What it sold for is the only thing that matters to me.  I guess I do a lot of looking at current for sale posts when I am looking at guns and use those to determine my price because they are hopefully based on the current market.  Not what the gun was for sale for a year ago.     The only time I remove the whole post is when I had something for sale that I decided not to sell for some reason or another.  In that case, I don't like to leave guns visible to the public.

It is just threaded 5/8x24 (I think) so any break that threads on to that should work.  I am not a big fan of breaks personally on that short of barrel.  It creates A LOT of noise.  Yes, it will help a little with recoil, but I will take the recoil over the extra noise any day.  If you hunt with it and don't wear hearing protection when hunting, I would not put a break on at any cost.   That's my personal take on it.

Sorry for your loss Dave.  My thoughts are with you and your family.

Nice, now I am thinking it is time for a trip up to Whittaker's.  It's my favorite gun store.

Mine is on the way to my recipient.  As others, I got a few things that I think anyone could use.  I hope they agree!

Are they always in the same general vicinity in your yard?  How big of yard are we talking?  Is it obvious which neighbor it is?   If it was me and the answers to those questions are yes, I would probably put up a trail camera in the area if possible and try to catch them in the act.  Then go have a talk with them.     It wouldn't surprise me if they think they are giving the dog "treats".  Some people are clueless when it comes to the danger of bones and dogs.

  There are two set screws that let the housing which the case head indexes on to slide in and out.  Once you get it to the depth you want, you just tighten the set screws.  It's pretty simple and has worked well for me.   As for the Lee equipment, I don't have a problem per se with the classic cast press, but I really don't like most of their accessories.  I actually don't care for their dies because I don't like the fact that their seating dies don't give you the ability to lock in the seating depth.  I have some, but they aren't my first choice.  Too each is own, they will certainly work.  I also always add a lock ring too them so I just end up ordering Hornady, RCBS, or Redding dies to start with.   I will personally take a RockChucker any day over the Lee (and yes I have used both), but again to each his own.  They will all work for what most people want to do.  I actually use a Lyman Crusher II as my regular single stage, Forster CO-AX for precision things, and a LNL AP for progressive.  They all do their job quite well.

I have the little crow trimmers for 300 BLK, 223, and 22-250.  I really like them and they are quick once you get them setup.