The "current" end result of my "got skeered" episode

[Guest TankerHC]

After my one and only "got skeered" episode, and the very serious nature of the responses to the post, I thought it would be prudent of me to go to Academy today to pick up a game camera (something I have been wanting to pick up anyway) and figured if the wife asked why I bought another camera, I could tell her "Cause I got skeered". (But I didnt cause the wife woulda laughed and told all of our friends, who also woulda laughed, unlike the members here who took the situation so seriously). So I arrived at Academy at Hamilton Place today to get a Game Cam and was hoping they would have one of the cheaper ones on sale that I had seen at the Academy in Jackson, of course I was told no, we dont carry those, then walked out to the middle of the floor one aisle over from the gun counter to see 300 of them in a display sitting right in the middle of the floor. While speaking to the salesman about the Game Cam that was in my hand that they dont carry, I spied what appeared to be a large amount of firearms over his right shoulder, I was hesitant to ask about them as I thought they may be out of stock or not carried also. I also wondered what the wife would say, which is exactly the reason I waited for her to head back to MS today to go back to work, because I didnt want to place her in that situation, of having to deal with monsters. Dealing with green eyed monsters is for the man of the house. I wisely thought to myself. And I knew absolutely that she would understand, based on previous conversations. Two Christmases ago I purchased an 870 Tactical, a week later I felt there was a need for a backup, so I purchased a Pardner, when I brought it home the wife asked the question's "Didnt you just buy one of those? What do you need another one for? Wouldnt that money be better spent on that gas guzzling "monster" sitting in the driveway? It became immediately clear, the wife understood...monsters. When I brought home the Stoeger 8 months later and then 5 months later the Tristar Cobra, it became clearer and clearer each time, she understood the seriousness of the situation, just as the members here do. Especially after she asked another "why" question and I explained to her, what if "it" happens and the first one fails or malfunctions, then the second one, then I grab the third and that one fails...isnt it good to have a backup? Her response of 'Well if they all might fail, then they must be junk, why are you buying them?  EXACTLY! So I asked politely if the guns on their racks might be in stock, at which point the salesman informed me that yes, all the guns on the racks and in the cases and in the boxes are in stock. In fact they are right there. Where I asked? In the racks, in the cases and in the boxes, he politely replied. Considering it more prudent to "be prepared" and considering that drastic situations call for drastic measures, I decided to ask which of these firearms that were in stock might be just the one for green eyed yard monsters. While being shown the Zombie Apocolypse weapons I spied what I thought would be a better option for green eyed yard monsters, another shotgun with an 18.5 inch barrel. And with a name like Defender, it HAD to be made especially for green eyed yard monsters. Ill take this one, said I. The salesman responded by telling me "Good choice, I live up on the river, our yard monsters have blue eyes, but this will work just as effeciently on green eyed ones". So I made my purchase and left feeling confident now that I had a backup to my backup to my backup to my backup.

 

 

 

IN all seriousness, I have been wanting to get a game cam.  I only do two things that U would call hobbies, and one of them is photgraphy and video editing, for 30+ years and I have been seeing a lot of cool photo's coming off of these camera's on the Photo-Video forums and websites. I could never really justify paying much for a camera fixed to a tree, but they are on sale at Academy and depending on if I capture any good snapshots, then I may move up and buy a little better one.

 

jgradyc is absolutely 1000% right. Last night I found myself unprepared. I have half a dozen offbrand flashlights, they make big claims but the fact is they are all junk. Forget the animals, Ive spent nearly all my life running around in the woods and have seen lots of crap in the woods. But last night the power went out in the entire town, there wasnt even any ambient moonlight because of the clouds, it was pitch black out here and my (claimed) best light wouldnt illuminate an animal from 100 feet. So tomorrow two good lights are in the list.

 

I have been looking at one of these off and on for some time. Today I went into Academy and noticed the sale price and could hard believe what I was seeing. The price was $75 off the price I had seen them at Academy previously, so I got on the phone (Web) and checked Buds, almost $80 more and the same at Cabelas, right now these shotguns are "On sale" at Cabela's and are still $80 more than Academy.

 

Have read a few reviews on them and they generally get good reviews, the biggest complaint is the lack of accesories and the fact they are not tapped for a scope. I dont need accesories except for a flashlight with a switch. and now Surefire makes a light for these and they are now tapped for a scope. Considering the rep Winchester has picked up recently for manufacturing quality I made sure to go over this one particularly thoroughly. Not a ding, dent or scratch, every part fits perfectly and the bore is like glass. Of course I couldnt load it but I cycled it about 20 times and the action cycled flawlessly. Have to take it to the range for a shooting report but from what I have read in user reviews, these are pretty decent shotguns.

 

Winchester SXP, 12 gauge 3 inch. Just for anyone who may have wanted one of these, Academy has them on sale for $279.

 

Edited July 8, 2013 by TankerHC

[Oh Shoot]

Hilarious, really!

 

Why you still showing a Missersippi handle?

 

- OS

[Guest TankerHC]

Changed it a little earlier.

[rugerla1]

Nice buy. I didn't know they were that cheap at Academy.

[jgradyc]

Hey TankerHC, I'll post a couple of mail order sites for good, inexpensive LED flashlights. Some come with pressure switches for gun mounting.  Give me a few minutes...

 

EDITED:  Here is a photo of a couple of my lights.

 

These lights are good to about 300 feet to tell a dog from a deer. They both use 18650 Li Ion rechargeable batteries. The one on the left has a pressure switch that I have taped to the flashlight so I can use it in the Harries Technique carry. It has high, low, and strobe. I keep it in strobe and I've practiced enough at night that the strobe doesn't bother me, but it is distracting as heck when you're on the receiving end.  I think it cost $21 less the cost of batteries. The one on the right does not have a memory so you have to cycle through the modes... not good for tactical use. It cost $14 and is a bit brighter because of the bigger head and better LED.  I'll see if I can find them on the internet and post a link.

Edited July 8, 2013 by jgradyc

[jgradyc]

I'll try to find a link for batteries as well. These Li Ion batteries cost $8-$14 apiece, but they are rechargeable. A quality charger costs about $20.  There are a lot of counterfeit batteries on eBay and on the overseas websites. You'll want genuine Sanyo or Panasonic. A step down but still excellent are the genuine Trustfire Flames. Most everything else is junk.

[Mike.357]

funny story Tanker.

 

We have had critters right in my yard ranging from horses and a bull to coyotes, to deer and turkey.  I am always cautious when going outside at night and wonder when am I going to come FTF with a bear.

 

I know full well a bear could be out there.  OS and I saw one run across the road a few years back near the Anderson Knox County line.  If the bear was there more could easily be where I live.

[jgradyc]

Here is a link to a Hong Kong website I trust. It shows several pressure switches. I've also bought several flashlights from them.

http://www.fasttech.com/search?pressure%20switch

 

Over on BLF (Budget Light Forum) you can read reviews for the various LED lights. BLF is for flashlight hobbyists. 

 

Here's a link to the batteries. http://www.fasttech.com/category/1420/batteries

Most of the lights use 18650 batteries, but you can also use two CR123A batteries instead. Unfortunately, these lights are so bright that they chew through batteries in minutes. I'd suggest you stick with Sanyo, Panasonic, or Trustfire Flames (the black label with flames on them.) The labels on the Sanyo and Panasonic batteries doesn't matter. It's just shrink tubing.

 

For battery chargers, consider the Miller or NiteCore brands on the same sight. I would not skimp on the charger. See below.

 

CAUTION: As a novice, only buy protected batteries. Unprotected batteries can explode with the force of a cherry bomb if overcharged. A good charger will have overcharge protection and a protected battery will have its own overcharge protection... just in case one of the two circuits fail.

[jgradyc]

Okay, one more post and I'll quit hijacking your thread. :wave:

 

Home Depot sells a LED flashlight called the Defiant 3C for $24.95. It throws a beam over 500 feet. It's about the size and weight of a MagLight 3 C-cell battery light, which means its too big and too heavy for any practical application. It's way too bright to use indoors. The brightest part of the beam is also pretty narrow.

Edited July 8, 2013 by jgradyc

[Guest Bonedaddy]

Most of the cheap flashlights I've bought are junk but my Fenix PD31 is the shizznit, it is. I can spot deer out to 200 yds, sometimes farther. To only be 3 1/2 inches long and 'bout an inch wide, it does the trick just fine. Just wish CR123 batts were a little cheaper. Seriously thinkin' of a TK35 or similar. That thang is like a car headlight on high beam, yet still a reasonable size. Don't spot bears in W. TN often. I'm way more worried 'bout skunks sneakin' up on me. :puke:  Lots of them damn thangs 'round here.

[Il Duce]

You're welcome for that suggestion BD.

If you need a good flashlight Sportsmans Warehouse carries Surefire as does GT Distributors and Modern Firearms

Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[Guest Bonedaddy]

Weren't you the one that turned me onto the Fenix? One of the best thangs I've fenagled in a good while. BTW, Duce...sold Joe that Remmy .308 today. Kinda sad at the moment. :sadwave: May try for another 700 but with wood furniture and iron sights in 30.06 or .270, later on.