Well, it's that time of year again. One of my favorites - squirrel season! I have a love-hate relationship with the bushytails. On one hand, I hate them for insisting on making MY house into their house by chewing their way through my beautiful cedar siding and into my attic. There, they set up housekeeping and leave their disease-filled droppings all over the stored belongings.
On the other hand, squirrels are fine quarry in that they are easy to locate and plentiful. This is very important for getting a new hunter his or her first success. With many squirrels available and a season that goes for several weeks, there are many opportunities to spend time in the woods and still be successful nearly every time you go afield. On top of that, squirrels make a fine meal if prepared properly.
I have killed squirrels with shotguns and rifles, even a couple with archery gear. My favorite way of taking squirrels is using an airgun. I don't mean using a BB gun like a well-known lever-action gun that we all have seen. I'm talking about an adult-sized air rifle with enough power to knock a grown squirrel right out of the tree! There are many models and manufacturers that produce fine rifles more than adequate for small-game hunting; I'll save those details for another article.
I will share about mine. I shoot an old Sheridan Blue Streak rifle. I bought it used over 20 years ago, and it still shoots as well as it did the day I bought it. It is so quiet, I can shoot in my backyard without disturbing my neighbors, or I can shoot in my attic without bothering my family! It is a 5mm, which is a .20 caliber gun. The 5mm/.20 is nowhere near as popular as the .177 or .22 calibers, which is a shame in my opinion. The .20 shoots with a flatter trajectory than the .22 with double the energy of the .177 at equal velocities. Pellets are available in all shapes, such as flat wadcutters, round nose, even hollowpoints! I find two pellets work very well in my rifle - the Sheridan cylinder-shaped pellets and the Beeman Crow Magnum hollowpoint. Both have numerous squirrels to their credit, but each pellet must be used differently to achieve best results!
The Sheridan pellet kills with authority because of its accuracy in my gun and its great penetration. Squirrels can be very tenacious and hard to put down. Since the Sheridan pellet kills with penetration, only head shots must be taken when hunting squirrels. Body shots, even with perfect hits, often result in the squirrel making a last dash for its nest high in a tree or some other inaccessible place, resulting in needless loss. A well-placed shot to the animal's head, however, anchors it on the spot and allows the game to be retrieved and not wasted. The Crow Magnum hollowpoint kills with limited penetration and shock, so a hit to a squirrel's chest has never failed to stop a squirrel in its tracks for me.
There is a limit to everything, and the airgun's limit is range. An adult airgun's range for a reliable, humane kill on a squirrel is about 40 yards, maximum. That is under perfect conditions at a still target. Add some breeze, a feeding squirrel or enough cold to make you shiver now and then, and now your range is reduced considerably. I limit my shots to 25 yards or less. That way I know I will make a clean, humane kill on a worthy game animal. Your max range will depend on your shooting skill, equipment and the weather conditions. Only practice and experience will give you your answer.
Which brings me to the primary reason why I hunt with an airgun. It's a scaled-down version of any big game hunting you can think of. Because ranges are so close, you MUST be a hunter, not just a shooter. You have to know your quarry so you can get close to it without sending them into the next county. You have to know your rifle and what it can do, and can't do under various conditions. You have to practice with your rifle so you will know where that tiny pellet will go when you pull the trigger.
So, let's see...airgun hunting for small game requires you shoot a lot more at a LOT less cost than even a .22 rimfire, requires that you become a better hunter, and allows you many days afield each season, even if you harvested a trophy just the other day. Sounds like a great way to spend more time in the woods to me!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
End of the drought?
We here in Virginia have not had any measurable rain in nearly two months. One the the local lakes that I frequent has dropped several feet in the last week; that left a lot of the lake bottom high and dry! The local news had a feature showing a man driving his golf cart around where I usually fish for crappie!! Since the lakes in eastern and central VA are supplied by rivers and streams, all of them have felt effects from the drought. Water levels are down everywhere, and the fish and other wildlife is threatened. People are seeing more wild animals as the critters seek water sources near civilization.
BUT it has been raining here for two days now. The rain has been heavy at times, but mostly a light. soaking rain that has reduced runoff. The level of the James River has risen in Richmond overnight and should continue to rise as the increased flow from upstream makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay.
Times like these remind us how dependent we all are on water for our basic needs. We are used to turning that tap and expecting clean water to always come out, as much as we wanted. After nearly a week of mandatory water use restrictions, folks are hoping we can get back to over watering our lawns, letting the tap run for a few minutes so our drink will be a little colder and other wasteful practices. We forget how blessed we are to live where all the water we want is there for us to use how we choose. That is, until that water drys up!
Let's all be more mindful of how we use water, a precious resource for us and everything that swims, flies and crawls along!
BUT it has been raining here for two days now. The rain has been heavy at times, but mostly a light. soaking rain that has reduced runoff. The level of the James River has risen in Richmond overnight and should continue to rise as the increased flow from upstream makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay.
Times like these remind us how dependent we all are on water for our basic needs. We are used to turning that tap and expecting clean water to always come out, as much as we wanted. After nearly a week of mandatory water use restrictions, folks are hoping we can get back to over watering our lawns, letting the tap run for a few minutes so our drink will be a little colder and other wasteful practices. We forget how blessed we are to live where all the water we want is there for us to use how we choose. That is, until that water drys up!
Let's all be more mindful of how we use water, a precious resource for us and everything that swims, flies and crawls along!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Weekend Choices
Sometimes life is full of difficult choices. Yesterday was opening day of early bow season for deer in eastern Virginia. On the other hand, the striped bass (rockfish to folks on the Chesapeake Bay) are beginning their run out of the bay into the ocean.
I went fishing. As much as I love hunting and shooting, salt water must run through my veins. Just the thought of putting out some trolling lines and searching above and below the surface for big fish just gets my heart pumping. I really don’t have good trolling tackle anymore. I had given my trolling rods to my dad years ago when I didn’t have a boat. Dad loved trolling for years, but he had done less and less over the last few years as gas money got tight. When he gave his boat away, he threw in the rods as well.
Still, what I have will work, just not as well as more suitable tackle. I use spinning reels for surfcasting and I have a couple shorter rods for boat use, so I moved the big reels to the boat rods and spooled them with 40lb test Cajun line. I really like the Cajun line because it is easy to see above the water and really disappears in water, especially the cloudy water of the Chesapeake Bay. Because it is nylon monofilament, it is so easy to work with, unlike a superbraid.
Ease of use is important when I am getting rigs ready for the kids and my wife. She can tie knots, but she doesn’t understand why you can’t just tie any old knot any old way on a fishin’pole and have it work. That’s okay – she still won’t touch live bait or a live fish, either. But she has patience and a great sense of feel. Bottom fishing, she routinely out-catches everyone – with a proper rig. . I have learned to pre-tie several rigs ahead of time so I can replace them when they get broken off or snagged.
The boat is ready. I had to replace an anchor I lost on a snag that chafed right through the small 3/8” rode I was using. Why so small? That was so my youngest son, aged 12, could grip it. I have upgraded back to ½ inch three-strand nylon spliced to the chain. Sure seems like overkill for a 10 pound anchor, but that is doing it right.
The engine has been started on muffs and run for 10-15 minutes once a week to keep it clean, lubricated and ready to go. It’s a 22 year old engine, but nothing kills a carbed 2-cycle engine deader than neglect. If it is run on a regular basis, it keeps fresh gas in the carbs and the internals lubed. Even though it has not been in the water for over a month, it will fire right up.
We will be fishing the Rappahannock River near the mouth of the river. My boat is tough, but has too little freeboard to be safe in the bay, even on a calm day. Although, we do have nearly 60 knots available at our disposal and speed has saved my butt more than once on the bay! The rockfish will still be coming down the river for a few weeks yet, since it has been so dry and the weather has not cooled off yet.
I’ll start off trolling four lines, two flat lines in the center holders with a tube eel and a spinnerbait. Go ahead and laugh, but a bass is a bass is a bass! On the outboard rods I’ll go with a Storm shad lure and another soft plastic, probably a Berkeley Gulp minnow or big grub on a lead head big enough to get neat the bottom. If it’s more than 25 feet or so, I’ll add an inline weight or a three-way rig. I’ll be searching the surface with binoculars for any signs of feeding birds or fish breaking the surface; then it’s off to the races! Get the lines in and hammer down!!
I keep a couple of medium spinning rods rigged with a soft plastic, a crankbait like a Rat’L’Trap or a spinnerbait ready to go as soon as we arrive within casting range of the school. I’ll keep the boat outside of the school so as not to break it up or drive the fish down. Troll the lines along the edges of the school and try to work to the front of the school to keep the bait in the strike zone for as long as possible. Watching the birds, the sonar and any other boats nearby and I have a full-time job! No fishing for me, unless I put her in neutral and cast to the school as we drift.
When casting to a school. It’s tough to be patient when you feel a fish hit your bait…but if you let it sink just a little more, sometimes you will be rewarded with a solid hit from a much bigger striper coming up from beneath! Keep your lines tight and good luck!
I went fishing. As much as I love hunting and shooting, salt water must run through my veins. Just the thought of putting out some trolling lines and searching above and below the surface for big fish just gets my heart pumping. I really don’t have good trolling tackle anymore. I had given my trolling rods to my dad years ago when I didn’t have a boat. Dad loved trolling for years, but he had done less and less over the last few years as gas money got tight. When he gave his boat away, he threw in the rods as well.
Still, what I have will work, just not as well as more suitable tackle. I use spinning reels for surfcasting and I have a couple shorter rods for boat use, so I moved the big reels to the boat rods and spooled them with 40lb test Cajun line. I really like the Cajun line because it is easy to see above the water and really disappears in water, especially the cloudy water of the Chesapeake Bay. Because it is nylon monofilament, it is so easy to work with, unlike a superbraid.
Ease of use is important when I am getting rigs ready for the kids and my wife. She can tie knots, but she doesn’t understand why you can’t just tie any old knot any old way on a fishin’pole and have it work. That’s okay – she still won’t touch live bait or a live fish, either. But she has patience and a great sense of feel. Bottom fishing, she routinely out-catches everyone – with a proper rig. . I have learned to pre-tie several rigs ahead of time so I can replace them when they get broken off or snagged.
The boat is ready. I had to replace an anchor I lost on a snag that chafed right through the small 3/8” rode I was using. Why so small? That was so my youngest son, aged 12, could grip it. I have upgraded back to ½ inch three-strand nylon spliced to the chain. Sure seems like overkill for a 10 pound anchor, but that is doing it right.
The engine has been started on muffs and run for 10-15 minutes once a week to keep it clean, lubricated and ready to go. It’s a 22 year old engine, but nothing kills a carbed 2-cycle engine deader than neglect. If it is run on a regular basis, it keeps fresh gas in the carbs and the internals lubed. Even though it has not been in the water for over a month, it will fire right up.
We will be fishing the Rappahannock River near the mouth of the river. My boat is tough, but has too little freeboard to be safe in the bay, even on a calm day. Although, we do have nearly 60 knots available at our disposal and speed has saved my butt more than once on the bay! The rockfish will still be coming down the river for a few weeks yet, since it has been so dry and the weather has not cooled off yet.
I’ll start off trolling four lines, two flat lines in the center holders with a tube eel and a spinnerbait. Go ahead and laugh, but a bass is a bass is a bass! On the outboard rods I’ll go with a Storm shad lure and another soft plastic, probably a Berkeley Gulp minnow or big grub on a lead head big enough to get neat the bottom. If it’s more than 25 feet or so, I’ll add an inline weight or a three-way rig. I’ll be searching the surface with binoculars for any signs of feeding birds or fish breaking the surface; then it’s off to the races! Get the lines in and hammer down!!
I keep a couple of medium spinning rods rigged with a soft plastic, a crankbait like a Rat’L’Trap or a spinnerbait ready to go as soon as we arrive within casting range of the school. I’ll keep the boat outside of the school so as not to break it up or drive the fish down. Troll the lines along the edges of the school and try to work to the front of the school to keep the bait in the strike zone for as long as possible. Watching the birds, the sonar and any other boats nearby and I have a full-time job! No fishing for me, unless I put her in neutral and cast to the school as we drift.
When casting to a school. It’s tough to be patient when you feel a fish hit your bait…but if you let it sink just a little more, sometimes you will be rewarded with a solid hit from a much bigger striper coming up from beneath! Keep your lines tight and good luck!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Britney Spears and responsible hunting??
I want to talk about Britney Spears. Sure, everyone has heard more than enough about her talent (or lack of), her partying, parenting skills (see “talent”), and so on. Besides, we all know she hates hunting and fishing, even though she was raised in the great Republic of Texas…Did she fall on her head or something?
So, why this, here? Simply because Britney Spears is a poster child for a culture gone wrong. She takes credit for all the good things that have happened to her, as if she was the only person responsible, yet she blames all her troubles everywhere EXCEPT where the real blame lies – herself! She has the ”victim’s mentality” – poor me, she says, it’s not my fault I can’t control my own behavior, the press is out to get me, my ex is the devil, etc….okay, maybe there is some truth to the last part. Still, she has it all backwards.
Britney Spears would be just another trashy girl in a trashy neighborhood, except that somebody at Walt Disney gave her a break. Is she really that talented? How does her singing career and voice compare to her fellow Mouseketeer, Christina Aguilera? Now, tell me Britney didn’t get a break!!
The bottom line is, she takes credit for things she had very little to do with, and yet refuses to accept responsibility for her own actions when things do not go as she wanted.
I find that same attitude in nearly every anti-hunter or “animal rights activist” I have encountered. These nut jobs still blame Mommy for all their problems, yet they still live with her; after all, who else would put up with their whining?
Hunters and fishers know that they have very little control over their quarry, and this is the main attraction to these activities! Game and fish go where they choose, and respond in ways that confound us on a regular basis. We hunt and fish because we want to accept the challenge on its own terms, and we accept the results as they come. We work hard to learn our quarry and the laws that protect them and each other. We invent technology to help us, and return to the tools of our ancestors to enhance the challenge.
So why make fishing and hunting harder? Because we want to be able to say to ourselves and our peers that we rose to a challenge, and that the challenge itself was more important that success alone. Too bad our “mainstream media” and entertainment industry lives just the opposite way. Because some guy or girl with a pretty face got paid a lot of money to sing a song or play make believe for a few minutes at a time, the rest of us are supposed to do as they tell us. After, they are “successful”, right? Don’t they have more money, cars, jets, etc. than we will ever have? Since wealth is the American success story, these talking heads must be smarter and just plain better than we are. Remember Leona Helmsley’s quote at her trial for tax evasion,”Only the little people pay taxes.”
Don’t you believe it! How much is Miss Spears’ money helping her now? Can she buy her children back? How about if she lip-synched for the judge? All of Kanye West’s bitching got him exactly how many Video Music awards? – zero!
If these yahoos had been raised as hunters and fishers, they would be a lot more appreciative of the opportunities that America produced for them. Remember Shania Twain had to come to America to make it big in her home country of Canada!
Don’t even get me started on Hillarycare or any other socialized medicine schemes from the left…
So, why this, here? Simply because Britney Spears is a poster child for a culture gone wrong. She takes credit for all the good things that have happened to her, as if she was the only person responsible, yet she blames all her troubles everywhere EXCEPT where the real blame lies – herself! She has the ”victim’s mentality” – poor me, she says, it’s not my fault I can’t control my own behavior, the press is out to get me, my ex is the devil, etc….okay, maybe there is some truth to the last part. Still, she has it all backwards.
Britney Spears would be just another trashy girl in a trashy neighborhood, except that somebody at Walt Disney gave her a break. Is she really that talented? How does her singing career and voice compare to her fellow Mouseketeer, Christina Aguilera? Now, tell me Britney didn’t get a break!!
The bottom line is, she takes credit for things she had very little to do with, and yet refuses to accept responsibility for her own actions when things do not go as she wanted.
I find that same attitude in nearly every anti-hunter or “animal rights activist” I have encountered. These nut jobs still blame Mommy for all their problems, yet they still live with her; after all, who else would put up with their whining?
Hunters and fishers know that they have very little control over their quarry, and this is the main attraction to these activities! Game and fish go where they choose, and respond in ways that confound us on a regular basis. We hunt and fish because we want to accept the challenge on its own terms, and we accept the results as they come. We work hard to learn our quarry and the laws that protect them and each other. We invent technology to help us, and return to the tools of our ancestors to enhance the challenge.
So why make fishing and hunting harder? Because we want to be able to say to ourselves and our peers that we rose to a challenge, and that the challenge itself was more important that success alone. Too bad our “mainstream media” and entertainment industry lives just the opposite way. Because some guy or girl with a pretty face got paid a lot of money to sing a song or play make believe for a few minutes at a time, the rest of us are supposed to do as they tell us. After, they are “successful”, right? Don’t they have more money, cars, jets, etc. than we will ever have? Since wealth is the American success story, these talking heads must be smarter and just plain better than we are. Remember Leona Helmsley’s quote at her trial for tax evasion,”Only the little people pay taxes.”
Don’t you believe it! How much is Miss Spears’ money helping her now? Can she buy her children back? How about if she lip-synched for the judge? All of Kanye West’s bitching got him exactly how many Video Music awards? – zero!
If these yahoos had been raised as hunters and fishers, they would be a lot more appreciative of the opportunities that America produced for them. Remember Shania Twain had to come to America to make it big in her home country of Canada!
Don’t even get me started on Hillarycare or any other socialized medicine schemes from the left…
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Why we go outdoors continued...
We hunt, fish, hike and camp because we need to. We don’t need to do these things in the same way previous generations before us did. Instead, we need to experience these times and master these skills to prove to ourselves that we could have survived and made a living back then, without all of today’s modern conveniences and support systems. By support system I mean those things that make it possible to make do in today’s world, like supermarkets, department stores and hospitals.
If you are like me, you probably have had your day saved by a quick meal out at some fast-food place. It seems like those places have been around forever, but in the 1870’s (or earlier) there was no such thing as Taco Bell or the “golden arches”. If you did not get your food during daylight, you did without!!
Today’s world in America is so very different – our economy and monetary system control everything. If we want or need something, and we have the resources to buy it, we can, just about any time of the day or night. We have come to depend on these services to provide for our everyday existence. Ever go without electric power for more than a day or two? Did it seem like your world had come to its end? Or did you break out the oil lamps and candles, or slept around the fireplace after cooking your meal in it? There is the difference, and the need, the need to prove to ourselves that we still are self-sufficient, if we need to be.
I can hear you already…”I’m not like that at all. Why, I only shoot trophy bucks/climb mountains/deep sea fish for giant marlin. I don’t do this because I need to, I just like the competition of it.” Of course you do – so did John Wesley Hardin and Billy the Kid! Nearly all of us have a competitive streak in us. Those that don’t have had theirs driven out of them! That competitive nature in us keeps us employed, helps us find a mate and keeps us alive sometimes!
Today’s lifestyle and frantic pace often turn into a dull grind that numbs the sprit and heart. Nowadays, we call it “burnout”. We search for a cause, a challenge, something that makes us feel alive and a part of the world again. It’s out nature as humans; we just can’t help ourselves (tell that to my loving wife when the house needs painting).
If you are like me, you probably have had your day saved by a quick meal out at some fast-food place. It seems like those places have been around forever, but in the 1870’s (or earlier) there was no such thing as Taco Bell or the “golden arches”. If you did not get your food during daylight, you did without!!
Today’s world in America is so very different – our economy and monetary system control everything. If we want or need something, and we have the resources to buy it, we can, just about any time of the day or night. We have come to depend on these services to provide for our everyday existence. Ever go without electric power for more than a day or two? Did it seem like your world had come to its end? Or did you break out the oil lamps and candles, or slept around the fireplace after cooking your meal in it? There is the difference, and the need, the need to prove to ourselves that we still are self-sufficient, if we need to be.
I can hear you already…”I’m not like that at all. Why, I only shoot trophy bucks/climb mountains/deep sea fish for giant marlin. I don’t do this because I need to, I just like the competition of it.” Of course you do – so did John Wesley Hardin and Billy the Kid! Nearly all of us have a competitive streak in us. Those that don’t have had theirs driven out of them! That competitive nature in us keeps us employed, helps us find a mate and keeps us alive sometimes!
Today’s lifestyle and frantic pace often turn into a dull grind that numbs the sprit and heart. Nowadays, we call it “burnout”. We search for a cause, a challenge, something that makes us feel alive and a part of the world again. It’s out nature as humans; we just can’t help ourselves (tell that to my loving wife when the house needs painting).
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Missing In Action (sort of)
I can't believe it has been nearly two weeks since I last posted...kidney stones will do that to you, if don't already know!
As I missed out on a lot of potential scouting and fishing time, I began to think about why we hunt and fish. Sure, we do it because we enjoy it. After all, only a select few get any kind of compensation for their outdoors time! But saying we hunt and fish and camp and hike just because "we like it" is much too simplistic. Why do we enjoy it, when we can get grain-fed choice beef, or fresh salmon fillets at the corner grocery store, most likely for less money than we spend on guns, ammo, gear, rods, reels, bait, boats, trucks, and on and on. What makes us want to walk in the woods and be eaten by mosquitoes and ticks so when the rainstorm of the year sits overhead, we get to throw together a thin nylon contraption that we huddle underneath while we hope we don't float away?
I was going to give you my answer, but I think it would be better for you to figure out your own answer...why do you enjoy the outdoors? What does being outdoors do that makes you want to return instead of enjoying modern life's conveniences?
As I missed out on a lot of potential scouting and fishing time, I began to think about why we hunt and fish. Sure, we do it because we enjoy it. After all, only a select few get any kind of compensation for their outdoors time! But saying we hunt and fish and camp and hike just because "we like it" is much too simplistic. Why do we enjoy it, when we can get grain-fed choice beef, or fresh salmon fillets at the corner grocery store, most likely for less money than we spend on guns, ammo, gear, rods, reels, bait, boats, trucks, and on and on. What makes us want to walk in the woods and be eaten by mosquitoes and ticks so when the rainstorm of the year sits overhead, we get to throw together a thin nylon contraption that we huddle underneath while we hope we don't float away?
I was going to give you my answer, but I think it would be better for you to figure out your own answer...why do you enjoy the outdoors? What does being outdoors do that makes you want to return instead of enjoying modern life's conveniences?
Friday, September 7, 2007
Boy's Toys - or serious fun?
I have an addiction to airguns. While I do own a couple collector's model Daisy Red Ryder guns, I love the adult models. There is a HUGE difference between the Daisys and Crosmans sold at WallyWorld and a RWS model 48 - about $600 or so! Then again, that's more than I want to spend, so I keep on shooting my old Sheridan Blue Streak. It's a 5mm caliber, that's .20 caliber if you like inches. It's in between the two most popular calibers, .177 and .22. I think it is the best of both; twice the weight of a .177 with less frontal area and drag than a .22 caliber. But mainly, I love the rifle because it is a pump pneumatic. That means it runs off air I pumped into the gun before each shot. I can adjust the power of the gun just by pumping more or less. No SCUBA tanks for refills, no CO2 cartridges, and variable power!!
I can easily and safely shoot inside my attic by using 4 or 5 pumps, limiting the pellet speed to around 400 feet per second. All I need for a target/backstop is a paper grocery bag filled with layered newspaper or magazines. That allows me to shoot all year round, regardless of the weather. The cost of a tin of good quality pellets is around $7 for 250-300, or around 2 cents per shot. Imagine how much better you would shoot if you could shoot almost every day!Besides, I don't bother the neighbors at all. This is a bigger issue than you may think! Imagine what would happen if your neighbor called the police to report "a man shooting a gun in the yard next door"... Also, some cities and counties in Virginia (for example) do not allow shooting anything in the city/county limits. Best to not frighten the folks next door. Fortunately, my neighbors all know me well and don't mind my little shooting range in my backyard.
Airguns are perfect for small targets at short ranges. My boys and I like to shoot animal crackers set to stand like real animals. My wife thinks we are just too juvenile with this. Still, hitting a tiny cookie from 10 meters away is a real challenge. If we are shooting well, we will challenge each other to only head shots on the little cookie zebras, elephants or tigers. if you think this is silly, I dare you to try it yourself. It's a lot harder than it looks! Besides, I think once you try it you will be hooked on the challenge and how just plain fun it is!
Above all else, be safe!! Make sure you have a suitable backstop that catches stray shots, not bouncing back at you or someone else! Make sure that everyone has eye protection and is WEARING it! And be sure that everyone handles the airguns as if they were magnum firearms. Muzzle control is vital - keep the muzzle pointed only at a safe backstop, even "empty" guns!! As a gunsmith, I can't count how many "empty"guns I had to unload!!
Have fun and be safe!
I can easily and safely shoot inside my attic by using 4 or 5 pumps, limiting the pellet speed to around 400 feet per second. All I need for a target/backstop is a paper grocery bag filled with layered newspaper or magazines. That allows me to shoot all year round, regardless of the weather. The cost of a tin of good quality pellets is around $7 for 250-300, or around 2 cents per shot. Imagine how much better you would shoot if you could shoot almost every day!Besides, I don't bother the neighbors at all. This is a bigger issue than you may think! Imagine what would happen if your neighbor called the police to report "a man shooting a gun in the yard next door"... Also, some cities and counties in Virginia (for example) do not allow shooting anything in the city/county limits. Best to not frighten the folks next door. Fortunately, my neighbors all know me well and don't mind my little shooting range in my backyard.
Airguns are perfect for small targets at short ranges. My boys and I like to shoot animal crackers set to stand like real animals. My wife thinks we are just too juvenile with this. Still, hitting a tiny cookie from 10 meters away is a real challenge. If we are shooting well, we will challenge each other to only head shots on the little cookie zebras, elephants or tigers. if you think this is silly, I dare you to try it yourself. It's a lot harder than it looks! Besides, I think once you try it you will be hooked on the challenge and how just plain fun it is!
Above all else, be safe!! Make sure you have a suitable backstop that catches stray shots, not bouncing back at you or someone else! Make sure that everyone has eye protection and is WEARING it! And be sure that everyone handles the airguns as if they were magnum firearms. Muzzle control is vital - keep the muzzle pointed only at a safe backstop, even "empty" guns!! As a gunsmith, I can't count how many "empty"guns I had to unload!!
Have fun and be safe!
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Welcome!!!
Welcome to my view of the outdoors world. Here I will share my experiences hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. I will post my opinions on various gear and equipment that I have personally used; no sponsors, so just the truth!!!
I will be writing about topics that concern hunters and fishermen (sorry, this is a NO PC site!!!) such as self-defense, conservation and legislation that affects us. There will be plenty of light stuff, so this will not be a stuffy, schoolbook blog!
Please feel free to post your opinions, as well as any suggested subjects. I'll end up doing what I please anyway...
I chose the handle The Gun Dr. because I used to own a gun repair business many years ago. I did not sell guns, just fixed 'em. I ran the place part-time while serving in the military. I planned on going full-time after I finished my commitment; unfortunately, The Clintonistas decided that folks like me were a threat to society and made the licensing requirements too expensive and intentionally difficult for a part-timer like me. I have worked on and off for others in their shops since then, but it is not the same.
That's enough for now. I have to change a poopy diaper on my youngest offspring.
I will be writing about topics that concern hunters and fishermen (sorry, this is a NO PC site!!!) such as self-defense, conservation and legislation that affects us. There will be plenty of light stuff, so this will not be a stuffy, schoolbook blog!
Please feel free to post your opinions, as well as any suggested subjects. I'll end up doing what I please anyway...
I chose the handle The Gun Dr. because I used to own a gun repair business many years ago. I did not sell guns, just fixed 'em. I ran the place part-time while serving in the military. I planned on going full-time after I finished my commitment; unfortunately, The Clintonistas decided that folks like me were a threat to society and made the licensing requirements too expensive and intentionally difficult for a part-timer like me. I have worked on and off for others in their shops since then, but it is not the same.
That's enough for now. I have to change a poopy diaper on my youngest offspring.
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