Impulse Buy

I went back out to the Merchant of Death to get some small rifle primers and a couple of cartridge boxes for reloaded .223 and, as is my wont, looked through the rifle rack they have there (mostly in a futile search for a Mosin Nagant M38).

I found a Mosin 91/30 for $179.99 (Reduced!) that I passed on, two Brit bolt actions in .303 (like I need another oddball military caliber that I can't find ammo for), some sort of Yugoslavian Mauser clone (?) a couple of Ruger Americans, one very pretty walnut stocked Mossberg 4x4, a Marlin X7, a Remington 770... and then I saw a Mossberg 100ATR in 30-06 for less than $300 that caught my eye.

The last few deer-slaying trips I've been on I have taken bolt action rifles, but they were both in calibers that you can't just walk down to the local MoD and buy ammo for. I was looking for something that wouldn't break the bank in a caliber that is carried by local gun shops and Marts of Walls, and this one seemed to fit the bill.

The bolt cycles nice and smooth, there is an easy usable safety right next to the bolt and it comes out with a simple press of the bolt release for easy cleaning. The trigger is adjustable (if I want to take the action out of the stock) and feels pretty good to me, but then again I'm no trigger snob; I think the one on the Mosin is just fine cause the bang happens and the lead slings out the far end ever time I activate it, so I probably wouldn't know the difference anyway. Plus, Boyds has a nice looking wood stock for it, if I want to go that route...and I'm thinking about it, I've always been a fan of blued steel and American walnut.

Topped with a Redfield Revenge 3-9x42 scope it cost me right at 500USD out the door, not a bad price considering. I have a play date range session scheduled next month so I'll put it through its paces then and see what I've got.

For what it's worth, I did an online review check of the rifle (after the fact, of course) and found mention of three lawsuits that were filed regarding the bolts on these rifles, but never did find any details except on the first one. Seems like Cletus took his bolt apart and put it together wrong, called his neighbor who said "It's put together wrong, don't shoot it" and in an alcohol induced rage installed the bolt anyway with the judicious application of hammer and nearby wall, and then was surprised when the bolt blew back in his face.

Of the other two I haven't been able to find anything except online exhortations on various gun forums to "Google Mossberg ATR lawsuits!" which results in return after return of various gun forums saying "Google Mossberg ATR lawsuits!" and precious little else.

So, going by the experience that happy people don't complain and the axiom that you get what you pay for, I'm expecting commensurate results out of my inexpensive 30-06 lead-slinger, IE I'm expecting to be able to consistently and decisively engage Bambi at ranges up to and maybe slightly exceeding 100 yards without being able to knock down Tally Beans at a mile plus...which is as much a function of skill set as equipment anyway, of which I have neither...but I do know people...

I did get the primers, too, by the way.

This Just In

Turning deer into serving size portions is much less fun than turning deer into big pieces of meat.

I spent the day processing and packaging deer meat, which is a long all-day tedious affair. After soaking it all night in vinegar, salt and water it wasn't an especially messy job (like cleaning it was) but cutting all the membranes and such out of it takes some time. I can see why Brother takes his to the butcher.

That's fine though, another skill gained that might come in handy during the Zombie Apocalypse. It's in the freezer now and I'm glad that job is over.

Oh, Deer

Apparently the secret to bagging Bambi is to leave half your gear at home and drive the car you don't want to get blood and guts in.

It was only a spike yearling buck, maybe a hundred pounds on the hoof, but he's in the cooler now.

Hunting Partner (different guy than Range Partner) got one as well, the first ever for his Weatherby, using his reloaded ammo.

All in all, a pretty good day in the woods. (For us, not so much for Bambi.)

No, Deer

Once again I am a miserable failure.

I did see one on my way home but she stayed on the side of the road and just watched me go past without trying to commit suicide by Subaru.

The season is coming to a close, so if I am not successful in the next few weeks I'll have to wait until next year.  That's the way it goes sometimes I guess.

Third Time?

Perhaps it will be the charm.

Once again on Friday I shall venture forth into the woods to seek out the notorious crasher of cars, Odocoileus virginianus, or as he is otherwise known, the North American Hoofed Rat. If he should be found his 00 buckshot pierced flesh will adorn my freezer and his antlers shall adorn my walls.

I shall dedicate this hunt to my younger brother (notice I didn't say little, he hasn't been my little brother since he was 16) who has been laid low by a crushing self-inflicted blow on the noggin resulting in a couple of crushed vertebrae in his neck (PSA - parking a 4WD pickup under an awning meant for a Mustang doesn't leave much headroom, and his normal mode of dismounting - stepping out onto the running board before stepping down on the ground - ate that up pretty quickly).

He's been operated on and doing fine, but is forbidden by his attending physician to venture forth into what little woods Iowa offers for himself. This is a fate worse than death to a dedicated deer hunter of his caliber (see what I did there? I crack me up, chortle chortle), but he should be OK for the fishing season.

Stay strong brother, and wish me luck.

Follow Up

No deer in my freezer.  I haz a :-(

No deer on my bumper either. This means that I didn't see any deer at all, all day. At least last time I saw one, even if he did try to commit suicide by Subaru.

Better luck next time.

Let's Try That Again

Friday I will once again venture into the woods in search of the North American hoofed rat.

Hopefully this time I will have more to show for my efforts than a cold rear and stiff joints.

But for now, work, and then Thursday another round at the periodontists.  Yay me.

Headline News

According to the local fishwrap car/deer collisions are on the rise. They attribute this to mating season, which every female of any species knows is the time where the male half turns into a giant genitalia. It just makes it all the more bitter that I sat five hours in a tree and saw nothing, only to come so close to filling out a deer tag with the Baja.

I have an idea. I think hunters should be able to line the roads with deer stands, pointing into the woods and with enough distance between them for good coverage. The stands would be outfitted with headlights and horns and hunting from these stands would be permitted at night.  Every once in a while, instead of spraying doe scent, the hunter would flash the lights and honk the horn. If the current state is any indication the deer will flock to these stands where they can be harvested.

No more wrecked cars, reduced carnage on our roadways, and full freezers. It's for the chiiiiildrennnn!

In Search Of

It's cold in a tree stand, and it's a long way to climb.

It's even worse climbing down but at least gravity helps. This is not always a good thing.

I could have bagged my limit of tree rats, but I think 7.62x54R is a bit of overkill for them.

Speaking of 7.62x54R, Mosin Nagant is the very definition of "long gun".

I found Fusion cartridges so next time I'll use the Saiga. Max range is going to be less than 100 yards so it should do fine.

And finally, I saw more deer (one, to be exact) on the way home.

Minutia

mi·nu·ti·a  [mi-noo-shee-uh] noun, plural mi·nu·ti·ae Usually, minutiae. Precise details; small or trifling matters: the minutiae of his craft.

Wounded Warrior Project, a charity to which I have donated and participated in fundraising efforts for, has apparently bowed to politically correct pressure. They have done good things in the past, and I wish them continuing success, but sadly it appears as if they are no longer interested in associating with my kind.

I got a tax bill for my sisters car, I am on her title because I am a co-signer on her loan. She lives in Virginia and it appeared as if the county I live in here in North Carolina wanted me to pay the taxes on it. After contacting the tax office I came to the realization that she lives in a county in Virginia of the same name as my county here in North Carolina. To add confusion to the mix the city in which the county seat is located has the same name as a city here in North Carolina, although the North Carolina city of that name is not in my county. I'll reserve my opinions on the subject of personal property taxes as applied to mobile property, suffice it to say I'm not a fan.

UPDATE: she never lived in the county of the same name, they just saw Virginia tags + the name of the county the car is registered in and sent a bill. Fortunately she has updated the address so this should not be a problem next year.

I have been invited on a jaunt in an effort to slay the evil and nefarious North American hoofed rat, AKA Odocoileus virginianus, or the common whitetail deer. I have several different options as to the tool to use in said dispatch; I can go with the Franchi, or go with the Mosin (yes I have soft tip ammo for it), or go with the Arisaka (the range will likely be less than 50 yards so I'm not worried about my inability to hit the broad side of a barn from the inside at long range), or maybe do something completely unusual and use the Saiga. .223 is legal here in North Carolina, and I've been looking at this for ammo.

But tonight, it's work for me.