Reloading

My father has reloaded for as long as i can remember. Being a poor working man employed by the state, the only way he could afford to shoot regularly was to reload. Over the years, he has reloaded everything from shotshells to small pistol to magnum rifles, and he has built a lot of knowledge in the reloading arena.

For years, I have been content shooting the bullets my father has reloaded. Recently, though, I have become interested in the process, and with the addition of the 30-30 to my gun cabinet, i have decided to learn the process. Last week, under the guidance of my father, I loaded 20 rounds of 30-30. Today, while riding out the storm at my father's, I loaded 50 more, going through all the steps on my own, starting with consulting the Lee reloading manual, and finishing with crimping the bullets.

It is satisfying having the knowledge to make my own ammunition (even though I used my father's tools, manuals, brass, powder, and bullets). I think I may need to slowly start investing in all the tools and supplies, so that I can eventually reload on my own.

I am a poor working man employed by the state, after all.

Tidbits of my day

Well, we are hunkering down for the storm. Being that I'm in central -not south- Louisiana, we are just now seeing rain and wind here. It's a foregone conclusion that we will lose power, but we are prepared, in every sense of the word.

I have today and tomorrow off due to Issac, and I'm 2 drinks deep in the whiskey. I feel a bit maudlin, but am enjoying myself.

We will start a pot of chili soon, and enjoy the rain coming in.

More than anything, I pray for the local farmers, whose crops aren't ready.

Gun safe

I have been wanting one of those bedside safes for a long time. In my single days, and after getting married, but before we had a child, I kept a handgun on my nightstand. Along came my son, and I had to rethink my game plan. First, when he was an infant, the gun just got moved up higher, but still by the bed. When he took his first wobbly steps, it went on a shelf in the closet. Then it got put in a handgun case in the closet, which is how I have been keeping it for the past few years. Yes, I still have a gun close, but it is not as secure from small hands as I would like, nor is it as accessible to me as I would like.

Well, I got a $50 gift card to bass pro shop for my birthday from my wife's grandparents, and I knew what i needed to get with it- a bedside touch pad gunsafe. I found one that was roughly $50, and brought it home. Now, let's be serious... a $50 gun safe is not the highest quality. It will not stop a determined thief from making off with my gun. But it will stop my 4 year old from getting it, which is what i really want it for anyway.

Now, the factory spring on the safe didn't pop the lid with authority. Hell, it didn't pop it open with a heaving gasp. In fact, about 1 out of 5 times, the factory spring didn't give enough 'oomph' to pop it open at all. But hey, i knew what I bought, and I figured i might have to do some modifications before i even opened the box.

I scrounged around in my dad's garage with my brother, and we found an old spray bottle-like the kind that Formula 409 comes in. We ripped the spray mechanism apart, and removed the spring. It fit perfectly over the housing of the factory spring in my gun safe, but was TOO strong. It was so stiff that the lock mechanism had too much tension on it and wouldn't release. We cut about one twist off the spring, and viola! It works perfectly!

I can now safely keep a firearm by my bedside again, and still keep small fingers away from it!

Success is a great thing.

Iron Sights

I have been thinking lately about iron sights. I really wanted a good long gun for a BUG out bag, something big enough to take game with, but rugged enough to take a beating without being effected much. I settled my mind on a lever action 30-30 with iron sights.
While at my dad's today, i was discussing the merits of this with him, and he said "hell, why don't you borrow one of mine? I have 3!" We decided that I would bring back the .308 Handi-rifle I borrowed for hunting last year, and I could take home a 30-30. He had one he picked up at a pawn shop that he installed synthetic stocks and peep sights on. Said he had about $125 tied up in it. It looks as if it rode under the seat of a pickup for about 10 years, but the barrel is pristine, and the action is tight for a lever gun. It's a perfect BUG-out gun.
I plan on hunting with it this year, to get comfortable with iron sights again. I haven't done non-scope hunting in probably 10 years. We worked up a hand load for the gun this afternoon, and I shot it in my back yard. The longest shot i could make at my range is 50 yards, but 50 to 100 yards is about as long a shot as you can make in the woods where i live anyway, unless you are on a clearcut. Besides, with iron sights, i wouldn't shoot at much beyond 100 yards anyway.
Shooting from a squat, holding the rifle in my hands, at 50 yards, I put 5 shots in a 3 and 7/8 inch group. That's shooting into the front sight accurate, and that will be a sub 8 inch group at 100 yards, plenty good to harvest deer. I need to adjust the sight to pull the group 2 and 1/2 inches to the left, but otherwise, I'm ready for the woods.
She may not win any beauty contests, but this Winchester '94 is a workhorse, and I feel comfortable with what she can do.
Now to buy a hunting license before October...

Test

The Blogger app on my phone died horribly for some reason. Uninstall. Reinstall. Repeat.

No Joy.

I am now trying email blogging. Lets see how this goes.

Shootin'

Called my uncle yesterday evening. My wife was planning on helping my aunt decorate their new house, so I called my uncle to see if he wanted to come over an shoot.

He did... imagine that! Apparently he'd rather shoot pistols than place furniture where ladies tell him to!

He brought out his newest piece, a S&W M&P full sized .40 cal. I had my Glock 19, and my Springfield 1911.

We went to my pistol range in the back yard and posted targets, then we shot, bullshat, and shot some more. As you can see, he enjoyed the 1911.

Afterwards, we drank some ice water, discussed holsters, deer rifles, and laser sights, as well as talked about family.

It was a great way to spend a morning.