Jimmie's No-Shoot Range Day

[Mr. Neutron]

I thought I'd go to my local gun range I'm a member of to see how my most recent reloads for the 30-30 might happen to group today.

Loaded up the truck, drove the lengthy 10 minute drive down to the range. Cool; nobody else there, had the whole place to myself, sunshine, temps in the upper 30s. Good day for shootin', I thought. Our range has a locked gate that you are given a "credit card" like deal to open the gate. Once you're inside, we have a key we're given to unlock the locked cabinets that contain stuff we need to hang targets, sandbags, and stuff for shootin'. I keep my gate card & that cabinet key in a ziplock baggie. I grabbed the baggie to get the gate card, not knowing the baggie had come "unzipped" before I grabbed it. As I grabbed the baggie to get the gate card, I heard a "clink, clink, clink" sound, but didn't yet connect the dots about the sound. Unloaded my rifles and ammo and stuff I keep in a range toolbox, signed in, and went to unlock the cabinet. Where's the stinkin' key for the cabinet????

At that moment, I kinda figured out the source of that noise i heard earlier. It might've been my key clinking. Had no idea whatsoever where it went. Hadn't seen it fall; only heard a clinking metallic noise. After looking around the parking lot to be certain I hadn't dropped it there, I looked around in my range toolbox, and then inside the truck. Nothing turned up, so I gave up. Reloaded my rifles & range junk in the truck, and pointed the F150 back home. Got home, grabbed a flashlight, and began searching under the seats and such. Hmmm. Sure are a lotta old french fries under here. I began pitching those out, but thought that if a bird or other animal decided to eat one, it could get lodged in their throat sideways, the animal might choke on it, and then I'd be the leading story on our 5 oclock news. Picked the stupid things up and put 'em in the trash.

Next layer was old candy. Kraft carmels I had no clue how those got there? Ditto for the "Dots" candy. Old wrappers, receipts, safety pins, paper clips, dog hair, Doritos, and etc.. I began fearing what might turn up next as my imagination went wild. A casserole from the church potluck dinner? 8-track tapes?? Classified documents? Them things do seem to be turning up everywhere lately, huh?? Anything might possibly be under there, and I grew concerned.....

Next out came the screwdrivers and wrenches, along with searches for youtube videos and internet advice about how to dismantle the interior of a 2013 F150. Not too successful with that, and with half the interior dismantled that I was able to "Cave Man" apart with a rock, I decided to to give the flashlight and mild swear words another shot. Finally caught sight of the key inside a "tunnel" for the console's hinge, near the driver's seat belt, but how does that stuff come apart? I tried "fishing" for that goofy key with a coat hanger with chewing gum for bait (it's worked before on other such "fishing expeditions..... ), a long pencil magnet (no luck there; its brass or something else non-magnetic), and back to my mild swear words (Shucks, gee whiz, Awww Poop, and etc.).

In desperation, I grabbed one of the plastic trim panels for the console/seat belt, and tapped it with a screwdriver handle. Out plopped that key onto the rubber mat of the floorboard! Success!!! Dance of Joy, Dance of Joy!!!! Only took 2.5 hours!!! Another half hour or so, and the truck was pretty much back together, with no leftover or broken parts! I next spent some quality time with my Shop Vac, mostly getting rid of the buffet dinner under the seats, wrappers, and God-Only-Knows-What else was living there. I believe I'm scarred for life now.

At that point, with the truck mostly back in one piece, and with daylight fading and temps dropping, I got out my Lever Action BB gun and shot some cans. All in all, one of the better Tuesdays I've had lately.

[Headhog]

One of those days where you have this little black cloud following you around. I keep looking over my shoulder watching for that cloud and If I see it I'm heading back to bed.

Paul

[Mags]

Glad you found your key. Good that you did'nt find anything too creepy under the seat. I usually find dead mice.

[Mr. Neutron]

Glad you found your key. Good that you did'nt find anything too creepy under the seat. I usually find dead mice.

Man, oh Man! I’m hopin’ you don’t keep the same rigorous type of truck cleaning that I do nowadays, Mags.
I did decide after years of trying to keep my rigs in pristine shape that it was just taking too much time. My last 2 diesel F350s were kept really clean inside, then both got hit and totaled by other driver’s errors. I decided with this F150 that it’s just a truck, not a “shrine” of some sort. It’ll probably get center punched by another driver anyways…..

And I now have a giant key ring for the gate card and the key. I figure the 1958 Chevy hub cap key fob won’t allow the key to slip through the cracks…..

Yeah, Paul, it musta been one of them days I wasn’t meant to shoot the .30-30. I’ll hopefully get to shoot it in a coupla days……..

[Mags]

The rest of the week is supposed to be as nice as today, so you could still go back to the range and shoot.

My truck isn't a shrine either, but I don't drive it that much. so no garbage accumulation. Well, maybe some loose change. It spent a lot of time just parked outdoors. So squirrels and mice moved in between clean outs. Finally got an end of the shop cleaned out and commercial doors installed. The truck is now out of the weather and literally mothballed. Mothbrick in the engine compartment and mothballs on the shop floor under the truck. I tried Irish Spring soap (minty), but somebody was nibbling on it. So that bit of wisdom from the web is bunk. I at first had some mothballs in the cab under the seats, but that was very unpleasant when I went to use the truck.

[markiver54]

The rest of the week is supposed to be as nice as today, so you could still go back to the range and shoot.

My truck isn't a shrine either, but I don't drive it that much. so no garbage accumulation. Well, maybe some loose change. It spent a lot of time just parked outdoors. So squirrels and mice moved in between clean outs. Finally got an end of the shop cleaned out and commercial doors installed. The truck is now out of the weather and literally mothballed. Mothbrick in the engine compartment and mothballs on the shop floor under the truck. I tried Irish Spring soap (minty), but somebody was nibbling on it. So that bit of wisdom from the web is bunk. I at first had some mothballs in the cab under the seats, but that was very unpleasant when I went to use the truck.

Try peppermint oil. Supposed to work better than moth balls.

[Rifletom]

Jimmie, that was a heck of a range tale. Think we've all been thru something similar at one time or two. At least the truck works. Right?

[Hatchdog]

That’s a sad story told in a way that had me laughing my a$$ off. Well told.

Reminds me of the day my cousin and I went deer hunting. Got to the place we park and he discovered he had left his bolt at home. Tried to talk him into running back home for it but he wouldn’t do it. Spent the day being my guide I guess and of course a nice buck presented himself. I saw it too but could not get a shot. For him, it was standing broadside in a logging road and would have been an east shot.

Without tales life would be boring, thanks for sharing your misery in a well told story.

[Mr. Neutron]

Try peppermint oil. Supposed to work better than moth balls.

Good tip, Mark!!! Thanks for that!
Reminds me of the time my "parked-for-long-periods-of-time" F350 diesel got a squirrels' nest built in the valley of the 7.3l motor. The squirrel happily chewed on various sensor wires, just to pass the time, I guess? Anyway, the downset of it was when I would drive it, the truck would die every tilme I turned left. It would always restart & run then die when it made a left turn. I found 2 chewed on/bare wires that would contact each other on left turns, short out, and kill the engine. Trouble shooting that was a "challenge", to put it nicely.....

Jimmie, that was a heck of a range tale. Think we've all been thru something similar at one time or two. At least the truck works. Right?

Thanks Tom! Yeah, the truck is all good now. I'll probably use it to take my dog to the Veterinarian today, as he came up gimpy/limping last night after I threw the ball for him. I had the Green Light from my wife to go shooting today, my 67th birthday, but need to go see the Vet first. And my, how that dog hates the Doctor! As soon as he sees the place, his sphincter squeezes shut, as he knows a thermometer is goin' up there soon......

That’s a sad story told in a way that had me laughing my a$$ off. Well told.

Reminds me of the day my cousin and I went deer hunting. Got to the place we park and he discovered he had left his bolt at home. Tried to talk him into running back home for it but he wouldn’t do it. Spent the day being my guide I guess and of course a nice buck presented himself. I saw it too but could not get a shot. For him, it was standing broadside in a logging road and would have been an east shot.

Without tales life would be boring, thanks for sharing your misery in a well told story.

Another good story, Hatchdog! Not to try to "one up" ya, one of my hunting buddies shot his first deer, then realized he'd left his tag layin' on the kitchen counter at home! We were hunting around 110 miles or so from home, and he left to go get his tag. I'm thinking many speed limit laws were broken during his 3 hour drive home and back. Probably like your cousin with his bolt (a strong argument for Lever Guns, perhaps?? ), my huntin' partner has NEVER forgotten his tag since......

[Mags]

Try peppermint oil. Supposed to work better than moth balls.

I have a ceramic disk to put peppermint oil on. By itself it didn't help. I've also tried mint pellet bags. Like the Irish Spring someone was eating the pellets.

[markiver54]

I have soaked cotton balls with peppermint oil and placed them in various spots under the hood of my vehicles. It seemed to help. Don't know how true it is, but, I've heard that the critters are attracted to wiring because soy is used in the insulation.

[Mr. Neutron]

Made it out to the range today! No Drama!!

It was a cool 40* when I got there about 10 a.m., and 44* when I left a bit after noon. It stayed dry and overcast today. Again, I had the range to myself, except when the outhouse pumping guy showed up for a short while ( I hope we pay that man well…….). Pretty “routine”, and I’m grateful for that. Other than forgetting my Copenhagen, it was near perfect. I’ve been wanting to taper off the tobaccky anyway……

I’ve been playing with some Leverevolution powder, and Winchester 748 for some 170 grain Hornady FPS, #3060 bullets. Nothing today is what I consider “conclusive” as far as a decision on what load I’ll pick for good, but the LVR did seem to do pretty good. Much better than I can shoot. Some snooping on the web seems to think that LVR is a more “Temperature Insensitive/Temp Stable” powder than the Win 748.

Again, it was cool (right at 40*) when I got to the range, and I’m not sure I was doin’ my best trigger pullin’ at first. Here’s the Winchester 748 at 25 yds., and then at a Hundred:

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That flyer above touching the 8 Ring line is all my
mistake. Definitely pulled the trigger before I was ready to, and before the pause in my breathing………



Here’s my efforts with the Leverevolution Powder, again, at 25 & 100 yards. Everything with open sights, a cataract or two, and a cold, stiff, very arthritic trigger finger. Had a decent 2-shot group going, until I pulled more than just the trigger for my last low shot:

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Anyway, I’ve decided it’s way more fun to shoot than to look for lost keys. Gonna try to do more of that.

[Mags]

... Don't know how true it is, but, I've heard that the critters are attracted to wiring because soy is used in the insulation.

I don't know if it's soy based, but it is plant based. That and fuel lines. Had fuel lines and wiring taken out in two vehicles

[Vaquero]

Some good shootin Jimmie.
Yes, I've read that the LVR can be temp. sensitive.
If you can find some CFE223, it is real close to the burn rate of LVR and not temp. sensitive.
Haven't tried it in the 30-30's yet, but it works wonders in my Marlin 308MX.

RP

[Mr. Neutron]

Okay, I dug out my Offhand targets I shot yesterday with the .22. Not going to “one-up anybody with these. I guess I’ve never been afraid of embarrassing myself ……..

Randy (Vaquero), your description in your Offhand thread of the “Apple on a post” sight picture was about the best I’ve read. And that’s what I was striving for yesterday. Biggest problem was the post kept moving, and it wobbled even more as time went on!

I wish that I was able to self-diagnose what was happening here. When I shot instictive longbow, my first shot cold eventually, with a lot of practice, became my best. My “focus” was at its best for the first few shots, and would gradually go to on me as the session went along. Worked out best for me to shoot a few arrows, accept or rejoice over what just happened, think about it, then go ding out by doing something like throwing a ball for the dog, or whatever. Come back and shoot a few arrows, and repeat the cycle. For archery, this worked well for me, and the doggie.

But the rifle is different for some reason. While I know you can’t totally eliminate “the wobble” of the front sight, I haven’t been able to find/live with an acceptable level of it. My first shot or two is “kinda okay”, and things go poopy after that. I’m kinda wondering if maybe I need to take a shot or two, drop the rifle, breathe and relax, then try again. Probably just need to relax, accept what I get, and focus more on having fun.

Anyway, these were shot at 25 yards while the .30-30’s barrel was cooling. They were 10-shot groups, so quite a few off of paper………

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[Mags]

Wobble. I don't even try to shoot rifles offhand any more. Roaming I lean into the side of tree or use a stout crook in a large shrub/tree to minimize. Otherwise a bench rest.

[Mr. Neutron]

Thanks, Mags!

Yeah, the Wobble is tough to beat.

Like you just said, I try to prioritize some sort of rest FIRST. Two of my elk I've shot have been from close range (under 40 yds.), and were shot from a kneeling position. Didn't have much time for these shots; one was walking, the other seemed ready to bolt. My largest bull was shot at 125 yds., but was able to use a tree limb for a rest, get my breathing down, focus on a trigger squeeze, and such. Most of my deer have been taken sitting, kneeling, or shooting off my back pack.

The Offhand shooting is for mostly for fun, but might be handy sometime for a hunting situation. I watched my Granddad make a truly great shot on on a bouncing deer (Looked like a grey ping-pong ball with antlers......) offhand, while my cousin & I never even got our rifles up to our shoulders. Hee hee, I've also seen him miss a standing deer at around 75 yds. at the edge of a clear cut. I wasn't allowed to speak about that one at the breakfast table........

[Vaquero]

Looks like some pretty good shootin to me Jim.
Most of my hunting shots have been from some kind of rest.
A tree limb, laid on the ledge of the hunting blind and such as that.
Way back in my younger days I was a little capable with ah offhanded shot.
Have a couple of hand gun kills that were offhanded and a couple more where I had a rest.

RP

[BrokenolMarine]

Squirrels eating the wires. Mice eating the wires... We used to go kayak fishing at a location south of Richmond called Dutch Gap. Great place to fish as you paddled to a Boat Graveyard... in a channel off the James. There were Barges, Tugs, and other river craft that had been sailed or towed in and sunk there with the superstructures still above the water... The place was a great place to paddle and interesting, and held striper as the water was brackish.

Only problem was the Vultures. Ah, yup. Hundreds and Hundreds of vultures called the trees around the area home. The droppings were bad enough on the vehicles in the lot at the boat landing where you launch, but ... the dang birds would EAT the rubber off the cars. They'd eat the wipers, door seals, the rubber around the windshields and windows. Any exposed rubber other than the tires. I was surprised we didn't come back and find the cars and trucks sitting on four flats. It was funny, you'd pull into the lot and see vehicles and trailers covered with heavy canvas tarps or custom vehicle covers, with concrete blocks on the corners to insure the wind didn't blow them off. Unprotected vehicles often had vultures sitting on the hoods, trunks, or rooflines, pigging out. My first trip there, I was warned in advance, so I had both the truck cover AND a heavy tarp, wasn't taking any chances.


The villains

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An old Tug

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The tree is growing out of the bow

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[Mr. Neutron]

Wow!

There's a coupla places I've seen on the Columbia River out here that I've seen a well beached, abandoned boat, but never anything like in your pics. Yet at the same time, it's kinda interesting, in a weird way. Like to know what circumstances caused 'em to get where they ended up. To me personally, it'd be nicer to not see it there, but it is what it is, I reckon.......

But them Buzzards! My Gosh; that brings back memories of that Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds"! That was a LOT of Vultures (Turkey Vultures?) in the trees...... Had no idea they could be that destructive, and had rubber in their diet. See 'em out here mostly around roadkill.......