Schmitty

I've got a Lilja, Pac Nor, Lilja, Schneider, Shilen and one of Danny Pedersen's. I've got friends with Krieger's, Hart's, douglas, etc. All shoot good and clean up quick and easy. Some folks feel that the "cut" rifled barrels (pedersen, krieger, rock creek, bartlein etc.) last a little longer than the button rifled barrels. My most accurate rifle wears a Lilja, but then again it's a 14lb monster made for shooting off a bench. I'd look at the list of mfgr's above, look at their costs, contours and lead times and make a decision. good luck, Schmitty

Thanks for the replies, As for draw length, it's what I've shot for 15 years. I'm 6'5 and my wingspan is over 80 inches. I'll go ahead and get measured just to see what the pro shops suggest. I'd like to try shooting a few different bows, however what I've found in the past. (I've been looking for the past couple of years, the tag has finally pushed me over the edge) is that most shops don't have anything set up for a guy my size. I've also been pulling 80 lbs as well, pushing my rebar like arrows at 240 fps. (Easton 2613's w/ 130 gr muzzys, penetration was never a problem ) It looks like 70 lbs is pretty standard these days for limbs, which is fine as I'm not getting any younger. Keep the suggestions coming, Schmitty

Add another one to the list for the archery hunt in unit 8! I can't believe the luck, looks like it's time to finally upgrade the old bow! Take care, Schmitty

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks, Schmitty

Badlands 2800 in Max1 camo FS. This is the new style, purchased this past fall and used twice. My torso is just too long and I can't get the weight to sit on my hips. I am going to order a custom made Kifaru freighter pack. I'll throw in the camelback water bladder ($30) $145

Swarovski ATS 65mm HD spotter with 20-60 eyepiece FS. Bought this past September, new from Sportsman's Warehouse. Save yourself $500+ over new price. $1850 shipped Pics available on request.

Because I'm going to need to send a bit of $ to my not so favorite Uncle S.

I think they are fine for deer/antelope. They aren't heavy boned and don't take alot to kill providing you can put the bullet into the boiler room. For Elk, I personally will stick to a heavier constructed bullet like the Barnes or Partition. However, here is an active thread in regards to people's actual experience using the Berger's on game. http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/u...e/1#Post1984392 hope this helps, Schmitty

That looks fantastic. I wish I was in the running! Thanks for all of your time and effort as well as keeping us up to date with all of the photos, etc. I've really enjoyed watching the whole process and seeing it all come together. The final product is outstanding and the mesquite base really pulls it all together and is the perfect accent for a Coues. thanks again, Schmitty

What type of .410 is it? Hopefully not a mod 42 winchester. Depending on the collectibility of the gun, depends on what you should use to refinish it, now that it's been stripped. so who made the .410? Schmitty

I had the Minox and I thought that the glass was very good. In side by side comparisons with the swaros, the swaros were indeed better, but not by much. After testing them side by side, I bought the Minox figuring that they were good enough. I still believe that the glass of the Minox is "good enough", but after spending 5 days looking through them on my Oct. hunt, I found that the eyecups were too boxy and uncomfortable to glass thru for long periods of time. I borrowed a pair of swaros on the last day of the hunt and was amazed at how much more comfortable they were to glass with for extended periods of time. I ended up selling the Minox on the classifieds here and bought a pair of Swaro's off of Ebay that I still can't really afford right now, hence the reason they are listed on the classifieds. I've also looked thru Casey's Leica's and they were very nice as well. hope this helps, Schmitty

Casey, You only have to reload if you want to get the benefit of the improved case. You can still shoot regular 25-06 cases through it as they have the same headspace. Accuracy with new brass isn't quite as good as with the fireformed cases, but that's just as true with conventional brass. While you do need to work up a load using the formed brass, you can get plenty of good shooting practice using the unformed cases. For ex. with my .20-221 AI, I've shot multiple 3/8" 5 shot groups using new brass. No single hole groups like with the fireformed brass but more than accurate enough to take off a p-dogs head at 250 yards. As for performance, you'll see around 100 fps gained over the standard case. Feeding shouldn't be much of an issue with the long case and the high BC bullets. Kevin Weaver has a big write up on the 25-06 AI on his website. www.weaverrifles.com. It should be located in the cartridges, load data section. take care, Schmitty

Black Swarovski 15x56 SLC WB bino's for sale. These aren't the SLCnew model, but have the swarobright coatings. Bino's are in immaculate condition, have all the end caps, box, booklets, zipped case, swaro neoprene necstrap and a green swarovski padded case. Pics available on request. $1425 Tripod adapter not included. thanks, Craig

Swaros still available.

I'd buy the bino's before building the rifle. You need to find game before you can shoot it I built a 6.5-06 AI this past fall ahd hoped to have it ready for 3 different hunts. Guess what? it's still at the gunsmith's getting problems sorted out. I just returned from TX where my trusty, only shoots 1" groups" .243, took care of 2 deer and 2 hogs with 4 shells fired. So much for needing the "hot rod" that's been parked at the smith's shop. Thanks for the offers on the daughters, but I've already got two who love hunting. The 18 month old prefers deer hunting movies to cartoons and The 5 year old just got a "Crickett" .22LR for her birthday. I feel your pain on the tags here in AZ, and don't know what I'm going to do when the girls are old enough to hunt the bigger critters. I just paid $6 for my 8 year old Nephew's youth license in TX, where he can shoot 5 deer and year along with everything else on the one license. I just bought these swaro's for what I'm selling them for. I can't afford them either, hence the selling. take care, Schmitty

Why the smilies? Is the price too low for you?

Tripod adapter come with it?

I don't think that Lester will do anything other than rebarrel bench guns now that Gary has left his shop. It's not in Phoenix, but I'd strongly consider Dan Pedersen in Prescott ( www.cutrifle.com) as barrels are his specialties. He'd be able to tell you over the phone if you'd be able to flute it or not, and costs, etc. Everything I've had Dan do for me has been top notch, not to mention that he's a great guy. good luck, Schmitty

Thanks for sharing the pics and story and congratulations on a true WHOPPER!

Congrats on a good hunt! Nice pics, How was the weather for the Nov hunt? Schmitty

Great buck! Glad to see your scouting pay off!

I own a Landscape company up here in Prescott. WE don't work down in Valley much, but Dec. wouldn't be too bad. Regardless I can help you out with some ideas/planning/construction details. First thing since the house is currently under construction, see if you can have your builder at least stub out gas to the backyard for you to tie into for the outdoor kitchen and fire pit. Is the front yard coming landscaped as part of the home package? If so speak with whoever is landscaping the front and have them run the pressurized waterline into the backyard and leave an access stub as well as running some extra wire (3 strand) for valves from the conroller to this point as well. You will want the pressurized line to run to your water feature so that it automatically fills itself. Also make sure that the controller they install will have enough stations on it to take care of your backyard's irrigation needs. A separate electrical circuit devoted to the backyard will probably be necessary as well. This usually isn't a big deal as most electrical panels are located alongside the house and it's easy to run a line down the side of the house. If they haven't poured the driveway or patios yet, make sure that they put a couple of sleeves in so that you can pull lines under the driveway if the need arises in the future. As for the flagstone, If you want it to have mortared joints, you'll need to lay it on top of concrete. If they haven't poured the patio in the back, make sure that the concrete sits 3" below the threshold of the back door as you'll need to allow 2" for the flagstone to be layed on top. Most spec homes give you such a tiny pad that you'll need to extend it a bit. You DON"T want to pour this until you have run all of the necessary utilities to the new kitchen area. Anyhow, I've got to get packing for my hunt, but hope this helps. I'll be back on the 31st if you have any questions. take care, Schmitty

Ron, There isn't too much truth to your aforementionedcomments. Both cartridges are very similar in nature as their cases are based off of a shortened H and H. There is only ..030" difference between the two win mags with he .338 pushing the same bullet weights as the .300 125 fps or so faster. In realistic hunting yardages (400 yards and in) the .338 will get the nod in both energy and trajectory. You get out past 500 and the .300 starts to shine. With the .338 you have the option of shooting heavier bullets which will indeed have more energy (inside 400 yards) Neither of them are pussycats and bark loudly and kick like mules. Both require earplugs and recoil with the same bullet weight will be identical in matching rifles. The BC will be higher in the .30's over the .338 in identical weight, but as I mentioned above the .338 will be faster. As a Coues rifle, neither would be my first choice. I have owned both the 300 and 338 and really don't see much of a difference unless you want to shoot the real light bullets in the .300 which doesn't appeal much to me. As for price of factory fodder I don't know as I reload. The two elk that I did shoot with the .338 fell pretty hard with shots to the boiler room with only rib meat lost. That being said, I'd feel comfortable shooting elk with my 6.5-06 with a 140 gr partition or triple shock. The .338 is a good one to have in the safe if big (elk or larger) game is part of your plans. Most .338 WM's weren't finicky and shot most anything I fed it quite accurately. Here's a link to an article about the .339 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQ..._46/ai_65574867 Good luck, Schmitty

Minox BD 15x58 ED BR For Sale I've only had them out on a couple of scouting trips, these are in excellent condition. I still have the box, instructions and a the warranty card that was never filled out. $650. I am in Prescott, but I"ll be down in the valley and tucson in the next few weeks. Here's a review on the Minox 15's from an article about Big Eyes. The whole article can be found at www.24hourcampfire.com Minox BD 15x58 ED BR "Big, heavy, and bright." First impressions can mean a lot, and with the Minox 15x58 ED BR, what you see is what you get. What you do not see is the price, and because of its MSRP of $1,050, reviewers unanimously voted the Minox as the "Best Value." The largest (225x159x69mm) 15x that we tested, as well as the heaviest (52.55 ounces), it was — as the reviewers noted — "very heavy for a small hand," "bigger and heavier than the Geovids," and "massive glass." Despite its weight and bulk, reviewers were very impressed with the Minox's optical performance: "Very, very close optically to the Swaro and Leica," "98% as good as binos costing twice as much," and "incredible optics, at any price." When Minox introduced the revamped 15x58 ED at the 2006 SHOT Show, the big news was the ED flouride glass, which, according to Minox, aids in accurate color rendition. Compared to the earlier versions of the Minox 15x58 without the ED glass, the new ED BR is a noticeable improvement, not only in color fidelity, but in sharpness and resolution as well. Reviewers noted that the Minox stayed with the Leica and the Swarovski into the far edges of twilight, with image quality constant well past legal shooting light. Resolution was excellent, if a fine hair less sharp than the very best. Clarity and brightness were also excellent, partly because of the 58mm objective lenses, the largest of any 15x binocular that we tested. Reviewers noted "no eye strain,” “easy to get properly adjusted," and "great tripod adapter." A few reviewers noted that it "does not adapt well to bifocals," that its "objective covers felt cheap,” “the Swarovski-type tethered covers are much nicer," and "very big ocular housing, tricky to fit in eye socket." However, these observations did not detract from the overall impression that the Minox 15x58 is truly a lot of glass for a great price. Runaway best "bang for buck." MSRP: $1,049. Four-plus stars.

Congratulations on a very nice buck.