Whitesheep

I agree with creed_az_88. Just started it but it is a page burner. It is a little depressing to see all the money and time spent regulating a plant, but the adventure is real and well presented. If it wasn't true, this could be a novel.

Here is a link to Man-na-port's web site. You would have to send your rifle in, but this is the original deal. They also have thread on brake. I have not tried either and don't like side firing brakes or ports on hunting firearms because they are so LOUD. For a defensive handgun, especially a revolver, I would consider them. http://www.magnaport.com/

The first time I saw this method used was in Alaska and I have been using it since in back country situations. If a truck can be driven to the kill site and ice bags placed in the body cavity I think the old school method can cool meat on a large animal like an Elk faster. That being said, the gutless method really works great on Javalina when shot a long way from the truck. The added bonus of saving clean up water just makes this technique that much better when caring for valuable meat in the back country. Thank you for sharing.

I am interested as well. For 2015 I already have enough wildlife calenders to put one in about every room, but for 2016 I would be in. For a good AZ wildlife calendar you can go wrong with the one produced by Arizona Wildlife Views, the AZG&F magazine. If you don't subscribe to Arizona Wildlife Views, you really should. You get a calendar every year as part of the subscription. A one year subscription is $8.50 for six issues including the calendar. The quality of the magazine format and writing has improved in the last year or so and there aren't any ads! Check it out here: http://www.azgfd.gov/i_e/pubs/awv_magazine.shtml

I belong to the AzCDL and agree with everything Xnt wrote. Remember the old story. "When they came for automatic weapons I didn't care because I don't own one. When they came for semi auto rifles I didn't care because I don't hunt with one. When they came for pistols I didn't care because I carry a revolver. When they came from my revolver I figured I still had my shot gun and bolt rifle. When they came for these no else cared because.............." If you hunt with firearm or bow in AZ you really must consider supporting AzCDL.

You're making great wallpaper for my desktop Darren. Thank you so much for sharing. These do belong on a Coues Calendar!

Just for the record the book about the Marine Sniper from Vietnam is "Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills" about Carlos Hathcock written by Charles Henderson. Here are the author's notes: Charles Henderson is a veteran of more than twenty-three years in the United States Marine Corps, with a distinguished career spanning from Vietnam to the Gulf War, after which he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer. In addition to writing his own books and for various publications, he runs his family's cattle enterprise in Peyton, Colorado. His first book was critically acclaimed military classic Marine Sniper , which first chronicled the exploits of U.S.M.C. sniper Carlos Hathcock . He is also the author of Marshalling the Faithful. There is one copy floating around the Phoenix Library system and I have it on hold, so get in line

Christmas brought me a new Nosler Patriot Model 48 in .280 Rem AI and 200 Nosler brass. I am just waiting on dies from Sinclair and I'll be ready to go. Any thoughts or experience from CWT members on this rifle and/or load would be appreciated.

+1 on The BDU's. I have worn them for years and they hold up better than any of the fancy camo I have purchased. You will not win any camo fashion awards, but they work. From all the responses it looks like Carharrt is really good, but I have not tried them. Not mentioned, but something I have been considering are Tin Pants from Filson. Pricey, but water proof too.

Good decision Hoss50 and good advice here. I once couldn't see the value in top of the line optics, but I underwent a conversion several years back and now have binos and a spotter worth more than some of my rifles. Same for scopes. Some of my hunting buddies get this, but most don't. "You can't hunt what you can't see."

Not sure of the weight comparison, but my Outdoorsmans tripod with their pistol grip head holds up by Swarovski 60mm spotter just fine. It is also pretty light weight and very tough. Their customer service is fantastic as well.

I am impressed. Great photography.

Congratulations Naturegirl. Now for the next steps... #1: If you have not already done so, loosen and then tighten all lug nuts as other posters have suggested. You don't need a torque wrench and don't use your foot on the 4 way. While you are there.... #2: Take a look at the new tires you purchased and make sure they have "LT" on them and NOT "P." You know what the "P" stands for; It isn't "passenger.". If they are "P" tires take them back and exchange them for "LT's." This is more important than size or tread pattern. #2: Move up to putting on mud/snow chains. Try it in the driveway and tell yourself you will always install them before you need them. You won't, but good intentions have to lead somewhere. Happy Hunting

You are correct PRDATR, the BASF ranges all face North. Since this is really a hunting gun that I will shoot silhouette for "practice" and I find a shade valuable depending on the sun, I would like to shoot on the range with exactly the same rig and loads I will hunt with. Just sent the Leupold bases & rings back to OpticsPlanet so I should be putting this rifle together in the next week or so. Can't wait.

What do a standard set of Leupold bases and medium rings weigh for a Remmington 700 set? The rifle I am putting together will be used for hunting and in silhouette hi-power competition and must way 9 lbs or less. Regrettably I have not been able to find weights for this mounting system and would appreciate any insight readers have. The rifle I am starting with weights 7.5 lbs and the scope will add about 1 lb, so I only have about 8 oz to play with. Maybe aluminum rings? Thanks in advance

"On the Border with Crook" by John G. Bourke is a great read about the Apache wars in AZ. "Vanished Arizona" by Marth Summerhays puts a women's perspective on early AZ and is a great companion to "On the Border with Crook." I can't say enough about the Bob Swager books by Stephen Hunter for fiction.

Working my way through Bill's 60 Year a Hunter and loving it. My grand-pa was the only one in my family for the two generations before me who hunted and he died long before I was born so I never got to sit on his knee and hear his stories. He drove from the middle of Kansas to Colorado to hunt elk to feed the family every year back in the depression so you know there were some good ones. Reading Bill's book is a great replacement for not having a living hunting heritage in my family. Thanks Bill

All the kit for this new rifle is on the bench and here is what everything weighs: Nosler Patriot Model48 in .280 Rem AI 7 lb 12.5 oz Leupold VX3 6.5x20x40 AO Scope 14.9 oz Leupold medium steel bases & rings 5.3 oz Total 9 lb 0.7 oz Can you believe I am only 0.7 oz over! I could lose the rubber eye piece, but it only weights 0.1 oz, so I still would not make hunter class. So I am returning the Leupold mounts and going with the Talleys PRDATR recommended which should bring my total weight to 8 lb 13.7 oz. This means In can run a 4" sunshade (1.3 oz) or 2" (0.8 oz) and still be under 9 lb. If the "official" scale doesn't agree with my postal scale maybe removing the sunshade(s) will get me by. What fun and Merry Christmas

I e-mailed Talley and they responded within 24 hours to indicate their medium rings for a Remington 700 weigh 2.3 oz for the set. My rifle weighs 7lb 12.5 oz so with the 15 oz scope I am at 8lb 11.5 oz and these rings would squeak me by for a total of 8lb 13.8 oz. The steel Leupold set has not arrived yet, but if it is overweight, I'll order a set of Talley's. Thanks everyone for their input and help in weight control for my rifle.

Thank you maximus. I took a look at the EGW mounts and they look very nice as well as very expensive, but I would prefer avoiding placing a rail across the bolt opening. PRDATR, the Talley's are a great suggestion, thank you. I'll give them a try if I am overweight with the steel Leupold's I have on hand.

Thanks W.O.T. Is this an aluminum or steel mount? I guessing aluminum. The two piece Leupold Remington bases and medium rings in 30mm probably weigh more than this. The scope I am looking at is a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x40mm (30mm) Side Focus with the Boon & Crockett reticle. According to Leupold's spec sheet it weights 15.1 oz. I would really like a Trijicon 5x20x50 Accupoint, but it weights almost 30 oz and would put me out of the hunter class for silhouette. Thanks for the feedback.

Hi Lance, Not to be combative, but if you exclude the price of the "action" on a T/C Prohunter you can get a barrel for about $400 so is that the price of a "custom rifle?" I don't think so. It really is unfair to exclude the price of the action when building up a rifle. That being said, if you have an old rifle lying around that doesn't shoot so well, but has a decent quality action, this is a very valid option to buying a whole new rifle.

The Topo Maps App for iphone has been on my last two iphones and is now running on my 5S. This app also works on an iPad, but you have to get one with the cellular ability to get the GPS chip. Not sure if you need an active cell phone contract to use the GPS, but I wouldn't think so. Basically Topo Maps is just that, access to USGS 7.5 quads from the entire US. You do need to download maps in advance and it is limited to the number you can link together, but it is well more than 50. Pretty basic waypoint capability, but no way to navigate to a particular waypoint. I actually use this more than my Garmin when away from camp. I would not trust it alone given the battery life and relatively fragile nature of an iPhone when compared to a hand held GPS, but it is worth the weight to carry IMHO. Personally I don't mind having a laptop around camp because DeLorme's Topo North America is loaded on mine. That being said I wouldn't carry one with me in the field and probably wouldn't carry a full size tablet either. Maybe an iPad Mini, but that is about it.

Great topic and a lot of good information. Thank you to all posters. The T/C ProHunter deserves a look, but just buy the frame from T/C and skip the stock barrel. You can do much better at MGM for just a little more money. Also tune your frame up with tools from Mike Bellm http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=562. A 24" barreled ProHunter is about the same overall length as a full length bolt action with a 21" barrel so you have less weight and better handling. The break open action isn't all that great for magnum's, but for little deer and Javlina rifles, it is fantastic. I have a couple that can shoot sub MOA. You can save a lot of money over a full custom bolt gun and once the frame is tuned up, you can add a match level barrel for a lot less than a whole new bolt action. Have fun

Sure Couestracker, Here it is with the correct measurement. I thought this looked a little bigger, but this is still OK in my opinion for hunting accuracy, but I am not envious of this one. I highly recommend this software. It is only $12 and has no expiration date so it is forever