Hello from a newbie

D

Dave T

Member
EE Expired
Location
Hat Lake; North East of Winterpeg
Well... Here goes

I do not post on many forums, but this one is too good to pass up.

As far as my background; Born and raised on a farm in the gap. Had my first .22 when I was 12, still have it. I worked my way through some .22s and shotguns to a Rem 22-250. Shot mainly gophers, and improvised targets. Reloaded for the 22-250 with my fathers equipment, but never got too technical about developing loads, just saving money.

Fast forward 25 years. I now live outside Winnipeg, on a small farm. I had a long lapse from shooting of any kind due to work, marriage, moving, career, and all that BS. Through it all I maintained my FAC / PAL.

I couldn't stand it any longer. I wanted to get into some form of "formal" shooting. I came to realize that the gophers never really did anything to me personally, but I still wanted to do something other than shoot cans at the gravel pit. I am not against hunting, just never seemed to have the time. Besides, with hunting, if you are good, you only get to shoot once. All the fun is over once you pull the trigger. After some research on the internet, I joined the MPRA, and started shooting "F" class at St. Charles. I lubed up the Visa card and ended up with a Savage 12FTR in .308. Initially I had a Bushnell on top, but after the Visa card cooled off, I went for a Night Force. I also started collecting my own reloading gear. As they say; when the bug bites, it bites hard.

As for my future plans; I am determined to try my hand at learning to rebarrel and chamber a rifle. I really enjoy "F" class but would also like to try some of the practical (tactical / sniper) competitions. I was encouraged to see so many being held in Canada. Before I discovered this fourm I was worried that I would need to travel to the US for training and competition. If all goes well the PAL will be upgraded to a RPAL, and maybe some practical pistol competitions as well.

I have a work schedule that is both a blessing and a curse. I work 28 days on, 28 days off. Which means that this year I missed the Manitoba provincials. However, when I am on time off, I can go to the range (Seven Sisters) early on Monday morning, and have the place to myself.

So that's about it. This seems to be a very cool forum, run by a nice bunch of guys. I am not sure how much posting I will be doing, but I will be around.

Regards,
Dave T.
 
Welcome aboard

This is an excellent forum and I`m sure you will enjoy it in many ways. There are lots of experts in the shooting disciplines and they are more than happy to help out other shooters.

Enjoy:):):)

John D. (jaydeee)
 
Welcome, and enjoy it. Lots of stuff can be learned here, outside of the niches we all inhabit. It sounds like you have everything pretty well in hand.
 
"...I work 28 days on, 28 days off..." Holy Moly! What do you do? Just curtious.
"...had a Bushnell on top..." Have a 30 year old Scopechief on my 1903A4. No fuss getting one hole groups off a bench, on a good day, if I do my part with match grade bullets.
"...really enjoy "F" class but..." The DCRA does do any rifle, any sight at 1,000yards.
"...learning to rebarrel and chamber a rifle..." The right tools and a place to do it. Rebarreling requires a barrel vise and the proper action wrench. Brownell's sells the tools.
Chambering requires more expensive tools. Not outrageously expensive though. A chambering reamer can be rented. Ever built a rifle? There are all kinds of books readily available.
 
Oilfield trash? Me too. I'm on 35/35 and doing christmas offshore this year. It sucks but it pays the bills and buys some toys.
 
jethunter said:
Oilfield trash? Me too. I'm on 35/35 and doing christmas offshore this year. It sucks but it pays the bills and buys some toys.
Click to expand...

Yep, Oilfield.

I get to sit in the front of the helicopter, but we're all still oilfield trash. Christmas and New Years away from home.... again.

The time off, and the toys make up for it. Keep tellin' yourself that, and you may believe it.;)
 
sunray said:
"...I work 28 days on, 28 days off..." Holy Moly! What do you do? Just curtious.
"...had a Bushnell on top..." Have a 30 year old Scopechief on my 1903A4. No fuss getting one hole groups off a bench, on a good day, if I do my part with match grade bullets.
"...really enjoy "F" class but..." The DCRA does do any rifle, any sight at 1,000yards.
"...learning to rebarrel and chamber a rifle..." The right tools and a place to do it. Rebarreling requires a barrel vise and the proper action wrench. Brownell's sells the tools.
Chambering requires more expensive tools. Not outrageously expensive though. A chambering reamer can be rented. Ever built a rifle? There are all kinds of books readily available.
Click to expand...


I wouldn't want anyone to think that I bought the Night Force thinking it would make me shoot better. It was more a case of buying something that you will hang on to for the rest of your life. Hopefully that scope will find it's way on to some other rifles that I build, if they turn out well enough. The Bushnell did develope a crack in the lense, probably due to my improvised shims, trying to get enough elevation for 1000 yards. I will test out this Bushnell customer service I have read about here at CGN.

It is humbling, and I have been humbled, shooting next to a guy who is using open sights at the 1000 yard firing line. Especially when he is doing way better than I am. I just can't get excited about strapping in to all that leather. One of the guys at St Charles told me that if you can barely breathe, and your fingers are going numb, then the jacket is just about tight enough:) Come to think about it, he was shooting F class.

As far as rile building goes, I have done some stock work on my .22's and shotguns. I am busy making some accessories for my lathe, and practising threading, hopefully improving my machining skills along the way. I found, and have been studying three really good books by John L. Hinnant, Steve Acker, and John Stranahan. They have been a wealth of information. The Machinist Beadside Readers, by Guy Lautard have been helpful as well.

When it comes down to chambering that first barrel, I think I will just have to screw up my courage and dive in. It would be nice to watch someone else do one first, but I doubt that many gunsmiths would be willing to hand over the tricks of their trade piecemeal to who ever happens along.

We will just have to see how it turnes out. In the end I will not settle for a rifle that is unsafe, or poses a hazard to myself or the people I shoot with. In that case I will just have a very expensive stainless steel crowbar with a hole in the middle. It'll look cool in the tool box at least.
 
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