Special bug rifle.....

fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
i'm gonna monkey wrench your whole thinking.

32 is just a fancy word for a slightly over size 30 anyway.
this brings the whole discussion right back around to your only needing a 30-06, a couple of [32 caliber] molds and a few different powders.
all your more than one gun problems are solved.
the mold selection just got lowered to 3----4 at most.
and a box of gas checks will last as long as that box of large rifle/pistol primers.

bonus?
you can still go Moose, Elk, and Deer hunting out west.
 
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richhodg66

Well-Known Member
When you couldn't get .22 LR ammo, I got into the Hornet and set up to cast for it. Easy to make squirrel loads that work very effectively. Got a .25-20 I've done similar things with, haven't worked with it as much.

A SR primer costs more than a round of .22 LR ammo now and is less available. I guess I can't win.

A .25 ACP rifle has always seemed like a neat idea. I just found a can of .25 ACP brass in Dad's stuff. Not sure what I'll ever do with it. Have dies too. Dad was a masochist, I guess, loading for those .25s. Not sure where the various pistols he had in it went, but I didn't get one and I don't think any of my brothers did.
 
J

Jeff H

NW Ohio
richhodg66 said:
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A SR primer costs more than a round of .22 LR ammo now and is less available. I guess I can't win.
...
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I gave up on the 22 LR when that big drought hit. I had (still have) a bunch of 22 LR, but never cared much for the rim-fires. The idea of having to find a load one liked and being tied to that was s turn-off to me, so if it didn't shoot the cheap Federal bulk ammo, I didn't keep it. Several REALLY shot that stuff though.

Yeah, I reasoned that primers cost less that 22 LRs and I could GET primers. That's all backwards, now, but I find center-fires more fun and more versatile. I've had much better luck dispatching varmints/vermin at close range with the mild-mannered of the 30 to 35 center-fires.



As far as the "one-gun" thing, I don't see the "bug-gun" being that. More specialized, dedicated arm - which would probably still do MOST of what I need to do with a rifle. I do have "squirrel loads" for my 30/30 which are more accurate at 50 yards than many of the 22 RFs I've owned. THAT could be a "one-gun," but it's not a 4.5# to 5# gun either. More like 6# and has a 24" barrel. Light and handy for what it is, but too long and too heavy for a "bug-gun" or "bunny-gun." VERY interesting, fun to work out and worthy of a discussion though!
 
JWFilips

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I load both 25's and 32 ACP Really not a big deal once you do it. I just hate losing the brass ( shoot autos). It is pretty hard to find after you shoot it. And the folks that have it charge a lot for replacing it! I think a small light rifle would be great ( Especially in .32 acp) You wouldn't loose the brass as quickly) Darn accurate cartridge!
 
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richhodg66

Well-Known Member
Most .22 LRs will shoot better than I can. Kind of likeing the idea of air rifles too.

I have seriosly been wanting to get MGM to make me a rifle barrle for my Contender in that .25/45 Sharps thing,, necked up .223. I'd use it like a .25-20, but brass would never be a problem. I could see that scratching the itch for a centerfire squirrel rifle forever then culd get rid of the Hornets and .25-20s.
 
RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
My issue is there are no squirrels here. This is the desert, so the only squirrel-like rodent we have is the California ground squirrel, a disease ridden rodent that you don't pick up after shooting unless you want the plague like prairie dogs.

Smallest eatable game we have is opossum and marmot.
 
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300BLK

Well-Known Member
RicinYakima said:
My issue is there are no squirrels here. This is the desert, so the only squirrel-like rodent we have is the California ground squirrel, a disease ridden rodent that you don't pick up after shooting unless you want the plague like prairie dogs.

Smallest eatable game we have is opossum and marmot.
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somebody would have to be starving to want to eat a possum
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
true.
i got to where i could even eat duck.
odd thing, i can't hardly stand Mallard, give me a diver like a red head and i'm good... [no spoon bills though i hate those bastard things with a passion]
 
Rick H

Rick H

Well-Known Member
Funny how tastes run....I hate diver ducks (except Canvasbacks) they all taste liverish ugh. Give me a mallard/widgeon/teal/pintail or woody any day.

We tried everything to make Redheads and Bluebills edible. Breasted them out, cooked first in V-8 juice, then finished with fruit juice and grapes....ended up throwing the damn ducks out (even the dogs wouldn't eat them) and eating the grapes.
 
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richhodg66

Well-Known Member
I have eaten possum. Not the worst thing.

I grew up in low country small town S.C. and older folks around there would eat them and also racoons. Nasty as coons are, I believe I'd choose a possum between the two.

I hear some eat armadillos? I'd have to be pretty hungry.
 
3

300BLK

Well-Known Member
richhodg66 said:
I have eaten possum. Not the worst thing.

I grew up in low country small town S.C. and older folks around there would eat them and also racoons. Nasty as coons are, I believe I'd choose a possum between the two.

I hear some eat armadillos? I'd have to be pretty hungry.
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armadiller? possum on the half shell ;)

I grew up in the northern part of Appalachia and skinned my share of muskrats, possums, and coons. I NEVER had any inclination to eat any of those critters. We fished for trout in the spring, and froze them to use as coon bait in the fall.

We had plenty of deer, rabbits, and grouse...
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have eaten Coon more than a few times. Sauced up it was actually very good.
Never ate a grinner or diller. Ill pass. If it cane down to it id try hard ta find something else.

Im on the coast, so sea ducks abound. Scotters are not palate able here. Our dogs wouldnt even eat them. Same for worm eatin timberdoodles!! But Goose and puddle ducks prepaired properly where always enjoyed.
One specail treat was puddle duck breast samaches and coffee in the duck blind!! With cranberry sause ooh YUM!
 
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Rushcreek

Well-Known Member
My father was born on an NW Oklahoma farm in 1929. He recalled that they ate a skunk once, and many jackrabbits and other critters, even a mess of field larks(called Fee larks) during that time.
I have eaten possum, snake, and armadillo.
I’d eat another fried rattler and pass on the rest!
 
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Jeff H

NW Ohio
richhodg66 said:
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I grew up in low country small town S.C. and older folks around there would eat them and also racoons...
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30, 40 years ago, my brother trapped in that neighborhood. Once in a while, he'd get a 'possum in a 'coon set, so he'd carry it away from his set, but didn't want to drag it all the way home, so he took to tossing it onto the "porch" of a shack in the middle of the woods.

Next time he got an errant 'possum, the front door of the shack burst open when the 'possum thumped on the porch and he ran. Someone started hollerin' "STOP, STOP!" He wasn't sure if he should take a chance and stop or try to make like a moving target, half-expecting to get shot. Well, he stopped.

The old fella hollerin' came running up and thanking him for the meat. He tried to give my brother two dollars for the "gifted" 'possums.

There were (are?) some damned poor people in that area. Some damned GOOD people too. Most often they turned out to be the SAME people.
 
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fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
rattlesnake,, high on my list of things that better stay out of my sight or it'll get E'T.
i'll also take down a wood pecker if given the chance.
 
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