so waht ya doin today?

[smokeywolf]

Need to start researching fishing rods and reels for fishing our Norfork Lake. All, and I mean all of our fishing gear was stolen out of our 5th wheel about 6 years ago, so, starting over.
We'll eventually buy a boat, but until Mrs. smokeywolf's heart issues are ironed out, on a boat, out in the lake is not a good place for her. For the time being we'll do a little fishing from shore. Our lake access is 5 minutes down the road and we often see folks fishing from shore there.

The rod and reel Mrs. smokeywolf had and that she fished stripers with before, was a light weight salt water rod and a Shimano (I think) Baitrunner type spinning reel that I bought her nearly 25 years ago. I watched her reel in an 18+ lb striper with that from the bank at Silverwood lake up in the San Bernardino Mountains. Have a picture somewhere.

I've done comparatively little fishing over the last half century and bought very little fishing tackle. Hoping to get some input from those of you with more experience.

Winelover, HELP!

 

[Brad]

Did some mechanical work this afternoon.

Was good to get a rear end in the recliner.

 

[JonB]

41 WC.
A decade ago, when I started casting, I just had to have a 41 WC. I looked around and I asked around ...and no molds were to be found. That's when I learned of Tom at Accurate Molds. He cut a custom brass 3 cavity mold (195gr button nose) for me, and of course, it's an awesome mold.

This is a old photo, Lube is WLL BAC, sadly I no longer own the gun ...and obviously I regret selling it.

 

[Mitty38]

How are you annealing them? I usually watch the colors change, like tempering steel. Usually you can watch the shade change as the heat travels.

Just like I do my. 223 for regular use.
Using bare fingers and a candle.Hold tip of the flame to the end of the brass. While rotating. Throw in water when my fingers start burning.

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

JonB---- Nice Maple grip's !!

 

[Winelover]

Smokey: I've up dated most of my trolling reels to open face spinning reels. Metal body Penn Battle II's............. composite bodies flex when you have a good size fish on. I'm using one bait casting type trolling reel. It's a line counter Dawia. Best bang for the buck in trolling rods are the Shakespeare Ugly Sticks, IMO.

If were just casting, we have a hodgepodge of rod and reel combinations. However, I prefer the open face design. I'm a southpaw so I appreciate the ability to swap the crank from side to side, when necessary. Cindy's right handed. Her casting rod is an old two piece Garcia with the metal ferrules and real cork handles. She currently using a very nice discontinued metal body Cabela's open face.............I picked up on a closeout sale. I'm using a Lew's metal open face spinner with a one piece Fenwick rod, cork handled. I have the same rod in a two piece but after several cast the rod was separating..............now it's only used for trolling. I hate those new two piece fiberglass rods that lack the metal ferrules. The Lew's reel is OK but I wouldn't purchase another. I thing the Penn's are much better reels.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Thanks for the heads up! I was just annealing the very top. It pings. Got 10 done that are right enough. I have 180 more to go, so going to give a more aggressive anneal a try. Going back over there later.

YUP. anneal them 100%!!! I made/ still makingactually. Been stalled for months. But annealed over 1/2 the case. Then using dies I progressively opened the case neck to a 38/55 die so nearly straight. Last step will begin with annealing again. (Multiple sizing work hardens cases!!) Then I will load and fire them. This was using 303 as 444 was thin and had missfire issues. I have 50 cases I'm down to a lil over 40, I expect to loose a couple more before Im done.
CW

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Just like I do my. 223 for regular use.
Using bare fingers and a candle.Hold tip of the flame to the end of the brass. While rotating. Throw in water when my fingers start burning.

Haha. I also use fingers but a torch and not till my fingers get hot... You want a straw color, glowing red is much to far. Depending upon the brass for me it's usually 5-7sec. I do it in my loading toom bathroom cause its pitch blk and easier to see color. Once I have a doz or so I know how many seconds for this batch and turn lights on. I did a couple videos showing this. Then I drop into sink with running water to keep it cold. Usually there is only a faint rainbow. I recently did a batch of 7mag brass of unknown firings or handling. It was vividly marked showing annealing.

 

[dale2242]

Fall chinook season has been a good producer in the Rogue bay this year.
I am going to whine a little because I haven`t been able to fish his summer.
Between visiting my wife while she was in the hospital for 50+ days and taking care of her when we brought her home, I just haven`t had the time.
Oh well, first things first.
A mans gotta do what a mans gotta do.
My neighbor has given me a lot of salmon he has caught this year.
I smoked up a nice batch a couple of days a go.
2 days of rain have been very welcome.
It brought down the fire danger , finally.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

SMOKED SALMON is a favorite around here too!! Its a Christmas New Years treat for us. Ill smoke up at least four fillets. Probably 20#+ (before cooking)

Vac sealed the remainder (not eaten last night) From yesterday's catch 8.3#

 

[Bret4207]

Just like I do my. 223 for regular use.
Using bare fingers and a candle.Hold tip of the flame to the end of the brass. While rotating. Throw in water when my fingers start burning.

FWIW- the candle takes a while to heat the brass. A propane torch heats the brass faster before you start getting hot fingers. Plus, there is no need to quench the brass, it will remain soft if air cooled. Plus, you won't need to dry the brass if you let it air cool.

 

[Bret4207]

Well, the sun is shining and there was no fog this AM, so I'm hoping to hay this afternoon. That comes after we flea bomb the house, always a fun family project.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Yes good point. Brass sees no hardness difference from water quench!
BUT what it does is stop the heat QUICKER from possibly softening the web area.
CW

 

[smokeywolf]

Thanks John (Winelover) for the info and advice.

 

[Brad]

Did some therapeutic shooting this AM.

Wife and I took the 1911s and CZ 75 along with 400+ rounds of ammo to the range. Many bullets gave their lives on a steel plate for our benefit.

It was a good way to clean up some odds and ends of ammo for each gun.

 

[RBHarter]

I saw the water cooling about 15 yr ago and have used it since as I always had littles and critters close by .

I've found that occasionally I get some brass that it just doesn't make any difference in and some of it makes worlds of difference .

 

[GRMPS]

I got this far on my "prototype" need to get back at it and finish this mock up and make a final build.

 

[popper]

You guys bugged me so I went and annealed some 308 & BO brass. Case head in an old socket, turned by hand for the 308. 3/8 socket adapter for my old B&D elec screwdriver for the BO. MAPP torch. Worked quick and didn't burn fingers. batt ran down for the driver so I just used the adapter for remaining 50 or so. Small shaft easier to turn with fingers and they stay cool. Takes less time too, driver turns too fast.

 

[Bret4207]

Got some hay made, gorgeous day!

 

[Mitty38]

Well anealed and formed some more krag brass from 303. Took some advice and used a propane torch. Put on gloves and darkened the room. Did a couple first the way I was to see where it was working. Then held up a little further on the brass and let the glow go down a bit further on the neck. Started getting 7 out of 10 instead of 4 out of 10 . We got 110 good usable brass. Now my brother has to do a chamber cast and we can figure out the bullet mould. Tried to talk him into pound casting but he insists on using the incredible shrinking magic Brownells chamber casting stuff.