Met a Shooters refugee

[Bret4207]

I just got back from another week in Albany for training. Kind of a bad week. We had 3 Troopers shot in 2 days, one died and it may have been friendly fire. Long story, results not clear yet, bad guy dead, bad thing all around. Anyway, I was visiting gunshops after class, as any real man is inclined to do. At one shop we got talking about gun control, (surprise huh?) and I mentioned moderating a cast bullet site. One of the guys says, "Cast Boolits with 2 O's?" "Yup!" Well low and behold it's "3/8 Marine" from the old Shooters site! We had a nice visit, great guy. It was really nice to actually meet someone who you've corresponded with over the years. He's lurking out there somewhere and I hope he speaks up.

Also went gun hunting. At one big place I found the Holy Grail- A S+W 1st model Hand Ejector 32 S+W Long 4", bright blue in pristine condition. $299.00!!!!!! I asked the counter man to see it as I reached for my wallet. The other counter man bashed my hopes when he says, " All those guns on the 3rd shelf are sold already on Gun Broker." What a let down. Found a customized Krag- in 243 Win. !!!!! No thanks. Even I'm not that daring.

On my way home I stopped by a place I'd seen a few times when I had the wife and herd along. No affordable guns, but I did get 6 bound editions of the American Rifleman from 1933 on. Some of these are older than the single copies I found from time to time. I'm sure I'll have some reports on those old articles in the future.

[NVcurmudgeon]

Bret, glad you are safe and were not involved in the recent tragic happenings. Enjoy those old Reflemans. I once had one from 1934 in which the author described making a manzanita stock. Manzanita is a little tree-like form of brush that seems to be the climax plant for much of California. Most of it is three or four feet tall and it's only use is hiding blacktail deer. Manzanita seldom grows big enough to make a stock, but this guy found an adequate piece. It is also harder than a banker's heart. I think the manzanita stock was made for a Krag. A Krag in .243?! Somewhere there is a gunsmith with big brass ones and the IQ of a rutabaga.

[PatMarlin]

I was very fortunate to get treated to breakfast by none other than our very own Deputy Al a few weeks ago... !

We had a great time, and he escorted me to my destination to pick up a peice of equipment I had won off of eBay. That was a welcome visit after driving a 1600 mile round trip...

Speaking of Manzanita...

I've got old growth manzanita up here that's near 2' at the base and branches as big as 7-8". They stand as high as 15 feet. Now that's some awesome wood, but I haven't got it to dry spit free yet.

[Ricochet]

Very cool! It's always nice to meet an online comrade!

[fatnhappy]

It's been a tough year for the NYSP.

I hope Bruno gets his way.