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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Dog trialing and bird hunting
Is that a Browning? I hunt with a Browning Over/Under and sometimes my 1187.
Brownings are very nice guns and a great value, as are Remington 11-87's, but the gun I think you are referring to is a Famars (Abbitaco and Salvenelli) 20 bore roundbody droplock - one of a very rare breed: an O/U in true game gun configuration. I had it built to weigh exactly 6 pounds, with 30" screw choke bbls, solid rib, Prince of Wales grip, minimalist game gun fore end, etc.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2008%20Hunting/11-29-08-Someoneoncelivedhere.jpg
Most of the birds I kill are taken at off points at fairly close range. I do the bulk of my hunting with the lithe 20, both east and west. With the right choke and load, it will crush even a big pheasant out to 40 yards or so and that is good enough for me 90% of the time.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2009%20Hunting/11-21-09-Famars20gaugeatwork.jpg width=600
I do have a Famars 12 bore for those rare occasions when I need to reach out beyond 40 yards if I want to get any shooting. It's a pinless sidelock side-by-side with 30" bbls in game gun configuration.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Nebraska%202006/9-30-Chasewithhissharptail.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/guns/2006-10-26-ASandwildbirdfeathers.jpg width=600
I am a big fan of Famars guns and am lucky enough to own a few of them. Famars only makes a very limited number of bespoke guns each year and they are not cheap, but, IMO, they will stand up favorably when compared with any top-tier gun in the world, including English guns.
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Birddogman
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07/15/11 07:27am |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Do you name your motorhome?
I call my land and home "Windsong". Yes, after the old John Denver song because all you can hear there is the sound of the wind in the trees - nothing unnatural.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town/SnowySign-1-23-05.jpg
My MH's, including this one, have all been named "Windy" as a diminutive of Windsong, because the MH is my home when I'm not home. Also because the dogs and I spend a good bit of time in it way out on the remote high plains where the wind is a living force.
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Birddogman
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07/05/11 02:44pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Why do you like RVing?
What the heck is a DP and a toad? I can only think of... designated puller and a small car behind. Diesel power? The jargon is certainly interesting in RVing.
A "DP" is a Class A diesel pusher motorhome. A "toad" is a vehicle that is towed by a motorhome. Looks like this during a quick break on the road to allow the dogs to water the bushes:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202010/9-21-10-Breakontheroad.jpg
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Birddogman
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06/27/11 07:16am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Why do you like RVing?
Several reasons, none of which have to do with saving money. In fact, if I added up all the costs of owning and operating a DP and a toad, I could probably spend months each year in 5-star hotels for the same money. Happily, I can afford the cost.
My MH is a home away from home. I can live in it indefinitely in total comfort, just as if I was home when I am in a different geographic location to engage in some activity there – typically upland bird hunting. I would not want to “full-time” because I love my land and my home, but my plan for retirement was spend about six months per year in the MH chasing the upland bird seasons from north to south – starting in Alaska in August and working my way slowly to Louisiana or Arizona by January, then back home and park the MH for the spring and summer. I don’t know of any other way to do that, especially since I travel with my bird dogs – certainly that sort of extended travel in hotels/motels with dogs would be horrible and I wouldn’t even consider it.
It also was the only way my handicapped wife (35 years of MS) could travel. She wouldn’t normally come along on “my” trips, but I’d take her anywhere she wanted in the MH – usually to see out of town kids or to a beach-type setting. Again, there was no other way to do that. Unfortunately, she had a catastrophic stroke about six months ago, just as I retired, and all plans are now on hold.
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Birddogman
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06/27/11 06:55am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 06 Journey
Mine's a 39 foot '08 diesel. Previously, I have owned a 32' Adventurer gasser with the same basement air system. Both were ducted. Never had any trouble with either of them; and they kept the interior comfortable everywhere I've been. I like the idea of the heavy A/C units being in the basement instead of sticking out on top.
The only "problem" is that if you are sitting outside the MH toward the rear while the A/C is running, you can hear it and it can blow warm air on you.
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Birddogman
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06/22/11 05:28am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: What do you do to pass the time?
Wow. Thanks. I've been doing this for a long time. I got into it because of an interest in both history and shooting, combined with a ethnic (PA Dutch) heritage for gunmaking. I actually served as an unpaid apprentice to a well-known gunmaker (camped in my RV in his driveway for weeks) years ago to learn the trade. For me it is just a side-hobby, way behind the dogs and bird hunting, and it takes me several years to complete a rifle.
That particular rifle is an exact copy of an existing rifle, made by a Herr Poser in 1690. I was able to take measurements, rubbings, photographs, etc of the original, including the internal lock parts and such; and built this one from those. I liked the fluted buttstock - an unusual feature on such guns.
Here are a few more pics. This is a close up of the little guy on the sideplate:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/guns/Jaeger-Sideplate-rear.jpg
The rigger guard is heavily chased and engraved and the lock is scratch built and engraved:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/guns/Jeager-3.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/guns/Jaeger-2.jpg
Close up of the front finial on the trigger guard:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/guns/Jaeger-TriggerGuard.jpg
Close up of the rear ramrod thimble - also chased and engraved in the original baroque pattern:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/guns/Jaeger-RearThimble.jpg
Interestingly, I can work on a gun even in a crowded campground (places I usually avoid) because the parts don't look enough like a gun to alarm anyone ("Mommy - that man has a GUN!"). The chasing and engraving takes a great deal of time and it just looks like I'm working on an innocuous piece of jewelry.
Thanks again for the kind thoughts about the rifle!!
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Birddogman
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06/08/11 05:55am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: What do you do to pass the time?
I'm not a fulltimer, but I am never bored for a second when living out in the MH or at home. Time is the most precious commodity I know; and for me there never is nearly enough of it. If you are bored, give me your extra time and I will make full use of it.
I do many things when in the MH:
Upland bird hunting is my main focus - we hunt various species all over the country:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2010%20Hunting/10-29-10-ChaseUnderstormyskies.jpg
Keeping, training, running my beloved bird dogs is a big part of each day year 'round, plus keeping the Old Man in good enough shape for the rigors of covering miles and miles of remote wilderness when hunting.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2009%20Hunting/11-8-09-MaggiesittingatBlueMarsh-5.jpg
I shoot quite a bit each week to maintain my shooting skills - mostly shotgun and rifle. I used to travel around to shoot a lot of national-level competition, but I've given that up in favor of more time afield. This also involves time spent reloading a lot of ammo, maintaining guns and other equipment.
I make guns as well - generally very elaborate Jaeger-type flintlocks - doing both the wood and metal work, engraving, chasing, etc. Here's one - a circa 1690 .72 caliber:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/guns/Jeager-6.jpg
This is the sideplate - made from scratch - note the little guy in 17th Century garb with this very rifle slung over his shoulder - the rest of the gun is equally worked:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/guns/Jaeger-Sideplate-Entire.jpg
Yes, you can do this in an MH - the simple hand tools needed fit into one small box.
As we travel, I avoid populated places, especially cities, like the plague, but enjoy exploring wilderness places - from badlands to isolated beaches:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Badlands%202010/9-26-10-Badlands-5.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Outer%20Banks%20and%20Shore/2007-OuterBanks-5-17-07-MaggieandCh.jpg
I carry a small carbon fiber canoe and enjoy exploring remote waterways with it - not much of a fisherman (too much sitting), but will try my hand at that now and then.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Trips%20and%20Places/RaystownLake-5-08-Fishing-1.jpg
I like to try to make attractive images of the beauty (to my eye) I am privileged to see when in uncrowded places:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Trips%20and%20Places/4-18-09-AmeliaIsland-LIghthouse-2.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202009/Dakota-2009-10-9-09-Oldbuildingo-1.jpg
When on the road, I telecommute to work for a few hours each day.
Finally, I'm a huge reader in my "spare time" - getting a Kindle that gives me access to countless books even when in remote areas, had made that work better on the road.
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Birddogman
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06/05/11 06:45am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Coffee anyone?
I have a high-end Cuisinart coffee maker in the MH. Works fine - makes the good strong coffee I like. There is plenty of counter space, so that's not a problem.
The problem is that my older daughter knows I like coffee and she got me a Kuerig single cup machine for Christmas. I'm got hooked on that from day one. Their dark and bold roasts are superb and with those single use K-cups you can make whatever you fancy on a given day. I will likely get one for the MH and ditch the Cuisniart.
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Birddogman
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05/28/11 04:04pm |
General RVing Issues
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