Okay, so I don't have a Les Baer, but it makes for a funny title... Here's the scoop. I'm laying the groundwork for attending next year's "Blogorado" shindig (Buy FarmGirl's schwag!). Since even I have my limits as to what I can stand behind the wheel of a car, I'm thinking about {GASP} flying out there. As much as I hate flying, I hate wasting vacation time traveling from here to there and back. Yes, the journey itself is part of the vacation, blah blah blah, but when I've got a long weekend of super shootie goodness to look forward to, spending six days en route (at a minimum) with a truck full of guns ain't my idea of fun. So I might have to bite the bullet (ha! gun pun) and fly out to CO.
Flying will definitely put a crimp in what's coming from the G armory - I have no desire to drop an extra $40-$60 per extra gun case, nor do I want to jump through the hoops of shipping the guns to myself in advance. I might splurge and pick up a couple Pelican cases (note to Pelican: I'm available to review gun cases...) - one four or five pistol case, one rifle case that can hold two scoped rifles - definitely something with security in mind.
So I've got to decide which firearms out of the G. armory get to make the long trip out, and which have to remain behind. I'm figuring on bringing two long arms and five pistols, with at least one pistol reserved for OC while out there. With that in mind, here's what would make up the G. Armory, Road Trip version:
Pistols:
Colt Gold Cup (just so everyone else could out-shoot me with it)
Smith & Wesson Model 17 (so I could redeem myself a little)
SigSauer P226 (just so we could play with the lasers)
Ruger Security Six (you never forget your first)
Smith & Wesson 360PD (because if you're going to carry something all day, the AirLite is the way to go...)
Rifles:
Bushmaster XM15-E2S - it's just so versatile. I can bring the 4X handle-mounted scope, the rail and the Barska 10X scope, and a red dot sight and plink, break clays at 50 -100 yards, or ring steel at 200 yards....
I'm having trouble deciding on the second rifle. Something like the Ruger 10/22, the Remington 572, or the Marlin 39A would be a great choice. A rimfire rifle would really help to stretch the shootin' budget, and I'm pretty comfortable with any of the three. Another option would be the Marlin 336 in .30-30 - nothing like an old classic for some fun cowboy-type shooting. I've only had it out once or twice, but the few shots I've put through it have been dead-on.
A third option would be a dedicated long-range rifle, something like a Remington 700 in .308 Winchester (G-d's Own Caliber) with a decent scope, something 10X or better. The biggest problem with this option is that it involves actually buying another firearm and accessories; however I've been meaning to add a long-range rifle to the armory for a long time now and this might be the impetus for filling that niche. It would be nice to have a "reach out and touch someone" rifle in the armory, something that's not milsurp from WWI... In any case, I've got time to think about it.
What would your choices be for long arms and pistols?
That is all.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
No thoughts on specific guns, but a thought on transporting guns in general: beware of declaring valuable guns (or anything else) in checked baggage. Take something that won't tempt sticky-fingered TSA drones, and/or won't be a tragedy if it does disappear in transit.
Another possibility, believe it or not, is to pick one of the overnight companies that will ship guns, and ship 'em to your destination and back rather than carrying them with you. It will cost a bit extra, but in these days of "fifty bucks per checked bag," not as much as it used to.
Oh, and always always always check Southwest for the nearest airport they fly into.
We need to talk, looks like I'm flying in also, so maybe we can meet at DEN and 'carpool' down... I'm bringing a mix too, including a reach out and touch...
We'll have (I believe) plenty of 30-30s so the Model 39 would be nice.
NFO, I'm making plans for next year here. This year's out because of timing - the week of Blogorado is our annual vacation to Cape Cod, which has been booked for months and months...
But next year, definitely...
Long arms would be the Wby 300 (trusting that there would be some yardage to make it worth it) and probably the Rem 700 (.223) with the bipod and leupold (trusting that there would be some ground rats to make it worth it)... or maybe the sr-556 instead (just because it is fun)... or the garand... picking two is a bit more difficult than it first appears.
Short arms... Likely go something like, px4 subcompact for toting, 3 inch judge for fun, Mk VII deagle for fun, pocket lite for fun and either the 686 or 629 for, you know it, fun.
I don't own (not completely true) a hard transportation case for any of that yet, but Midway just told me that my kalispel pistol case is on the way and they will be shipping my scoped rifle case (can't remember mfg, I think pelicon though) as soon as they get it.
One bit of advice is to not fly with anything that you couldn't tolerate losing. Nothing sentimental or uber rare.
Only once did I have an empty gun case come out the conveyor belt. After a minute or two of panic, the AR came out, naked, on the conveyor :/
Jay , its all up to you , The range last year looked like an ar farm after harvest , this year i expect about the same on garands as well. Do remember that we do have a somewhat informal 1,000 yard fireing line and NFO is likely again to be the " A game " JPG plans to attend and who knows what riflery he will bring, but i hope he brings his bbq 1911 again for us all to drool near . Everyone last year was fantastic about sharing firearms with everyone else and i expect the same to continue . So bring what you like , and expect to also play with some great " free state " toys .
I'm bringing an arsenal (well, not by your standards) and you're welcome to wring out any gun I own.
Your pistol choices are fine, but be sure to bring a long arm suitable for popping prairie dogs at 200 yards or so.
Matt G. and I made a decent dent in the population with Matt's scoped .22, including a few shots around 180 yards or so, but it's nice to have a legitimate long range round to pop some of the little buggers with. ;)
Post a Comment