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solamente73

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Posts posted by solamente73

  1. Y’all know I cook over fire.  But up here, near my farm in NE Texas, my neighbor had me over for dinner last night, and thus made me appreciate cooking steak on a griddle:

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    Hard to tell in that pic, but the steak was medium rare and seasoned to perfection.  It was… incredible…

    So from a pure fire guy to y’all who griddle or sous vide or whatever… perfect your method and appreciate the results.  There are many ways to get a great steak, and perhaps that is part of the greatness that is ‘STEAK.”

    • Hook 'Em 6
    • Like 2
  2. @USCATX check out https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLateNightVisionShow and literally call Outdoor Legacy and Jason and/or Hans will hook you up.  I haven’t posted about this yet, but I was looking for a thermal for a 6.5 Grendel pistol and I researched for months.  Part of the research was watching that show.  I called the shop, and Jason called me back in 5 minutes.  We spent an hour OTP working through use cases I never thought about.  He gave me solid options and actually saved me $ by me not choosing something that was overkill for my needs. I bought and I’m putting together the platform - hope to post soon.  Regardless, at a minimum you get an opinion from those guys - zero sales pressure when you call.  Good luck, and post results!

    • Hook 'Em 1
  3. 18 hours ago, 686 said:

    I had a good weekend scouting trip to CO... It was a little bit more of an ass whip than I wanted it to be....

    Masochist.  

    17 hours ago, 686 said:


    I like Texas whitetail hunting and love deer lease culture/spirit as well, but getting on elk in the wilderness is just amazing to me.

    ^This right here.

    17 hours ago, 686 said:

    @solamente73 are you getting the blesbok and impala shipped back / mounted?

    All 12 trophies will be euro mounts (that's my style) and the hides will either be fur or leather product; I'm still working out what I'm going to have made (rifle cases, ammo carriers, wallets, etc.) vs. what will be "rugs."  There are two additional "cull" animals that I'll use for leather product and for barware.  Karoo Taxidermy out of Graaf-Reinet is doing the work.  I toured their facility and it was an incredibly impressive operation.  They seem to successfully scale volume, quality, and specialization.  I had met the owner back in January and had communicated with staff prior to flying over, so I had pretty much made up my mind before the safari.  Even then, I encountered no better option before, during, or after the trip.

     

    ___________________________

    If y'all want to see what a South African taxidermy outfit looks like, here you go.  I probably focused more on the skulls than the shoulder/full mounts because of my interest.  Reminder - this is NOT my taxidermy, just my taxidermist.  Spoilered for the pics:

    Spoiler

    Welcome area:

    IMG_4260.thumb.JPEG.17a62f2f9752718ce271200c9b3d2f41.JPEG

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    Salting/prepping skins:

    IMG_4253.thumb.JPEG.8ecc26b45ee167a7b411cb334a5d8cd8.JPEG

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    Prepping skulls (against the wall are elephant skulls(!))

    IMG_4243.thumb.JPEG.4729afbb797543a9cd1ce9e4faa6eff6.JPEG

    IMG_4247.thumb.JPEG.83b91d9ef97cc2303d59851084ef85aa.JPEG

    Where the "mounts" happen:

    IMG_4187.thumb.JPEG.fc005537ec81816a0acaba7175c2e137.JPEG

    IMG_4189.thumb.JPEG.7f4211bb59c246b633f81bc110e404fb.JPEG

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    Packing and shipping:

    IMG_4239.thumb.JPEG.949288851314c392cbc8402be7cb991e.JPEG

    Carved giraffe leg bones destined for Denmark: 

    IMG_4236.thumb.JPEG.79990e6c91e40b116a537c77da34943c.JPEG

    IMG_4237.thumb.JPEG.e67141660526040d3442195655a27e92.JPEG

     

    The spoilered above looks like chaos but every single item, no matter how large or small, is labled/tagged and tracked from receiving to shipping.  The half-day was worth it to learn how it all worked.

     

     

     

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    • Hook 'Em 1
    • Like 4
  4. Sorry for the delay in updates, but life has been busy since getting back a month ago.  

    Day 3 was a day of both success and disappointment.  Spoilered for longcat.

    Spoiler

    The Safari, Day 3:  Sometimes you just have to take what the bush gives you.

    We started Day 3 with bushbuck on our minds.  Bushbuck are shy and elusive, spending most of their time browsing the thick bush rather than grazing the open fields.  While we searched for bushbuck, we knew that there would be other opportunities.  That day, it would be impala.

    We began by returning to an area called “the rugby field.”  It was a lush field about 1400 yards long surrounded by hills and thick brush.  The evening before, we had seen eland, impala, warthog, and blue wildebeest in and around the field, and as the daylight waned, I had been downscope on a really nice blue wildebeest; however, a herd of eland and the rest of the wildebeest herd conspired to block my shot.  Eventually, we called it a day as taking a 318 yard shot off sticks at last light was to risk losing a trophy in the bush after dark.  The next morning we decided to return to the rugby field to go after the impala that we had seen the evening before… and to keep looking for bushbuck.  

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    We hiked and glassed the entire area, and the abundance of life that we had seen the evening before was absent.  On the way back to the bakkie, though, we crested a ridge to find the impala herd we were after huddled in a small clearing, and they immediately fled into the dense trees.  They had been there all along, but we just didn’t know it until it was too late.

    With no bushbuck sighted and impala spooked, we loaded up the Cruiser and began making our way to what they called “the cattle farm” - a rich valley, surrounded by densely forested hills, where they actually raised cattle.  The owner’s 10 year old grandson and another young man were along for the ride, helping us spot animals.  About halfway to the cattle farm, I heard a sudden loud knocking on the cab’s roof - the boy spotters in the back had seen something.  “Impala” I heard the young man say.  The PH grabbed his binocs, took a look, turned to me, smiled, and said “get your gun.”

    We hopped out and got our gear together.  I chambered a round and set the rifle to safety.  The PH, his tracker, and I lined up and began to make our way towards where the impala was grazing, leaving the youngins behind with the cruiser.  There were several dense groves of trees scattered across the valley floor to provide cover, and we moved from grove to grove, the PH periodically peeking around the grove edges to see what the ram was up to.  

    Eventually, we ran out of cover, and the valley opened up.  I looked across the expanse and saw the impala grazing through a grove of magnificent trees.  I’ll never forget that golden ram framed under the tree’s expansive branches.  The PH set the sticks and I went downscope on the impala.  “One hundred and sixty two yards,” my PH whispered.  I put the crosshairs on the ram’s right shoulder.  “I have him,” I whispered back.  The ram took another step forward, grazing right along.  His head was now obscured by a bush, but the shoulder was still clear.  I decided to take the shot.

    Breath just right, rifle steady on the sticks, crosshairs where I wanted them, I squeezed and waited for the boom.  And while I waited, the impala took yet another step behind the bush.

    Boom!

    Thwack.

    I chambered another round.  The “thwack” told me that I’d hit him, but where?  I couldn’t find him in the scope, and I feared he’d moved into the brush.  “Where is he?” I asked.  My PH replied, “He is down, Sir!  Well done!”

    The grass was high and I couldn’t see the ram, but I knew to take the PH’s word.  We gathered up and made our way to where the impala last stood.  As long as I couldn’t see it, there was just a hint of doubt in my mind, but that doubt evaporated as soon as I saw that golden coat laying atop the lush grass.

    With the ram’s last-second step forward, I ended up spining him and dropping him right where he had stood.  

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    The boys brought up the cruiser, and upon hopping out, they congratulated me.  I thanked THEM, as it was they who had spotted this very nice ram.  Since my two little boys were half a world away, I was particularly happy to share that moment with those boys.  I asked them to be in the trophy picture to commemorate our team hunt, and they obliged.

    IMG_3471.thumb.jpeg.0f6d2c5073219e9920f0608c3a6c78f1.jpeg

    In planning this whole trip over the past year, it seemed that Impala were almost an afterthought when it came to South African plains game.  People always go on about kudu, springbok slams, wildebeest, etc., but I find impala to be beautiful in both hide and horn.  This was my first impala, and hopefully it won’t be my last.

    That was a great morning.  The rest of the day, however, would be frustrating, and that was becoming a theme when it came to chasing bushbuck.  We hiked several promising areas; however, we only found tracks and dung.  We didn’t even see a single ewe, which surprised the PH as he said that we would have at least seen SOME where we had been hiking.  The elusive bushbuck remained, well, elusive.

    After a long day in the field, it is tradition to gather around the campfire and relive the day’s hunts, usually with an adult beverage or three (such as “policeman’s coffee,” a local favorite that is brandy mixed with coca-cola).  

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    The next day?  More searching for bushbuck, of course… and taking what the bush gives you.

    TL;DR:  While continuing to search for the elusive bushbuck, I was fortunate to come across this gorgeous impala.  162 yards, DRT with a spinal shot.  Capped off the day with a couple of “policeman’s coffees” around the camp fire.

    IMG_3473.thumb.jpeg.d193b695a7c6758d7b2cf88b450ea20e.jpeg
     

    More to come…

    • Hook 'Em 3
    • Like 5
  5. On 7/25/2024 at 7:31 PM, Handcruser said:


    What’s your typical distance?

    Treefiddy?  For this mission, it could be 20-200 yards depending on where I walk up on them.  Hence trying 6.5G on thermal - seems the right balance for what I encounter.  

  6. 5 hours ago, cabowabo said:

    If your total budget is $4k, then I'd look at getting a $2500 scope and a $1500 spotter/monocular.  You are not going to want to be looking for potential targets raising your gun up and scanning through your rifle scope.  That gets old real quick.  

    The need for a thermo monocular should be stressed more often.  I bought an ATN OTS-XLT 2-8x about 3 years ago, and it has served me very well as a supplement to my NV rig and just out and about at night on the farm.  I have not considered an upgrade, possibly because I don't know any better?

    1 hour ago, Handcruser said:


    Shoots fine.

    But the 90g nosler Armageddon is the tits. And I mean the tits. I have 300-400 rounds of the Sst and am buying the nosler stuff now.

    I'll check out the Nosler, though at first internet research glance, energy at distance might not work as well for pigs.

  7. 16 hours ago, Handcruser said:


    Nothing wrong with PSA. I have a 12” grendel upper from them.

    If you want a hookup for pulsar PM me.

    How does that Grendel upper shoot, and using what ammo?  I'm hoping to get ~1.5MOA using the Hornady 123gr SST for hunting.

    Will PM if I decide on a Pulsar.

  8. 15 hours ago, Handcruser said:


    So much to discuss.

    Look at AGM. I just bought a rattler 35-386. They make a clip on that co-witnesses with your regular optic and I’m considering g getting one of those so I can move it from gun to gun.

    What is your budget?
    What lower. What upper?
     

    Re: lower and upper, you are going to be so disappointed in me.

    PSA for both, with the upper being 12” 6.5 Grendel. This is a playful experiment.  I have a farm with a hog problem.  Long story short, I’m looking for a lightweight, maneuverable thermal rig (suppressed) I can use when I spot and stalk… and otherwise keep near me when out and about at night.  I already have a 308 digital NV rig for hunting feeders, and I need something more mobile and capable of CQB.  Engagement is usually 20-200 yards when just milling about the property.

    Re: Thermals.  @cabowabo will have a POV here.  Max $4k.  Short list:

    Pulsar Talions
    AGM Adders
    AGM Rattler TS35-640 2x-16
    Infiray Bolt TL35 V2
    Pulsar Thermion 2 XQ35 Pro

    The thermal I’m willing to invest good money in to last a long time (5yr).  The rifle platform is an experiment.  If I like the concept, I can do a quality build later if the PSA doesn’t hold up to moderate hunting.

    ETA: lightweight and maneuverable is key for this mission

     

     

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
  9. 2 hours ago, Handcruser said:

    I feel like someone needs to buy a gun and post it here.

    The lower just shipped.

    Upper ordered.

    Mags shipped today.

    Ammo identified.

    Thermal… I’m considering… options.

  10. 13 hours ago, Handcruser said:


    It’s about $1200 for me. Industry discount.
     

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    12 hours ago, Handcruser said:


    I love the chassis
    Carbon fiber all the way around
    Guaranteed moa
    Stupid light
    Cool looking.

    Can't argue there, either.  

    doit-ben-stiller.gif.da54d37f8cca8a0f63d9384c783726e7.gif

    • Like 1
  11. On 7/12/2024 at 11:09 AM, Handcruser said:

    Someone talk me out of a waypoint with the carbon fiber barrel in 6mm creed.

    I'll bite.

    Far be it from me to talk anyone out of buying a gun.  That said, given the request, it's a $2200 rifle for hunting deer and yotes with a glorified, more expensive, and harder to find .243 cartridge?  Or if precision distance shooting, it only has a 20" barrel and does not have a fully adjustable buttstock?  I'm reaching here.

    Don't get me wrong, I love the Waypoint platform (and the Redline platform, too), and handling the long action variants at DSC earlier this year had me looking at them in 300WM.  You could go Seekins Havak for $350 less but no carbon. 

    What's the purpose of the rifle?  I'm curious, because earlier this year, you suggested that I give the 6.5 PRC a hard look as a general purpose hunting rifle.

  12. I am, indeed, in Africa.  Between ridiculous travel issues, Africa’s version of Montezuma’s revenge, major health drama with family back home (and not being able to get a flight home because of previously mentioned ridiculous travel issues), spotty internet access, and generally being exhausted by the pace and physical exertion of hunting 10 species in 10 days across the Eastern Cape and the Karoo, I haven’t been able give the running updates I had planned.  I’ll post a lot here in the coming days/weeks, and I’m going to put something comprehensive together on AfricaHunting.com (and will link to it here) for those interested.

    In the mean time, to whet y’all’s appetites:

    At Olivewoods/Karoo2Coast about 1.5 hours from Port Elizabeth:

    IMG_3275.thumb.jpeg.08d65e8b1d6e6db3c637f08af5fc7def.jpeg

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    Blesbok was my first African animal.  He was silhouetted on the mountaintop with the sun behind him, and he wouldn’t stop moving.  162 yards off sticks.  
    IMG_3217.thumb.jpeg.15a5cf530a69a2bbe113269dc417b653.jpeg
     

    Next, we were sizing up 5-6 warthog when this one popped into view.  My PH turned into a giddy little school boy at the sight of him.  140 yards off bipod supported by the Cruiser’s hood.  DRT.  About 250lbs.

    IMG_3272.thumb.jpeg.5750771a17a083dcc313d233ddce3a27.jpeg

    I’ll do my best to entertain throughout the “doldrums.”  LOTS more to come…

    • Hook 'Em 3
    • Like 4
  13. 31 minutes ago, 686 said:

     


    The Federal Terminal Ascent is the “old”Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, which is an awesome bullet of very intelligent design. (federal bought them out a few years ago) You get the strength/penetration of a monometal with some lead up front for better down range energy retention and big expansion/fragmentation in the vitals. I set my dad’s 7 Rem Mag up with them when we went to Africa in ‘18. That bullet was considered then to maybe be the best 7mm bullet for African game; an awesome 300win mag choice as well.

    What area are you going to and what species are you targeting?

    If broadside, shoot critters in the shoulder, right up the front leg, their vitals are further forward than our critters’ are.
     

    That’s right, I had forgotten about the TBBC.  You are spot on with what the TA supposed to do.  I think it will be perfect for a wide range of game from springbok to eland.

    If we ever get to SA (4 hour delay in DFW, mad dash to make connection in Newark which was delayed 3 hours and now we have been sitting on the tarmac for 1.5 hours in a further weather delay that is supposed to last another hour, but I digress…), we will be hunting the Eastern Cape, half the time in the Karoo and the other half closer to the coast.  
     

    On my list are kudu, gemsbok, impala, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, bushbuck, blesbok, springbok, trophy warthog.  But anything can happen.

    Roger that on shot placement.  I have a pocket copy of Robertson’s Perfect Shot that I’ve been studying.

    I’ll post more in the hunting thread.  Don’t want to derail here.

    • Like 1
  14. If y'all recall, earlier this year I went searching for a new bolt action rifle that would primarily serve as the weapon of choice for African plains game and, secondarily, as a "go-to" rifle for North American game from deer to Moose and everything in between.  Thanks to all of you who chimed in on that discussion.  After evaluating an metric shit-ton of rifles and a whole host of calibers, I went with the new Bergara B-14 Wilderness Sierra chambered in 300WM (I posted about it here).  Thanks again to @Handcruser for the hookup with Arnzen Arms.

    I've spent the last few months getting to know the rifle, and the rifle has met or exceeded my expectations, especially at its $1100 retail price-point.

    This is the set-up I'm taking to Africa:

    IMG_3016.thumb.jpg.51789d2b7a1fcb964983c3b3e71653e5.jpg

    The system:

    Bergara B-14 Wilderness Sierra in 300WM
    Swaro Z5 3.5-18x44 BT Plex with a fancy Swaro screw-in objective lens cover and magnetic catch
    Warne Mountain Tech 1 inch low matte rings
    Zero MOA Remington LA Mountain Tech tactical rail
    Vortex Lo Pro Bubblevel
    Dead Air Sandman-S suppressor with Keymo QD brake

    MDT Oryx swivel-mount bipod
    Slogan long magnum sling
    Federal Terminal Ascent 200gr at 2743ft/s out of a 22" barrel

    I tested several proven types of plains game ammunition, including Norma Oryx, Nosler Accubonds and Partitions, and Barnes TTSX (all in 180gr), but I went with the Terminal Ascent 200gr as the gun just liked it better, plus it delivers more energy out past 100 yards and the bullet seems to be an updated, modern version of the Partition.  It consistently shoots sub-MOA off the bench.  Example:

    IMG_2909.thumb.jpg.017493a9b2b95ebd02db0fbf75042b24.jpg 

    And off of shooting sticks, I can consistently ring steel at 300 yards with "groups" around 1-2MOA:

    IMG_3043.thumb.jpg.c0ef971bffd867d2007374f7173f160c.jpg

    That should be good enough for plains game.  BTW, the Swaro ballistics calculator works very well, and I should be good out to 600 yards (only to 400 tested).  I plan to keep shots in the 300-400 range max, though.

    After a cleaning, the gun definitely likes a fouling shot or two, after which groups settle in until opening up again around 30 rounds.  It's been a repeatable process.

    @Anastasis a while ago you asked about shooting bolts suppressed.  It's been a dream compared to my unsuppressed/unbraked 300 Weatherby Mag.  Recoil is more of a "push," very manageable, and the sound suppression really makes a difference in hunting scenarios.  The brake seems to lessen recoil a tad more, but I prefer the overall effect / experience shooting suppressed.  The 22" barrel really helps maneuverability.

    I'm off to Africa today.  We'll see how this thing performs in the field.  I'll hop over to the hunting thread to update when access to internet permits.

    • Hook 'Em 3
    • Like 5
  15. I was working on the new 300WM at my farm (more on that later) last weekend.  I ejected a casing and it landed as below, neck embedded in the front porch wood decking.  There's a one-in-a-million chance that would ever happen, so I took a picture of it.  I thought the result was pretty cool, so sharing it here.

    IMG_2875.thumb.jpg.6643fc88d2ea58a5e73bc8b1836c4d85.jpg

    I guess you could say, it really stuck the landing.

    • Hook 'Em 4
    • Like 4
    • Fuck Around and Find Out 1
  16. On 4/22/2024 at 6:15 PM, Nonbryan said:

    Looking to buy my 1st 270....I like the Browning xbolt and the Tikka 3x.  Anyone have any experience on these or perhaps another direction I should look into?  I want a nice firearm that will last me forever and that I can pass down.

    If you are talking X-Bolt and Tikka 3X (and others in that class), I went through that whole process earlier this year looking at 300WM.  My initial post is here.  If you need something threaded for brakes or suppressors, that will limit your options.

    I got the hookup from @Handcruser and input from a lot of other users, and I was hugely fortunate to land this and have been working it out.  I'll post when I have the final set-up for safari (or maybe sooner).

    One thing to think about is the X-Bolt 2.  I haven't had a chance to even hold one, but they look very promising compared to the original IMO.

    ETA: If in DFW, head over to Scheels and shoulder them / handle them all.  If not a Scheels, any place you can.  For me, confidence in the rifle comes from both accuracy/precision and how it fits me / I like handling it.

    • Hook 'Em 1
  17. One doesn’t usually think of mountain lions in North Texas, but this one was shot by a deer hunter just a couple of miles from my place near Celeste back in Dec 2020.  I wash my truck at the wash where the photo was taken:

    IMG_0159.jpeg.9dc248832f76f45c1057f99b6ede28d8.jpeg

    Supposedly he was spotted near the Metroplex (Rowlett) the month before.  According to this write-up here, he had been covering some serious ground, so he could have come through my place.  /csb

    • Like 1
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