OM47, I presume you mean 243??? Those savage guns are accurate, but so are the new Ruger Americans. I have them in 30-06 & 223.
Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)
- Thread starter mainewoods
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
I never called you out of shape, I just took notice that you've been working the same scrounge all summer.
I believe you found that spot right before winter last year IIRC because that's when I blew the head gasket in my truck. 
Then you went and changed the formula so I had to go back and fix it again!!!
hardpan
Addicted to ArboristSite
That's more like it. I once had a Savage 243, very accurate.
I am a Ruger fan. I was checking out the American 223, came across a forum where the model 77 guys were cutting it to pieces and the American guys stood their ground. I kind of got the idea it was the "shelf queen" thing like some folks might have more interest in showing than shooting. Its OK as we still have that privilege in this country, America (now I am talking geography). LOL
hardpan
Addicted to ArboristSite
I have 2 Mdl 77s, (300 Win Mag & 220 Swift) and two Americans (30-06 & 223). The M 77s are old school, with the tang safety, which the American also has (I like it).
For a shooter, the American is lighter, more accurate, and has a slicker bolt and an excellent trigger. If you want a rugged, accurate, light gun to hunt with, I highly recommend it.
I bought them before the stainless versions were out.
My M 77s have had trigger work and I have glass bedded them. They shoot well, but not better (OK the bull barrel 220 used to be extremely accurate, but not as much any more).
For a shooter, the American is lighter, more accurate, and has a slicker bolt and an excellent trigger. If you want a rugged, accurate, light gun to hunt with, I highly recommend it.
I bought them before the stainless versions were out.
My M 77s have had trigger work and I have glass bedded them. They shoot well, but not better (OK the bull barrel 220 used to be extremely accurate, but not as much any more).
Ambull01
Addicted to ArboristSite
Yes that's a good decision making process lol. I can't to hear my in-laws jabbering in my ear about how you're not supposed to burn pine. Blah, blah, blah.
Seems crazy that the people who need hardwoods (i.e. you and the rest of the true northeners) have little access to it yet dudes in MD and further south have it growing all over the place.
I never called you out of shape, I just took notice that you've been working the same scrounge all summer.
I know, just joking with yah. Yep, I remember your post about your truck lol. In my defense:
1) I was only able to scrounge for about 2-3 hours one day a week.
2) I'm still in my first year of cutting firewood for heat. Only used a chainsaw a handful of times before last year. One of those times was when I took down a tree in my yard. Had no idea what I was doing so I went totally through the tree on my backcut and the freaking tree slid off and fell on my steel toe boot. Whoops lol
3) Had repeated, sporadic issues with my van. Finally have it all sorted out.
4) I have a bunch of kids, used to work a part-time job on the weekends which was my only time to scrounge, and I have National Guard training which further reduces my scrounging availability even more.
Not that I'm making excuses or anything lmao. Oh yeah, one more thing. I also freaking screwed up. Thankfully I learned from @svk , it's a good idea to actually load the damn cut pieces into your truck/van as you go instead of cutting everything up until you have a massive pile.
I had a Ruger #3 and the tang safety kept flipping to fire when I carried it with a sling. Must have rubbed on my jacket. You ever have that problem with the 77's? I have owned a .338 win mag (tang safety) that my dad shot a kodiak bear with as well as 7mm rem mag, .270, and .30-06 with the bolt safety. Great guns.
hardpan
Addicted to ArboristSite
Thanks. Now I know what I have my sights set on. (yes the pun was intended)
220 swift. Once called the ultimate varmint rifle. Yes indeed.
Ambull01
Addicted to ArboristSite
Totally off topic question. Any of you guys do orienteering events? I'm going to do one this weekend with my whole family. Figure it will be good for them to get outside in the woods and learn a valuable skill. I've only used a compass, pace count, and point and shoot compass readings to navigate so terrain association will be new to me.
Not really. I just got lost enough in my woods to figure out where everything is and you get to know which way to go. If I am going into new woods I always try to look at a map to see what landmarks may exist such as fields, roads, lakes, rivers etc to help get my bearings if I ever got turned around.
In all seriousness you should never go into the woods without a compass and matches. If you ever find yourself lost you should drag a long pole behind you (so you don't walk in circles) and pick out large trees in a straight line in your intended direction.
A family friend was out hunting many years ago and he had a fellow (who had already been lost for several days) literally run past him in the woods. The guy was so goofy from being lost for several days that he didn't stop when our friend yelled at him. He ran the guy down and tackled him and that shocked him into reality so he could bring him out to civilization and call the sheriff. I don't think the guy would have lasted much longer when he was already running around the woods like that.
The Ruger Americans also have tang safety, I have never had a problem with any of them.
Before I was hand loading, was shooting Norma 48 gr loads in the 220 (4,110 FPS). Very hot and very accurate, but not good for chucks. The bullets were too hard, and would go right through w/o opening up. When I started to load it with HP bullets, what a difference!
Before I was hand loading, was shooting Norma 48 gr loads in the 220 (4,110 FPS). Very hot and very accurate, but not good for chucks. The bullets were too hard, and would go right through w/o opening up. When I started to load it with HP bullets, what a difference!
Ambull01
Addicted to ArboristSite
I've always been pretty good navigating through woods. You can get turn around pretty quick though.
I want to educate myself on terrain association to eventually run orienteering races. Wife wants to do it as a family team building event. I would love it if my oldest daughter and 7 year old son could do it together. Those two can't be in the same room without arguing or someone crying.
Oh man, you should see all the big tough military men when we do night land nav. Lots of people have never been out in the woods at night. Guys totally lose it and become little whiners lol.
That's the thing. I can imagine hunters/people who grew up in the woods are so far up the learning curve when it comes to military training. You just can't teach that stuff in a classroom nor do you pick it up overnight.
Ambull01
Addicted to ArboristSite
"A country boy can survive!" Or however that song goes. The classroom part taught me a lot about map reading, magnetic north, etc. Nothing beats walking in the woods with your heavy ass pack, a map, and a compass though. Guys from the city that have never been in the woods at night usually struggle with night land nav.
I like reading the stories about how the country boys would sneak up on troops from the other side just like Tristan from Legends of the Fall. The one guy would steal their stuff rather than kill them.
Reid ,nailing boards together , let us know if it extends burn time lol
I've cut a few van loads and have had a few blocks ride in the front seat
I've cut a few van loads and have had a few blocks ride in the front seat
zogger
Tree Freak
I used to a lot back in the day. I was one of the main complainers to get the controls switched to fluorescent orange. Fun running against them get down college boy track stars..they were too tall to hunch over and wiggle through the thickets. heheheh
oak is over rated.
If I had a toy like that, no tree would be too big!!!
Similar threads
Want to Sell
4 free saws
