Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

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For some reason or another the government was stock piling ammo, and there is some issues with "good ole" china supplying antimony and other precious metals used in bullet making. It's been a real crap shoot getting reloading components for year now, and this last 2 odd years has been real bad. I've actually hardly shot this past year, partially because of being busy, and partially because I didn't want to burn up my reserve without a good way (read I'm a cheap arse) to replenish it.
Guess I need to get over it, my logging buddy said he would be my sponsor for a local rod and gun club down the street from us, and the kids really want to start shooting more then their bb guns.
Yeah...I've come to the conclusion that shooting now will be more expensive. I don't think we're going to see 5.56 at $0.20 each ever again.

Part of the problem around here is there is a network of guys who swoop in and buy all the desirable stuff(large rifle primers) as soon as it hits the shelf. Then they flip it at gun shows.

Nice scrounge of slab wood!
 
Yeah...I've come to the conclusion that shooting now will be more expensive. I don't think we're going to 5.56 at $0.20 each ever again.

Part of the problem around here is there is a network of guys who swoop in and buy all the desirable stuff(large rifle primers) as soon as it hits the shelf. Then they flip it at gun shows.

Nice scrounge of slab wood!
I hear that. There was a point where I didn't even bother to reload .223/5.56, 9mm, or 38spl. Just bought 1k bulk packs for range sessions. Now it's definitely flipped again. Only good thing is I keep all my brass so I have loads of casings laying around.
The primer thing really irritates me. Have the same issues around here. Hopefully things will settle down after the new administration gets in office.
Thanks! Hopefully I'll have a few more loads to show off over the next few weeks.
 
Looks like Cabela's currently has Remington Large Rifle primers available.

Large rifle primers have been hard to find for a few years now. When I find them, I buy in bulk (but no, I don't resell them). The Hazmat fee is the same no matter how many you buy, and if your order is big enough you may get free shipping.

Early last year I picked up 2K Magnum large rifle primers, and after that I picked up 3K regular large rifle primers. The regular ones were available on a Sat night and gone by Sunday morning! Sometimes, you just have to strike when the iron is hot. I have become less finicky on brand, as you have to get what is available, and most major brands seem to perform about the same.

I think I'll be set for primers for a while now! I was not "out", I just did not like using what I could not replace! I reload for myself, my brother, my nephew, my daughter and 2 grandsons, my niece and her two sons, etc., so I can go through a fair amount fast.

When Matt (and others) get a new gun, I'm often the one who sights it in and does the load "experimentation" to see what shoots well. (Everything from his Model 95 in 405 to his Weatherby in 25-06). You need a supply of various powders, bullets and primers on hand to do this stuff. It helps that I have access to the Fish & Game club range.
 
Driving home last night the 68 started to shudder and stumble . Really had a hard time pulling any incline . This morning I checked it out . Did the pull the wire off the plug to see if it effects it . No difference in idle on number one or three plugs . Pulled them out to find this
IMG_9382.jpeg
Center electrode burned out on both the rest of the plugs were good . Changed them out checked the timing it was dead nuts on . The plugs have about 1000 miles on them . And they are Motorcraft made in USA plugs . Little baffled to say the least
 
A Magnum is Sheeps Clothing!

I've concluded that my 338-06 is a Magnum in sheep's clothing!

Even though it only has a 30-06 powder base, for some reason it shoots the 210 grain Barnes TTSX bullets (when cold) at an average of 2,828 FPS. That is over 100 FPS faster than what the Hodgdon date suggests (the largest deviation from the Hodgdon date in either direction that I have encountered), and my gun shows no signs of high pressure.

By comparison, the load date for the 338 Win Mag (which usually exceeds a 338-06 by about 200 FPS) does not show any data that beats my load by more than 100 FPS, and if you come off the maximum load (for accuracy) or use a different powder, your velocity is very close to my chrongraphed velocity. On top of that, this gun often shoots that load into 1/2" groups at 100 yds, so what is not to like!

Took both a bear and a buck with it last year (the first year I hunted with it), hoping to continue the good luck this year. Opening day is Saturday, I am packing as we speak! Will be going up tomorrow morning.
 
Driving home last night the 68 started to shudder and stumble . Really had a hard time pulling any incline . This morning I checked it out . Did the pull the wire off the plug to see if it effects it . No difference in idle on number one or three plugs . Pulled them out to find this
View attachment 1219126
Center electrode burned out on both the rest of the plugs were good . Changed them out checked the timing it was dead nuts on . The plugs have about 1000 miles on them . And they are Motorcraft made in USA plugs . Little baffled to say the least
I'm assuming it's a small block so I was thinking possible vacuum leak under the intake which could suck oil and cause detonation in those two holes. Sure looks like detonation damage.
 
I'm assuming it's a small block so I was thinking possible vacuum leak under the intake which could suck oil and cause detonation in those two holes. Sure looks like detonation damage.
Yup 327 Im having a 350 rebuilt for it this winter . The 327 is very tired and the guides are most likely shot truck has 175k on it the motor was rebuilt at around 90k .I am having it rebuilt when I put the 350 in Won’t know if they bored it until it gets torn down . Large journal 327s with correct date codes are getting hard to find
 
Looks like Cabela's currently has Remington Large Rifle primers available.

Large rifle primers have been hard to find for a few years now. When I find them, I buy in bulk (but no, I don't resell them). The Hazmat fee is the same no matter how many you buy, and if your order is big enough you may get free shipping.

Early last year I picked up 2M Magnum large rifle primers, and after that I picked up 3M regular large rifle primers. The regular ones were available on a Sat night and gone by Sunday morning! Sometimes, you just have to strike when the iron is hot. I have become less finicky on brand, as you have to get what is available, and most major brands seem to perform about the same.

I think I'll be set for primers for a while now! I was not "out", I just did not like using what I could not replace! I reload for myself, my brother, my nephew, my daughter and 2 grandsons, my niece and her two sons, etc., so I can go through a fair amount fast.

When Matt (and others) get a new gun, I'm often the one who sights it in and does the load "experimentation" to see what shoots well. (Everything from his Model 95 in 405 to his Weatherby in 25-06). You need a supply of various powders, bullets and primers on hand to do this stuff. It helps that I have access to the Fish & Game club range.
2M and 3M primers! Or, 2K and 3K?
 
I hear that. There was a point where I didn't even bother to reload .223/5.56, 9mm, or 38spl. Just bought 1k bulk packs for range sessions. Now it's definitely flipped again. Only good thing is I keep all my brass so I have loads of casings laying around.
The primer thing really irritates me. Have the same issues around here. Hopefully things will settle down after the new administration gets in office.
Thanks! Hopefully I'll have a few more loads to show off over the next few weeks.
I bought primers as well as powder several years ago whenever I saw them on sale. I just looked and still have 15k of all types on the shelf. I have several 8lb kegs of Promo I bought when they were on sale for under $100. Seems expensive at the time but pull the trigger if you see them for a reasonable price, nothing is going to get cheaper I'm afraid.
 
Here is an example of the rock guards seen on locomotives. If you look at the front cab windows you'll see the guards over the windows, there are also guards for the side and rear windows on the cab. All US railroads now require any of their locomotives being used in Mexico to have these while in country, usually the guards are magnetic mount. Once back in the US the guards are removed from US owned locos (but occasionally you do see some with the guards still left on) but since PTC (Positive Train Control) is not required in Mexico, and their locos are not equipped with it so they are not used as leaders but as trailing power or seen here as a distributed power unit (DPU) at the end of the train, the guards are left on. FXE 4024 here is an EMD SD70ACe sporting the most recent paint scheme from Ferromex.

466046914_2276362912748471_6719338988677974448_n.jpg
 
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