by B.B. Pelletier
Before we move on to today’s blog, here’s a link to a recent interview with Josh Ungier, founder and owner of Pyramyd AIR. It was published in the October issue of Smart Business Cleveland.
Just a reminder that I’m on my way to the airgun show in Roanoke and not able to answer most blog questions. Edith is monitoring the comments, but I’d appreciate any help answering questions.
It’s been a while since I wrote a report like this. Our readers have discussed it, but it doesn’t get nearly enough exposure, so here it goes. Notice that I made it a multi-parter, because each of you has a different set of circumstances, and I have more than just a little to say. What prompted it was a message I received on Monday from a reader named Jay. It went like this, “I see the sign up for the airgun show here in Roanoke. Is it worth attending?”
That reminds me of the farmer who sold his farm to finance a worldwide search for diamonds. He supposedly ended his life at the Straits of Gibraltar after a long and disappointing search. Then diamonds were discovered on the farm he sold. His land became the Golconda diamond mine, one of the richest diamond mines ever and the source of many of the crown jewels on Europe. Whether or not the story is true doesn’t matter. It illustrates a powerful lesson in life that applies to us all.
So, right now there is a guy driving past the Roanoke Expo Center every day, wondering if he should waste his time and money to attend. And, then, there is Joe B., paying paradise tax out on Maui, who would probably be willing to drive 200 miles–if it were possible to drive 200 miles in Hawaii–just to see a show like Roanoke!
My point is that Roanoke is the largest airgun show in the world, and it’s held this coming Friday and Saturday. I don’t have any problem convincing those who have already been to attend again–they know what awaits them. But some airgunners will say, “My gosh, Roanoke is a 400-mile drive! No way am I going to do that.” Then I will get a question two weeks after the show, asking where someone can buy an FWB 124.
Roanoke is 1,150 miles for me, but I drive it every year. I almost can’t afford to miss it, because it is a large part of what I do and even who I am. Besides all the guns and the old friends, I get a post-graduate course in airguns at every show. So, that’s why I think it’s important to go.
Get a route…
But what about the guy who lives in Keokuk, Iowa, or even in Kennewick, Washington? For them, Roanoke really is too far. But there are alternatives. Start with pawn shops. I have a route I run periodically here in Texas, and it’s really paid off over the past five years. Not just for airguns–I have also found some nicer firearms. As the economy gets ever tighter, more will appear in the pawn shop and the pawnbroker will be more willing to deal. I watch Pawn Stars on TV, which is a look at a Las Vegas pawn shop that gets really nice stuff. From the episodes, I can tell that the pawnbrokers are very willing to make deals these days. I know that’s how it’s been around here. My route is local, with no store being more than five miles from my house, but that doesn’t stop me from checking out a pawn shop in a distant place if I happen to be there.
Gun stores
Yes, I said gun stores! I don’t mean the gun stores that also carry airguns, either. I mean the narrow-minded gun stores that laugh at us and call all airguns BB guns.
Where does everyone go when they have a “gun” to sell? A gun store! So, old widow Smith bundles up her late husband’s guns, including the Browning shotguns, Mauser rifles and Colt revolvers. She also takes along a Feinwerkbau 300, because it looks like a gun and she knows they will know what to do with it.
Well, they don’t know what to do with it, but it’s no big deal. They got the Brownings. The store owner dry-fires it a couple times because he’s too cheap to buy a tin of pellets at Wal-Mart, and then he leans it in the corner and forgets it for the next eleven years. Then, you walk in one day and ask him if he has any old airguns, and he remembers the gun in the corner. He knows it’s well made but he accepts that $150 cash offer you make because it’s green cash money and because this rifle isn’t in his book. He can take his wife out to a nice dinner, and you get a great buy. Everyone wins.
Here is a fact. I don’t think I have ever been in an established gun store that didn’t have a couple airguns laying around somewhere. Yes, some of them might be Chinese guns, but I’ve also bought Benjamins, vintage Crosmans, a Diana 27 and the list goes on. Gun stores. Even small, hole-in-the-wall gun stores. In fact, especially
Gun shows
I used to walk around gun shows with a big sign stuck in the hatband of my Stetson–(I BUY AIRGUNS). At one show I was with my wife and my best buddy, Mac, plus another Airgun Letter reader. I told them I was going to buy an airgun and turn around and sell it to get material for an article. I walked down ONE AISLE and a guy almost jumped over his table at me. “I’ve got an airgun you’ll like.” Long story short, I gave $200 for a 1920 BSA underlever rifle made up for a shooting club. It had a flip-up tang peep sight and a number on the stock, which are two telltale signs of British club guns.
In the VERY NEXT AISLE, a man pulled the rifle away from me and bought it for $250. I had what I needed for my story inside five minutes, though I never made it out of the building, nor did I get a picture of that rifle. So, wear a sign to the gun show and bring cash. You will be amazed at what happens!
Newspaper ads
This isn’t my tip; it belongs to one or more of our readers. You place an ad to buy airguns in your newspaper, Thrifty Nickel or whatever you have that will take your ad. Then, you start answering ads and buying airguns. I now ask those readers who have done or are doing this to tell us their stories in the comments.
Cleaning crews
This technique belongs to one of the most successful airgun dealers of vintage guns that I know. He tells a cleaning crew that he will buy all the airguns they find. He may actually buy other eBay stuff, too, I don’t know. Cleaning crews find lots of stuff in the apartments and houses they clean. Sometimes, they’re asked to remove all the stuff in a house and it’s theirs to do with as they wish. They still get paid for cleaning the building. too.
Most of the time, they sell him modern crap guns and airsoft or paintball. But a couple times each year he scores something fantastic to make up for all the disappointments. The trick here is to buy everything they bring you. Pay very low and bring the stuff you don’t want to airguns shows.
Those are my tips for today, but there is at least one more part to this report. How can you buy airguns among airgunners and still get great deals? Next time.
Hello bb and Edith. It's been a while since I've commented, but I have encountered a problem with my hand pump. I purchased it in April, 2009 from mac1. The manufacturing date is September, 2008. Does getting the pump from Tim void the factory 1-year warrenty?
Thanks
*warranty*
John,
You didn't mention which pump you got, so I can't answer your question. Does Mac-1 stand behind the pump? Have you asked him? The dealer is always the first place to start.
B.B.
Don't forget about yard and estate sales. If you know someone who goes to them, have them keep an eye out for "BB Guns". My dad scored an FWB 124 for $2 at an estate sale, talked the guy down from $5.
I second BB in recommending going to Roanoke. PA has a lot there, including pellets (in dented tins) and gently used scopes for great prices. The tables contain an incredible array of stuff – every thing from collectable Daisy's to high-dollar airguns that literally are works of art. Biggest bonus to going is that you can meet that BB fellow in person.
BB – See you about noon on Fri. I'll see if I can swing by my cousin's and bring the 124. It still needs a muzzle brake and a scope and mounts. (I kind of forgot about it since I got the Marauder.)
Randy-in-VA,
Pyramyd AIR will not have tables at this year's show. The problem is that they have to send their tech personnel to help man the booths. However, tech support is so incredibly busy these days, that they just don't have enough people to spare for those days. It's a choice between attending the show or getting guns out on time.
Edith
Haven't had time to read today's post yet but I wanted to get a congratulations off to Wacky Wayne for his excellent 4th-7th lane shooting before I start running around doing everybody else's job.
Wayne, it looks like you could wrap this thing up if you could get in more pre-shoot practice. Way to shrug it off and finish with a bang!!
I noticed everyone used CPH and JSB pellets except one guy who used Kodiac. Hmmm..maybe next year he'll wise up 🙂
-Chuck
The Local Rifle show will be here in a couple of weeks ( ashville NC ,10/31/09) What Should a novice collector ( me lol) be looking for?
ssshhhhhhhhhh – My checkbook is listening.
Anonymous in Ashville, NC,
You're a novice collector of firearms, airguns or both?
kevin
Great article today as long as no one in Colorado reads it. Too many great tips and I don't want anymore competition.
"Always being on the lookout" is also important in finding a good deal. If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt you will find a good deal. Don't care if you're looking for firearms, airguns, used cars, etc. you have to turn over a lot of rocks to find a gold nugget.
kevin
After reading the interview with Joshua Ungier it's no surprise why Pyramyd AIR is so successful.
The interview reminded me of two things I was told early on in my business career that have stuck with me.
How do you keep employees motivated? Recognition-"A million people may go to bed tonight starving for food but over five million people go to be starving for recognition they deserve."
Honor (treating customers/people right). "Never say anything that you would be embarassed to have published on the front page of the daily newspaper."
Never ceases to amaze me what I take away from this blog every day.
kevin
Here is a link to photos of the old Crosman I was given recently. It's rough looking but still a good shooter. And, it's quiet enough that my wife doesn't complain about the noise in the house.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dbortol/CrosmanModel120#
Dino
BB,
I'll be at the Roanoke show this Saturday around 2PM and I'll have that Navy Seal with me. I'll bring the 99 with me and also, the Gamo Compact. I'm inclined to sell it for $100 and go for an IZH 46M target pistol.
Anyway, living in NJ, I did research and found out that as a holder of a NJ ID card for firearms, I could purchase long arms from another person and only needed to fill out what's called a "Certificate of Eligibility". A copy goes to the seller and I keep a copy and no one else!
I placed an ad in the local pennysaver stating I wanted to buy old air rifles residing in the backs of closets that were no longer wanted and made sure I specified I held a valid ID card (there's a misdemeanor if you don't). I got 4 calls – mainly Daisy BB rifles and Crosman rifles. The only thing that piqued my curiosity was one fellow who had a Crosman Model 99 for sale. His story was his father-in-law had bought it to protect the song birds at his bird feeder from the other predatory birds like Blue Jays and Starlings and such. He left it at his son-in-law's house together with a tin of Sear's brand pellets and some 50 tear gas squibs (!). I got the whole lot for $25.
After putting three CO2 cartridges through the rifle with copious amounts of 30Wt oil on the tip, the seals swelled and ended up holding pressure with no leaks. I got some 60 shots at low power from the last cartridge over several weeks time.
You folks can look up in the Blue Book what this rifle goes for in as new condition and I'd like BB to weigh in with his opinion.
Edith and Tom,
First, thank you for inviting me into your home! It's always fun "tradin" with Tom!
I don't want to make you all envious, so I'll save the trade details for Tom to reveal later..
All I can say is I ended up with a crummy old military rifle.. Tom's old FT rifle, and a rusty old clunker springer…. and he got my best of course!!… while I was watching out for the fire ants!!
Kevin,
Well said!!
Customer service! Customer service! Customer service! Customer service!
and good products! … that's what makes a good business!
B.B.
Pawn shops in a bad economy are excellent sources for great deals.. that's where I get most of my collection of firearms.
Wacky Wayne,
Ashland Air Rifle Range
OK, finally got time to read the article…I'm glad I did. My eyes are opened and I'm searching the yellow pages for pawnshops. Nov 7th we have a small gun show here for firearms. Now, I have something else to look for there. I have a mission. I will ask for airguns and that may not get me any but it will, at least, plant a seed. Then, maybe next year?
-Chuck
The Nationals…
Field target nationals that is…
FT is where you try to get a pellet inside a steel hole to hit a paddle behind the steel target.. a hit on the paddle makes the face plate go down, not a hit on the face plate.
The holes vary from 1/4" (3/8") for sane match directors… up to 1-1/2".. We set the targets up from 10 yards to 55 yards.. with bright sun in your face, to dark corners in the shifting wind….
Match directors are evil folks …. they get great pleasure from the groans of the shooters!! … I know… I'm one… a shooter and match director..
Some courses, like our friends over the pond, shoot each target once only.. but this course shot each target twice, two targets per lane, 15 lanes each day, two day event..
So, that's two 60 shot days, or a 120 shot event. I ended up 45/60 and 47/60 for 92/120…. 8th in the international, no harness, 12 foot lb class..
That class did real well topping more than half the scores in the 20 ft lb harness class, with all the latest wissbang gizmos…
Paul Cray, (three time national champ and two time world champ), the international class winner shot 109, Ray Apelles (A team from Crosman), 103, David Slade, 101, Chris Nicholson, from Canada, shot 99, Joe McDaniels, (AAFTA BOGs) shot 98, Rick Knowles, (my mentor from Washington state) shot 96, Ronnie Easton, 94, myself 92, Bobby Roberts, 86, and the guy who made my USFT Tim McMurray, who is switching from 20 ft lb open class to international class shot 79… it ain't easy shooting the 12fpe guns, with no harness, after being use to 20fpe, and all the extra gizmos!!!
The top scores in open class were 117, 115, 115, 111, 111, 110, 110, 107, 105, etc…. so it was a strong international group of shooters…
The pistol course is set up with 3/4" to 2" kill zones and the targets set at 10-25 yards.. It was a 42 shot one day event. I
came in 16th with a 26/42.. my first pistol FT event, and first time with the great Falcon FN8 pistol I traded for with "Mac", Tom's old Field Target buddy… I love that pistol!!
Well more later, I'm off to run the dogs and visit with my wife!!!
Wacky Wayne, MD. Ashland Air Rifle Range
B.B.
The show sounds fun. But the question for me is whether the cost of traveling which is probably worth a nice gun or two already that I can research on the internet is worth what I might find at the gun show…
Wayne, congratulations on your FT performance. I've heard that the first time you go to one of these events you should just concentrate on learning and finishing, and it sounds like you did very well.
What kind of old military rifle did you get from B.B.? Mauser? Don't forget our little deal. Shooting against a national-level shooter would be a real trip for me.
Herb, that offhand group does show a lot of dedication. I see that over 5000 odd shots, he is shooting about 14 MOA. My 30 shot group was in the neighborhood of 15 MOA. So, either this guy is a much better shot than me or large groups are very, very slow growing–or some combination of the two.
Matt61
Wayne,
You've become a big a tease as Tom. Details man! We want details!
😉
Herb
Wayne,
Not too shabby for walking in the tall grass with the big dogs for the first time.
Trading with Tom–Your side and his side sure, but I want to hear Edith's side as our fly on the wall person!:)
Mr. B.,
I went to breakfast with the guys, but I didn't spend much time with them while they traded in the living room. I spent most of the time working in my office. Somebody has to do some actual work 🙂
Edith
Nocive collector,
The FIRST thing you should do is buy a new edition of the Blue Book of Airguns. Take it with you to the show and when you see something on the table, note the name and model number and walk away to consult the book.
The Blue Book is sold here:
/a/Accessories/Books_magazines_videos_and_more/Airgun_books_magazines_and_catalogs/16
Bear in mind that some of the Blue Book prices are way too low, but it is a good general giude.
If that doesn't please you, buy what you like. hat's how I got started.
B.B.
Fred,
Don't bother to come on Saturday at 2 p.m. Half the dealers will have packed up and left. If you can't be there by 11 a.m. you might want to miss the show.
These guys are funny. They wait all year for the show to come and then they can't wait for it to be over.
Friday is really the day to be there.
But Saturday is the day the locals bring their guns to sell and you never know what will walk in the door.
B.B.
Wayne,
Congratulations on such a good showing! i predict you will be clicking next year.
As for the trading business, a wise man once said that if both traders feel they got the worst of the deal, it was a good trade. I really wanted YOU to do well, so I made certain that you got the worst.
Ain't I a great guy?
B.B.
B.B.
Thanks… it was a decent showing for a newbie in the land of giants… mostly I went to learn how to put on a contest.. wow what a lot of work for the the hosting club!!!
I was in the land of giants in the tradin deal too… but hey.. I got to see fire ants.. Texas style..
… It's hard to say no to a deal, when your staked out and fire ants are crawling all over you!!!
On my three day drive home I came up with a new idea to make my "holdover game" more "on".. later on that…
I knew Edith was the brains behind the blog.. but now I see she is the "queen bee" and workers too!!
Tom almost got my Air Arms Shamal.. I just barley got away safe!!
You know Tom, someone at the nationals had a Shamal for sale.. I think it was Brent Reno.. (you might contact him).. oh the stories he told… and old George and Joe McDaniel.. had lots of stories from your past! What fun I had!
Yes.. Tom.. you really are a great guy!! in every way.. thanks so much.. It was so wonderful to meet you and Edith.. and thanks again for breakfast!
Oh… your gardener has a USFT just like mine… what a co wink a dink.. he needs a shave.. I'm surprised your neighborhood allows such rip rap.. must be Texas kindness again…
Wacky Wayne, MD. Ashland Air Rifle Range
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/message/1256085627/2009+AAFTA+Nationals+in+Somerville%2C+TX+%96+PIC+INTENSIVE
Wayne did you see your picture?
Wayne,
Don't let BB browbeat you into clicking:). I think you did great and it is especially impressive that you did it without the, uh, "strange"-looking harness or clicking and at lower power, too.
BB,
I realized I made a mistake and thought the show ran Saturday thru Sunday, not Friday thru Saturday. Anyway, I now plan to be there with the Commander around 3PM FRIDAY. It means I can drive down in the daylight instead of leaving a 5AM.
The hotel room got more expensive when I changed it but that's life. Last year, Stevens and I ate at a nice BBQ restaurant but if you have any recommendations this year, I'd like to hear them.
See everyone who's going to the show on FRIDAY.
Fred
Annon,
I couldn't get that link to come up.. but..
Here are some pics posted on the yellow forum.. I'm in the brightest blue shirt near the middle the the group shot.. and B.B. posted a shot of me ..ahhhh… or the gardener.. about 4 days ago..
http://www.network54.com/Forum/451309/message/1255964512/Nationals+Pictures
Brother Wayne,
I'm very proud of you. Even a little envious.
Saw all the pictures that tony posted. Looks like a really great time.
I'm not sure anyones airgun shooting has progressed as quickly as yours in the history of airguns.
More importantly, you're not afraid to mix it up with the best. This is the true test of wanting to be the best you can be.
What's the old adage, "If you want tom be the best at something, find those people that are the best and learn from them." I'm sure this is a paraphrase but you get my drift.
Go get um Wayne and keep making this family proud.
kevin
Matt61,
Our game is not forgotten… I just don't remember what it was going to be.. was it 50 yards with butter knives????
Herb & Mr. B..
.. so you want the details do you????
Well first I showed my stuff, and while I was half naked, they threw a net over me and staked me out on the lawn with the fire ants.. come to think of it.. maybe I shouldn't have shown my stuff first..(a NIB Ruger Blackhawk .357, and .22 mag pistol, and a couple of nice remington .22 rimfires with peep sites).. I let Tom look at the Shamal, but since his USFT was off the table that came off too!
but anyway, then Tom started showing his collection.. or the part that was for trade..
first was that rolling block .22 something or other.. hard to tell with the netting in my face..
I said no, no, I want air rifles.. bring me air rifles.. so out came his Daystate Harrier from his FT days.. The ants were getting closer, so I said I'll take it real quick!
Next he tried to pawn off that crosman 114 in the blog a few days ago.. no more CO2 for me ants or no ants..
But then out came a scratched up old Haenel springer with a real cool peep site… Since I've got the other special one Tom got as a gift.. and a few others.. and the ants were now thinking about climbing on me, (but for some reason they took a whiff and backed away).. my trading position improved!! .. but still I said I'll take it!!
But on my other side the ants (from a different mound) were not impressed with my travel baggage, and they were climbing onto my pants.. Tom seeing this new advantage for himself quickly brought out a fire arm of sorts.. I think he said it was an M-1 or something with a 30 round clip….
With the ants now climbing up my thigh.. real high… I said… OH I would love it!!!
They cut me loose, we shook hands and we went to breakfast.
Well… that's not exactly the truth…
We went to breakfast first!
Wacky Wayne, Ashland Air Rifle Range
Kevin,
ah shucks…
That is true about mixing with the ones at the top…
The great thing in this sport, is that they are all so eager to share their knowledge…. yourself a perfect case in point, with all the help you gave me last year with elk and turkey hunting..
I was paired with "A" team Ray Apelles for the pistol shoot, which he won by the way… he only missed two for 40/42.. Ray was very helpful.. later he let me shoot one of his Marauders in the Challenger stocks. Ray had set the trigger even lower than I thought possible on a Marauder.. it was very nice.
Paul Cray spent a lot of time telling me stories about my USFT he took to the worlds… not all good ones.. but very helpful all the same!
Tim from Mac1 was so friendly.. we visited a long time he loved my custom tape job on the knee rest!
Joe McDaniel (AAFTA board of governors) was my partner the first day of rifle FT.. That was a super informative day!
yep… it's a great sport!! I've made a bunch of new friends!
Wacky Wayne, MD. Ashland Air Rifle Range
Fred,
You asked yesterday about the bi-pod put on my Disco. It was:
TL-BP69S[PY-A-882]Universal Bipod
GrovTec-GTSW23[PY-A-2361] Swivel Set
The Bi-pod mounts to the swivel.
I also ordered a GrovTec sling. All the parts are made in the USA (bonus for me) and have quality in measure to the price.
DB
BG_Farmer,
I'm not giving up yet on "holdover"
Guessing the height was not that tough, on the close shots like a 3/8" at 11 yards, I had to holdover 7/8"… I nailed almost all of them under 37 yards..
It was the on the back half of the side wheel the 38 to 55 yards where there isn't enough room to write on the wheel.. in 1/2" of side wheel space the focus changes from 35 to 55 yards!!!
1/32" of space might mean 1" difference in holdover..
So… here is my idea..
Drill tiny holes in the side wheel and put different length little pins.. maybe "needle bearings" through the holes..
The pins length can represent the amount of holdover!.. and to add another way to identify.. tags can hang down from each pin with the holdover needed..
With a slightly larger wheel than I had at the nationals.. and I already bought it while I was there, the pins should have all the room needed..
I think with an improved system, I can be sure about the holdover in those longer distances.. my score percentages will go up for sure!
anyway, I'm gonna try it..
Wacky Wayne
Herb & BG_Farmer,
My thought on using Chrony results was that power fluctuation can and does affect accuracy. So why not consider it as a source of meaningful data. Plus it is measurable without human error for the most part.
Just a thought.
But I get it that it would only measure the gun not the gun shooter combo required to create target groups.
DB
WV = fungn (just add one more U)
Can not recall when I've enjoyed the comments more than these today. I'll sleep with a smile and dream of finding that perfect old priceless airgun in a garage sale.
Wayne,
The envious part was all about getting to know these addicts first hand that are so willing to share what amounts to secrets in business.
What a great hobby in that the brethren are so willing to "confess" the knowledge that they worked so hard to obtain. (B.B. comes to mind here)
I admire your commitment to holdover/mildots. I thing you would be better served with a leupold fixed 35x (40x) per ld?
Suspect you'll be clicking soon.
With regard to the A teams trigger mod on the marauder, I have a tuned marauder and like it. The market trigger is a distant second to what our Air Arms trigger can be. Have you seen this:
http://www.a2kda.com/trigger.htm
I followed the tutorial and received machined washers from a guy in England vs. the fiber washers that are referenced in the tutorial and it's the best trigger I've ever felt. If you don't want to disassemble at least follow the adjustment tutorial. A guaranteed better trigger than the marauder can ever be.
Be well my friend.
kevin
Wayne,
3X5 shots with your best pcp at 50 yards for the honor of the pcp world…
Very amusing story about your trade. I'm glad you got an M1. I've never heard of one with a 30 round clip. I believe there were models with extended magazines of 20 rounds. I think it was an Italian export called the BMP 50 or something like that. Anyway, fill me in. If indeed this is an M1 Garand, tell me what ammo you are going to use? This issue is on my mind.
Matt61
Kevin,
You know Joe McDaniel was using a leupold fixed 35x. He was clicking and did pretty well… two shots better than me both days… but several times he had trouble seeing the targets in darker areas… and finding the targets in general… with the timer a counting down…
Time was not my issue at all! I always had a minute or two left from the 5 allowed for 4 shots.. but for Joe, finding and clicking got him close to the end many times… and he was always worried about running out of time.
I sort of wish I had mildots… my BSA platinum 10-50×60 (but It's set on 22 power) is a target dot.. so I'm guessing the holdover in the scope too! It's really the perfect scope to click with!!
Someone wants to trade me for a newer Nikko Diamond with mildots… but I don't want to trade since the older ones like mine, made in Japan, are better…. and if I ever do start clicking, I already have the best scope for it!
so your and Tom's prediction is a pretty safe bet… but I'm gonna finish this year at least as a holdover piggy… gotta try my pin idea..
.. and the California state champ match is coming up Nov. 15th and 16th
Matt61,
it's the 30 cal carbine…
Wacky Wayne, MD Ashland Air Rifle Range
Wayne,
I think I see your problem, and that solution sounds like it might work. Just for the record, from what you've said, I think clicking would not have been any help — it was the range finding that killed you past 37 yards.
It also might be nice to have something like a 2 speed focuser from the world of astronomy, i.e., two wheels, one coarse adjustment and one fine.
Did you meet the HFT 2nd place finisher with the QB? He might have finished first except for his scope — a brand that I've sworn off of FOREVER:).
Fred,
I am so glad you caught your mistake on the days. Arriving on Friday will be perfect.
As for restaurants, there are so many that it's hard to choose just one. Were my gallbladder working, I would be going to Red Robin, out by the airport, off Hershberger Rd. They make a great hamburger.
B.B.
Wayne, Wayne, Wayne. Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.
How you exaggerate. You were NOT half-naked. I was there. You were only quarter-naked.
Edith
Edith,
I'm sorry, I can't resist a chance to exaggerate… and I'm a little shy.. so I didn't want all to know how close to naked I was!
Really though..
It was such a great pleasure to meet you both in person.. I feel so blessed to have met you both!! Your both so kind and caring.. I count my blessing all the time.. and knowing you two, is right up there at the top of the list!
How did you train the ants so well???
Wacky Wayne, MD. Ashland Air Rifle Range
BG_Farmer,
Since I'm still debating on the holdover vs. clicking issue, I listened carefully after the match.. I did hear quite a few horror stories of clicking problems… not from the winners of course.. it worked perfect for them, but there seems to be at least three different ways folks get "screwed" up (pun intended) ..
1. forgetting they went all the way around after a close shot, on a long shot.
2. malfunction from turning all the time.
3. miss reading the numbers on either the side wheel or the dial on the turret.
I heard these cries from a large percentage of the "non-winners"!!
So, clicking is not the "end all answer".. at least that's how I see it!
And the time issue.. folks take more time to range find, check the chart, adjust the dial, then go back and find the target again… That takes time.. now they are wondering if the clock will go off before they get their shot off!!
My method allows me to focus, and since I shoot with both eyes open, I can stay on target while I see how much holdover my sidewheel says I need… It's about twice as fast…. I was never close to the time ending on me!
The different length pins seem like a great solution… one could tell what to do, just by feel with a little practice…
Are you listening Leapers???
Wacky Wayne, MD. Ashland Air Rifle Range
Wayne,
Ants aren't trainable. It was instinctive to go for you. They can smell an outsider 🙂
It's always great to meet people from the blog.
Edith
Edith,
Now I understand the road signs…
"Drive friendly" and "Don't mess with Texas"… carrot and stick kind of a thing..
Who needs a justice system, when each citizen has a front lawn full of soldiers.. with perfect instincts for any naughty "outsiders"..
Great way to keep the taxes low in Texas!… I wonder if we can get fire ants up here in Oregon?? I'm sure our Governor would be pleased if I brought some back next time I visit!!
Wacky Wayne
Hi BB,
Good luck at Roanoke. I wish I was going. I am going to try to get a group interested in going next year and either chartering a bus or renting a van or small bus for a group trip from North Texas. I figure the trip would be as much fun as the show.
I have also had luck at pawn shops. I have picked up a HW55MM with 66R scope, a Diana 27 (remember the one with the plastic trigger), a Ted Williams CR150 (my best buy – bought it for $20 and sold it for around $150), and countless Benjamin and Sheridan pumps at pawn shops. I have also had luck at flea markets. I have not been as lucky as you with the gun shops though.
If I were going to Roanoke this year I would be looking for a militia Diana 27, an old style HW50S, and a AA S200. But, I don't usually buy what I am looking for. I usually land up with things I wasn't even previously interested in. But, that's the fun of the gun show.
David Enoch
Too bad Pyramyd is not going to be at Roanoke!! I can't believe the biggest player in this industry would miss "THE" show of the year.
Very much looking forward to the show, and will do the 500mile drive on Friday. See you there BB!
JDB in NY