ReeferMac

Thsnks for sharing Robtattoo, errr, @Handsome Rob, sorry . Interesting theory on that feeder on a timer.... my neighbor has a fersl hog problem on his rural property, but hasn't found a consistent time to hunt them - they seem to come and go randomly. I'd bet he would be interested in trying that. How long did it take to get the trained? Thanks.

Welcome neighbor! Some great advice here. Another source for info is your local fishing store - try to find one that sells live bait. Its easy to walk in with a friendly smile and ask whats hitting, where, and on what. A good store owner will know from his customers/buddies whats hot at the moment (changes daily!). I don't know Knox county spots, but Ft. Loudon/Lake area I hear a lot about. You can fish from shre below the dam, I frequently see that area busy. Could rent a charter service for half a day on one of the lakes for a (kids) birthday (party)... ask the Captain for advice as well. Good luck! Crappie are hitting in Watts Bar, I can tell you that. :LOL:

Thanks for sharing!

Bought the kids a Ruger American .22 bolt gun for this reason. Despite getting it for 3-4 cents per round, I still don't want to pay for them to do a mag dump every time they step up to the line. Fantastic little gun like it better than my neighbors Marlin .22 semi-auto.

A friend of mine 'went in' on a grow operation with some friends last year. All legal, perfectly legit... still sitting on the product. No market ... I like it though, nice change of pace!

Gawd, I used to buy my coffee from the old lady that got it at that Pilot... Can't fathom, can't even get my head around what it would be like standing in line. I've stopped at that Pilot a couple hundred times in the last couple years, no exaggeration... What would I do? Probably freeze in dis-belief? I honestly don't know if I would react to the perp, I suspect my initial reaction (after Holy #(!&^!! ) would be aid to the wounded? Can you prepare for something like that? I mean, training... Obviously some of our military veterans and emergency response people have had exposure to such situations, but as a normal person, how do you know how you will react? Blood, guts, and gore tend to produce visceral reflex response, not reasoned thoughtfulness. How do you prepare (training, aka @CruelHandLuke's class)? I often game idea's in my head about how I would do this, or that, or.... But I do the same thing AFTER a fight (verbal disagreement) with my wife, or a co-worker, peer, etc. Yeah, sure, after the fact I always come up with a killer come-back to end the conversation with. In the heat of the moment, there's a roaring in my ears and I can't think for nothing... So there I am twiddling my phone while waiting for my turn in line, and all of a sudden the guy in front of me starts popping off on the old bird for taking too long with the rewards card? Whips out a knife and climbs over the counter....? I dunno man, I honestly just don't know how I would react, or what I would do? I would hope that the Chivalry gene would kick in and make my brain react, but I don't think anyone will truly KNOW how they'll react unless they've been there. All the dry fire and scenario game-playing in the world isn't going to prepare you for that first spray of red. Crazy times.... - K

You are 100% correct @RED333..... What's upsetting, is the stooges in the goobermint offices (for decades...) take our money claiming they're fixing these problems, modernizing the government, lean-sizing the operation... And whoops, turns out you haven't updated your payroll computer since the Kennedy Administration? I want a refund. Ditto for half my school taxes this year - little bastards are home, schools closed, teachers aren't teaching... you'd think I'd get my money back that paid for all that, wouldn't you? It's broken folks, completely, utterly, irretrievably, broken. Time to start over. Get the short ropes, tar and feathers, it's time for some boogaloo! - K (sorry.. Wow, where did that come from?)

Welcome Brenda! My wife has the same Ruger. Lots of good advice, great idea to get some training! The more you can shoot, the better. There are also dry-training techniques worth inquiring about with your trainer, especially if you don't have a location to shoot. - K

See, I look at it the way a local brick and mortar store owner explained it to me... theres a home brewing supply store located next door to a "head shop" on Kingston Pike. I was talking to him about some of the distilling equipment he was offering for sale: "Hey man, if he can sell 'tobacco pipes' next door, I can sell you 'essential oil extractors' here." It wouldn't be the first time I threw 60 bucks away?

Some company in Idaho recently started appearing in my googleads.... I've got to admit, for 60 bucks, I'm tempted to try one. Perhaps it will improve the ahhh, fuel economy? Anyone here ever try one out? https://www.lafoauto.com/products/type-e-1-2-28-5-8-24-single-core-fuel-filter-6-black-titanium

Update: Father-in-Law lives not-too-far, I spoke to him the last time he came to visit (big aficionado, used to shoot target .22, in his advanced age he carry's a .22 Magnum). She went to see him for a visit Monday, and low and behold he sent her home with one of his .22 semi-auto's to 'practice' with. (lately she has been bringing her Ruger with her in the car when she travels, we're going to try some practice with it these next few weeks, since, well, there ain't much else to do! Thinking about putting together some softer loads on the press, but find the gun has trouble cycling if I do that). Thanks.

You laugh quacker... was wondering when they're going to find out the Kung Flu can spread by mosquito!

Dozen chickens free ranging for the winter did NOTHING! Pulled one off me, one off my youngest yesterday. Mine was not a lone-star tick, either. Good times! Fortunately neither one bit us. Just not looking forward to the chiggers starting, either. Looks like it's going to be a bad year for them.

It's the panic of crowds that you're seeing in the stores and on the Tee Vee today. There's a concept called "The Golden Horde" among survivalist circles, but can be easily imagined in a variety of shapes and sizes. Google it for some ideas? If this stuff going on gets really bad.... how bad will people behave? Will it reach the point where people load up in cars and commit violence to feed their family (or prey on those less fortunate)? Hungry people will do remarkable things, and frankly I have a pretty low opinion of us humans in general. So use your imagination, browse a few Hollywood plot-lines, and.... yeah, I'll admit it: I started carrying with the extended magazine instead of the compact one last week. It's less easily concealed because it sticks out further, but frankly, I look at that as a benefit today!

Thanks for suggestions fella's. I talked with her about it last night and she agreed to try shooting her 9mm again one of these weekends. She agree's with my assessment of the need to carry more regularly. I've started reloading again recently. Might try putting together a few mags of lighter-touch, maybe 115 gr instead of the 124 I usually use? I'm concerned however that some Winchester 115gr. I've used caused FTF's and stove-pipes. I could reload HP's, but would prefer factory ammo from a reliability stand-point. I use Speer Gold Dots and HST's in 124 gr., and match my target ammo as well. For plinking around I use Berry's 124gr round nose and 4.5-4.7 gr Titegroup. Never chrono'd the rounds, but it feels about the same as when I use commercial target rounds.

Thanks everyone! Went into my local store today, got to paw a Glock 44 for a good 20 minutes. Oh. My. Gawd. Listen, I'm of German descent, you don't have to convince me a whisker about the quality of German/Swiss/Austrian engineered devices. Honest. I own a plastic pistola myself (S&W M&P 9C) but Oh My GAWD!!!! Seriously, I've held airsofts that felt more robust! I'm sure it's a fine gun, really, Glock's name says it all... And I get they're trying to manufacture to a price point... BUT OH MY GAWD! I wouldn't give you 200 bucks for that piece of plastic, let alone 360 + tax. Honest, I'm sure it's great, if you have one and love it, more power to you! But I'll never spend that kind of cake for something that looks and feels like chinese crap, I don't care who's logo is on it. Period. Put some damned metal into the gun! The stinking guide rod is plastic! Frankly I wasn't 100% sure about the barrel, either (kidding!) Wow... Maybe I really am getting old?

Thanks for sharing PopPop. I haven't seen Ms. Jolley since the fall. Think I'll pay her another visit!

Someone else suggested a revolver, too. Those never fail, just suck to reload. Thanks!

LOL.. man. In this crowd I figured... SMH, YMMV. LOL. Yuks aside, I (used to) lament about not being able to scrounge up enough to get that free-shipping deal on a case of target loads at <internet retailer of choice here>... can never seem to find the budget to stock up and fill those ammo cans in one shot... but I've got 20 bucks in my wallet, I'm driving right by my LGS (ahem, Local Gun Store), I can get a couple boxes for 10-12 bucks each... hey whaddyaknow? That ammo can is full now. BLOAT!

Planted ginseng and ramps all over the woods this winter... prarie-plant seeds are germinating, first batch of taters should go in the ground after breakfast! Who's getting started for Kung Flu quarantines in 2020?

Thanks for all the ideas and info. Her father used to shoot competition with a Ruger .22 MkIII I think? Carrys a .22Mag nowadays (he's too old for his .45s). She likes the size/form/factor of her Ruger, but yeah, won't carry because of Owweee... I just don't like where the worlds headed these days, and something is better than nothing, IMHO. I think I just found an excuse to go to the gun store! I keep a stock of .22 LR on hand b/c we have a couple rifles. Copper plated HP mostly (and some snake charmers). I'd rather not get another round to inventory? Rather find some extended mags? I mean, jeeze, if you're going to pack a .22, least you could do is gimme a 25 rd mag to dump while running to get a real gun? LOL! Thanks again.

I went into that store one time because BLOAT, and they required and scanned my drivers license for the ammo purchase. Would not accept my pistol permit as "ID", I'm quite obviously 'of age', but understand proof regardless (e.g. as with alcohol)... still, I asked about the scanning of my license, and they said it's required by corporate b/c I bought ammo. Now I've got nothing in my background to worry about, but I thought it odd? BLOAT trips at Knife Works and Frontier Firearms suffer no such intrusions to my privacy, so they get my business instead! LOL! - K

Anyone try out that new Glock 44 in .22 LR? My wife owns a Ruger 9mm (LC9s) she does not carry, shoot, or ever use, because it's too 'snappy' for her wrists. We've tried larger frame guns (I carrySW M&P 9C), went through the rental rack at the local store (including .380 pistols), just doesn't like it. Suffers from RSD/Carpal Tunnel type pains from work. Enjoy's shooting. Always takes a turn with the .22 rifles. The Glock brand has an impeccable reputation for good reason, I've shot them. I'm contemplating suggesting my wife get one for carry, if she's not going to carry the Ruger she bought years ago. Yes, granted, it IS a 22, but it's better than the knife she carry's? And the perp on the other end isn't going to measure the barrel diameter, they're just going to see their 'victim' put a Glock in their face. Given the current direction of things, I'd rather her carry a .22 Glock in her purse than nothing? We're both permitted in TN, don't travel much out of state. Thanks.

Thanks Pop Pop. I used to love playing the 'chimes' at the club I used to belong to.... figure if I can cut a few tree's down and make myself a berm, I can enjoy it at home, too!

I've got designs on a backyard shooting range as well.... Wanted to put in one of those pistol dueling tree's, but this got me to thinking about the ricochets... since the target is designed to yield to the projectile (and swing back to the other side), are splatter and ricochets less likely? I too have experienced fragmentation coming off steel targets, which were over 50 yards away! Thanks.