DL126

I've been into the PSA locations in Columbia and Greenville SC. You'll be in for a big disappointment if you were to go in expecting to see everything that's on their website. The Greenville store was actually nicer than the Columbia location. I've been into JoeBob'sOutfitters retail location in Hayes Kansas as well. My LGS is larger than their storefront. (And that ain't saying much) ETA: I bought a Tshirt!

I appreciate everyone's concern for keeping me legal. I'm aware of the law, and I'm not breaking it. Please keep conversation geared toward tips/tricks to using thermal. Thanks again. ac72 ... thanks for the tip. I was on the ground and couldn't see the top of his head other than from straight on face to face. And only after he got to 40 yards could I see those bumps. The resolution might not be enough on the Apex to see what you're referring to. But I'll start looking for such.

Update .... This past Saturday morning, I confirmed what I had read about using thermal. You cannot see antlers thru it. I had a spike buck walk to about 40 yards from me. Through the scope, I could just barely see bumps on his head where the antlers came out. As on the previous occasions, I let him walk. My time in the woods right now is primarily for learning the scope, and spending time with my Son.

Full disclosure ... It's above mine as well. I'm far from being a wealthy person. I have struggled with the decision to take this leap for almost a year. After doing so, thus far I'm not sorry for it.

It's still legal shooting hours as I walk back to the car still giddy at the doors that have been opened by the thermal capability. I decide to try slow walking, and scanning at the same time. 30 yards ahead to my left, is a small hot spot just off the edge of the field I was in. As I get close, that hot spot leaps into the field and runs across in front of me looking like a bouncing ball of light that lunges into the brush to my right. It's a rabbit. And he thinks he's safe in the weeds to my right. With the naked eye, he would have been. With a .22 and thermal he'd have been supper. All of a sudden, to my left is another hot spot in the weeds no more than 30' away. It's another rabbit. I didn't know there were 2 rabbits left in my area! Long read guys. But the point is ... Thermal is NOT just for the night.

15 minutes or so after those deer leaving the area, I get down outta the stand. Just outside the woods is a very large open field that I shoot into quite often, so I'm familiar with the landscape and yardages of it. It's getting dusky by this time, so with naked eye, I could see maybe 200-250 yards out. Again, scanning thru the thermal, I see, and count 25 deer at 500 yards out in that field. Pull off scope, big empty field. On scope, deer! I walk into the next field over. Even "duskier dark" still by this time. Scan the next field over ... Yep, about 25 more in another group. The point again ... I saw all of these deer because of the thermal capability. I could tell which direction all of them were going. Therefore it would have been possible to intercept "upstream". To be continued ....

A couple of weeks ago, I got tired of waiting for ATN to put out software for the 4K Pro scope I had just bought, so I returned the scope to retailer for a refund before that window closed. Glad I did. I replaced that scope with a Pulsar Apex XQ38 thermal rig. That scope is currently mounted on a 12" Grendel pistol. I don't hunt at night. But I wanted dark thirty capability. This past Sunday afternoon, I carried the setup to the deer stand. In this particular spot, there is a thicket of brush, weeds, and small saplings about 35 yards out in front. There is open hardwoods between the thicket and the stand. After being on stand for maybe a half hour, I decided to start scanning the woods/thicket to see what I might see. About 45 yards out, inside that thicket were 3 deer that I could see plain as day. Pull off the scope ... can't see anything but thicket. Get back on scope ... deer! After 10-15 minutes, as I watched thru the scope, 2 of those deer walked outta the thicket directly in front of me. I could see them plainly and could have dropped the hammer. They were both does and I have the 094 license. I didn't. The point to this story, is that I knew they were there because of the thermal. And I knew where they were going to come out because of the thermal. To be continued ....

I have one of those lying on the kitchen counter. Not yet worthy of mounting on a rifle. The software needs much improvement.

Tannerite is also quite effective.

In case you're interested .... https://kmprecisionrifletraining.com/product/ga-precisionbushnell-gap-grind-hosted-by-km/

Click me

Unless 7.62 is a requirement, a 6.5 Grendel might be worth considering.

I once ran a remote wireless camera off of a 12VDC marine battery with solar panels tending the battery. It was a cheap, crappy camera but it worked fine.

Update Found a 509 at a different store yesterday. Felt really nice in hand. I liked the size, frame, everything about it was nice. Then, with the clerk's permission, I snapped it. I didn't like the trigger. Then I looked at another pistol that I've been reading about. A Sig P320 with full length slide on a compact frame. The modular build style is what drew me to the gun. (Lego's for adults) And then, again with permission, I snapped it. Wow, I've never felt a trigger like that on a plastic gun before. Not as good as my 1911, but nice indeed compared to other plastic guns I've tried. Brought the Sig home. I wanna get a full size frame for it. Hope to get a chance to shoot it some later today. Thanks for the input folks. ETA price on the 509 was $529.00.

I don't really know what the street price is gonna be yet. Shop down the street from where my Son lives, (Co Springs), is selling them for $569. Gunbroker has several listings for a bit less. Talking to my LGS guy yesterday. Didn't ask him how much it would be, just told him what I'd pay difference to trade my PC Shield. We agreed on a trade figure, but I haven't committed just yet. Edit = Agreeing on a trade figure and not doing the deal can sometimes be bad manners. But he's a good friend and doesn't have one in stock yet anyway.

Anyone here have any experience with one yet?

I traded for the Ruger last week. 100 rounds thru it so far. Really nice to shoot.

Straight Shooters Gun Shop 407 N Front St Greenfield, TN 38230 (731) 235-0330 Tommy Morris - Owner / Gunsmith Worth a call.

I have this one and bought it for specifically for 200 yards or less = https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Crossfire-1-4x24mm-Riflescope-CF2-31037/dp/B00HYRGODO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1472902334&sr=8-3&keywords=vortex+crossfire+2+illuminated Another one here that's maybe a bit closer to what you've described = https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Optics-Strike-AR-BDC-Reticle/dp/B00S2P2KKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472902579&sr=8-1&keywords=vortex+strike+eagle+illuminated YMMV .... My eyes aren't what they used to be. Heck I bought a 20x for 400+ yard shooting!