Handsome Rob

Howdy from another English expat. A 'non-immigrant alien' actually. Ok, couple of things. Firstly, apply for an SSN the minute you arrive, seriously, use airport wi-fi. If you're applying for a visa, you can actually apply for an SSN from the UK. 1. What type of visa are you moving on? Depending on the visa type, you may or may not be eligible for permanent residency. 2. What's your education level? If it's any less than a Higher Degree, permanent resident status is going to be nearly impossible to achieve. There are exceptions for artists but very stringent criteria must be met. 3. Are you married to a U.S.citizen? If not, find one, pronto. It's almost impossible to permanently emigrate to the U.S. unless you have immediate family here or are married to a Citizen. 4. If you're coming on an investment visa, you can apply for a SSN as soon as you arrive. (It was worth repeating) 5. If you don't have an SSN, forget about cell phones, insurance, cable tv etc. You absolutely NEED one to buy anything, other than groceries, from a store. 6. No SSN, no hunting license. Or bank account. Or drivers license. Or cell phone, cable tv etc.... basically you NEED a SSN. I'm honestly not trying to put you off, the U.S. IS the greatest country in the world to live, but it's nowhere near as simple as any of the 'Emigrate NOW!' websites would have you believe. It took my Wife I the better part of 2 years (& many thousands of pounds, never mind the HUNDREDS of thousands we had to spend to buy a business.....) to get here on a 3 year visa & then several thousands more to renew to a 5 year. That was 10 years ago & I'm looking into an extension right now. 8 years & several immigration lawyers later & we still haven't found a feasible route to permanent status. Also, if you're just wanting to visit & get a feel for the place, you don't need a visa. The UK is part of the Visa Waiver Programme, meaning that you can stay a full 90 days on an I94. It's not long enough to establish temporary residence in any state (90 days MINIMUM) but it'll let you get an idea of what you're in for. It can also give you a head start on residency if you're already in the visa application process, although you will have to leave to return to the Embassy in London. When you obtain a visa, you'll still have to periodically renew your I 94 as that is only valid for a maximum of 2 years as a visa holder. Plan on traveling to Mexico/Canada every other year. It's the cheapest & simplest way to renew.... Ps. Sorry for all the edits, I keep thinking of stuff!

Wow. I'd love to attend, but unfortunately I'm tied up at home all that week :'(

Can anyone tell me, do chronos misread as the battery gets low on power? I was testing loads yesterday & was getting very odd velocities. I tried some loads in the .280ai with 139gn. Powder type was exactly the same as I use for 162gn but obviously, loads were different. I noticed that the same load I use for the 162s gave me pretty much the same velocity with the 139s I was expecting the 139s to run a couple of hundred fps faster than the 162s but velocity read as almost identical. As I was packing up the low battery warning came on. I always assumed that electronics worked or they didn't Did I break physics?

Used to be. I used to own a beautiful Air Arms S410. Brass bolt handle, brass silencer adapter....sigh. I put a LOT of bunnies in the freezer with that thing!

Congrats on the spawn! Welcome to the rabbit hole of reloading.... Sent from a mountain somewhere, using telepathy.

Cool beans brother!! I tell you, it'll be really hard going back to a 7lb+ hunting rifle now. The weight saving bug his really hard. I'm trying to sell my .280 to sink into an ultralight .300wsm or .338wm right now! If you're free Wednesday, I'll be at Strategic Edge, if you wanna out to come play.... Sent from a mountain somewhere, using telepathy.

I know you will! 6.5mm 140gn Bergers have been very good to me for the past couple of years. 3 antelope & 8 deer so far. If you don't already, it would behoove you to look into a simple reloading setup Sent from a mountain somewhere, using telepathy.

That offer to lend me $3800, indefinitely, with no expectation of repayment DOES still stand.... Sent from a mountain somewhere, using telepathy.

*sigh* It's going to be either a Tikka T3 light or a Kimber Hunter. Probably in .300WSM or .338WM Gotta offload my .280 Ackley first though.

What are you wanting it for? If you're looking for a long range target rig keep an eye on GOC for any long action 110, 111 etc. You can add a single shot follower to the mag & reliably single feed any long or short cartridge. A donor gun in .30-06 is favorite, just because it has the most versatile bolt-head size, but even that can be switched out in a couple of minutes. Gimme a heads up if & when you get fixed up & I'll happily help with the trigger. Also, I have details of a really, REALLY good barrel guy for around 50% the cost of a Criterion.

Possibly..... It's a .223 Sent from a mountain somewhere, using telepathy.

Don't be scared of the Axis, please! Yes, the trigger sucks. Like, out loud. But, it can be made awesome in less than 5 minutes at a cost of 'maybe? 10 cents. The stock isn't as bad as you'd think.....ish. Sent from a mountain somewhere, using telepathy.

This is number 5 in my safe. I 'think' number 13 total in the last few years. Don't they have, like, meetings for things like this? Sent from a mountain somewhere, using telepathy.

Imma whip a couple of inches off that butt next. 14" LOP is too much for me!

So, I was in the market for a cheap coyote gun when this used Axis popped up. Crappy rattle-can stock, stock trigger (30lb of grit...) & factory Bushnell. Mind you, it was $200 so I'm not complaining & it came with 400 round of 50gn hollowpoints. Picked it up this morning & immediately decided it was too long &, well....normal. 12 o'clock & I get a 1hr lunch break so I figured "*%#$ it". Pulled the stock, removed the mounts & scope, whipped off the barrel, ran to a friend with a lathe, used said lathe to chop it to 16¼", turned a nice 11° crown, ran home, removed the trigger, replaced the stock spring, installed an over travel screw, polished the trigger & sear (3lb pull, zero overtravel. Didn't have time to fix the pre-travel. I'll live with it!), reinstalled it, screwed on the barrel, headspaced it, tightened everything up, scope on, stock on, loaded the mag & zeroed the thing (1½" high at 100yds, ¾"group) & STILL had time for a cheese sammich! Do THAT with your Remchester!

I'm amazed at how linear & gentle the recoil on that STG76 is! It seems like it comes absolutely straight back.

When the hell did 'combatant' become 'warfighter'?? Is it suddenly a freaking video game?!

$1k is the absolute most I'd ever drop as a lump sum on a bare rifle & it would have to be something very special for that to happen. Luckily 99% of my needs are to be found in the sub-$800 bracket. My long range target rig probably has more invested in it than any other gun I own, but that was spent a bit at a time over several months. It's probably still not over $800 for the bare gun though. Mind you, I've got more than that in the scope, so probably around $1800 overall. Actually, thinking about it, I'd say the AVERAGE value of the guns I currently own is about $500. Some over, some under.

Are you dead inside??? Look at it man! LOOK AT IT!! Srsly though, they're a boutique, semi custom, ultra limited run, ultralight mountain rifle. Switch caliber; .260, .308 & .358 with a sub moa guarantee that doesn't lose zero when you change caliber!

I revel in my technological ignorance, but bow in gratitude to your assistance. [emoji52] Sent from a mountain somewhere, using telepathy.

......about $4800? Interest free. For...ummm...a few years? http://www.gunbroker.com/item/610524654

Uncle Touchy??? Sent from a mountain somewhere, using telepathy.

I always like to meet at The Outpost, if I'm buying from north of me. If it's local; a Wal-Mart parking lot, away from the store always seems to be convenient.

Oooh, that's not a good idea. If you put it in my hands, you'll probably have to gnaw my arm off to get it back! Sent from a mountain somewhere, using telepathy.

Just out of interest, if you're ever near Tullahoma, you're welcome to take mine for a test run!