2023, 204's and RATS!

[Rick in Oregon]

An attempt to kick-start this forum for springtime, as it seems to lack both input and enthusiasm. So with that in mind, a few pics from recent seasons in the field to encourage more posting to get us, the membership riled up for the upcoming season. I know you've all got ammo ready and loaded, and the little buggers AKA Skippy are starting to wake up for "fun with rodents" as I like to say.











If that doesn't get anyone wanting to get out with their rifle, then picture arriving at your shoot site and seeing THIS.......



So let's all hope for decent spring WX and git out there! In the meantime, post up some field pics to keep the enthusiasm high.
(Disclaimer: All pics are mine from previous outings, except the last one that I shamelessly lifted from a post online a few years ago. It was too good to NOT save!)

[Bill K]

Great photo's Rick. I am sure looking forward to getting out for some squeeks and chucks, when this stuff, in my area is down and gone. Todays look see around the old cabin. Bill K As you zoom the one photo, my neighbor is standing on the snow level, shoveling off his front porch roof. So this is what we are dealing with right now.

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[Bill K]

This afternoon, the oldest son came up at 2pm and at 4pm we knocked off from some snow removal from a portion of the the front porch/hot tub area. So for me, this is all the shooting I am getting, throwing snow with shovel and shooting it out with snow blower. He is standing on the snow in the side yard and able to shovel off the roof, which is just slightly above him.

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[foxwhistler]

Some fantastic photos in all these posts!

[Bill K]

Ah, but I could enjoy much more, the shooting Rick is doing, than what I am shooting out of the snow blower. Oh well, maybe another month and I can be out looking for some squeeks and chucks with the 17 & 20 calibers. I HOPE.

[Varmint Shooter]

Started my 2023 p-dog season the other day with a 20 SCC.

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[Bill K]

Good start for the season. Keep the photo's occuring, we really like to see them.

[jsh]

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This a picture of a “brass hound” I believe by the size it is a greater rather than a lesser of the species

Buddy hates that picture, lol. Both knees were giving him fits and both have been replaced this year. I give him a hard time and ask him if the new ones have a bigger load rating, lol.

[Bill K]

I believe more than one of us, are getting into the same boat/position, as we age. But I, like him, do search out that brass, in breaks in the shooting.

[Rick in Oregon]

Well jsh, you guys call your buddy a "brass hound". Tell him he's fortunate, as when we have our evening pistol drills after a day on the rifle, always with our 1911's in both .45 and 9mm, I'm the only one scrounging brass at the end of the event. This activity has earned me the name of the "brass whore".

It's a rare event that I'll allow a 20VT, 204R or any rifle case to ever leave the bench top. The stuff is like gold!

My field bench method to keep fired brass on the bench; eject case into my left hand, case goes directly into the fired pile in my bench block. After 25 rounds downrange, they all go back into the MTM plastic box for return home. This method is how I monitor how many rounds fired in regard to field cleaning.



It's a rare event when I'm searching the ground for a case shot at a rat.....but it's been known to happen.

[jsh]

He had just built the 20 Practical that is on the bench. He was going to swap to 223 and didn’t want the chore of sorting the two later.
The pic made think of the other thing from that week. He had got a new big wide brim straw hat, it had a pattern of ventilation holes on the side. Both of us shave our heads for most of the year, his was slick as a grape. The sun came through those vent holes and left the decorative pattern on his scalp. He took his hat off and I busted out laughing, he wouldn’t let me take a picture.

His rifle is a Savage with a 30” barrel. He is using a “stout” load of CFE223 with a 40 grain bullet, uh it outruns my 204

[Rick in Oregon]

Both of us shave our heads for most of the year, his was slick as a grape. The sun came through those vent holes and left the decorative pattern on his scalp. He took his hat off and I busted out laughing, he wouldn’t let me take a picture.

I don't care who you are, that's some funny chit right there!

Right now with rat season almost upon us, the wind, rain and snow blowing about outside has me a tad worried about next month and any degree of quality rat shooting. We can only wish for that sun to produce some goofy sunburn patterns on us. We just want some freakin' sun for a change!

When the fields look like this, guess where the rats are....



Mother Nature......are you paying attention?

[Bill K]

Amen to that Rick. My thoughts also. I am SO ready for some sunshine and warmth outside.

[P Dog Whisperer]

First time to hunt prairie dogs this past weekend, and it was a blast! My .204 gave lots of smiles per hour.

[Bill K]

Way to go. Now polish up that brass, reload and get ready for the next shoot. Thanks for sharing the photo, we love photos of shooting, etc.