The Hum of Summer at LRDC

Five new 20 foot deer stands grace our camp, and assembly, transport and raising the new ones is a group effort. This also includes hauling the old ones out!

Putting these things together is, I am a bity embarrassed to say this, a Chinese puzzle. That is where they are made, and the directions for assembly reflect it. But we did get it done. 

Pups are always necessary to assist.

 

No active fireplace, so the camp grill cooks lunch.

A raised and stabilized stand. This takes some several hunters, ATVs, a pulley and rope, and daredevil climbing. They do have to be solid.

Volunteers all, and all good company.

Back to the hunting and nature aspect of things, tons and tons of apples, acorns, and most other feeds I can think of. No one in the forest is going hungry these days. Three easy winters, a ton of summer rainfall, and good bedding and cover management keeps the little folks happy.

The buck below is feeding on wild apples. He is a nine pointer, and he has a pal, just to the right of the posts , also a nine pointer, with him. I am zoomed in with my phone, thus the poor quality of the picture.

The stump below is a cherry tree stump that has been a mineral lick for years. The deer and porkys have finally worn it out, and I have replaced it with a fresh one below.

This field I won't mow until Mid/late September to make sure all Monarchs are hatched and through their life cycle. More of them this year than the past twenty.

  

  The balloon below was in a food plot, blowing in from an unknown celebration. I wish folks could enjoy them and tie them off without littering the countryside. What IS the joy in seeing them leave?

 

Pretty buck in velvet on the East Plot.

This Chuck is at deer camp, keeps us good summer company. He shares the spot with gray foxes, and rabbits. No conflicts, seemingly.

Below, his pal Peter, sitting just in front of the camera. Handsome ears those...

Mom and babe below in the Far Field.

We only get a few coyotes on camera a year. One of the few.

LRDC love porks. I like these guys!

A buck making his rounds.

A mature bobcat. 

Another, and probably the same, coyote.

Bruins everywhere. 

Just a turkey grooming. Looks like agony!

I love seeing deer shine like this. Soon, some will be nearly bald with switching to a winter coat.

This last picture I am very fond of, our resident deer camp woodchuck in a mood of contemplation. I DO wonder what is on his mind. 

 So, wrapping up this edition, and hoping to quickly get back into bow practice. I was doing fine, until I took a full draw without arrow, and mistakenly let the trigger release. Like a slap on the side of my head it was, and eyepieces and silencers went twanging away to unknown places. This requires a full re-stringing and set of of a bow AFTER all components checked for integrity. I have not heard back from the Pro. It may mean a new bow! In any case, archery opens within a month, so I do need to catch up! Hope all your summers are full filling, and filled with the outdoors! 

Comments and critique and questions welcomed.

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

The Glock 40 MOS 10mm - My Last 10MM Review (or am I Iying?)

• CALIBER: 10mm Auto
• CAPACITY: 15
• WEIGHT WITH LOADED MAGAZINE: 1,265g | 44.62 oz.
• 
  

• CALIBER: 10mm Auto
• CAPACITY: 15
• WEIGHT WITH LOADED MAGAZINE: 1,265g | 44.62 oz.
• BARREL LENGTH: 153mm | 6.02 in.
• OVERALL LENGTH: 241mm | 9.49 in.
• SLIDE LENGTH: 229mm | 9.02 in.
• OVERALL WIDTH: 34mm | 1.34 in.
• SLIDE WIDTH: 28,5mm | 1.12 in.
• HEIGHT INCL. MAG.: 139mm | 5.47 in.

As you know from my past reviews of 10mm pistols I love the round, and it's capabilities, both for raw power, and for accuracy. The 1911 versions I loved, all were very accurate, and all, save the Dan Wesson were very reliable. They included a Dan Wesson Pointman 7, a Ruger 1911, a Rock 1911 and all were adequate except the DW, which WAS the most accurate. In any case, at some point I decided that due to my tactical background with striker fired pistols, and positive outlook in hi capacity, I would try a Glock 40 MOS in 10mm. Now, in the past I have shot many rounds from a Glock 20. Reliable, hi-cap, rugged, and fine for close in heavy work. Accuracy was nothing to brag about, and it always felt like a bowling ball in my hands. 

So, when a good tactical guy recommended the Glock above, with the long slide, I went for it. I shot a hundred rounds through it and was satisfied with it's close in accuracy and reliability. Like the Springfield Armory 10mm I had, evaluated, and found also to have poor accuracy(and dumped). Typical Glock. Then I set it up with a Burris Fastfire III RD sight, and took it back to the range.  

Again, close in accuracy, handling, and reliability was adequate, and actually on the Dot Torture, quite impressive for this round. I was pleased. 

Moving out to 15 yards, not bad. I am precision shooting here, and just getting used to the gun. 

Back to five yards drills, and again, adequate considering the fpe we are sending down range. 

Then, out to 20 yards. I could not hit a barn door. No matter what I did, I could not wring any accuracy out of this gun. 13 inch groups! Thought it might be the ammo. Shot Federal 180's, DT 200, Buffalo Bore 220 and reloads. and nothing worked.

Moved out to 25 yards with a full sized target. Terrible groups with all ammo. (target says 20 yards, but I had pre-marked it). This is shot at 25. So, I got a good pistol rest, and shot three more targets with the Federal (the most accurate in this pistol). Very careful shooting, and checking RDS tightness, and everything else I could think of, the target below, is the best this pistol could shoot. Now, I fully accept that there are trillions of better shooters than myself out there, and some would do better. But my gun reviews are bread and butter level. What will work for the decent shooter, not just the competing experts?. That is always my premise, when evaluating. 

Conclusion:

Don't buy it. My take is that the 10mm is just powerful enough to flex this guy enough to effect accuracy. I may have purchased an accuracy lemon, but I don't care. One shouldn't have to buy three models of the same pistol to find one that works. The RIA, the Ruger, the Dan Wesson could hit three inch steel at 25 yards almost every time. This guy, and the Springfield Armory are lucky to hit a 6 or even 12 inch steel at that range. 

My take. For 10 mm stick with steel guns, and preferably the 1911 platform. If you are hunting, as I am, humanity requires precision like accuracy out to 50 yards. The polymer strikers just can't cut it. I'll go back to the Ruger 1911.

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

Comments and insults welcomed and anticipated!