Duke's Blog

I am Back and talking suzuki burgman 650 scooter

hi fellow enthusiast,
its been a year of slow recovery since i was treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the my tongue--stage 4. the chemo and radiation took the starch out of my vigor and the ability to eat and swallow. believe it or not i still have all body parts and can enjoy solid food again--a real treat!
i have some "bonus life" to "live it up!" and i am currently cancer free. i purchased a 2009 suzuki burgman 650cc scooter and ride as much as i can-- this is my third scooter--my first a 125cc vino, then a burgman 400 and now the big boy. 0-60 mph in 7 seconds and 1/4 mile in 14 seconds, fast enough pickup for me--for now! i feel like a young person again, with the auto transmission it feel like i am flying an airplane or riding a "star war's speeder"! i ride as much as i can and commute to work, this scooter weighs 560 lbs, it is a bit heavy but the straight line pickup to 70 mph makes up for the extra poundage. i also like the fact i cannot do an accidental wheely or stoppie or burn out--just traction and pickup.
later
duke

revolver deer hunting

party deer hunting in sw minnesota in the forested river flats, during two group drives, i got two whitetail deer---one small 5 point buck and one doe. i used a .357 revolver because the new winchester 30-30 i had purchased for the hunt, a few days before, would not seat or cycle cartridges (in hindsight most likely clogged with grease or defective), i returned it. so i was was stuck with only a 12 gauge bird shotgun or my sighted in .357 at 25 yards. the buck was leaping right to left about 500 yards (oops!) i mean 35 yards and the doe passed me left to right at about 20 yards (had one graze wound). they were not difficult shots, i used winchester factory ammo .
my pistol reputation was built that day, because i had witnesses---it was really just timing, i was at the right places at the right time. i have not used my pistol since, my buddy is borrowing it to use in se minnesota where it is shotgun slugs only or deer size caliber pistol i.e., .357, 44 magnum, 41mag etc.
i now prefer a remington rifle auto or pump for deer in a .308 (2,820 fps) or 30-06 (2910 feet per second) caliber , leupold 2-7X scope with remington corloc 150 grain, less aim lead when they bolt out of hiding, i find them faster to get on target and release button safety in quick aiming.
i finally purchased a 30-06 bolt action ruger m2 w 3-9x scope, extremely accurate, but the the 3 position safety is slow and loud, bolt cycling is slow and i do not care for the top loading e.g., no detachable clip, but mechanically reliable. an excellent open cover rifle but not dense woods---where a quick second shot is needed. yes i have blooded it.

black powder rifle

i purchased 2 black powder rifles after being taught by a experienced co-worker, his family eventually all started SW Minnesota blackpowder deer hunting, after his granddad got one for christmas six years ago--- my learning curve was shorter because of his advice and experience. i did purchase inexpensive bolt action 209 primer black rifles from both CVA and Traditions, later i read a gripe site about their shortcomings compared to Knight and others. my opinion is the steel barrel and breech plug is heavy duty and looks strong, even though i do not have the metalurgy makeup of the steel, i guess from the appearance, thickness and finish it is armory grade, liability you know is international. both are made in Spain, the originator of firearms in the American continent, i conclude the thrift and weakness may be in the trigger assembly and safety, i mean compared to more expensive rifles, my cva has been fired mine 3 times and it worked great. i hot water cleaned my rifle and "Bore Butter" the rifling, to season it--- i use a powerbelt bullet and two 50 grain triple seven pellets. it is a entry level weapon, with safety in mind---i think it works well and can dispatch a deer--- next year.

BWCAW canoetrip

hi jim, you are my first author, thanks for comments. my advocation and meditation is constructed in the outdoors, canoeing and adventure and it has to include my grandchildren. we have fun together.

]]> your 454 is quite a large caliber for a handgun, i believe it is a single action by wyoming arms or ruger? i have done much reloading and shooting with 44 and 357, but not rifle reloading. ammo for a rifle i prefer remington corloc, it is inexpensive and reliable and less recoil then powered up reloads.
UP,i have never been there, but my brother in law has deer hunted there. i understand it gets deep snow cover and is outstanding for snowmobiling, snowshoeing and skiing, i only down hill ski. i take an annual BWCAW canoe trip every may on the kawishiwi river 20 east of ely, we stay for 3 nights, camp and fish and look at stars.

safe deer hunting training

My three grandsons and i deer hunted together, for my youngest (6 years old) it was his first time. It was primarily just dressing up (blaze orange) and practicing firearm safety (BB guns) and how to travel in heavy woods, the compass and landmarks were used for directional emphasis. In the evening we posted at the top of a ridge, no deer was seen or heard. I fired my rifle once when we were ready to leave, so they had a close up experience of a real firearm shooting--they said the report and flame was cool and the sound of it wheezing through the air was unexpected. i plan to teach them how to muzzleloader deer hunt, because present long-range rifle deer hunting will transform by the time they are my age--because of safety concerns from human population increases and less public hunting land.