They've started

[Purebred Redneck]

For 2 weeks, people have said the squirrels are on the hickory nuts. Hickorys in July --- no way

I went out today and they are indeed in the hickory trees. I think they are just starting because there seems to be only 1 squirrel in each 4-5 tree group. Here in a couple weeks they're going to figure out what group of trees taste best and everyone's going to go hang out there.


I hadn't had a chance to hunt with my 22bolt since I put a new trigger on it last year so I thought I'd take that this morning. I ended up killing 4 but I could only bring home 3 as one decided to get lodged in a fork on the fall down
I was throwing rocks and branches and shooting the squirrel again, shooting the small branch he was hung up on...the hawks can have him ;D

Probably 2 weeks and the good/easy hunting will start.

[Jack]

Nice you could get out and do some hunting, Red.
Small game doesn't start here until September.

[jmarriott]

7 days to go in Indiana. Aug 15 is the beginning of tree rat season.

Buckeyes, field corn, Walnuts, but hickory?? Seems early I will have to go check my hickories in the yard, They are always the first ones to start to put out cause of the small ditch they set on.

How did the trigger work out. Is it the rifle basic's one?

[Purebred Redneck]

Yeah, it's another Rifle Basix.

It's set very light...almost too light. At the range the other week, it probably took 50 shots to get used to it.

Yesterday I shot a total of 10 shots (half on a dead squirrel) ::)ranging from 5 feet (on a cripple I couldn't run down) to about 25 yards. I didn't miss and they all headshots so I was happy.


What I'm not happy about --- and what I've been saying for years and years now --- is the performance of 22lr solids.
Two squirrels where shot dead
Two squirrels required a second shot when they were both shot in the head the first time.

I have about 2200 rounds of CCI mini-mag solids. I think I'm going to try to find someone(s) in the area who has a boatload of CCI hollowpoints and wants to trade straight up bullet for bullet. I know a lot of people prefer the solids...not me...

I want to blow the side of their head off, not punch a little hole

[jmarriott]

Those rilfe basics are all the rage and tech sights for open sights,

Just keep the solids and use the 17 hrm when you need to blow the head off. That the one thing it is good for.
Winchester Xperts 38 grain hollow points were in stock a MEGA_LOW_MART last time the wife went shopping. I had her pick me up 2 more 550 packs. They shoot well in the 39a and might be worth checking out in another rifle.

[Purebred Redneck]

The 17hmr does more than blow their head off, it blows the whole front half off ;D
My Marlin 917 is so heavy it's hard to find a good rest, and it's so loud it's deafning with leaves on the ground.
But it's a great winter gun


I've tryed the Expert rounds. The jam bad in my model 60 and the accuracy with the 880 is about 2" at 50yards.