J
jeffsvice
Guest
There’s a thread here about travelling on airlines with a firearm and the reaction some folks have when they see you open your gun case. It reminded me of a story I wrote a long time ago – I no longer have a copy of the story, but it went something like this…
Quite a few years ago, maybe 12 or 15, and well before the 9-11 tragedy, I took my first trip to hunt prairie dogs - also, my first time to fly with a firearm... PD shooting was new to me, and I didn't really know what to expect other than we'd shoot "A LOT" and we were going to be in Northwest Texas for about a week. My firearms suitable for PD hunting then consisted of a .223, a 22 PPC, a 6 PPC and a 17 Mach IV. Heck, I took them all. I didn't have a lot of brass for the PPCs or the Mach IV and I didn't want to be "limited" to a rifle as “mundane” as the .223, so I did the only rational thing; I took my arbor press, dies, powder dropper, calipers and various measuring tools, case prep tools, scales, cleaning rods, rod guides, at least 2 different bullet weights for each caliber, a chronograph and a laptop complete with a ballistics program. I called ahead to the big box store in Amarillo and made sure they had primers, H322 and IMR4198... To say I went prepared is tantamount to calling Barry Goldwater a conservative.
I got quite a few appreciative looks at the airport... came cap and vest, 2 huge gun guard cases, binos hanging off my neck, an Action Packer with my sandbags, rests and loaded ammo. A carryon with all my reloading equipment - yes - a carryon... The Alabama accented "pardon me's" as I wrestled my equipment about the airport only increased the approving looks. I didn’t wear the "Red Mist Club" tee-shirt one of my hunting buddies had sent me – but I feared the NRA and club match emblems secured to my vest would cement my position as a full-fledged-gun-toting-southern-conservative-religious-redneck-zealot of personal liberty, prone to develop the groundless, even paranoid belief that politicians occasionally lied to the population. Oddly enough I never got an inkling that my fellow travelers saw me in that light – a testament to the tolerant nature of the American citizen.
The discussion with the young gentleman working the metal detectors should have been inspirational to any student of physics within earshot. Pulling the kinetic bullet puller from my carryon and holding it up for a better look, quizzical look on his face; I was compelled to explain not only the use, but the theory supporting the design. After a brief background to cover Newton’s basic theories, I ended with a discourse on the particulars of momentum as opposed to kinetic energy. I could tell my fellow travelers appreciated the lecture; they gave me their undivided attention and pulled their children close by, restraining them from milling about in the line and causing distractions. As the young man at the belt slowly shook his head, I could see in his eyes his awe of my command of the physical laws of the universe. Without a doubt the young man was better off for the interaction and I was flattered by the concern he demonstrated. It’s not everyday you meet someone who demonstrates the value they place on your well-being, but before I was out of earshot, I heard him tell a coworker that he considered asking me if I had a note from my Doctor.
On the plane I met a nice elderly couple from Atlanta traveling to Texas to visit their grandchildren. As the plane leveled off, I engaged the gentleman in a discussion on ballistics. Specifically, I was contemplating the terminal ballistics of the 17 caliber bullets… Given the deep penetration and bone crushing mass of the 25 grain Berger Match versus the rapid expansion of the 22 grain Berger MEF – just which would be best to stop the vicious charge of an enraged juvenile Prairie Dog? The gentleman was obviously enthralled with our discussion since he quickly moved to the center seat where he could hear me better, placing his poor wife next to the window. It was somewhat unfortunate to see someone treat their spouse so rudely, and while she never said anything, she was visibly upset - I could see her hands were shaking. During the course of our discussion, we discovered we were on the same return flight, and I assured the gentleman I’d give him a full update of experiences on the return flight. I never saw them again, but I did hear the lady whisper something about driving home in the rental car. I guess elderly folks like to slow down and see the country side every once in a while and just maybe an enjoyable sight filled drive back home made up for his rudeness on the plane.
The prairie dog shoot was a wonderful experience. I made some fabulous shots. I found that the writers of the 17 some odd articles I’d read in gun magazines on the plane forgot to mention one important point. Prairie dogs are particularly accommodating to long-range shooting. If you miss on your first shot, they stand up for you. Occasionally, they’ll actually go to their little mounds, and then stand up so you can get a really good view of them. For someone accustomed to missing a lot of crows and ground hogs, this was a completely new experience. One particularly dedicated prairie dog offered up such perseverance that I was able to walk a 68 grain flat base up to him at 700+ yards with 10 consecutive shots. Of all the varmint and game shooting I’ve done, I can honestly say that there is no more noble creature - so willing to give his all for the success of the hunt.
… I’ll just stop here…gotta go to the parents for Christmas Eve
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone on this forum.
I enjoy your comments and I appreciate the knowledge you share here.
Thank you all and God bless.
Quite a few years ago, maybe 12 or 15, and well before the 9-11 tragedy, I took my first trip to hunt prairie dogs - also, my first time to fly with a firearm... PD shooting was new to me, and I didn't really know what to expect other than we'd shoot "A LOT" and we were going to be in Northwest Texas for about a week. My firearms suitable for PD hunting then consisted of a .223, a 22 PPC, a 6 PPC and a 17 Mach IV. Heck, I took them all. I didn't have a lot of brass for the PPCs or the Mach IV and I didn't want to be "limited" to a rifle as “mundane” as the .223, so I did the only rational thing; I took my arbor press, dies, powder dropper, calipers and various measuring tools, case prep tools, scales, cleaning rods, rod guides, at least 2 different bullet weights for each caliber, a chronograph and a laptop complete with a ballistics program. I called ahead to the big box store in Amarillo and made sure they had primers, H322 and IMR4198... To say I went prepared is tantamount to calling Barry Goldwater a conservative.
I got quite a few appreciative looks at the airport... came cap and vest, 2 huge gun guard cases, binos hanging off my neck, an Action Packer with my sandbags, rests and loaded ammo. A carryon with all my reloading equipment - yes - a carryon... The Alabama accented "pardon me's" as I wrestled my equipment about the airport only increased the approving looks. I didn’t wear the "Red Mist Club" tee-shirt one of my hunting buddies had sent me – but I feared the NRA and club match emblems secured to my vest would cement my position as a full-fledged-gun-toting-southern-conservative-religious-redneck-zealot of personal liberty, prone to develop the groundless, even paranoid belief that politicians occasionally lied to the population. Oddly enough I never got an inkling that my fellow travelers saw me in that light – a testament to the tolerant nature of the American citizen.
The discussion with the young gentleman working the metal detectors should have been inspirational to any student of physics within earshot. Pulling the kinetic bullet puller from my carryon and holding it up for a better look, quizzical look on his face; I was compelled to explain not only the use, but the theory supporting the design. After a brief background to cover Newton’s basic theories, I ended with a discourse on the particulars of momentum as opposed to kinetic energy. I could tell my fellow travelers appreciated the lecture; they gave me their undivided attention and pulled their children close by, restraining them from milling about in the line and causing distractions. As the young man at the belt slowly shook his head, I could see in his eyes his awe of my command of the physical laws of the universe. Without a doubt the young man was better off for the interaction and I was flattered by the concern he demonstrated. It’s not everyday you meet someone who demonstrates the value they place on your well-being, but before I was out of earshot, I heard him tell a coworker that he considered asking me if I had a note from my Doctor.
On the plane I met a nice elderly couple from Atlanta traveling to Texas to visit their grandchildren. As the plane leveled off, I engaged the gentleman in a discussion on ballistics. Specifically, I was contemplating the terminal ballistics of the 17 caliber bullets… Given the deep penetration and bone crushing mass of the 25 grain Berger Match versus the rapid expansion of the 22 grain Berger MEF – just which would be best to stop the vicious charge of an enraged juvenile Prairie Dog? The gentleman was obviously enthralled with our discussion since he quickly moved to the center seat where he could hear me better, placing his poor wife next to the window. It was somewhat unfortunate to see someone treat their spouse so rudely, and while she never said anything, she was visibly upset - I could see her hands were shaking. During the course of our discussion, we discovered we were on the same return flight, and I assured the gentleman I’d give him a full update of experiences on the return flight. I never saw them again, but I did hear the lady whisper something about driving home in the rental car. I guess elderly folks like to slow down and see the country side every once in a while and just maybe an enjoyable sight filled drive back home made up for his rudeness on the plane.
The prairie dog shoot was a wonderful experience. I made some fabulous shots. I found that the writers of the 17 some odd articles I’d read in gun magazines on the plane forgot to mention one important point. Prairie dogs are particularly accommodating to long-range shooting. If you miss on your first shot, they stand up for you. Occasionally, they’ll actually go to their little mounds, and then stand up so you can get a really good view of them. For someone accustomed to missing a lot of crows and ground hogs, this was a completely new experience. One particularly dedicated prairie dog offered up such perseverance that I was able to walk a 68 grain flat base up to him at 700+ yards with 10 consecutive shots. Of all the varmint and game shooting I’ve done, I can honestly say that there is no more noble creature - so willing to give his all for the success of the hunt.
… I’ll just stop here…gotta go to the parents for Christmas Eve
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone on this forum.
I enjoy your comments and I appreciate the knowledge you share here.
Thank you all and God bless.