The "BABY BEAST" says: "Happy New Year to you all". See ya in 2024

[hawg]

I hate power windows. We HATES them precious!! I don't trust them. My Jeep has them. But, you can get all the parts for them for the older jeeps. My philosophy is, that no matter how much you throw at repairs, (and I do my own, so that makes a difference, paying a mechanic could break you I guess) it's much less than the cost of a replacement vehicle, and who knows what hidden problem a used vehicle has. The other scary unknown is how was the vehicle previously abused? Oil changes? What kind of oil? Quicky-Lube? Over-revving? Constant 85-90+mph cruising? When I keep a vehicle "forever", repairs are at the minimum, as it has not been abused.

Or a new one. The new cars and trucks are coming out with all sorts of problems. Very thin weak aluminum castings (engines, transmissions, and differentials) that break easily, engines with pistons installed backwards or without rings, etc. VERY poorly designed engines and transmissions. Electrical, computerized nightmares. Buying a new vehicle is truly throwing money away. Unless you pay cash. (no offense to you guys with new cars or trucks)

So, I think repairs are the lesser of the two evils, the other being taking a gamble that the new rig won't need repairs. Add to that when I do a "repair" I know it's done right. Mechanics can be so dishonest. They can be incompetent. I worked in a transmission shop once, trust me I know. Some guys will even take a used engine, steam clean it and paint it, and install it as a new engine. So yeah, it's a jungle out there!!!

I used to do my own repairs but there's not a lot I can do anymore. I used to buy a new truck every two years but I haven't had a new one since 03. The only reason I have this one is because my wife's car burned to the ground and I got a really good deal on it. I've had it for about 6 months now and only put 1000 miles on it so it should last me a long time. I have a 98 Silverado with 260,000 on it. It runs and drives but it needs work. I could have spent the money on it but then if it went down I wouldn't have a backup.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I used to do my own repairs but there's not a lot I can do anymore. I used to buy a new truck every two years but I haven't had a new one since 03. The only reason I have this one is because my wife's car burned to the ground and I got a really good deal on it. I've had it for about 6 months now and only put 1000 miles on it so it should last me a long time. I have a 98 Silverado with 260,000 on it. It runs and drives but it needs work. I could have spent the money on it but then if it went down I wouldn't have a backup.

Wow...my wife had a car burn-down on her. Fuel line cracked, caught on fire, car was parked down-hill, so the gas just kept flowing out of the tank and into the fire!!

My newest is a 2006 Pick-em-up. It was a fleet truck, well maintained, and has ROLL UP WINDOWS!!! SHAZAM!!! And no "power" anything else. Bare bones, just the way I like them. What it does have, that we hates, is the "fly by wire" throttle body. It has glitched on me a few times, but has never gone into limp-mode and left me stranded. What a stupid idea...but hey...saves time on the assembly line.

Dang...I got back-ups. Back-ups to my back-ups. !!!!!

 

[hawg]

We were having trouble with the transmission before she died. It was pretty much ok as long as I kept the RPM's up and shifted it by hand. I took it to Nissan and they said they could throw parts at it but it might make it worse. The tech I talked to said to run it until it quit. Well it didn't exactly quit. A couple of months after she died it overheated and caught fire.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Oh man. !!! That's crazy. A bit worse than ours. Ours caught fire at the bottom of our driveway, still wonder why it didn't catch the whole forest and neighborhood on fire. Dang...yep, that was a fire for sure.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I was in the automotive racket for years as a mechanic myself. Some of the biggest idjits in the world design the stupid things...my real pet peeve is stupidity in engineering...like a GM SUV with a hole cast into the oil pan for a drive axle to pass through! I changed careers and went into aircraft, I think a lot of the automobile engineers were rejects from the aircraft world.

 

[usaral63]

True, US, but that same thing applies to "gunsmiths" as well...............perhaps doubly so. I do my own work, as much as I can, on my stuff mainly because of the lousy quality of what I've seen............enough to make you shake your head. And yep, the design and execution issue is similar as well...........just compare some of the firearms produced during the great depression with the stuff passing for quality nowadays plus with technology being what it is some stuff is utterly impossible to work on..................replace an entire assembly or board is the new norm, and sadly, is no going back!

 

[Ugly Sauce]

True, US, but that same thing applies to "gunsmiths" as well...............perhaps doubly so. I do my own work, as much as I can, on my stuff mainly because of the lousy quality of what I've seen............enough to make you shake your head. And yep, the design and execution issue is similar as well...........just compare some of the firearms produced during the great depression with the stuff passing for quality nowadays plus with technology being what it is some stuff is utterly impossible to work on..................replace an entire assembly or board is the new norm, and sadly, is no going back!

Truth, finding a good gunsmith locally is tough. I've had good luck through the "net". Locally, I have to drive over to Plummer Idaho, where there is a VERY good 'smith, Mel Doyal, (doyle?) but he's getting on in years and won't be there forever. Don't know if he has sons or younger partners that can carry on his level of quality and expertise.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I was in the automotive racket for years as a mechanic myself. Some of the biggest idjits in the world design the stupid things...my real pet peeve is stupidity in engineering...like a GM SUV with a hole cast into the oil pan for a drive axle to pass through! I changed careers and went into aircraft, I think a lot of the automobile engineers were rejects from the aircraft world.

that's interesting, if I had it to "do over" I would have got my A&P, saved money for several years and put it all into machinery/tools, and set up to rebuild small aircraft engines, and do hot rod auto engines on the side. I think the main focus in auto-engineering is cutting time on the assembly line, more work/profit for the dealers doing repairs that little guys can't do, or are extremely difficult, and relying too heavily on the computer. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I wish it were that easy, very few guys out there rebuild aircraft engines mostly because of the liability issues. Other problems include FAA hoops to jump through, lots of guys don't think it's worth hearing " hi, I'm from the gobermint and I'm here to help you...what are you doing?

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I wish it were that easy, very few guys out there rebuild aircraft engines mostly because of the liability issues. Other problems include FAA hoops to jump through, lots of guys don't think it's worth hearing " hi, I'm from the gobermint and I'm here to help you...what are you doing?

True, but I'd be willing to jump through them flaming hoops, for the end result. And, I think it would cut down the competition a bit. I'd do it. Have my own shop, do my own thing, work for myself, build a reputation. Have a little dirt strip and my own airplane. (I did get my pilot's license)(I was planning to be a spray-pilot) Life would be good.

The "funny" thing is, there are some very poor aircraft mechanics out there. I knew a guy, back in the biker days, he went through A&P school. I don't know where or who he went to work for, I think he went to Alaska, I lost touch with him, but I'll tell you, he was the absolute worst motorcycle mechanic on the planet. I traded bikes with him, for one he had "completely rebuilt" from the ground up. Bent axles pounded in, torn head gaskets etc. just the tip of the iceberg. Weird noises from the engine and transmission. Literally an example of how an actual drunk monkey would build a bike. I still wonder if anyone(s) was killed flying aircraft he had worked on. I'm thinking "probably". And I've heard horror stories about other (almost) equally incompetent goofs made by other aircraft mechanics, resulting in crashes. I think I would have been a cut above that.

 

[Gordon]

I carry my Lyman .50 Pistol and Hunt big game with my Lyman Deerstalker , a lightweight .50 caliber rifle with 24" barrel. That way I carry one caliber balls/bullets and I use XXX powder and Rem #10 caps on both (I have a big supply) . Small game season its my little Traditions Crocket pistol .315 which I tuned and a T/C Seneca .315 rifle. which combo is great for all small game and great fun. I do NOT hunt with blackpowder during high fire seasons , period. Having a rifle with an accurate muzzleloading pistol back up in same caliber is very relaxing for me and legal every where I have been for the Muzzleloading seasons ; you don't have to get all stressed about a hurried reload and stand there unarmed . If you needed to, the accurate pistol can finish the matter and has for me before.
I really liked your bivouac picture and excited me for this year ahead , when rains and snow clears up!

Traditions Crocket Pistol : Seneca .310 rifle below
Lyman Deer Stalker .50: Lyman Great Plains Pistol .50:

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I carry my Lyman .50 Pistol and Hunt big game with my Lyman Deerstalker , a lightweight .50 caliber rifle with 24" barrel. That way I carry one caliber balls/bullets and I use XXX powder and Rem #10 caps on both (I have a big supply) . Small game season its my little Traditions Crocket pistol .315 which I tuned and a T/C Seneca .315 rifle. which combo is great for all small game and great fun. I do NOT hunt with blackpowder during high fire seasons , period. Having a rifle with an accurate muzzleloading pistol back up in same caliber is very relaxing for me and legal every where I have been for the Muzzleloading seasons ; you don't have to get all stressed about a hurried reload and stand there unarmed . If you needed to, the accurate pistol can finish the matter and has for me before.
I really liked your bivouac picture and excited me for this year ahead , when rains and snow clears up!

Traditions Crocket Pistol : View attachment 1187738T/C Seneca Rifle:
View attachment 1187739

Wow I like that pistol. The no-ramrod touch is nice. I'd love something like that, or that stock on my Plains Pistol. I'd just have a little pocket on the holster for the ram rod. I also have a .50" barrel for my plains pistol, so I can carry it with that if using my TC with the long barrel in .50". But, that is my backup rifle for rainy days, I most often use my Jeager flintlock. It's a .62", so a matching pistol for that would be a whole other...pistol. (I wonder how much "meat" would be left if one smooth bored a Plains Pistol barrel out to .62"?)

I have often contemplated a small caliber, single shot pistol for small game. But, my 1862 Colt revolver in .36" serves that purpose very well. But, I'd still like to have one! I would also really like to have a small caliber ML rifle for small game, but where I hunt I'd pair it with the Plains Pistol with the .54" barrel, and a big handful of pixie dust "just in case".

 

[Gordon]

State hunting laws during muzzleloading season are tricky concerning having or using cap and ball revolvers. I used to carry one for backup when I carried a .50 Hawken , the warden was nice and told me it was a no no when he checked my deer at a tagging station . I found this to be the case 18 years ago in Ca. and recently in Oregon BTW. True MUZZLE loading pistols are no problem IF you also have a muzzle loading rifle when taking deer in either state., i believe, as the laws constantly change .

 

[Ugly Sauce]

State hunting laws during muzzleloading season are tricky concerning having or using cap and ball revolvers. I used to carry one for backup when I carried a .50 Hawken , the warden was nice and told me it was a no no when he checked my deer at a tagging station . I found this to be the case 18 years ago in Ca. and recently in Oregon BTW. True MUZZLE loading pistols are no problem IF you also have a muzzle loading rifle when taking deer in either state., i believe, as the laws constantly change .

In Washington State, what you can't do is use any pistol for the coup-de-gras, "unless" it meets the criteria for what would be legal to actually hunt with. What they did change not too long ago, was to make any handgun legal to carry, "if for personal defense". So that covers everything, including bow hunters and ML hunters. And permits any kind of pistol in any caliber legal to carry. You just can't shoot what you are hunting with it. But, the only handgun you can legally shoot small game with is a .22 caliber. Not stated that it has to be a rim-fire, just that it has to be .22".

What I cannot find any information on is shot loads in pistols such as .38/.357/.44/.45 etc. for small game. I/we used to take many grouse with our .357's and .44's. I have also not been able to find any information, rule or regulation as to the legality of using a bow to shoot grouse. One of these days I'll write out all my questions, and go over to the main office/game department in Spokane and talk to someone in person.

For many years I was ignorant of the .22 caliber only rule for grouse, and used to use my .36 caliber Remington for that.

I don't believe we have or have ever had any restriction on carrying a cap-n-ball revolver, or single shot black powder pistol, just as a side arm, regardless of season. Yes our regulations change quite often.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Sounds like your regs are thought up by some real boneheads! Really makes you wonder where these people come from, it's obvious they have little to no knowledge of actually hunting.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Sounds like your regs are thought up by some real boneheads! Really makes you wonder where these people come from, it's obvious they have little to no knowledge of actually hunting.

Indeed, the main office, Game Department headquarters are in Seattle. Big city people pulling down six-figure paychecks. Local field offices are good people, as are the game wardens (some bad ones I'm sure, but I've never encountered a "bad" one) and biologists. But yes, the left-coast (one big city from Bellingham down to the Oregon border) big city boys and girls run the show. It's not what they know, but who they know that put them in their positions. Basically politicians. They gave us the wolves, which says it all. !!!!

 

[woodnbow]

State hunting laws during muzzleloading season are tricky concerning having or using cap and ball revolvers. I used to carry one for backup when I carried a .50 Hawken , the warden was nice and told me it was a no no when he checked my deer at a tagging station . I found this to be the case 18 years ago in Ca. and recently in Oregon BTW. True MUZZLE loading pistols are no problem IF you also have a muzzle loading rifle when taking deer in either state., i believe, as the laws constantly change .

Indeed, the main office, Game Department headquarters are in Seattle. Big city people pulling down six-figure paychecks. Local field offices are good people, as are the game wardens (some bad ones I'm sure, but I've never encountered a "bad" one) and biologists. But yes, the left-coast (one big city from Bellingham down to the Oregon border) big city boys and girls run the show. It's not what they know, but who they know that put them in their positions. Basically politicians. They gave us the wolves, which says it all. !!!!

This series of photos was taken a few days ago between Bond and Kremmling… They just released them a few weeks ago. Surprisingly without telling anyone that some of the wolves came from packs known for killing cattle. What a crap fest…

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Looks like a big honkin coyote to me, where's my varmint rifle?

 

[hawg]

Y'all have bigger and prettier coyotes than we do. Not to mention healthier looking.

 

[Eyrie G. Dogg]

I guess that one wolf is wearing a tracking device. What’s not to like about wolves - - unless you’re a rancher.

Some coyotes here in the Coast Range of CA are yote / big dog hybrids. They get large and exhibit outbreeding enhancement or hybrid vigor, AKA heterosis.

We have wolves in the NE part of the state. They migrated down from East Oregon.

 

[woodnbow]

Thought you’d recognize this strain @Ugly Sauce … these came from Idaho…

 

[woodnbow]

Y'all have bigger and prettier coyotes than we do. Not to mention healthier looking.

He’s probably a hundred pounds or so… we don’t collar our coyotes, depending on where they land politically, most folks either idolize them or shoot them.

I guess that one wolf is wearing a tracking device. What’s not to like about wolves - - unless you’re a rancher.

Some coyotes here in the Coast Range of CA are yote / big dog hybrids. They get large and exhibit outbreeding enhancement or hybrid vigor, AKA heterosis.

We have wolves in the NE part of the state. They migrated down from East Oregon.

They’re all pics of the same animal.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

What’s not to like about wolves - - unless you’re a rancher.

Or a deer or elk hunter. The wolves have decimated them. Here in NE Washington State, they eliminated the native Woodland Caribou herd.

 

[woodnbow]

Or a deer or elk hunter. The wolves have decimated them. Here in NE Washington State, they eliminated the native Woodland Caribou herd.

The valley shown here is pretty dry right now. Not a lot of snow yet so the elk are still in the higher elevations. But the deer and cattle are here. I wonder, if a pack of wolves would rather take down a yearling heifer or chase a healthy muley? If it’s not a mess right now it surely
will become one.

 

[44 Dave]

Wisconsin had a wolf hunt in 2021, but the feds put it back on the endangered list. Our deer herd has been decimated. Now our DNR is working on a max. population.