My New Glocks for Home and Conceal Carry

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Ed Hale

Below are my new Glocks, G19 Gen 5 in 9mm and G44 in .22LR. I chose these Glocks because they are very reliable and essentially identical. The weight and caliber is different, but handling is the same and great for cross training.

I purchased the .22LR – G44 at right for low recoil training for my wife. When she gets used to the .22, then we will train on the 9MM. Both pistols come with a lock, extra grips in medium and large. The 9mm comes with 3 clips and the .22 comes with two.

I shot both Glocks (see the target below), just after purchase and shot CCI Mini-Mag .22’s and Remington 9mm FMJ ammo at 20 feet. If you look close, you can see the .22 and 9mm holes intermingled below the 10x ring. Not bad at all! My outdoor range was a sheet of ice to walk on, so I used just one target for both.

I like the sights framed in white edging and can be seen clearly in darker shadows.

Glock OEM Adjustable Rear Sight SP05977 Gen 1-5 Glock OEM Front Sight SP06956 Gen 1-5

The .22 pistol is lighter to handle. My wife is not an avid shooter at all, despite being married to me for many decades. But now she is feeling fearful with large spikes in crime on TV and the need for her safety.

I already own a Kimber 1911 Pro Carry II for home protection, conceal carry. The size difference between my Kimber Pro Carry II in .45ACP and the G19 Gen 5 in 9MM is very similar but the 45 has 8 shots and the G19 has 15 shots when fully loaded.

Weight-wise the difference between each gun when fully loaded is just 4.3 ounces, with the Kimber being a bit heavier. The grip safety beavertail on the Kimber increases the length by an inch.

Which to carry depends on your abilities with each pistol and the kind of situations you believe to encounter. For a new shooter, as my wife is, training with a light recoiling .22 helps for confidence before using the 9mm.

I will write more on these pistols in the near future.

Good Shooting and Training!

Shooting Traditional Hunting Bows In My Basement?

Posted on January 29, 2022 by Ed Hale

Shooting hunting weight recurves and long bows in my basement, during winter, does great things for my shooting basics skill level and strength.

And it can do great things for you as well. Sure, most basements are at max 10 yards but that is all you need for the most important basic skills. Skills like good form, draw and release, follow thru, and important back muscle strength are the foundation for your back yard bullseyes and vital zone hits on wild game.

Outside, many tend to concentrate more on the target and bullseyes which takes another level of concentration, sometimes leaving the basics in the back seat like a poor release and follow-thru.

Twanging the string sideways at full draw, means the arrow will fly left or right. And taking down your bow too quickly upon release can affect arrow flight.

You can practice a perfect release by drawing your imaginary bow and releasing your hand and fingers in a rearward motion to touch the back of your ears and neck.

It’s what happens at the bow that makes the shot, just as it is the golfers swing that creates a great straight shot or a bowlers step and follow thru.

Real pros know that, if you can’t be master of the basics, then you can’t master the craft. Further, at short range, it is easy to see that your string nocking points and brace height contribute significantly to arrow flight. I have two bows braced for practice and discovered my knock point was too high on one and perfect on the other bow.

Bare shaft tests through paper at say 3 to 5 yards can aid in setting knocking points too. On a compound you also set your plunger button left/right and tension. There are books on bow tuning.

If I have not shot in a week or so, I will shoot a bow of less poundage for a few day and work back up to a bow of higher poundage. You will also discover a bow poundage which allows full use of back muscles like 50 pounds. But then shooting a heavier bow of say 55 pounds, you are not coming to the same full draw as with the 50 pound bow. Regular practice allows the building of muscle and soon the 55 pound bow will be drawn to the same full draw. Just remember not to over practice and damage your back muscles. Stop at a high point of your practice session.

Arrow spine and length are also essential but we will save that for another time.

Good Shooting!

China Sporting Goods Dollars Sold in USA – Is China an Adversary? Yes! Updated

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Ed Hale

We all love a great deal, don’t we! What has been happening in the sporting goods market for accessories, is that there are billions of dollars to be made in archery and gun and hiking/camping accessories like knives and flashlights etc. and all the seemingly small items we need.

We the sporting goods buyers, me included, have bought many China-Made goods in the past because our government for decades believed that China would become Westernized and see the benefits of a free society. This is clearly not the case.

China is now an Adversary not a competitor says the Center for Security Policy. https://centerforsecuritypolicy.org/treat-china-as-an-adversary-not-a-competitor/

Peter Hoekstra Center for Security Policy – https://centerforsecuritypolicy.org/predicting-2022-chinas-year-of-the-tiger/

says quote:

“According to the Chinese calendar, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. 2022 is the year where America finally goes big against China. China will also go big against the U.S. and Taiwan. Here are the developments that will push America to confront China’s malign and dangerous behavior and, in an upcoming article, those that will push China to go big.” end quote.

Outdoor folks, I have written the following letter I will use as a foundation to write to USA run businesses and corporations to refrain from selling China goods: You may use it too. When I receive a response from those I write, I will let you know.

Dear Business Name,

Re: Your Business Sells Manufactured Goods from China

It was not long ago that China was seen as a competitor.

Today, many, like me, believe China has crossed the threshold from competitor to adversary say many Military and Strategic Studies.

There is ample evidence that they use the profits from your sales for purposes of world-wide domination and subjugation.

What are you doing about it?

It has been reported around the world that Uyghurs, (populations of humans) in the Xinjiang region of China are working in forced labor camps, where systemic torture and rape etc. are common. Sales from these labor camps are reaching the USA.

In fact, Walmart was just threatened by China if they stop selling China goods.

Today, Taiwan is being threatened with China bomber overflights of their country and soon, predicted to use military force if needed to force them back into China’s sphere of influence. And we in the USA are on their target list.

If we in the USA don’t care, then we are China’s future target.

I urge you to seek alternatives to China Manufactured Goods Today! And encourage sportsmen and women to stop buying them, if possible.

Sincerely,

Your Name and USA address

####

Please use any and or all of this letter as you see fit in writing your own letters to business leaders.

Outdoor Purchases On-Line- How to avoid purchases from adversaries?

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Ed Hale

Ever since Covid, I made some of my hunting purchases on Amazon. You will find “answered questions” that often include where the product was made.

I also buy from Midway USA who now has a very wide selection of sporting goods, hunting and fishing gear by USA and Europe brand names. My Archery gear is from 3Rivers on-line. 3Rivers Archery posts a USA flag with the sale item to indicate where it’s made.

Lots of cheap goods at many big outdoor retailers from Asia so look out and ask. I some cases you cant avoid it, but at least you know.

I was looking for Ice Cleats/Crampons on Amazon and found most were made in China after reading the “answered questions” including those that are not shown. But this Amazon Cleat below is from Maine!

STABILicers Walk Traction Cleat for Walking on Snow and Ice are made in Maine, USA.

Check these Cleats out and consider to avoid buying or supporting countries that are our adversaries! Like China and Russia for example.

Sometimes, it is not possible thanks to Washington Bureaucrats.

Walmart as you know is largely imported goods and China stuff so beware!

Shooting Longbows and Recurves of Heavy Poundage for Big Game

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Ed Hale

Training to shoot heavy poundage bows like 55 and 60 pounds accurately, on the first arrow, takes dedication and perfect training daily or every other day… for my older bones.

In my case, in long years past, I have dedicated time for a heavy weight custom traditional recurve hunting bow of 68 pounds. Once I stopped shooting that bow for months, it was back breaking for me to get back to shooting it with accuracy.

The answer was to build up with lesser weight bows which I did not have, and could not afford, at the time. Moving forward to today, I am retired from quality assurance engineering and have access to inexpensive recurves and long bows at a fraction of the cost to train without muscle or shoulder injury. Recovery, from a shoulder or muscle pull takes months.

I wrote an archery article in August 2021 for hunters to get back to preparing for deer hunting. I was shooting a 45 pound Samick Sage takedown recurve that cost me $140 dollars. See photo below. Great bow for the price. I learned that I could purchase separate limbs for it for just $74 dollars. I bought 50 pound limbs and was happy to step up and begin training in my back yard in October moving from 45 to 50 pounds in draw weight, but I did not stop there.

Recently, I purchase a Bear Montana longbow, shown below, in 55 pounds and training indoors in my basement on form, draw, anchor and release. I used to shoot instinctive but found my overall accuracy improved by shooting 3 fingers under the arrow. I created the leather quiver 20 years ago, and gave it a coat of polish.

Below is a 42 pound hickory self-bow recurve backed with deer sinew I have just completed. It started as a long bow stave in my office for 20 years collecting dust. Nice to have it finished. Shoots smooth!

I walk the string an inch lower than the nock for better eye alignment with the arrow. I am having so much fun indoor basement shooting at 10 yards in training that I purchased a 60 pound set of limbs for my takedown recurve and just began shooting it. I am working up slowly on the 60 pound limbs but shooting the 55 pound long bow regularly. The arrows fly like darts! Wow! I think 60 pounds is enough.

Good Hunting!

Perfect Rifle Cartridge for Big Game?

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Ed Hale

Is there a perfect rifle cartridge for big game? Great Campfire fodder sure to keep you up at night.

Big Game Cartridges are purchased and used for many different reasons, thus for some big game animals, they are better and sometimes… they are not.

The distances we encounter and hunt big game like deer, bear, and moose as well a bullet shape and construction play a large part of a big game cartridge. And whether the game you are hunting can be dangerous, like a brown or grizzly bear.

I believe the vast majority are deer hunters like myself , who, on occasion hunt bear, wild boar, elk, moose and such.

Many cartridges were originally designed as a target cartridge like the recent 6.5 Creedmoor. The .308 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield were designed as a cartridge used in battle in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam, later valuably used as a target round and hunting round.

It was the ballistics data experts and students that realized that surplus ammo was used inexpensively for both target and hunting. Most were of spitzer bullet design for longer range.

Later post WWII hunters learned that a round nose bullet at shorter ranges inside of 200 or so yards were like the hammer-of-thor thus dropping game pronto. Lever guns like the 30-30 and 35 Winchester as well as the 45-70 cannot use pointed tip bullets and were terrific game stoppers.

Today many hunters like long range hunting and go west or south to prairies and bean fields thus spitzers are the bullet of choice for 300 to 800 yards or more.

Or some believe the use of light copper spitzer bullets at high velocities of over 3200fps with 100% retained weight to deliver hydrostatic shock and a lights out punch to game like black bear at close range.

Here in New Hampshire, most game like deer, bear and moose are harvested at around 40 to 50 yards or so. Spitzers are not necessary here but if you do not reload or hand-load, then spitzers are what you will find on store shelves these days.

Bore sizes like .22, 6mm/.243, 6.5mm, 7mm, .308, .338 and .375, 416, 45, and 50 caliber are common but are used on certain game for reasons of killing capacity(aka energy delivered) and distances encountered. Yes, I missed a dozen other less common calibers, but you get the idea.

The key to any big game cartridge really is the bullet and its construction, like bonded, A-frame or copper for the task desired. Coupled with this, and equally important is sectional density. It is the ratio of bullet weight (M) to the square of bullet diameter and is very important for penetration. (SD= M/D²). If you are a student of ballistics and killing power the following website will add to your knowledge for winter reading.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/sd.htm

So in the end, if you know distances to deer for example and the terrain and forest type you are hunting them you can gear your rifle cartridge and bullet to the game, thus making it more ideal.

You guessed it, there is no perfect big game cartridge. To maximize your cartridge, include the size of game, terrain, distance, bullet construction including sectional density in your calculations. Below is another website for your winter reading.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_bullet_killing_power.htm

Good Hunting!

Traditional Archery: Winter 3D Fun

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Ed Hale

In New Hampshire, Granite State Bowhunters we call GSB, forms club shoots across the state for compound bows and traditional bows of just stick and string. GSB had its first shoot at Lamprey River Bowhunters on January 2nd 2022. It was great fun! See the 3D Schedule below.

http://www.granitestatebowhunters.com/3d-schedule/

I grew up on stick and string and find that it is very rewarding even today.

It is a small but re-growing cadre of bowhunters that simply like stick and string traditional archery. It is part comradery, part hunt, and tests your shooting skill at unknown distances. Below my archery friend and national long bow champion, Jacques Bonin. He is taking aim at a 3D pronghorn foam antelope. Here Jacques shoots a 78 lb pull Howard Hill long bow at shorter draw length thus it is casting the arrow at 72 pounds. Most of us can’t even draw his bow, never mind shooting it. I am happy shooting 50 to 55 pounds right now.

Traditional bowhunters are restricted to shorter ranges to maximize heart/lung hits on 3D animals like deer, bear, elk, turkey and wild boar. Whereas Compound shooters shoot at longer distances. But all of us must deal with one earthly constant. Gravity! Even a fast bow shooting 300 fps must deal with gravities downward pull of 32 fps per second.

These 3D shoots are excellent preparation for bowhunting and creating lifelong friendships with other like-minded bowhunters. The comradery on a 3D course can be the highlight of your day and a great way to introduce young hunters to archery and hunting.

Learning shooting and distance judging from those around you in these 3D shoots are vital in our quest to bow-hunt wild game – and place your arrow in the vital zone for a quick humane harvest.

Enjoy the Winter Outside!

Good Hunting!

Ballistics for Elk: Ruger African 375 Ruger – Speer 235 grain Semi-Spitzer vs 260 grain AccuBond Spitzer

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Ed Hale

These days, purchasing hand-loaded bullets for an Elk Hunt is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The .375 Ruger is a “one rifle for the world” kind of gun, and my Ruger African shoots more accurately than any rifle I own with a broad range of bullets. I don’t have a 300 Win Mag rifle in my safe either, as the .375 covers it well.

Even some veteran hunting folks have a tough time mentally (fear) when they think of the heavy felt recoil from some so-called Magnum rifles, but with a state-of-the-art recoil pad that reduces the recoil up to 50%, they tame well.

It has been established, as a guide, that delivered energy to kill elk be in the neighborhood of 1500 ft-lbs. Here we easily exceed that terminal/delivered energy with the .375 Ruger.

I have two boxes of .375 bullets in my cupboard for hunting elk. I have Nosler 260 grain AccuBond bullets and Speer 235 grain Hot-Core semi-spitzer bullets seen below. I think both are good choices. But is one just a bit better? Sure, I might try some other bullets before my hunt this next fall if they can be purchased, but here is some data on these choices.

Both are sub-MOA accurate at 100 yards. My goal is to harvest a bull elk with ranges near 300 to 400 yards. The 260 grain Nosler AccuBond has a muzzle velocity of 2800+ fps and at 400 yards (7000 ft altitude). Its terminal velocity on elk is 2178 fps and 400 yard energy is 2740 ft-lbs with a 90 degree wind deflection of 17 inches. It drops 16.5 inches with a 250 yard zero.

The Speer 235 grain Hot Core has a muzzle velocity of 3000 fps and at 400 yards its terminal velocity is 2064 fps and 400 yard energy is 2224 ft-lbs with a 90 degree wind deflection of 17 inches. I drops 16.5 inches with a 250 yard zero. Same drop and wind deflection as the Nosler.

The Ballistic data confirms that the Nosler AccuBond has 516 ft-lbs more terminal energy than the Speer bullet. At over 2700 ft-lbs of delivered energy the Nosler will easily open-up and mushroom yet still penetrate likely with a substantial exit wound on a broadside shot. I am a proponent of exit wounds for blood trailing.

Note: I did book an elk hunt and later cancelled after making several calls to many experts and doing a Satellite image review with Google Earth Pro. It was a featureless flat dessert landscape and I wanted more photogenic landscape with hills and trees for the many thousands of dollars it would cost. I’ll keep looking.

Good Hunting!

Lessons from the Allagash Deer Hunt

Posted on November 28, 2021 by Ed Hale

My Weatherby Vanguard Weatherguard was my go-to rifle for my Allagash Deer Hunt.

After spending a cold, wet freezing rainy/snow day afield, the last thing I wanted to do after putting on many miles and deer stands, was to strip my rifle and find rust forming. The Weatherguard coating did the job perfectly. I just pulled the bolt and wiped away any water around or in the action.

Before I went out on this expedition, however, I applied a protective Renaissance microcrystalline wax on all parts including swivels.

Renaissance Wax Polish 65ml

My Scope, a Leupold VX-3 was as clear and crisp, provided I used scope covers but I always checked and wiped the lens regularly. Carry a soft lens cloth! Nothing is more irritating than seeing a blurred image of a deer.

I thought I was dressed warm but after 5 hours… I was cold. I had a full fleece head mask that covered my head, much of my face and neck. On top of that was my required orange stocking hat. I bought lots of the carbon based hand warmers and foot warmers. They were really necessary.

On one 15 foot tree stand morning the wind blew 20 to 25 mph and had a snow squall white out for an hour. No deer seen for sure. I sure did want a crack at a big bruiser, but that’s hunting.

I did bring my Bog Death Grip tripod which allowed me to be ready, if a buck wandered out at a signpost rub or buck crossing. It was beautiful among the snow topped trees.

Good Hunting!

Why Hot Pressure Can Game Meat and Other Meats?

Posted on November 27, 2021 by Ed Hale

Especially in days of inflation, this is a great way to get the most out of your meat pantry and use your creative talents. You can do it!

I have had vacuum sealed game meat in my freezer most of my life. In the winter, one of my favorite meals is venison or moose stew and chicken or venison noodle soup.

I had avoided hot pressure canning meat thinking that vacuum sealing -freezing was the best and easiest option of preservation. Well, it is many times, for back straps and tenderloin for grilling and some loin steaks and burger.

But there are larger amounts of tougher cuts that are best pressure cooked to tenderize. Doing it in advance creates an opportunity to do large amounts of tenderizing meat prep.

Today, I am using a T-fal Pressure Canner with Pressure Control, 3 PSI Settings, 22 Quart volume. You can buy this on line for $130 dollars. You will need Ball jars and lids.

There are other brands and styles, but I like this one because it is so easy to use.

T-fal add, on Amazon says “About this item” Below

22 quart polished aluminum stovetop canner and pressure cooker with a deluxe pressure gauge dial
Selective pressure control with 3 cooking pressure options: 5, 10 or 15 PSI; overpressure steam release safety components
Heavy gauge, rustproof aluminum construction; sure locking lid system; pressure monitoring device built into handle
Includes 2 canning racks to hold 16 pint size jars or 26 half pint size jars when double stacked or 7 quart size jars

I did use this hot canning method largely because the meat is ready to eat and tender, right out of the jar saving lots of time and cleanup energy!

How difficult was it?

Venison Stew – Just heat and add a butter rue

Mouthwatering tender Venison in broth for soups or stew

It was so easy that I began to pressure can chicken breast when it was on sale and also to pressure can stews as well. The chicken is so versatile, chicken salad, chicken soup, chicken pot pie. Wow!

tender chicken chunks ready for soup, salad, pot pie or stew. Buy it on sale!

My secret ingredient is to use a high quality powdered chicken and beef herb bullion to make the liquid filler. I would make as many cups of stock with the bullion as I needed to fill the jars. The bullion adds salt and herb flavor. I made it like I’d make a cup of beef or chicken soup to taste. My thinking is for fast, easy and delish. You too!

I can make a delicious stew in half the time, say 30 minutes. Most of that time is cutting veggies like carrot, potato, celery, onion, garlic etc. The remaining time 8 minutes is to pressure cook the veggies with herbs with or without the meat in it and make a rue with butter and flour. Salt and pepper to taste.

Further, I can make a hearty venison or chicken soup or pot pie, adding frozen vegetables, peas and carrots, corn and noodles or add a premade pie crust in 15 minutes or so and bake the pie till the crust is just browned. Make a butter rue base gravy. Yum!

The other great thing about pressure canning is that you can do complete meals, make your own hearty beef bone stock, Chicken Stock too. Just the way you like it.

Canned meat and stock stores for quite some time (up to 3 years) in a cool dry area. See below.

https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/storing-canned-food

Good Hunting!