RaiderRich
Well-known member
So, as there is some sick humor in it. I figured I would post updates on my hunting season as it goes along. Keep in mind I am solo hunting so things I don't do are bring two rifles as I am paranoid as all get out and assume a backup rifle kept even in a locked gun case will get stolen and not risk getting stranded because of potential vehicle issues. Will post lessons learned after each day. I am starting on day 3 so first 3 days are in original post.
Day 1 Tuesday, October 5th.
Got a late start so figured I could set camp and glass a bit before dark. On the drive up my tire pressure light came on. Luckily I was smart enough to pull over fairly promptly. Got out of the truck and drivers side tires were fine as was the front passenger. Rear passenger was pretty soft looking. Checked the cell phone, nope no signal. Looked back at the tire again and it was now totally flat. My truck a 2015 Nissan Frontier has been solid and tires are tires and Nevada dirt roads are well Nevada's dirt roads BigFin knows this too, yes I have Fresh Tracks+ and watched his tire fun. My thought was hey look my season is starting like Randy's! Now after taking some time to figure out how to drop the spare, I got the tire changed, but honestly a 7 year old spare that I have never bothered to think about was not my idea of trusting in the tires ability to hold together, remember how I said not risking getting stranded, back to town I went. It would be the 7th before I could get a chance to get out again. Lessons learned - maybe going forward I will keep a couple extra wheels with mounted tires available for solo hunts.
Day 3 Thursday, October 7th as Day 2 was waiting for my tire to get replaced, yes the puncture was that bad. On the drive in I had a deer cross the road in front of me, I took that as a good sign. I get to where I park the truck and get everything together and trek out. It is an overcast morning which I have always preferred to sunny and the wind was not blowing hard, a real rarity in the Nevada mountains. I hiked in a bit and stopped to drink some water and thought it was a nice spot to glass a little. I had seen some fresh deer tracks as well as quite a few horse tracks, it is Nevada after all. After glassing a bit and relaxing enjoying the morning air I decided to shoulder the rifle and spot check it, low and behold somehow on the hike in the scope rail had somehow become loose, I am not talking oh just torque the screws, two of the screws were not even attached. Remember I am paranoid so no back up in the truck and first of the days lessons learned, carry tools to fix such things. Needless to say back to the truck and back to town. A little history on the rifle, it is a savage 110 (6.5 Manbun) that came with the scope rail. Now Savage has lost me as a future customer, I will never buy another of their products, first off the 110 along with both my Axis 2s have the issue with wimpy ejector springs. That in and of itself is not a deal breaker as I simply get the mod kit and replace the spring and ejector with parts that actually work. I have to believe Savage did not correctly torque the rail screws at the factory and while they don't need to, it might have been nice to see some thread lock on the screws. The rifle has been fixed on my bench but will give the Loctite the 24 hour cure time it needs and then Sunday take it to the range a sight it in once again. Lessons learned, 1 the already mentioned carry tools, 2 never trust Savage quality control and 3 buy a Randy Newburg 2 Howa in 6.5 PRC and put a Leupold (will contact schmalts when I am ready to buy the scope) on it. Luckily while I did not have it in the truck my 308 Ruger American with the Magpul Hunter stock is good to go. The only downside is I have it zeroed at 100 yards for my NY whitetail hunt so will have to keep that in mind when using the BDC (Nikon scope). In hindsight it may have been a blessing I did not see any shooters. I hate to think that not catching the issue and pulling the trigger on something could have results in a wounded but running for miles deer. Hopefully Day 4 actually results in a whole day in the mountains and seeing some game. Hopefully my Day 4 report will be posted not on Day 4 but later in the weekend when I am back in town for football Sunday...Go Raiders!
Day 1 Tuesday, October 5th.
Got a late start so figured I could set camp and glass a bit before dark. On the drive up my tire pressure light came on. Luckily I was smart enough to pull over fairly promptly. Got out of the truck and drivers side tires were fine as was the front passenger. Rear passenger was pretty soft looking. Checked the cell phone, nope no signal. Looked back at the tire again and it was now totally flat. My truck a 2015 Nissan Frontier has been solid and tires are tires and Nevada dirt roads are well Nevada's dirt roads BigFin knows this too, yes I have Fresh Tracks+ and watched his tire fun. My thought was hey look my season is starting like Randy's! Now after taking some time to figure out how to drop the spare, I got the tire changed, but honestly a 7 year old spare that I have never bothered to think about was not my idea of trusting in the tires ability to hold together, remember how I said not risking getting stranded, back to town I went. It would be the 7th before I could get a chance to get out again. Lessons learned - maybe going forward I will keep a couple extra wheels with mounted tires available for solo hunts.
Day 3 Thursday, October 7th as Day 2 was waiting for my tire to get replaced, yes the puncture was that bad. On the drive in I had a deer cross the road in front of me, I took that as a good sign. I get to where I park the truck and get everything together and trek out. It is an overcast morning which I have always preferred to sunny and the wind was not blowing hard, a real rarity in the Nevada mountains. I hiked in a bit and stopped to drink some water and thought it was a nice spot to glass a little. I had seen some fresh deer tracks as well as quite a few horse tracks, it is Nevada after all. After glassing a bit and relaxing enjoying the morning air I decided to shoulder the rifle and spot check it, low and behold somehow on the hike in the scope rail had somehow become loose, I am not talking oh just torque the screws, two of the screws were not even attached. Remember I am paranoid so no back up in the truck and first of the days lessons learned, carry tools to fix such things. Needless to say back to the truck and back to town. A little history on the rifle, it is a savage 110 (6.5 Manbun) that came with the scope rail. Now Savage has lost me as a future customer, I will never buy another of their products, first off the 110 along with both my Axis 2s have the issue with wimpy ejector springs. That in and of itself is not a deal breaker as I simply get the mod kit and replace the spring and ejector with parts that actually work. I have to believe Savage did not correctly torque the rail screws at the factory and while they don't need to, it might have been nice to see some thread lock on the screws. The rifle has been fixed on my bench but will give the Loctite the 24 hour cure time it needs and then Sunday take it to the range a sight it in once again. Lessons learned, 1 the already mentioned carry tools, 2 never trust Savage quality control and 3 buy a Randy Newburg 2 Howa in 6.5 PRC and put a Leupold (will contact schmalts when I am ready to buy the scope) on it. Luckily while I did not have it in the truck my 308 Ruger American with the Magpul Hunter stock is good to go. The only downside is I have it zeroed at 100 yards for my NY whitetail hunt so will have to keep that in mind when using the BDC (Nikon scope). In hindsight it may have been a blessing I did not see any shooters. I hate to think that not catching the issue and pulling the trigger on something could have results in a wounded but running for miles deer. Hopefully Day 4 actually results in a whole day in the mountains and seeing some game. Hopefully my Day 4 report will be posted not on Day 4 but later in the weekend when I am back in town for football Sunday...Go Raiders!
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