Well, not officially but it is fast approaching, bringing us to my favorite season Autumn! I’m always excited to see the constellation Orion cresting above the eastern horizon during dawns early hours. The constellation Leo rules the summer southern night skies here in the northern hemisphere that is until Orion, the Hunter, comes tracking the fierce King of beasts. Orion with arm raised, club in hand and the other outstretched clutching the throat of a lion displays the strength and courage of one who is called to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28

I have reason to be especially excited this summer as my Summer (my eldest daughter) will be having a daughter of her own, . “Be fruitful and multiply!” That’s the divine mandate and purpose contrary to what recent culture is attempting project upon us with this “assumed gender” and “identifying pronoun” non-sense. My grand-daughter will come up knowing who and what she is which, Lord willing, will be a great outdoors woman making her twice the man of any boy of her generation.

This fall I’m also hopeful in being “fruitful” and “taking dominion” with a left over cow elk tag. I’ll be hunting northern Colorado in some ol’ stomping ground area where I grew up along the Wyoming border. New to this situation will be the chance encounter with the recently introduced wolves in the “North Park” area of north-central Colorado. One wouldn’t expect an elevated level of concern with a wolf encounter generally, but these wolves are Washington transplants. They do not have the “higher degree of learning” that should naturally occur when it comes to close human contact as does the Wyoming wolf.

For the first time my “favorite big-game cartridge” (270 WCF) will not be making this road trip, not even in a backup capacity. Rather my “favorite all-around cartridge” (35 Whelen) will be the primary because sometimes you need something for all possible conditions.

Summer Projects

Since the last post I’ve been occupied with casting bullets (again). It seems like with every publicized gun violence event in this country there comes a run on guns, ammunition and components. Components in short supply is good reason to break out the furnaces to cast a few thousand bullets. A local gun show and a lot of overtime resulted in some new bullet moulds finding their way to the shop.

A bullet casting session, sizing or trimming a bunch of brass is always a good opportunity for contemplation and personal reflection. What do I have? What don’t I have? What do I want/need? What don’t I want/need? Casting bullets provides an opportunity to “play” with calibers and cartridges that often don’t receive much attention, if you happen to have an accumulation of firearms.

The 30-30 WCF, Zane Grey Commemorative Marlin got to see some daylight as did an Ol’ Three-Screw 6 1/2″ Blackhawk, 41 Magnum that belonged to my dad. Some time (much time) has been spent with a 5 1/2″ New Model Super Blackhawk, 44 Magnum I accumulated a few years ago, as well as a new front sight for a New Model Stainless Single-Six. I sold a couple guns and as luck would have a 1973 New Model Single Six with a 5 1/2″ barrel blued in very good condition founds its way home with me as did a 1973 New Model Blackhawk, 357 Magnum with a 6 1/2″ barrel.

As luck would have it I found another rifle hiding in the safe that hadn’t seen the range is some time so I figured it might make for a great first hunting rifle for someone. Down the road it went and wouldn’t you know it, a Henry Big Boy, Side Gate, 44 Magnum rifle scurried in to take its’ place.

With all this “time of contemplation” available I also reconsidered the want and need for individual rifles for each individual cartridge I shoot. The eventual thinning of bolt guns which I possess and the accumulation of, less space obtrusive switch barrels, would leave a vacuum in which more intrinsically desirable items could fill.

Summer Progress

As most Rifle Loonies and Gun Nuts are aware there are various stages of reflection and progression within the numerous categories of firearm related subjects. Navigating through the stages associated with the accumulation of firearms can be and is a scary prospect (for me at least). Those firearms that are scabbed together, bubbafied or purchased “willy-nilly” OTC at a whim to scratch an itch are becoming less and less appealing for practical use and even storage.

Guns with an intrinsic worth historically are what have caught my eye. I’m not talking old military (though there are some) but rather a modern historical aspect relating to trends in the industry. For example the trend away from six-guns, lever guns and medium to big bore calibers to Glocks, ARs and PRCs. I’ve never owned a Glock but I have owned several poly-framed semi-autos for EDC personal defense. A few ARs litter my house and shop as tyrannical deterrents should the need arise and a couple Creedmoor calibers grace my collection because after all, who doesn’t like an “easy button” when it comes to banging steel and welcoming someone into the Thousand Yard Club.

Stephen King once said, “Sooner or later, everything old is new again.” So it is with this Gen-Xer. Six-guns, lever guns, medium and big bores, iron sights (while I still have eyes), single shots, etc., all these old ideas have become new again, for me.

Perhaps what one considers a natural progression of thought based on current age and stage another would consider regression, a trend backward and an attempt to maintain relevance. Change does not come easy especially in a day and age where the drug of choice is progress. The ever growing addiction to acquire the latest and greatest; a dependence on that which is promised to be new and the end all, say all of everything that has come before.

I’m going to be more vigilant with what is attracted to me and what I allow into my safe these days because, more often then not the “new shiny modern” loses its’ intrigue after that first range trip, or hunt leaving one with buyers remorse.

So pick-up something meaningful and use it. Watch out for the latest and greatest “what-cha-ma-have-it” you’re buddies may be promoting, beware of bandwagons and trends. I equate firearms to Bible translations. The question is not how many (translations/firearms) do you have but, do you (read/shoot) one of them with any regularity? I say become familiar with both, as one pertains to your eternal situation and the other pertains to your temporal.

Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.