Looking back at 2011 (in pics)

[Rick in Oregon]

Winter is upon us, and other than getting up early to freeze my hinie off for coyotes, not much ado in the varmint world at this time of year. As a break from a couple of winter projects going on right now, I thought some pics from 2011 outings would be fun to ponder as the snow flies.

The center of all the small caliber attention.....Skippy The Flying Ground Squirrel (a young fresh hatch):



One of my favorite means for teaching Skippy to fly....an accurate .20 caliber rifle. A Cooper Model 38 VR in .20 VarTarg in this instance, launching 32gr Nosler BT's at 3,725 fps:



Looks just like a 204 Ruger Short....'cause it sorta is



Look closely at the center of the pic, and you'll see Skippy peeking out from his hidey-hide:



The 32gr BT finds it's mark and Skippy exits stage right, sucking him right out of his hole:



Next mission: Connect on Skippy without hitting the pipe or support board he's sitting on from 285 yards. This time with my M700 204R Match 11-twist and 40gr BT's:



Taken not long after sunrise, "Wicked Wanda", my Cooper M21 MTV in 204 Ruger set up and ready for the first volley of the morning looking east out into the alfalfa patch:



Dan (Rat Force One) connects on Skippy with his 204. You can see the rat flying if you look closely:



Our buddy Rocky can't be left out. For close around the house, the little 20VT is just about perfect for rock chucks. One of my 204's comes out for the open canyons though. These guys were all taken within 250 yards of the house with my Cooper 20VT:



Parting shot.....yours truly where I wish I was right now, looking over a prime field full of squirrels and a few badgers. We call this place "Badger Gulch" for good reason (this is my best side ).



Counting the days till Spring. Anybody else got anything to share from 2011 to entertain the troops during the Winter Doldrums?

[zx10mike]

great read rick.here in the uk when winter comes out come the shot guns for the pigeons and keep the rifles for those long range crows in the snow.love the hand gun down the pants.that soooo could never happen here.
mike

[bow shot]

Wow, that was beautiful... I need to book a hunt with someone this coming year... open to suggestions!

[Bill K]

Thank you Rick.. Nice photo's. Bill K

[wirelessguy2005]

Rick,

As always the photo's are great, I really need to venture out to Oregon sometime next year and shoot some of those ground squirrels.

Brad

[Rick in Oregon]

love the hand gun down the pants.that soooo could never happen here.

Mike: One of the primary reasons I live in the USA instead of my native Canada. I believe a man has the right to defend himself and his family against predators (both varieties).

Wow, that was beautiful... I need to book a hunt with someone this coming year... open to suggestions!

BS: Shoot me a PM and I'll hook you up with a place not far from here that requires multiple rifles for cooling, the shooting is that good (really).

I really need to venture out to Oregon sometime next year and shoot some of those ground squirrels.

Brad - Be warned this is highly addictive; you can't shoot just one. Head west young man.

Thanks for the kind words guys, it's what happens when you start looking at a pile-o-pics accumulated over the varmint season. Is it spring yet?

[btlbrn]

Is it spring yet?
Sorry Rick not yet, maybe soon............Thanx for great photos

[Clint E]

Rick i have to agree with you . I never knew what i was missing until my uncle let me tag along .

Now i cant wait to head back west every year to hit the fields again.

I dont think you could kick me hard enough to get the grin off my face when i am out there .

[RedLeg]

Thank gosh I am not a PD in Rick's sights. lol

I also like my rights and freedoms as an American.

You Sir are a class act.

[Joe O]

Thaks Rick.Keeps me determined to go west next spring,especially since I missed last year.Yesterday was like a spring day,and I enjoyed load development with my 20AB.Finally got the barrel a couple weeks ago.

[Hedge]

Rick -
Enjoyed your write up and pics. .204 short, eh? I like it.

I see we both carry J.B.'s big iron.

[Jim White]

Hey...thanks for the pic's. Like the grips, just got a pair of them myself and a USMC set for my brother.

[Ray P]

Thanks Rick !! I know were you want to be. Thanks for sharing
Later
Ray P

[Mad dog]

Excellent pics, thanks for sharing. Like your shooting bench, what make is it ?
Freedom takes effort.
Have a blessed New Year
Mad dog

[Rick in Oregon]

Like your shooting bench, what make is it ?

That, my friend, is a BR Pivot Lite shooting bench. Formerly manufactured by me, now built by Battenfield Technologies, sold under the Caldwell name and distributed by MidwayUSA. I sold the patent and manufacturing rights to them in 2008 then retired.

The Lite model is not offered by Caldwell. It was 100% aircraft alloy and weighed only 50 lbs. They offer a hybrid model now, and it's about as stable as my original standard and Lite models. The bonus is that these benches rotate a full 360* to engage the rat wherever he presents himself as a target, and offers all-day comfort.

If you want to check out the Midway models, here's where to go:

http://www.battenfeldtechnologies.com/c ... -block-top

In the field shooting PD's or squirrels, it's about the most fun-increasing item you can have outside your rifle:



If anyone is interested, there may be a limited number of original BR Pivots available in the near future (new in the box).