SmallCaliberCentral

800 w/ a .22 I may have to whip out my BS card. I also hear a lot of tall tales from rat shooters. I can never keep count its more fun to just shoot and explode rat after rat after rat.

RIO--Thanks for another great report. I sure didn't like the looks of that SNOW!!! We had enough of that stuff up here in North DaColder to last until December 2010. I'm itching to get out after prairie dogs again, but the wind and rain have put a "damper" on those plans until maybe the middle of next week.

SF: I think all here will agree that this "spring" has been a winter to remember. 2010 so far has really given the "weather-guessers" a real time of it. I've never had 2"+ of snow on my truck in the field in late May during a rat shoot!

Once you get out in between weather events, we'll be looking forward to some prairie dog action from your corner....'tis the time of year for burnt powder in the air, flying rodents, nice rifles, and lots of smiles and laughs (and fun posts). Time again to warm up that 17 Tactical?

Rick,What is the velocity of your handpacked snowball?? Wondering if you had built a "drop-chart" for that and determined an effective range yet!!!! Wow, that looks a little different than we were having in Iowa at the time. Nice pics, I'm glad you're a camera guy.

remy: I actually chronographed that load in the field while I was shooting and zero'ing the scope. Average velocity of my 32gr SBK load over 26.5grs/RL10X is 4,035 fps, measured 12' from the muzzle.

As far as effective range, dunno just yet, as the wind did not permit shooting much beyond 350 yards during that outing. I've used my Sako 204 shooting 32's to register first shot hits on ground squirrels to 468 yards, the farthest I've shot the 32's so far, so effective range is whatever the wind and local conditions will allow. I'd imagine over 450 yards, my 11 twist shooting either 39 SBK's or the Nosler 40 will be the hot ticket.

Glad you liked the pics......it was a varmint shooting trip to remember, if even just for the freaky weather we encountered. Gettin' ready for another event coming up.....our much anticipated Annual Rat Rodeo held in N. California every year. 3,500 acres of rolling hills planted in alfalfa, infested with Skippy and his pals. I'm loading up those empty cases shot last week right now.......

Rick: No snow angel pics? Looks like you picked up some decent weather for the trip though, to send a few flyin.

huey: Nope, we weren't too keen on any snow games in 40+ mph winds. Heck, after winter here on the high desert at 3,600' elevation, we're ready for spring!

When we get snow-bound or 'weathered-in', we take all our frustrations out on Skippy when the skies clear though.......

hueys66 wrote:Heck, after winter here on the high desert at 3,600' elevation, we're ready for spring!

When we get snow-bound or 'weathered-in', we take all our frustrations out on Skippy when the skies clear though.......

Ya, I know I can appreciate that sentiment. we been going thru the same thing down here in N Kalifornia at 3500 feet elevation! I finally got most of my garden planted this past weekend. I really wanted to to go out and take some frustration out on skippy, but this garden thing was really bugging me. I haven't fired a shot in over a month! because its either been raining or snowing or the wind has been blowin most every day for a month! And the weather report is still calling for more winter!

Sorry for the rant but I am getting soooo blue

Thanks for your posts Rick. As always, very much appreciated!