There’s a package waiting for me at home from Bushnell’s! Can’t wait to see what goodies they’ve sent me. Look for a gear review soon!
Update: Look out coyotes!
Christmas In May!
May 4
Choosing The Zombie Gun
Feb 22
I’ll have to admit, I’m not really that much into the tactical gun scene. I prefer wood and metal and revolvers. I’ve never really been attracted to AR’s with all the gadgets and doodads stuck all over the things. Give me iron sights and some nice looking wood. Now I do have a Glock and it is fun to shoot, but I’m still drawn to my Smith & Wesson model 10 revolver.
Which brings me to the topic of the day – my recent purchase that has been dubbed “the zombie gun” (I’ll explain later).
I first heard of these pistol round carbines while perusing one of the firearms forums that I frequent. Reading through the various threads and hearing the guys talk about how much fun they were, I was intrigued. Especially when I found out how inexpensive they were. Plus, some guy even took a wild hog with one! How cool is that?
So here it is, my Hi-Point 4095 carbine in 40 S&W. And yes, I’ve put some gadgets and doodads on it. The thing is so economical that you actually have money left over to put gadgets on it, so why not?
I haven’t had a chance to finish siting in the red dot yet, but my first impression of the rifle is great. It shoots great and feels great. The trigger is very nice, much nicer than I expected it to be. It pulls up well into the shoulder. Hi-Point has blown me away with this gun. I can see why everyone loves the heck out of it.
OK, so let me get into why I call it the Zombie Gun. I love me a good zombie movie (and not all of them are) and one day I ran across some articles where gun owners were discussing which gun would be the best gun to have when the zombies show up. Alright, cool. But Keith and I talked one day and decided we’d write a zombie gun article some day also. But our spin would not be which gun we wish we had, but what would we grab from what we own to take on the hordes of the undead.
So here’s my article and why this would be my zombie gun (and hence why it has that nickname now).
So I thought of the firearms I have and which would be better. Of course, the plains rifle is out. A muzzle loader is just going to get your brains feasted on. So its out by default. The shotgun would be good for close range, but not much help long distance wise. Plus carrying enough ammo would be heavy. The pistols, as well, only good for close range. One of them would be the backup.
So that left the Marlins. I’d probably pass the scoped one by as it would just be too cumbersome. No help in close range and too easy to knock out of alignment. You know, you’re running and moving a lot, staying ahead of the undead.
So that leaves a Marlin 336 in 30-30 with iron sights and the new carbine.
Both are light and maneuverable. Both would be good at distances of around 100 yards, although the Marlin would have an edge here as it could poke out further than that. And both would be handy up close.
The Hi-Point has an edge in ammo count though. 10 in the mag and 1 in the chamber for the Hi-Point. 6 +1 for the Marlin. With the Hi-Point I can reload with a new magazine. The Marlin I’d have to load individually. So you have to take into account which one would be easier to reload on the move. The hi-Point would have the edge here – that is as long as you have enough mags. So it might end up being a wash in the end. Ammo for both guns should be readily available and easy to find as both are popular calibers.
But there’s one place where the Hi-Point wins. It shares the same ammo as my Glock. So I only have to carry one caliber. What would totally seal the deal is if the carbine and the Glock shared the same magazine, but that isn’t the case.
I suppose one could say I’d have less chance of jams with the Marlin and the S&W revolver. And that is true, less of a chance for jams. But from what I’m reading, the Hi-Point seems to be a workhorse and can take a lot of abuse. The one unknown is how long any of the guns would shoot when getting really dirty. And most likely, the guns are going to take some serious abuse between cleanings. Think about, lots of running, lots of moving around and staying mobile. There might not be much time to clean the guns.
I really wanted the Marlin and the S&W revolver to win. I really did. It would be to cool taking out the Zombies with a lever action rifle, wearing a big hat and taking names (do zombies have names at that point?). But in the end, I have to go with the carbine and the Glock as a back up. It would just be easier sharing the same ammo in the long run.
So there you go. If the hordes of zombies ever show, I’m ready. I’m curious to see what Keith comes up with on his end.
Keep your powder dry.
Last Call For Venison
Jan 6
We’re heading out for the final weekend of deer hunting for the late antlerless season. This time I’m taking my wife for her first hunt. Which seems to be the predominate hunting I’ve done this year. My daughter had her first dove and deer hunt this year. Now it’s the good wife’s turn (it was her idea to pick up the Marlins anyway).
We’re heading back out to the Buttons ranch that I took my daughter to. Hopefully I can find the deer before we have to go this time. We have some weather moving in late Sunday, I really hope that it stays out there. They’re calling for snow Sunday and Monday. I just hope we see more then deer butts running away through the trees this time and hopefully on our side of the fence.
So, good luck to all those out wrapping up Kansas deer season. Keep your powder dry.
Well, we’re all set for my daughter’s first deer hunt this weekend. There was a nice 9 pointer taken the opening weekend, but there’s still a bigger one running around there. At least, that buck wasn’t the big one we’ve been seeing on the trail cams. Hopefully, he’s still around. It would be really cool if she get’s a shot at him.
And no, it won’t bother me a bit if she takes one down (as some of my friends have asked). I’d be right proud of her.
I picked up a doe tag for myself, as I’m really wanting some venison this year. Anyway, we’re heading out in the morning. The weather looks like it will be decent, maybe a little on the warm side in the afternoons. Although, there is a cold front coming in Saturday night.
So wish us luck.
To all the hunters heading out tomorrow for opening day of the Kansas Firearms Deer Season, good luck! May your shots be straight and true.
It looks to be fairly decent weather, not quite as cold as the last couple of years. This is the first time in 3 years that I’ll miss the opening! I can’t make it out until the last weekend of the season when I take my daughter out. So save a couple of deer for us alright?
As I’ve hunted in various places across the state of Kansas, I’ve often wondered what the early settlers and pioneers experienced when they came to this territory. They had to be awestruck as they left the hills, mountains and forests to see the apparent emptiness of the prairie. But still, I wondered how much different it looked to them than what I see today. Today, much of Kansas is sectioned off for agriculture with large acres of crops or cattle grazing. Roads crisscross the state, so much so that it would be nearly impossible to get lost or lose your bearing.
I finally found some of my answers from the book, Hunting and Trading on the Great Plains, 1859-1875 (American Exploration and Travel Series)
James Mead left his home in Iowa came to the territory in the spring of 1859 at the age of 23. He and some friends loaded up their wagons and headed west.
He ended up in the Salina area, along the Saline river hunting and camping. The first thing struck me was that he talks about how clear the streams, creeks and rivers were and how sweet the water tasted. Clear? Sweet? If you’ve spent any amount of time in Kansas and looked at the water, its anything but clear now. And I’m not about to take a taste of it. He also speaks of the abundance of trees along the rivers and streams.
The next thing is the variety and abundance of game. The vast herds of bison, elk and deer. So much so that he ignores the turkey that seem to be everywhere. Now, outside of deer, its hard to imagine the herds of bison and elk. I’ve never seen elk in the wild and have only seen bison fenced in. That would have to be an amazing site to see.
James would spend the first years out here as a contract hunter. Basically, he would shoot as much game as he could and sell the meat to the settlers and small towns that had begun to spring up. He claims to have made a great living at it during that time. But some of his descriptions of the hunts are a bit unsettling to the modern mind. The waste is shocking. To kill a bison just for the hide and tongue is shocking to the modern hunter with rules about wanton waste.
But it was a different time then, at least that’s what is said.
After a few years of hunting, James became a trader to the various Indian tribes that made the plains their home. He mentioned that he was always treated fairly and could rely on them to keep their word. The would always pay their debts according to the agreements he had made with them. Interesting how that goes against what recorded history and Hollywood has portrayed.
Mr. Mead also talks of the various historical figures he encountered through the years. Names like Jesse Chisholm, William “Buffalo Bill” Matthewson, Kit Carson, Kiowa chief Satanta and many others. The stories of these early celebrities are an interesting collection of things you don’t hear very often. James Mead then goes on to become a founder of the city of Wichita, helping to bring the railroad and cattle industries to the young town.
The end of the book brings about Jame’s looking back with some remorse to the changes that had come to the prairie. Saddened by the takeover of farms and ranches and the change they brought to the plains. The forested streams and rivers were gone, no longer clear running. The herds of bison and elk were no longer found on the prairie, having been slaughtered by the hunters, of which he was one. He did feel guilt for his role in the change and wished he could alter it. One has to wonder what the plains would look like today had the buffalo hunters of Mead’s day had a bit of foresight to see what the future held.
I thought the book an excellent view of the early history of Kansas. It is a unique look into the daily life of an early pioneer, one that we don’t often get to hear.
PH News
Nov 11
I went scouting last weekend here for when I take my daughter out next month deer hunting. I was looking for this guy (picture on the right).
We think we spotted him in the neighboring field when we left. He looks nice. We also saw a couple of smaller bucks and a couple of does and lots of sign. This is my daughter’s first deer hunting trip. Hopefully she’ll do better than I did back in September. It would be awesome if she can get a shot off at that big boy.
Keith and the crew are getting ready to head out for pheasant opening day. I’m going to miss this year, I have a wedding to go to. An old friend of mine is getting married. And of course, all reports say this is likely to be one of the best years for pheasant in a long time. Of course if is. I’m thinking about NOT buying my buddy a wedding present. Good luck to the crew and all the hunters hitting the fields this weekend. May your shots be true.
And I thought I’d also give an update on Sgt. Blank. He’s finally back in the States. He made it to Bethesda and is in the Naval hospital there. He’s still far from being out of the woods yet, so keep him in your prayers. He’s going through lots of surgeries still. And keep his family in your prayers and thoughts also. There’s a lot on their shoulders.
So keep your powder dry and for those going out this weekend, drop by and give us an update when you get back.
