lovemywinchester
10-25-2015, 01:26 PM
I'm sitting at home on a beautiful Sunday because my tranny decided to burn out on me. I bought a 96 Sierra 4x4 thinking it would be a great bush rig for the falls hunting. It was doing great until last week when the tranny started slipping and revving for no reason while driving. Now it won't go into third. I'm pretty sure the 3-4 clutch pack is toast. Seems its a common problem in the 4L60E tranny. Anyway I am not mobile so here is the story of my new rifle, and the whitey I killed with it.
I really enjoy hunting in thick cover around the Loops and hiking for my deer. I've hunted a lot over the last five seasons with my old Winchester lever gun and I've done very well with it but the lack of scope finally got to me. I have also grown attached to the Ruger m77 rifles. I have owned a few now and really enjoy them. The issue I was having was the weight and size of the rifle for the type of hiking/hunting I enjoy. I have found the perfect combo for me now with the Ruger compact M77 in 308 with the 16.5 in barrel and laminate stock. I topped it with a Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5 x 32 scope keeping in the tight woods mindset.
I was looking for a used one and found one here in the Loops at the Powder Keg at the end of August. I was very happy and put a box through it. It was a great shooter. The next time I went out I put six rounds through it and noticed a crack. A big crack. It seems the receiver mounting bolt was loose and this caused the crack.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l573/zippogold/crack1%20-%20Copy_zpsxnvu9foq.jpg (http://s1124.photobucket.com/user/zippogold/media/crack1%20-%20Copy_zpsxnvu9foq.jpg.html)
Needless to say that I was pretty choked. I took it back to the shop and the owner was just as upset as I was. He took the gun back and said he would get it fixed at no charge to me. He sent it off to the gunsmith and I waited. When I got it back it looked better than new.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l573/zippogold/fixed%20-%20Copy_zpsb4mbki2e.jpg (http://s1124.photobucket.com/user/zippogold/media/fixed%20-%20Copy_zpsb4mbki2e.jpg.html)
Not only was it fixed but they had it bedded for me at no charge. Amazing service from the Powder Keg and great work from the gunsmith. Support your local gun shop if you have one.
It was a bummer not having my new rifle to start the season but a buddy loaned me an old Husky 30-06 which I used for a few hunts. I saw a few bucks but didn't get a shot at any of them. The Husky was topped with an old Weaver scope which was not very useful in anything but bright daylight. Beggars can't be choosers I know. Near the end of September when I got the call to come pick up my Ruger I was pretty stoked. My optimism went through the roof. Hiking and bushwacking with the compact was effortless. Light and short, it was performing exactly like I expected it to. Now if only I could bump into a buck with it.
I got my chance on Thanksgiving morning. I like to hike with some wind, especially in the thick, beetle kill filled woods. I try to find a deer trail and slowly hike into the wind, glassing and watching for any movement. As luck would have it I picked the right trail and saw a WT at the same time he saw me. It was close to 9am and the sun was streaming into the bush in small openings through the trees. I was in the shade and he was lit up in a beam of sunshine from the shoulders up. I think this helped me by maybe blinding him somewhat. He was facing me at about 60 yds and his rack was glowing in the sun but I didn't stop to admire the scene. Gun up, safety off, crosshairs on neck and squeeze. He dropped out of sight and I was pumped. The short gun and low power scope worked perfectly. This is what I walked up to.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l573/zippogold/006_zpsliuuoxwq.jpg (http://s1124.photobucket.com/user/zippogold/media/006_zpsliuuoxwq.jpg.html)
A 2 1/2 year old WT is fine by me! When you hunt WT in the thick stuff you shoot first and eat later. This isn't trophy hunting. Just sneaking up on a buck in the tight woods is the reward for me. I had to cut him up and pack him out to the truck in two trips due to my small pack. I was done by around 1 or so and dropped the deer off at my buddy's to hang for a bit. Went and got cleaned up and made it to Thanksgiving dinner for 4pm. A great day and more good hunting memories. The compact Ruger was just awesome and I would encourage anyone to check them out if you need a great hiking rifle.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l573/zippogold/003%20-%20Copy_zpssc0u37gz.jpg
(http://s1124.photobucket.com/user/zippogold/media/003%20-%20Copy_zpssc0u37gz.jpg.html)
I really enjoy hunting in thick cover around the Loops and hiking for my deer. I've hunted a lot over the last five seasons with my old Winchester lever gun and I've done very well with it but the lack of scope finally got to me. I have also grown attached to the Ruger m77 rifles. I have owned a few now and really enjoy them. The issue I was having was the weight and size of the rifle for the type of hiking/hunting I enjoy. I have found the perfect combo for me now with the Ruger compact M77 in 308 with the 16.5 in barrel and laminate stock. I topped it with a Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5 x 32 scope keeping in the tight woods mindset.
I was looking for a used one and found one here in the Loops at the Powder Keg at the end of August. I was very happy and put a box through it. It was a great shooter. The next time I went out I put six rounds through it and noticed a crack. A big crack. It seems the receiver mounting bolt was loose and this caused the crack.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l573/zippogold/crack1%20-%20Copy_zpsxnvu9foq.jpg (http://s1124.photobucket.com/user/zippogold/media/crack1%20-%20Copy_zpsxnvu9foq.jpg.html)
Needless to say that I was pretty choked. I took it back to the shop and the owner was just as upset as I was. He took the gun back and said he would get it fixed at no charge to me. He sent it off to the gunsmith and I waited. When I got it back it looked better than new.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l573/zippogold/fixed%20-%20Copy_zpsb4mbki2e.jpg (http://s1124.photobucket.com/user/zippogold/media/fixed%20-%20Copy_zpsb4mbki2e.jpg.html)
Not only was it fixed but they had it bedded for me at no charge. Amazing service from the Powder Keg and great work from the gunsmith. Support your local gun shop if you have one.
It was a bummer not having my new rifle to start the season but a buddy loaned me an old Husky 30-06 which I used for a few hunts. I saw a few bucks but didn't get a shot at any of them. The Husky was topped with an old Weaver scope which was not very useful in anything but bright daylight. Beggars can't be choosers I know. Near the end of September when I got the call to come pick up my Ruger I was pretty stoked. My optimism went through the roof. Hiking and bushwacking with the compact was effortless. Light and short, it was performing exactly like I expected it to. Now if only I could bump into a buck with it.
I got my chance on Thanksgiving morning. I like to hike with some wind, especially in the thick, beetle kill filled woods. I try to find a deer trail and slowly hike into the wind, glassing and watching for any movement. As luck would have it I picked the right trail and saw a WT at the same time he saw me. It was close to 9am and the sun was streaming into the bush in small openings through the trees. I was in the shade and he was lit up in a beam of sunshine from the shoulders up. I think this helped me by maybe blinding him somewhat. He was facing me at about 60 yds and his rack was glowing in the sun but I didn't stop to admire the scene. Gun up, safety off, crosshairs on neck and squeeze. He dropped out of sight and I was pumped. The short gun and low power scope worked perfectly. This is what I walked up to.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l573/zippogold/006_zpsliuuoxwq.jpg (http://s1124.photobucket.com/user/zippogold/media/006_zpsliuuoxwq.jpg.html)
A 2 1/2 year old WT is fine by me! When you hunt WT in the thick stuff you shoot first and eat later. This isn't trophy hunting. Just sneaking up on a buck in the tight woods is the reward for me. I had to cut him up and pack him out to the truck in two trips due to my small pack. I was done by around 1 or so and dropped the deer off at my buddy's to hang for a bit. Went and got cleaned up and made it to Thanksgiving dinner for 4pm. A great day and more good hunting memories. The compact Ruger was just awesome and I would encourage anyone to check them out if you need a great hiking rifle.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l573/zippogold/003%20-%20Copy_zpssc0u37gz.jpg
(http://s1124.photobucket.com/user/zippogold/media/003%20-%20Copy_zpssc0u37gz.jpg.html)