Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Sawyer Rob]

Scopes are always a big topic. I think it's somewhat regional too. I've never seen a use for them here in Indiana hunting deer. In fact I've lost out on deer because someone talked me in to trying a scope and there just wasn't time to find the deer in the scope before he was gone. A lot of split second shots in this territory.
On the flip side , out in big open country, I can see them being an absolute necessity.
Which one to purchase can be affected by so many things mainly a mans income. I myself live on less than 60,000 dollars a year by choice. That's a longer story involving church ministry etc. Needless to say, I am very careful with how much I spend. Everything I buy has to earn it's keep so to speak.

Others make real good money and that's great. God blessed in that way too. This of course allows for for freedom in spending. And there's not a thing in the world wrong with that either.

The important thing probably is not to look down on anyone for their choices. Never know what might be driving that choice.

I've used scopes for so long, I have no problem getting on target at all, I always have had at least a "low powered" scope, even on my DG rifle, and DG to me means brown bear. I shot a nice buck last fall with iron sights, that's the first big game I've shot with iron sights in MANY years. (other than with a revolver) Scopes are great, but like anything else you have to learn how use those advantages.

60 grand a year? In my circle, you would be a very rich guy!! I've never made anywhere near that amount in a year! I always felt it's not how much you make; it's how much you end up with!

Many folks will have many guns, but not a good scope, I always figured I'd have less guns, and put a GOOD scope on my main rifle! If I sold the gun, I kept that scope for the next gun I was using.

SR

 

[GrizG]

You never have enough tools.

I have given my sons a lot of tools in the past couple years… Decided I’m a user, not a collector. For example, how many No. 4 smoothing planes does one need? Five was too many… but one example!

 

[Sierra_rider]

New saw day...a dealer that I have a good relationship with, gave me a price on an 881 that I couldn't refuse. One of my coworkers agreed to buy one of my old saws on the same day, so it's almost like I got a really cheap saw lol. For now, I'm planning on leaving it mostly stock, only mod so far is the muffler.

 

[Logger nate]

Morning, nice looking saw, they have a 881 at the local hardware store, might be a hard sale, think it was $2200 and not really any trees big enough for it. Lots of Californians with $ though so who knows.
Fire started about 10 miles from us Thursday Over 4000 acres now Evidently a hurricane took a wrong turn somewhere and is headed this way and decided to meet up with another bunch of moisture here, calling for possible 4” an hr (unheard of here) so the fire probably won’t last long.

 

[GrizG]

New saw day...a dealer that I have a good relationship with, gave me a price on an 881 that I couldn't refuse. One of my coworkers agreed to buy one of my old saws on the same day, so it's almost like I got a really cheap saw lol. For now, I'm planning on leaving it mostly stock, only mod so far is the muffler.

Cool….! My son has sold 6 881s so far this year… Best he can tell is that they are for the fun of owning one as there are very few (very few) trees around here that could actually use a 48”+ bar. If there were big trees I’d probably own an 881 too. That said, I usually have a 25” bar on my 661 with a 36” in reserve. Now that there are big oak, maple and walnut uprooting due to the lack of support by ash I was able to justify the 661… the 461 was perfectly adequate previously.

 

[Sierra_rider]

Cool….! My son has sold 6 881s so far this year… Best he can tell is that they are for the fun of owning one as there are very few (very few) trees around here that could actually use a 48”+ bar. If there were big trees I’d probably own an 881 too. That said, I usually have a 25” bar on my 661 with a 36” in reserve. Now that there are big oak, maple and walnut uprooting due to the lack of support by ash I was able to justify the 661… the 461 was perfectly adequate previously.

Mine will mostly get used for milling. I'm not cutting much anymore, but if I am cutting a big tree...I usually spring for the 066 with a 36" or 42" on it. When I was running the chinesium 880, the only time it would get used for falling was if I was cutting a large tree with defects and I wanted to get through the back cut with 1 pass. Even at that, it was for residential stuff that I didn't have to pack the saw.

 

[Sierra_rider]

Morning, nice looking saw, they have a 881 at the local hardware store, might be a hard sale, think it was $2200 and not really any trees big enough for it. Lots of Californians with $ though so who knows.
Fire started about 10 miles from us Thursday View attachment 1106315Over 4000 acres now View attachment 1106317Evidently a hurricane took a wrong turn somewhere and is headed this way and decided to meet up with another bunch of moisture here, calling for possible 4” an hr (unheard of here) so the fire probably won’t last long.

Yeah, $2.2k and some change is the official MSRP. I'd be hard pressed to buy it at that price, but I got it for cheaper than a new 500i. The only place they occasionally get used is by some of my friends that are fallers out on the coast, some of the second growth redwoods can be upwards of 8' on the stump...nothing that big up here in the mountains(at least being cut.) It's silly to think about, but the granola crunchers complain about the large trees being cut, but the only large trees being cut nowadays are only about 150 YO.

Weird weather for sure. We've been having thunderstorms for over a week now. Lots of lightning fires all over, but between precip and good fuel moistures, nothing is really taking off. It rained a bunch last night and it's supposed to rain all day tomorrow. We get a break today, so I'm taking advantage of wet dirt and taking one of the dirtbikes out for a ride in the high country.

 

[GrizG]

Mine will mostly get used for milling. I'm not cutting much anymore, but if I am cutting a big tree...I usually spring for the 066 with a 36" or 42" on it. When I was running the chinesium 880, the only time it would get used for falling was if I was cutting a large tree with defects and I wanted to get through the back cut with 1 pass. Even at that, it was for residential stuff that I didn't have to pack the saw.

Makes sense to me…. A few of the guys who bought 881s from my son over the years have mentioned milling. He thinks there is a bit of oneupmanship going on among tree service guys that has nothing to do with need. Me… I’m still waiting to encounter a tree to fell and/or mill that makes me say “I need an 881.” Our folks here face a lot of tree diversity so it makes sense some can put an 881 or a big Husky to use… I’m not in the right locale for that!

 

[svk]

I've used scopes for so long, I have no problem getting on target at all

Even when they zig zag?

 

[svk]

I have given my sons a lot of tools in the past couple years… Decided I’m a user, not a collector. For example, how many No. 4 smoothing planes does one need? Five was too many… but one example!

Having three teenage boys in the house, I’ve been accumulating a lot of tools over the last few years when I can find them for cheap or free. I know eventually they will have their own houses and I’ll save them a lot of money when I can drop off a care package with most of the basics. Just gets to be a lot of crap in the garage in the meantime lol.

 

[Sierra_rider]

Makes sense to me…. A few of the guys who bought 881s from my son over the years have mentioned milling. He thinks there is a bit of oneupmanship going on among tree service guys that has nothing to do with need. Me… I’m still waiting to encounter a tree to fell and/or mill that makes me say “I need an 881.” Our folks here face a lot of tree diversity so it makes sense some can put an 881 or a big Husky to use… I’m not in the right locale for that!

One of my tree service friends does have an 088, but it's pretty single purpose. It's running a lonnng bar, is only a 1/2 wrap model(stands out around here,) and it's sole purpose is low-stumping big trees in residential settings.

For his actual cutting down of those spars/trees, he's usually running a 500i. I'm kinda in the same boat, most of my falling is done with either my hopped-up 400 or 500i. I don't even pull out my 066 that much anymore. The 400 and 500 are my "goldilocks" saws. The 400 is my go-to when running a rear-handle while climbing, yet runs well enough that I don't have to switch saws once I do my final cut. The 500i is kinda the same deal, although for larger trees.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Morning, nice looking saw, they have a 881 at the local hardware store, might be a hard sale, think it was $2200 and not really any trees big enough for it. Lots of Californians with $ though so who knows.
Fire started about 10 miles from us Thursday View attachment 1106315Over 4000 acres now View attachment 1106317Evidently a hurricane took a wrong turn somewhere and is headed this way and decided to meet up with another bunch of moisture here, calling for possible 4” an hr (unheard of here) so the fire probably won’t last long.

Scheduled rain for next 2 days,plus down here

 

[bob kern]

I've used scopes for so long, I have no problem getting on target at all, I always have had at least a "low powered" scope, even on my DG rifle, and DG to me means brown bear. I shot a nice buck last fall with iron sights, that's the first big game I've shot with iron sights in MANY years. (other than with a revolver) Scopes are great, but like anything else you have to learn how use those advantages.

60 grand a year? In my circle, you would be a very rich guy!! I've never made anywhere near that amount in a year! I always felt it's not how much you make; it's how much you end up with!

Many folks will have many guns, but not a good scope, I always figured I'd have less guns, and put a GOOD scope on my main rifle! If I sold the gun, I kept that scope for the next gun I was using.

SR

Guess I'd like em if I got use to them, but I started on iron sights and just stuck with it I guess. I'm sure I'd have scopes if I hunted in big country. Most of my shots are well under 50yds.

60k can be a lot in the right circumstances, in others things get kinda tight.

 

[.358 win]

On the scope subject... I'm a super cheap arse when it comes to scopes. Too many decently priced options to need to spend big bucks. My 22mag has this cheap Tasco 3-9x40mm scope on it that a friend said was junk. It's my main dirt rat/tree rat/flying rat gun. Hasn't ever lost zero and is plenty clear zoomed in for 100 yard shots in the evening. Have a Vortex Crossfire on my 458 socom, it's been good although not as nice as the althlon scopes I've recently been getting. I have a few nikon scopes as well that are really nice, but not worth what I've paid for them. Only scope I've ever had issues with is a Simmons that was in the mosin nagant. What a pos. Stupid thing moved around from day one, sent it back a few times then ended up buying this cheap pinty brand scope off Amazon for it. Couldn't get better then a 2" @100 yard group. Swapped a known good 3-9x40 nikon on it with the same results. Put the Amazon scope back on it and gave it to my dad. Hated that gun from the first time I shot it, even after having it sporterized, synthetic stock, bedded and floated barrel and added a Timiney drop in trigger group it still shot like crap. Have several other Bushnell scopes that have been decent too.

I have a Vortex on my .22 mag and really like it.. I have always been a Burris lover though.. My older steel jacket weaver has fine-fine crosshairs and my older eyes now have some trouble with it's accuracy.. My experience on purchasing optics has been to use the price of the firearm for a comparable/equal scope price.. That's why my Browning has a Burris. Took a lot chewing on the price tag before I could swallow it.. Then I was glad I did it..

 

[.358 win]

I have a Vortex on my .22 mag and really like it.. I have always been a Burris lover though.. My older steel jacket weaver has fine-fine crosshairs and my older eyes now have some trouble with it's accuracy.. My experience on purchasing optics has been to use the price of the firearm for a comparable/equal scope price.. That's why my Browning has a Burris. Took a lot chewing on the price tag before I could swallow it.. Then I was glad I did it..

Still hunting the buck has always presented split second shots.. My Burris is called a fullfield variable power 1 3/4 to 5 . When it's on 2 I have no trouble shooting with both eyes open finding the target.. Probably faster than iron sights.. When sitting on a stand turn it up to 4 or 5.. Most deer I shoot are pretty close, 25 yards, but I have wacked a couple at the 150 yard area.. When a buck beats me and runs off waving his tail, I say "good for him".. I can't blame a scope.

 

[bob kern]

Still hunting the buck has always presented split second shots.. My Burris is called a fullfield variable power 1 3/4 to 5 . When it's on 2 I have no trouble shooting with both eyes open finding the target.. Probably faster than iron sights.. When sitting on a stand turn it up to 4 or 5.. Most deer I shoot are pretty close, 25 yards, but I have wacked a couple at the 150 yard area.. When a buck beats me and runs off waving his tail, I say "good for him".. I can't blame a scope.

I'd say there's a good chance I've never looked through a good scope and that's part of why I don't find them easy to use. I do know the ones I have seen I would not even bother trying a split second shot.
One other factor that may get me in the scope aisle will be vision. It is getting harder and harder to get the sights and the target both in focus clearly. I reckon a good scope may rectify that situation.
Again, I'm not against them, just not had a need up to this point.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Yesterday, my day started off pretty good, my friend wanted to do firewood, so off we went to start taking apart, these two big oaks I cut down a couple weeks ago.

We got started by making the first cuts on the ground,

Then I'd lift the logs up onto my wagon and we'd make the finish cuts,

Some of these logs were pretty big around,

and everything was going good, UNTIL my buddy says, "hey your front wheel is crooked", so I jump off to have a look,

OUCH! This isn't going to be a cheeep fix! It's time to go see the parts man!! lol

anyway, this is what we got done before everything went south!

Tomorrow will be a parts day, well probably a parts "order" day...

SR

 

[MechanicMatt]

Anybody else notice that after 40 years old, the heat just sucks the life out of you?

 

[MechanicMatt]

Don’t post as often as I used to, how are all you guys doing?

 

[MechanicMatt]

Don’t post as often as I used to, how are all you guys doing??