So, I decided that it was time to go rat hunting again this year.  It has been a decade since I've gone.  So, since I worked a ton of overtime last year, I felt I deserve a new firearm.  So, all the new rage is the .17.  So, I saw an ad for the Savage with the accutrigger which is adjustable. 



I'm gonna order a scope for it too!  Buddy talked me into Vortex scopes.  Many locals love Leupold, which is local to me if I have any issues, but damn they love their stuff more than I can afford.

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/crossfire-II-3-9x40-with-v-plex-moa-reticle

I will get pictures when I get things all set up. 

So, at the end of April I'm going to Bend,OR and hook up with some buddies and head down to Summer Lake.  We are going on a guided rat hunt, and what is this you ask, a guided rat hunt?  Well, out in the areas where grass farmers grow alfalfa for cattle feed.  Well there is a small little rodent called a sage rat, some call them ground squirrels, or whistle pigs.  Well they are the size of a small chipmunk, and there are literally thousands of them, EVERYWHERE!!!  As fast as you can sight one in and squeeze the trigger there are more to zero in on again.  So, these guys are taking to known fields that have lots of them to shoot, and for the daily fee of $150 a day, they also put on a four course BBQ spread for you, and your buddies up to six of you.  For those of you that haven't done this or heard about it, its a blast to do.  Because the farmers want you to shoot them for many reasons.  They create holes that cattle step into and break their legs in, when the field is out of grass rotation.  They can spray the fields to rid of them, but then the farmers can't sell their grass to dairy cow farmers, only to beef cow farms.  Cause the pesticide shows up in the milk, but not in the meat. 

So, I will be getting my .17 setup, and make sure my Ruger 10/22's are shooting good too!

I guess you have a special interest if you work for Tillamook.  Maybe if the new toy is used for work/saving your industry, it's a tax deduction?

Oh well, I still buy Tillamook cheese here.

So, I finally got all the parts and pieces I need to put it all together.  And I got the scope rings height perfect.  They sell short, medium, or tall rings, so I chose the medium ones.  And its perfect.




Been reading into this barrel break in procedure online.  Holy crap thats alot of shooting and cleaning just to get it to supposedly shoot better.  A buddy said the last time he broke in a barrel it took him almost 3 hours of shooting and cleaning.  I've never done this to any of my rifles, and they all shoot just fine. 

I will send you that scope to you, I agree its junk.  But don't be surprised if it looks like a Bushnell Banner 3x9-40 when you get it!!   


I got a connection on a Boyd stock from a buddy.  I'm gonna have to see what it looks like first.  The forearm of the stock flexes too damn much, just from handling it while putting on the scope. 

now let me ask this. . . . why a .17 why not a .22 or something similar cool rifle don't get me wrong, but isn't it an off caliber to find I have no idea, this is why I ask, just seams easier to ammo for .22 (recent bs excluded) than a .17. and I still have that window

ahh I V nice thanks for the info makes sense now

I want to go every year if possible.  And maybe if I get time, I'll venture over to Xmas Valley and check it out.  I need to see where in Xmas Valley my uncle used to go to.  And you told me their name was, Pucket or something like that. 

I need to hit up my cousin, she married into a family that grass farms in Dufur. 

I love the 17s, my buddy has one and after I shoot it, I decided I gotta have one.
I have 3 22mags, I savage, might change out the barrel to 17. but gotta get a 17 either way