The Scenic Route

Just had a pleasant weekend in rural Manitoba, where I had a chance to sight-in the 10/22, and fire for the first time my newly inherited win94. Both of which perform significantly better than I could have hoped.

10/22 grouped ridiculously well for the range I was shooting at, 3" to 4" groups at 130yards, from prone.
I had a paper target, but didn't pull it down before it got destroyed by higher caliber rounds, there's not much left to see.. There was also maybe some tannerite involved..
I think my limitation was a poorly sighted tasco scope, and the fact that I haven't fired a rifle in more than 5 years. Honestly not very much at all before that either. The factory trigger pull is something like 7 or 8 pounds, which caused me some frustration, but there are viable work-arounds for that.

The 30-30.. well..
Action is terrific, trigger pull is light, and it is deadly accurate. Didn't shoot any groups with it, but I am confident it is tight. Moving up to 70+- yards and it's simply point and shoot.
Love it.



But more to the point, I also had the opportunity for some 1-on-1 welding lessons from my BIL. Mig, Arc, and a plasma torch were all covered, and I think I'm hooked.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 1st structural welds:

Edited slightly to make me look more talented than is entirely truthful, but it's the internet, stop me!..

Soo, I think I'll be putting sliders and a rear plate bumper on sooner than anticipated.. Hard to justify the retail prices of the manufactured ones, but if I can put something together for cost of material and a welder and get sliders and a welder out of the deal, I'm not going to be able to stop myself.. The applications are endless as well..

Not making promises of diy sliders/HC bumper immediately, but it's on the 6 month plan, as opposed to the 6 year plan now.

Just gotta find deals on some metal... and a mig welder... and more 30-30 rounds..

 

Sub'd. Cool build, good stories.

 

One of the missing chapters from this story is going up for sale soon. Purchased the truck with an aluminum rack (as in first post), and eventually filled it in with plywood for a diy canopy, which served me fairly well. I am presently in the process of filling the holes and painting it up nice and black.

Here is what it looked like after 2 years of anuse, then a year of sitting behind a shed rotting.

I've got it stripped and 90% sanded ready for paint, just need to fill in the holes with glazing rods.. My propane gas is nattt hot enough, back to princess auto for something a lil' hottter..
My afternoon projects never take an afternoon..




1st attempt at filling a screwhole, can melt the glaze into the void, but can't get the aluminum rack itself hot enough to bond, unless I'm doing it wrong.. I took the 5 minute youtube course though, I should be certified..

Edit:
eff it
jbweld and done

 

Took a drive out to NW Ontario to take a peek at my driveway, see if I couldn't take a hike in and kick some dirt of my very own... had some business in town anyway.

Turns out it was a premature effort.

Still 1-2 feet of snow in places. Nothing that airing down and pushing my way thru couldn't have taken care of, I went half a km up just to convince myself that the truck was capable.. But between the brush caving in on the road, and me not wanting to make too much chainsaw racket, my drivers CV starting to develop a click (replacement is on the bench, just getting every mile out of these junk aftermarkets I can) and not wanting to burn half a tank of gas to go 6km, I backed out and decided to come back next weekend. Had to fire up the stihl and cut back some encroaching stumps that I snaked past on the way up..

There was some snowmobile tracks to put the drivers wheel on, but passenger was all fluff, I am very impressed with the km2s. They aren't much to talk about on ice or cold road, but deep snow they're like snowmobile tracks..

I had wanted to go for a hike and stake out my land, so, defeated, I decided to go shooting instead..

shooting snaps of Gemini, that is..

Some snow wheeling, property snoopin', chainsaw action, plinking and doggin' it.. I'll take it..

I'll post up some photos of trail damage tomorrow, there were some scars.

 

Trail damage from round one of the property access battle, 2018


This, is a pretty natural look for my truck, it will blend in nicely.
It's due for a proper buff and polish, never did buff the color matched cap, and I've been putting it off for warmer weather, so the majority of the pin-stripeing will be taken care of when I go over it with a buff wheel.. There's a lot..





This, on the other hand, is quite dissappointing..

Paint is one thing. On my truck, paint is already fubar, and the main goal is just to address rust when it starts.. sand it out, hit it with color matched spray can, and let it fade to match the rest, if it really becomes an issue I can have it re-did one day, or more likely wrapped.. but out in the bush, the main issue is making sure my truck isn't being eaten alive.. This, however is the type of damage that will make my truck look a little more redneck than is desired..

Will have to get clever, or maybe just bite the bullet and replace them..
shucks

 

Sub'd to the guy on the banner

 

Deeeyum only 230 msgs and already on the banner. You sir are doing something right

Noice truck!

 

I dont what it is about your build thread, but its interesting man! Love it all.

 

those rear hubs tho
welcome to the program

Thank you kindly!

Haha, thanks, some more photos to post just as soon as I get back to a proper computer..
and some more trail damage..

thank you everyone for your kind words, ya'll make TW the best place on the internets.


Better people, better BS, better fake news.
all them twits, snaps, grams and zucks ain't got shit on you folk.
They'd never be able to help me swap a cv axle in 20 minutes and tell me what the weird ticking noise is.
you da real mvp TW

 

TW is the best social media ever! Never seen a forum that active! With that much people willing to help, drive hundred of miles to Tw express parts and stuff, and ship from an ocean to another even if it was easier to sell local! Such great community!

 

Couldnt have said it better. Im glad to be part of such a great group of folks!

 

I ♡ TW! ​

 

Pfft....TW

 

you sir are right where I want to be. picking up a welder and just practicing until you cant get it wrong. Whereaboots in Manitoba were you?

theres a couple threads for DIY bumpers if you wanna source for some ideas

 

Im back and forth from winnipeg area and kenora.. my brother has a shop out that way in springfield which will be home for a welder, once i pick one out, at least until I get more established in ontario.. I'm just waiting to find a decent deal on a bigger machine, I want something that'll do 110v and 220v, or I'll be kicking myself..

if you have any of those threads bookmarked feel free to link them here, I've found a few already, but I may be missing a goldmine out there.
cheers

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-bolt-on-frame-plates-for-sliders.302192/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-tacoma-front-bumper-plans.408994/#post-16190070

also, my brother is in Waboden, MB right now haha

 

damn, that's the real north, I've planted trees up in that neighbourhood, but it takes a real man to actually live up there

the wolves are 90% myth and 10% god and consume your soul if you make eye contact, the mosquitos will carry your dog away and eat it for a snack..

my aunt lives up in lynn lake, used to be up in churchill, she's more manly than most men I meet, and I don't exactly surround myself with soft folk..

ahhhh, the north

thanks for the links, i have some homework now


@bfeth when you getting more stock of your matte black decals? or should i just make an order based on what you have left?

 

Oh ya. He has to get groceries in Thompson ahha. Landed in Churchill for a refill after coming from Resolute Bay, NU, that was an adventure

You tell me what you want and I will make them for you hopefully before I leave for NB in 4 days haha

 

Oh and also got some range time in myself today with a buddy

 

pm'ed