Speedo66
Member
Oh, the sadness of living in a suburban setting where shots can’t be fired…..
Good friends and guns
- Thread starter GunnyUSMC
- Start date
- Status
FROGO207
Member
Gray squirrels are tasty but the red tree rats tast like garbage, probably cause they like to chew insulation and electrical wires all the time. I have been at war with them since I was first able to shoot a firearm. Unfortunately they seem to return faster than I can buy ammo some days. I find that a 20 GA with #4 is the answer when there is one in a tree and I don't have time to wait for a good shot with a .22. 
Well done, Gunny!
If you have friends and guns long enough, it seems that at some point, you'll have to ask yourself whether a friend of however many years needs a gun worse than you need that gun sitting in your safe.
If you have friends and guns long enough, it seems that at some point, you'll have to ask yourself whether a friend of however many years needs a gun worse than you need that gun sitting in your safe.
lightman
Member
Cool story, Gunny! That was very kind of you.
shootstraight57
Member
One way to enjoy retirement! LOL Here's to good friends.I had a bunch of the little critters move into my attic a few years ago, along with some rats. I went into the attic with a 38 and some shot shells. Between me and the critters, we did about $2000 in damage, but I don’t have a critter problem anymore .
I’ve been at war with squirrels ever since. This one came into my yard for a free meal the other day, but got some lead.
View attachment 1003625
By giving my friend the rifle, it will only help to rid the world of these pesky tree rats. Already have plans to do some squirrel hunting with him.
gyp_c2
Member
We know where to find a good man with a gun, don't we!
OP
OP
GunnyUSMC
Member
I bought that rifle about 5 years ago for just over $100, if I remember right. It’s been in the safe since I bought it, I never fired it. But that is only because I have 4 other magazine feed Marlin 22 rifles.
I’ve always had a soft spot for 22 rifles and have over 60 of them. With all the other guns I have, it’s getting kind of crowded in the house. You can say that my friend helped me out a little by taking the rifle.
A few years ago my friend showed up at the house with a little 22 pistol. The first thing I noticed was there was a ding on the tip of the barrel. I asked if he had dropped it or something, and he said yes, in your driveway when getting out of the car. He said he had brought it over to give to me. We both laughed. I still have the little gun, and it still has the ding at the muzzle.
I live in a small town of 1,100 people. City hall freaked out when I was using an old single shot Savage bolt action and CB caps to thin the critters getting into my trash cans. Since they freaked out and said I could use my 22, I went and bought a Gamo break barrel .177 pellet rifle. It is wayyyyyy louder than the 22 with CB caps. Neighbors hate me but city hall is happy
And yes rimfire guns can be addictive to say the least. At lest 50% of my rifles are rimfire and 25% of my handguns are rimfire.
Bull Nutria
Member
Gunny et al Speaking of Squirrels being evil:
I have an RC Model Story for you:
RC had a fairly new Dodge 4x4 pick up that was his pride and joy. Well the dam squirrels ate all the wiring up and cost him over $1000. Now RC did not take this lightly . He tried trapping but RC had an arsenal of fine guns, I know because I visited him at his home in Lawrence, Kansas. He lived in a typical older subdivision with lots of large oak trees (ideal squirrel habitat). RC's war on squirrels began for over a year, he worked on them with 2 air rifles, He scoped them and tested various types of pellets. He was perplexed that he could knock out of the tree and when he went to retrieve them they would runaway! Well he perfected his methods. He determined what type of pellet and what caliber worked best! If I recall correctly he shot about 250 squirrels over a little over a year. He had to be sneaky and not let the neighbors know what he was up to!! I asked what he did with them and he said he froze them in Walmart bags and thru them in garbage on garbage day.
He got sick and died not long after that.
RIP RC!!
Bull
I have an RC Model Story for you:
RC had a fairly new Dodge 4x4 pick up that was his pride and joy. Well the dam squirrels ate all the wiring up and cost him over $1000. Now RC did not take this lightly . He tried trapping but RC had an arsenal of fine guns, I know because I visited him at his home in Lawrence, Kansas. He lived in a typical older subdivision with lots of large oak trees (ideal squirrel habitat). RC's war on squirrels began for over a year, he worked on them with 2 air rifles, He scoped them and tested various types of pellets. He was perplexed that he could knock out of the tree and when he went to retrieve them they would runaway! Well he perfected his methods. He determined what type of pellet and what caliber worked best! If I recall correctly he shot about 250 squirrels over a little over a year. He had to be sneaky and not let the neighbors know what he was up to!! I asked what he did with them and he said he froze them in Walmart bags and thru them in garbage on garbage day.
He got sick and died not long after that.
RIP RC!!
Bull
Last edited:
tark
Member
Uh, no.....that would be mice. Chewed up a wiring harness on my Focus RS. $580 .
I have seen where squirrels have chewed up wiring harnesses too.
OP
OP
GunnyUSMC
Member
I had squirrels chew a hole in the fascia board at the corner of my house to get into my attic. This was after I has blocked all ways to get into my attic from outside. Squirrels are just down right evil.
My mother has been feeding the squirrels at her house and they are starting to get out of hand. But to tell you the truth, she loves to cook squirrels and I think it’s her plan to get me to come over and kill her a bunch of squirrels to cook. I love my mom.
My mother has been feeding the squirrels at her house and they are starting to get out of hand. But to tell you the truth, she loves to cook squirrels and I think it’s her plan to get me to come over and kill her a bunch of squirrels to cook. I love my mom.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
Bull Nutria
Member
Well Gunny A good son would oblige his mother. perhaps one of them air rifles or a 22 quiet would work on that squirrel dinner!!!
Bull
Bull
stillquietvoice
Contributing Member
That's why I use air rifles too. I need to get one that produces more velocity than my current one.
Archie
Member
I like to think I would. Good work!
entropy
Member
Gunny, your knowledge of guns and related items is only exceeded by your generosity. You are indeed a gentleman and a scholar. (but you'll still always be a crayon eater!)
OP
OP
GunnyUSMC
Member
The red ones taste the best.Gunny, your knowledge of guns and related items is only exceeded by your generosity. You are indeed a gentleman and a scholar. (but you'll still always be a crayon eater!)
FROGO207
Member
Hope you are talking crayons, not tree rats. Good on you Gunny on paying it forward yet again.
Tommygunn
Member
Squirrels..... 
My first year at college was at the University of South Florida in Tampa. It was an open campus with walkways, and a few outdoor courtyards near cantinas where you could grab a bite and eat out in the open. Campus officials periodically asked students not to feed squirrels, and not to get too familiar as they were, of course, wild animals.
But college kids are worldly-wise and know everything
( ) so of course they did the opposite. Sitting outside next to a low wall, say, eating potato chips talking, say you were holding up a chip in anticipation. But all of a sudden, it's ripped from between your fingers. Then you turn and see the furry bandit on that wall happily chewing up your potato chip.
Evil tree rat!
One day I was walking along returning to my dorm. One of these grey fuzzy-tailed demons scampered over to me. I paused, startled a squirrel would do that .... most I'd known ran away. The evil little clown jumped onto my leg and climbed halfway up!!!! Unsure of how a startled squirrel would react to being shooed away .... and wondering if the wee beastie had any hidden superpowers .... I hesitated to do anything. Finally the tiny twit lept off and ran away.
So .... no superpowers. I was safe.
Those 1970s USF students were entirely too friendly with the squirrel population....
My first year at college was at the University of South Florida in Tampa. It was an open campus with walkways, and a few outdoor courtyards near cantinas where you could grab a bite and eat out in the open. Campus officials periodically asked students not to feed squirrels, and not to get too familiar as they were, of course, wild animals.
But college kids are worldly-wise and know everything
( ) so of course they did the opposite. Sitting outside next to a low wall, say, eating potato chips talking, say you were holding up a chip in anticipation. But all of a sudden, it's ripped from between your fingers. Then you turn and see the furry bandit on that wall happily chewing up your potato chip.Evil tree rat!
One day I was walking along returning to my dorm. One of these grey fuzzy-tailed demons scampered over to me. I paused, startled a squirrel would do that .... most I'd known ran away. The evil little clown jumped onto my leg and climbed halfway up!!!! Unsure of how a startled squirrel would react to being shooed away .... and wondering if the wee beastie had any hidden superpowers .... I hesitated to do anything. Finally the tiny twit lept off and ran away.
So .... no superpowers. I was safe.
Those 1970s USF students were entirely too friendly with the squirrel population....
Last edited:
Captcurt
Member
One of my close friends has a son that loves to hunt but dad only had one 22 and his older son usually had it. Josh was probably 14 at the time. I traded for a stainless 10/22 that had a wooden stock that looked as if it had been dragged behind a truck. The metal was in pretty good shape though. Doubt that I had $20 in the gun. I was lucky enough to find a synthetic stock at a gun show and grabbed it for $25. Put it on the barreled action and gave it to Josh. He is 35 years old now and still has it.
OP
OP
GunnyUSMC
Member
I bet you put a smile on his face when you gave him the gun. And knowing that you made a young man happy, put one on yours.
Captcurt
Member
We spent a lot of days together in the woods when he was a pup.. He has moved now but I still hunt with his dad.
SwampWolf
Member
I learned the "hard way" that some of the friends/relatives you have are not especially sentimental when it comes to receiving a gun as a gift with no strings attached. Many years ago, I once gave one of my closest relatives a Ruger Blackhawk revolver for no special reason other than I loved him. I was a little dismayed when I later learned that he had sold it. I guess I'm different in this respect. When someone gives me a gift, especially something like a firearm, that I know they spent some time knowing what I like, I would never sell it-unless my kids needed something like new shoes. The recipient of my Ruger was well-shod.
OP
OP
GunnyUSMC
Member
Some people are like that. They just don’t put a value, other then dollars, on something given to them.I learned the "hard way" that some of the friends/relatives you have are not especially sentimental when it comes to receiving a gun as a gift with no strings attached. Many years ago, I once gave one of my closest relatives a Ruger Blackhawk revolver for no special reason other than I loved him. I was a little dismayed when I later learned that he had sold it. I guess I'm different in this respect. When someone gives me a gift, especially something like a firearm, that I know they spent some time knowing what I like, I would never sell it-unless my kids needed something like new shoes. The recipient of my Ruger was well-shod.
When I give a gun to someone, I pretty much know that it’s a gift that that person will appreciate more then just the dollar value.
- Status
