Today I enjoyed the outdoors. I chose to carry......

Been way too long since I posted to this thread. I mentioned elsewhere that I'm re-evaling my daily CCW choice. I have a wide variety of options on hand and really haven't given some of them an honest work out to see what the plusses and minuses are.

Since I was heading to my mother's for the 4th of July for a week of R&R I decided to dig deep into the safe and pull out one of those long-forgotten acquisitions I made some years back. Mom has black bear somewhat routinely coming onto her property to raid the fruit trees and since I was tenting in the front yard I chose the Dan Wesson Heritage with Crimson Trace grips. Friend of mine was the original owner. He put one box of Hornady through it and decided to go another way. He ended up with an EMP in .40 S&W and I ended up with the DW Heritage, high quality leather shoulder and belt holsters, 6 mags total and some ammo for $1200. I was happy with that deal.

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What it was loaded with during the trip:

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Each day I would drive about 3 miles from her place, let the girls out and walk 3-4 + miles on some very secluded trails the state kept somewhat cleared for cross country skiing. I've been going to this same spot for years and have never met another person there.

In the foreground is a 'purebred' blue heeler corgi crossbreed. Very popular in parts of Idaho with folks that have livestock. Ahead of her is an AKC registered Pembroke Corgi (the smaller of the two Corgi breeds). Most folks don't know that Corgi's are actually working dogs meant to heard cattle and sheep and make great backcountry/woods trail companions.

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The DW carried well on the right hip in the Blackhawk Italian made leather holster and there's a definite difference in weight between it and the .327FM SP101 I normally have on. The DW would also require more effort to conceal appropriately. I will probably have to look at a Commander sized option. Might head to the range tomorrow and possibly get reacquainted with the DW's recoil and general shooting characteristics.
It's hard to beat a good ol .45 for sd.
 
After twelve days of adulting in Wisconsin we made it back to the Smokies for ten days.
I made a change to my carry choice while in WI.
My LCPII and Taurus 415 were switched out for my S&W 442 loaded with 158 grain XTP.

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We made several nice hikes and enjoyed driving the scenic roads.
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I got a kick out of the rattlesnake looking into the window of the Walker sisters cabin.
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After twelve days of adulting in Wisconsin we made it back to the Smokies for ten days.
I made a change to my carry choice while in WI.
My LCPII and Taurus 415 were switched out for my S&W 442 loaded with 158 grain XTP.

View attachment 1089142

We made several nice hikes and enjoyed driving the scenic roads.
View attachment 1089143 View attachment 1089144 View attachment 1089145 View attachment 1089146 View attachment 1089147 View attachment 1089148View attachment 1089149

I got a kick out of the rattlesnake looking into the window of the Walker sisters cabin.
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Awesome photos. I really need to get back to the smokies. Will have to be next year since this year's trip is already booked. Thanks for posting the photos to remind me that scenic mountain beauty is not just in the Rockies
 
Went out for a walk on the tracks today, brought my lil portable .22lr popper target and a couple .22lr's. Have been meaning to get a proper 10/22 sling for some time but rope works in a pinch :D.

Loaded up about 100rds and had a lil quality time by myself.......

GLOCK 44 & Ruger 10/22 stainless.

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After twelve days of adulting in Wisconsin we made it back to the Smokies for ten days.
I made a change to my carry choice while in WI.
My LCPII and Taurus 415 were switched out for my S&W 442 loaded with 158 grain XTP.

View attachment 1089142

We made several nice hikes and enjoyed driving the scenic roads.
View attachment 1089143 View attachment 1089144 View attachment 1089145 View attachment 1089146 View attachment 1089147 View attachment 1089148View attachment 1089149

I got a kick out of the rattlesnake looking into the window of the Walker sisters cabin.
View attachment 1089150
I recognize Cades Cove. We were there one day ahead of you. We just missed you guys.
 
@EMC45 & @Armored farmer we seldom make a trip to the Smokies and don't go to Cades Cove. We were there on 6/30 & 7/5.
20220701_091150.jpg We try get there early (not as early as Armored farmer) to avoid the bear jams. We hike to Abrams Falls most of our trips. I have seen bears on the trail, but the biggest thing I find is people that under prepare for the trail by not taking enough water.

If anyone has hike recommendations please let me know. I will be back to the Smokies on 7/31.
 
Went squirrel hunting yesterday...... For Red Squirrels, AKA Fox Squirrels, which NY State classifies as unprotected and may be hunted at any time with no limit. Been seeing a few here and there recently so when I went out to swap SD cards on some trail cams the bull barreled Ruger Mark I .22 came along just like the Ruger Single Six did during regular squirrel season. Didn't see any back in the woods yesterday but they are there. Was a beautiful summer afternoon for a woods walk anyway... IMG_4674.JPG .. Stopped at the small shooting range on the way out and ventilated some paper targets even though I wanted to ventilate a red squirrel. IMG_4682.JPG . Regular (gray) squirrel season starts in Sept. so I may as well start practicing now. Good summertime fun.
 
Went squirrel hunting yesterday...... For Red Squirrels, AKA Fox Squirrels, which NY State classifies as unprotected and may be hunted at any time with no limit. Been seeing a few here and there recently so when I went out to swap SD cards on some trail cams the bull barreled Ruger Mark I .22 came along just like the Ruger Single Six did during regular squirrel season. Didn't see any back in the woods yesterday but they are there. Was a beautiful summer afternoon for a woods walk anyway...View attachment 1089593.. Stopped at the small shooting range on the way out and ventilated some paper targets even though I wanted to ventilate a red squirrel.View attachment 1089594. Regular (gray) squirrel season starts in Sept. so I may as well start practicing now. Good summertime fun.
Nice MK1
 
....... Thanks. It got traded in at the LGS and I grabbed it shortly thereafter back in late April. Still getting used to it but so far I'm liking it. Always liked those Ruger Mark series pistols, have shot a few but never owned one until this year. Serial number places it as 1971 production and it's beautiful except for some bluing wear around the muzzle. LGS owner told me the previous owner carried it in a holster as his trapline gun when he ran traplines and that accounts for the wear around the muzzle. So, the previous owner carried it around outdoors a lot also.
 
Yesterday I got up fairly early for a weekend, and drove to (Wet'n')Wild Basin in RMNP.

Given my current lack of fitness, and weight gain, I wasn't sure what I'd be up for. But long story short, I hiked about 12.5 miles round trip with maybe 2,500 feet elevation gain. I'm paying for it today but I had a great time!

I of course took the bear necessities.
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G20 with 15x 190gr mono solids. And water, energy bars, extra clothing, IFAK, etc etc..

The creek was fat. Lots of rain and snow melt.
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A quick look back down at the basin floor.
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I didn't know it at the time, but my destination was to be a point above the treeline between those three peaks in the distance.
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The first lake just ahead here wasn't good enough for me, so after a short sit I kept going.
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Still snow in July.
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This lake will do nicely. Also, there's no more trail.
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I took a 30 minute nap, woke up, and found it was time to go.
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Those clouds blew over. But they were replaced by others that covered the whole basin. It rained fairly continuously for the last 4 miles. Fortunately for me, I bring a poncho for such situations. :D
 
I atv'd back to my blind for the first time since I parked it in the woods on 5/30.
I wanted to start hauling the necessary items like Mt old primitive camp box that I made to hold my cookware and table ware. 20220718_184636.jpg 20220718_184655.jpg 20220718_184711.jpg 20220718_193259.jpg
I cut my little cart full of firewood for the fire ring, and also brought a load back to the house.
20220718_185744.jpg my sr9c sitting on the bar height table next to my well-used coffee pot.
 

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I atv'd back to my blind for the first time since I parked it in the woods on 5/30.
I wanted to start hauling the necessary items like Mt old primitive camp box that I made to hold my cookware and table ware. View attachment 1090716View attachment 1090717 View attachment 1090720 View attachment 1090721
I cut my little cart full of firewood for the fire ring, and also brought a load back to the house.
View attachment 1090718 my sr9c sitting on the bar height table next to my well-used coffee pot.
Awesome looking setup. Would be easy to spend a few days hunting out of this blind.
 
@Armored farmer I can see many hours of enjoyment from the cabin/stand.

Moved into my accommodations for the week late last night.
I think it must be a sign ....
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I really want to buy a S&W 69 for my next purchase. Maybe a 1911:cool:
My 442 would like a new partner on the nightstand.
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View from my back door this week from North Myrtle Beach.
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Truth of the matter, I think the view from Farmers porch would be nicer especially for October and November .:thumbup:
 
Can't say I enjoy the outdoors this time of year. We've had more than 50 days so far this year over 100F and we still have August and September and October yet to come.

But I still chose to carry a FM Model M95-Classic Argentine HiPower clone in my Alien Gear Cloak Series IWB under a guayabera.
 
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