13 June 2004, 15:25
ironbender? for Chuck
Did not want to highjack the scabbard post.
Chuck- would you expand on your comment about making hunt rifles horse-friendly. I'm always looking for new ideas to use and would appreciate you giving some examples of what you mean. I've always been told there are no dumb questions so there you go!
Scope down? Do you find no "torque" effects on the scope or is that just how you prefer it?
My rifle is attached barrel-forward, scope up. Unfortunately, that puts it (Rt handed) on the right rump, but where we hunt, loaded the other way it catches brush and small trees ALL the time
Thanks for the info! BTW, beauty scabbard!
--Mike
Other thoughtful/helpful replies welcome as well
13 June 2004, 15:49
tasunkawitkoi'm not chuck, but i have a suggestion......
if i remember correctly, jack o'connor's book, THE ART OF HUNTING BIG GAME IN NORTH AMERICA, spens a lot of time discussing this subject. if you ahve a copy at hand, you might check it out....
13 June 2004, 17:30
Chuck NelsonMike, and others, thanks for the compliment on the scabbard. It was not my intention to draw much attention to it, I'm just handier with my camera than with my typing fingers.
It really isn't rocket science and there are a multitude of ways to skin this cat. A truly horse friendly rifle would be a 20" barreled iron sited lever action, but I want to hunt with the gun when I get off the horse so I compromise. A bolt action rifle with a barrel no longer than 24" (my younger brother uses a 7WBY with a 26" barrel and has no problems), a low mounted scope with no protruding gizmos, and a synthetic stock, an area these fiberglass wonders really shine, is about as complicated as it gets.
Now, where to hang the thing. This has brought alot of animation to the dinner table over the years and it probably won't change anytime soon. My dad is in his early fifty's and has used a scabbard an awful lot. He prefers the rifle to ride butt forward, scope down on the off side. This stems from hunting muskrat, beaver, and mink for pelts. with the rifle in this position, he could grab the gun with his right hand and roll it out of the scabbard before dismounting or he has the option to shoot right where he sits. This started with iron sited rifles and carried over to scope sited weapons and this method keeps both types of siting equipment from hanging up on the way out.
My brother carries his rifle scope down, butt to the rear on the on side. He likes the rifle riding horizontal to the world with the butt out of the way.
I want my rifle butt forward on the left side, cause I don't like unloading the scabbard while seated. I'm usually on some colt and hate entertaing the masses. I like it handy when I get off. I designed the scabbard to cradle the gun as best it can with the muzzle carrying the majority of the weight. I've sewn, see photo, an extra piece of leather to ride under the front strap to stiffen things a bit, but don't know that it does anything. It might (I believe it does), but it might not.
None of us have ever experience problems with our scopes. If "I" do, I'll change my approach.
Chuck
P.S. I'm hardly an expert on the subject!
14 June 2004, 11:21
ironbenderChuck-
Thanks for your thoughts. Sounds like we do things pretty similarly--but everything is a "situation".
Quote:
I'm hardly an expert on the subject
You may not think so but, time in the field is valuable, eh? I like to get as much info from as many people/places as resonably possible and then filter out what I don't like, what won't work for my situation, or what I think belongs in the wheel barrow!
I agree with your assessment of the "ideal" saddle rifle. Sometimes I think that up here (Alaska) the ideal saddle gun is a 12 ga. with 3" Brennekes presented by a 20" barrel. I just don't trust the the shotgun tube to not get boinked by a tree or get laid upon.
I hunt with a bolt action, won't lay the bolt handle into my mount and dislike the butt grabbing brush (or vicey-versy), so I'm obligated to hang it on the offside with the butt pointing back. I'd much rather be a lefty and retrieve the gun on the near side! Although you hang your scope down, it sounds like the scope is not bearing the weight as most scabbards in that position would?
As an aside, do you have a leather sewing machine or do you use a speedy stitcher? Some details on your leather construction would be appreciated as you well know, finding exactly what you want often is not possible.
Thanks,
--Mike
14 June 2004, 11:41
Chuck NelsonMike, I hire the sewing done. If you have everything done and glued togethor (contact cement) a $20 bill will more than cover the cost of a saddlemaker sewing it togethor. I finish with rivots and you're done. I have sewn many things by hand and with the right tools it looks better than what a machine will do, but it is extremely labor intensive.
Chuck
14 June 2004, 13:20
jaycocreekI really don't see what the problem is.I have rode many a mile with my gun on my back.Can't count on horses and what they will do in Cat country.I prefur to have my rifle with me instead of on the Crazy Horse spooked by what ever.It's there if I want it for any reason and some Horses are well,can't be trusted..
Just my 2-Cents.........Jayco.
14 June 2004, 13:46
Chuck NelsonYou're right, wherever you land, there your gun will be also.
Chuck