Neanderpundit

A lot has been made of the Zumboner.

Zumbo is a fine sportsman. Unquestionably.

He stuck his foot in his mouth.

Who hasn’t done that? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

He has come over to the light. He has paid the consequences for his actions. Welcome home the prodigal son. Forgive- and remember.

bullshit, I want it NOW. Like Veruca Salt, I am the perfect vision of impatience.

So when I was at the Reno Gunbloggers Rendezvous, and won the gift certificate from Natchez Shooters Supplies, which I used to buy this fine riflescope. By the way, before I go any further, thans to the fine folks at Natchez, for their kindness in supporting the Gunblogger’s Rendezvous, for their patience wiht me, and for the fine products they represent. By all means, visit them soon online and see what they have to offer.

Now, occasional dipwad that I am, I placed the order for the scope over the phone. The person I spoke with wanted me to fax the gift certificate. I did, using Efax, but for some reason it never worked. Then, I sent the fax from a hotel, and I waited, but no scope. SO I called, and they had received the fax, but the powers that be decided they wanted the original- all of which was just fine, and fair, so I had NO DIFFICULTY with any of it- in case you haven’t noticed, it’s pretty cold, and while I would love to go to the range, even now, the snow and sleet and ice would just make it too much of a pain. So I mailed the form in, and a couple days later, here came the scope. And it’s a beaut. Here it is on the rifle

Now, I love this rifle, and I have for ages- I’ve shot thousands of rounds through it, and it’s been a tack driver all it’s life.

It’s a custom rifle my Harry McGowen. Harry is a guy who didn’t buy the conventional wisdom that an accurate barrel has to be heavy to have a good shot. So he makes button rifled barrels that are amazing. Drills them straight so they don’t require straightening. Cryoes them so they hit the same spot, all the time, every time. In other words, even the 9 power scope wasn’t strong enough to do this sucker justice. So the new scope, we’ll see. have I shot the barrel out for all but midrange shooting, or does this still have the long-range tack driving accuracy people expect from McGowen barrels? I can barely wait to find out.

this is the kind of shit that happens when you have a decent optometrist.

Yesterday the daughter and I head off to Molenaar Eyecare for our annual, and though they close at noon on saturday, we didn’t leave till two. I spent some time discussing my shooting with the Dr, and he spent some time showing me pictures of his trip to Three Corners on his Harley.

Anyway. I’ve been having some trouble with iron sight shooting with the contacts, and I had better luck with glasses, and I explained my troubles. Dr Wes swings the phoropter out of the way, grabs a handful of lenses from a trial lens set, and we walk outside.

He tries several lenses and combinations, until I have a right-eye lens that tones down the double vision, sharpens up the sight picture, and lets me see the rifle sights. Well, at the time I’m only guessing, becuase I don’t have the rifle with me. “Why didn’t you bring it?” “I didn’t think it was a good idea to show up at my doctor’s office with a rifle” “Nonsense. Next time, make sure you bring your rifle” In the meantime, he gives me the array of lenses above. 7.50’s for my left eye (two brands) a 7.00 for the left and 5.50 for the right (for computer work) and an array of lenses to test afield.
So yesterday afternoon I put in the 7.00 and one of the ‘test” lenses, a 6.50.

The sights snapped into focus, and a 750 yard distant object was in close enough focus to see clearly without double vision or blurriness, and I cannot wait to get my ass to the range. I’d be there now, in fact, were it not for the 39 degree temp and freezing rain.

Wait, 39? I can maybe do that. Maybe a range trip IS in order.