Predator Wild: Predator Wild Portal

Last week out of 38 rounds fired from a box of Hornady Varmint Express 17 grain V-Max 17 HMR ammo I experienced 4 hang fires. These were the first I've ever experienced. I'd say they were at or less than a second from pulling the trigger until they actually fired.

It's old school, but it works!

You may have read this thread a while back…

They're Going to Recover My Uncle's Plane

Well, I just got back for Otay Lake a couple hours ago. The plane has been recovered by A&T Recovery and will be taken to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Florida to be restored and put on display. Here’s a good article on the operation…

Helldiver Recovered from Bottom of Otay Lake

We went down Tuesday and, due to a pump malfunction, we were disappointed when it couldn’t be recovered that day. We were told to come back on Thursday and when we got there we discovered that the canopies and a life raft had been recovered on Wednesday. It was expected that the plane would be up some time Wednesday but an injury to one of the divers slowed things down. (I understand it was a minor injury and he’s okay). We stayed overnight in Chula Vista and went back this morning for the finale. It still took until almost 3 PM to get the plane out of the water.

Anyway, being a family member of one of the crew involved in the ditching, I was given “press-pass” access and got a lot of good pictures. Here’s a few for your enjoyment…


Canopies recovered on Wednesday sitting on the dock.


Label from the life raft recovered from the plane on Wednesday, note the date 1943.


Lifting bags break the surface. The plane is suspended underwater below them.


Plane being towed towards shore. It is suspended underwater below the lifting bags.


Plane breaks the water’s surface. First direct sunlight in 65 years.


2 Navy FA-18’s do a flyover just as the plane breaks the surface. I don’t know if this was planned but it was a very appropriate salute to an old warrior.


Coming up. The plane is slowly raised, making a few stops as it comes out of the water to give water time to drain out.


Wings dry for the first time in 65 years.


Airborne for the first time in 65 years.


Touchdown on dry land!


Here’s the engine. Looks like it was almost torn off in the ditching. They had to secure it with a come-a-long to lift the plane from the water.


The tail – cloth control surfaces almost all rotted away.


Here’s a side view over the top of the port wing.


Another side view from under the starboard wing.

It was a great experience and I was glad I could be there. It was also very frustrating and boring (sorry – but it was) because of all the delays. Most of what we did was sit around and wait. Still, I wouldn’t have missed it. The plane is in pretty rough condition after being involved in a ditching and then sitting on the bottom for 65 years. As I mentioned above the engine was nearly torn off and, as you can see the prop is all bent from the impact. The canopies, the body and wings (except for the control surfaces) are actually in pretty good shape considering. Most of the control surfaces (rudder, tail flaps etc.) are rotted away as they were made of fabric to save weight and to make it easier for the pilot to move them (no “fly-by-wire” back then). Next step, I am told is the removal of the wings and likely the engine (since its almost off anyway) putting it on a lowboy trailer and shipping it to Florida for restoration. When it is done I’d like to go see it but I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do that but we’ll see. They’re talking about 2 years, give or take, to restore it. It will not fly again. It will be a static display in the museum.

THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THE IVH RIFLE RAFFLE!

We have had a phone call from Bill, he told us that he talked to Krieger today, they told him that there would be a 20 week wait for a barrel. And the stock would have a wait also, SO! Bill has a BRAND NEW RIFLE, just test fired, that he is going to give us, instead of building the one he was going to give us.

Right now all I know about the rifle is:

The rifle was set up as a Bench Rest rifle,
Krieger Fluted Barrel, chambered in 6mm-284
Remington 700 action,
Remington Trigger (worked),
McMillian Stock.
The chamber neck is standard, to allow reloads to not have to be tight or short necked.

I will get specs and pictures as soon as I can and will post them for you!

Event Title: Dove season opens in Missouri
Event Author: smallblockfuelie
Calendar: Community Calendar
Event Date: 1 September 2010 (Single Day Event)

Dove season opens in Missouri!

View Event

So now we can tell you the details for you to purchase raffle tickets.

Tickets are $5.00 per ticket or 5 tickets for $20.00
1000 tickets to be sold!
Drawing will be Saturday Nov. 13, 2010 at the Northwest National Coyote Calling Championships during the Banquet
Need not be present to win! We will contact you. Please when ordering your tickets, add all your contact information.

Rifle will be based on a Remington 700 short action, action squared & trued to bolt face, Kreiger Barrel, custom stock, trigger worked or replaced, custom chamber in barrel.

Rifle work done by Master Riflesmith William Carrell of Carrell's Machine -
208-939-9446 - 5140 N. Sawyer Ave. Ste I. Boise, ID. 83714.

To purchase your chances to WIN! Please send a check or money order to:

IVH Rifle Raffle
P.O. Box 1087
Emmett, ID. 83617