No joy!

Well...it was just too cold to go out to the range today...and I really wanted to. It was about -2 out there this morning with a wind-chill of -8. By the time the temp got high enough there wasn't enough time to enjoy it. I will get out there, but it probably won't be until after pheasant season, which end January 15. Illinois DNR closes the trap range Wednesday through Sunday during pheasant season at state parks, at least the ones near me.

However, today I learned from Bass Pro that I'm part of their top 10% of all Bass Pro retail customers. (Woot?) I do like to spend time their occasionally. It's on my way home and a great place to unwind after a long day and I have been know to drop a couple of bucks there now and again, but that's usually for a 20oz Diet Coke and a small bag of Uncle Buck's gummy something or others. I consider it the price of admission to their experience...and I think Uncle Buck's gummies are pretty darn good...except for the blue sharks. There's something funky about them.

So, now I'm a Bass Pro Preferred Rewards Member. Thanks...I think? I think I've complained plenty about them and I didn't think I spent all that much there. I mean...I haven't bought a boat, truck, ATV, fly fishing equipment, designer luggage set, furniture set, furniture or rather high-end firearm from the gun "library" from them. I'm a little confused by this because I haven't bought enough of anything I think would qualify me for this "honor". A bottle of Diet Coke and a bag of gummies? Well...I did buy my Benelli Nova there and some $12 shirts (at Bass Pro I'm a large; I think there's a country song somewhere in there) and a bunch of $4 t-shirts for my son to wear to work at Walmart, but hardly anything I thought would qualify me for the "Congratulations, you're a member!" letter I got today. I'm sure there are others far more worthy.

I think I've picked on Bass Pro enough for today and will give them a plug. I do really like their 100% Real Hunting show on Versus channel. I have a problem with reenactments, re-staging scenes, situations, whatever.  I like authenticity. Thank you to Bass Pro and Versus Country for that.

Hearing protection

I'm considering getting new hearing protection, specifically muffs. I have two pairs of muffs, but only one is "made" for shooting. That's the pair I bought from Cabela's, their low-profile house brand by Silencio. I have issues with them, so I'm looking at something new.

As you may have figured out, I'm mainly a shotgunner at this time. I bought the Cabela muffs because:

• Low-profile
• Multipurpose (shotgun and pistol indoor/outdoor)
• Folding (good for storage)
• Inexpensive: $14.99 is good for shootin' ugli
• Good NRR (21db)

Seems like good reasons for buying them, and they are. However, when using them they:

• Fall apart unfolding them
• Pinch my skin: Upon firing my shotgun they pinched my skin between the stock and the muff. I walked away with a good bruise by the end of that session.
• Fall apart while putting them on.
• and did I mention they fall apart while wearing them.

So...they fall apart and are laying in three pieces in the trunk on my car right now. I'm considering two different muffs at this point and I'll probably by them from Amazon.com because their prices are competitive, I have a $10 Amazon certificate and my experience with Amazon has been excellent. Here are the two I'm considering. Both have very good ratings:

• Howard Leight R-01526
• Peltor 97011 Shotgunner Hearing Protection

The Peltor is of course more basic than the Howard Leight, but both are value hearing protection for the features they have. They're also slimline for shotgunning, but should be appropriate for an indoor range too for when I'm shooting pistol. I'll let you know what I decide, but feedback from others is helpful too. I'd love to hear from folks about it.

Happy New Year!

Going to shoot some trap...alone...probably

The reality is that many in my immediate family aren't as interested in shooting as I am. My friends are widely disbursed, so we all have quite a distance to go if we want to get together and shoot. I want to keep getting better and I may have to do that alone. Enter my Christmas gift, the Trius 1-Step target thrower. My wife doesn't usually know what to get me because it tends to be things she knows nothing about. So bless her, she let's me pick it out.



The Trius 1-Step's MSRP is $119.95 directly from Lyman's website, but if you do a little research there's no need to pay that. Cabela's has it online for $99.00, but the best price is from Midsouth Shooters Supply for $77.52. If I recall correctly, there was a write-up on the owner of Midsouth Shooters Supply in a recent issue of American Rifleman magazine. You be the judge of where you want to shop and with whom. I purchased mine from a local shop, JR Shooting Sports, and paid more than I think I should, but I have it so I can use it right away. That's the compromise.

While was trying to locate one of these target throwers I have to admit that I was disappointed by Bass Pro for a few reasons:

• It wasn't in stock in the store near me, the nearest store that had it in stock was Huston (and they weren't going to give it up) or online.(Although, they have 64 on order.)They were asking $0.05 under MSRP. (Ouch!)
• Their price matching policy requires that you buy it someplace else first. That doesn't make sense to me at all. Wouldn't they rather I buy it from them even at the reduced price? Attention Bass Pro, please review your policy.
• I have to say though, the people on the front line did their best to help me. They wanted to, but couldn't.

It looks like a good thrower to use alone or if my daughters decide they'd like to go with me. It's easy to cock since there's no tension on the spring. Researching the thrower included a number of reviews and a video from YouTube of a guy using it by himself and it's not an ad. It's not an exciting video (and I can't tell if he's hitting anything), but demonstrates the trap well.

It's what I hope to be doing after Christmas, shootin' ugli, maybe even with some friends. I'll let you know how it goes and how well the trap performs. I'll be out there with my Trius 1-Step and my Benelli Nova.

Merry Christmas!