Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Birth of a deer camp

you have no idea buddy its an addiction
I started almost 2 years ago, and haven't killed a critter with a factory bullet since.
ammo is never a problem when you roll your own as well.

plus you can practice more, and practice is FUN!

it's possible i could get it out there before the weekend but it's more likely it will happen on saturday.

I'm not sure if it's a passionate hobby, or a clinical addiction but when I have free time it's often spent reloading. There's just something about it that clicks with me. Starting with simple components and building something that exceeds what you can buy, tailored exactly how you want it.

Just like the 6.5x55, the 7x57 has factory ammo that is loaded down to be safe in all the older, weak actioned guns. If you reload for your modern strong action rifle, you'll allow it to stretch it's legs and show you what it can really do.

Just a note: You'll likely never save any money reloading, but you'll get to shoot a whole lot more for the same amount of money and have better ammo to boot.

Sorry for the poor picture quality (phone pictures)

But here's the new skid frame for under our fish house.

It's upside down in these pictures. had to weld the underside. Imagine it flipped over, it will carry our 8'x16' fish house.



An underside corner view of the tow hoops I made, 1/2" sq cold rolled steel. Should be able to drop a log chain through there & jerk this thing free from the ice with a truck if need be.

Looks good Dave!

Although the fish house might not float as well when you get them on it.

I'll cap the ends of the ski toes so the whole thing is air tight, that might help some

Looks good Dave. heavy duty fo sho.

very heavy duty!

I might have to make something like that for mine. maybe build a trailer/ski combo

How you going to attach the house to it Dave? Bolts?

I'll set the house on it & drill through the house floor into the steel (pilot holes) then use self threading heavy scews to draw the hous floor tight to the steel.

that looks like a dandy dave!! looks like it could be a moveable reef out there come spring.

You been to the igloo bar yet?

not yet!! i am awaiting the opportunity to get out there. i am pretty sure i will just fish there one day. I wonder if they will clean my catch when i am in there!

Quite a set of runners you built, Dave.

I'm now the proud owner of a Tikka T3 in 6.5 X 55. Unfortunately the camera is dead so I can't post a picture.

wow, where did you find that??

congrats!

Found it in Black River Falls, WI Dave. Ace hardware store over there has one heck of a gun shop.

I love hardware stores for gun sales.

I capped the ski toe ends on the fish house barge, cleaned the steel & painted it tonight.

Tom, we've got a few 7X57's in the safe here...albeit no Ruger 77's. Both my sister and my wife run Remington 140 pointed core lokt factory loads in theirs. Its a nice milder load, chronoing about 2575 out of sis' 700 Mountain Rifle and the wife's #1. Very accurate in both and we've never recovered a bullet either. For a guy in the big woods its a good load. An Inch high at 100 gives - 1 3/4 at 200 and hardly no recoil. the Gander's here have them like 25% off right now. Lisa(wife) just picked up 3 boxes a couple days ago. I also load for mine if ya get there and need some help.

Our gander has 4 boxes left. I'm going to grab a few before they're gone. Core lockt 140's

She looks good enough to float now dave!