For those who subscribe, the November 2019 digital-issue is available now on www.riflesandrecipes.com.

Also, our new printed-paper edition, RIFLE LOONY NEWS: THE SECOND FIVE YEARS will be here by December 1st. For those who want to pre-order, there's now a tab on the website. (You can also order a 2-volume set, including THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, for a discount, as long as they're mailed in the same box.)

As always, the prices listed include media-mail shipping, and you can also order by phone: 406-521-0273.

link needs an 'r' in place of the 'e'...

Thanks!

Eileen's story is great! That one will be a classic.

John, great column on electronic gadgetry. Your comments on long range hunting and it’s shortcomings are great. That dovetails nicely with what I saw from some long range nimrods in Idaho. The ethics discussion needs to turn into action.

Very well done.

Thanks, guys--and Eileen's glad her lead story was appreciated!

Just finished reading the "The Electronic Hunter". And yes, I can remember cotton long underwear, my cotton/synthetic blaze orange coat my mom sewed a couple extra pockets in so I wouldn't smush my sandwich, Monkey Wards boots slathered with Sno-Seal, and cotton gloves. We didn't carry flashlights or binos either--we "glassed" game with our scope. I can still remember the first time I ever saw a hunter with a daypack--quite the curiosity.

These days, I pick up my daypack (which seems to be unnecessarily heavy) and wonder about all the crap I'm carrying........

Enjoyed everything, as usual, but the piece on Fullfield II scopes was timely. I only have one, but we got one for my brother and another for a friend. Based on this limited sample, I've been recommending them to others who ask about a new scope and have heard nothing but positive reviews. Good to know my advice is corroborated.

Just finished the electronics article. Nice to know that my brother and I aren't the only flip phone users.

I liked the electronic Hunter article as well. Went through my day pack over the weekend to see what I could take out and realized I had 4 knives, 3 sets of pliers and a bunch of other random stuff that I can’t remember ever using

John,
I especially liked “The Electronic Hunter” on the Back Burner page. It brings back old memories and hits the nail on the head about how it was when I started hunting big game and how we roll today. Thanks to both of you for the articles.

A few years ago I suddenly realized my primary hunting daypack was getting heavier--and not just because I was getting older.

Part of the reason was I get sent or given a lot of stuff to "field test," and tended to just toss items in the pack. Dumped everything out, and duscovered I had four headlamps, several knives, etc. Put the stuff I liked best back, and discovered it had lost about a third of its weight!

John,

It was so refreshing for me to read this issue. Both Eileen and you prefer rifles to bows, as do I. I appreciate Eileen’s writing and humor. Your comments on the Burris, your perspective on electronics/simplifying, and your attitude about the ranges you do, and more importantly don’t hunt, really resonates with me. I have one Fullfield II and you’ve convinced me to grab at least one more by taking advantage of upcoming sales. It’s absolutely a “good enough” optic.

I also quite enjoyed the article on the 375. Thanks.

Thanks VERY much!

One of the reasons we both enjoy writing for RLN is we can write about whatever we want--though we do discuss our subjects with each other beforehand. Many of of my articles are ideas that have been rejected by magazine editors, for whatever reason.

Going to subscribe to the Rifle Loony News in a moment. Been putting it off, but just retired and have the time to enjoy it. Also going to order the two books, be nice reading this winter!

Thanks!

Just got word from the printer that the new RLN book is scheduled to be shipped next Monday.

I got a laugh out of the fact that you are still using a flip phone. How 2010.

You may get even more of a laugh now: I had to replace my flip-phone before the end of 2019, because 3G is disappearing on Jan. 1.

So I did, going back to the Walmart, where I bought my Tracfone flipper for $14.95 in 2010. They had a new model 4G version (which even includes a camera, absent from the original) for $19.99. Just activated it yesterday--and apparently it can take some apps! Boy, I am I excited now!

Mule Deer...I read this and went into panic mode! I have no idea what this means other than that I have a flip phone that I have been using for around 12years without any issues. It does all I need from a phone...send calls, receive calls text messages and receive messages. I have no wish to buy one of those over priced phones that everyone I know has tend to fail after a very short period. Guess I'll have to go to Wally World and see if I can find one of the $19.99 ones like you just purchased. If any of the tech savvy fire members would care to try to educate me on what all this means I sure would appreciate it! Hate to lose my old friend!
rookie

rookieatbest,

As one of the techno-nerds I met while shopping for a new phone put it, "In January your old phone essentially becomes a paperweight." I might add that it's not all that good for that purpose, either. Or at least mine isn't, since it's pretty light.

Sorry to put it that bluntly, but I feel your pain. Would have happily continued to use my 2010 model, but the march of technology prevented it.

The next question is how long 4G will exist....

Crap. Now I have to switch too.... I better get on it I guess.

Yeah, I wasn't very happy either. Was hoping my TracFone flipper would last the rest of my life.

Among other things, on semi-remote hunting trips I was sometimes able to call when other folks could not with far more expensive smartphones, because TracFone connects with several cell networks, not just one. Plus, the battery didn't need to be charged every damn day, in fact it often only needed once a week if I wasn't doing a lot of calling. However, the $19.99 replacement TracFone is an Alcatel, and so far it looks like the battery won't need constant recharging either.

Among other things, on semi-remote hunting trips I was sometimes able to call when other folks could not with far more expensive smartphones, because TracFone connects with several cell networks, not just one. Plus, the battery didn't need to be charged every damn day, in fact it often only needed once a week if I wasn't doing a lot of calling. However, the $19.99 replacement TracFone is an Alcatel, and so far it looks like the battery won't need constant recharging either. [/quote]


That was my battery experience as well...usually only needed to recharge once a week when most of the guys with the newest and best-est had to charge theirs daily.
I prefer the "KISS" (keep it simple stupid) method to most things and have been dragged kicking and screaming into the techno world we now live in...even though I realize it is inevitable.
Oh well, off to Wally's!
rookie

So,figure a week or so after that you will start shipping out to your customers?

They usually show up here about three days after they're shipped from the printer in Minnesota, so if everything works as usual we'll be mailing them to customers by Thursday.

However, we have also occasionally had delays--such as the books being shipped a day or so after the estimated date, or a snowstorm between Minnesota and Montana.

I'll post here about what's happening.

Gee, I carry even less than I did 30 years ago. I don't take a phone, I don't like cell phones much, I do have a flip phone, Verizon and I can make a phone call anywhere on my property- I just leave the thing in the car. What I do carry is a Compass, a means to start a fire, some rope and small tarp( works really well for dragging a deer out) some plastic bags, for the liver and heat, knife ( buck110) and a Havalon Piranta, Rifle one full load of ammo( bolt gun 5 rounds) plus 10 in my ammo pouch. 7 x 42 Bino's, Some food. that it. I hunt light and by myself. Yeah, I carried more when I lived in Alaska but I am nowhere near as young either. Some things like a range finder have its uses, Not so much for deer hunting, I do in CT with a rifle, maybe with a Bow, so far I have not had the need for one. All I care about is being warm and dry and having enough eats to keep off the low blood sugar, I am a diabetic now. other than that. The less complicated and lest stuff the better.

Thanks MD,I'll be waiting for the announcement.

JB just read your article on the Burris FFII scopes in the RLN. I bought an E1 3-9 Plex several months ago then found out the "new" power ring was so large that medium DD rings were required to clear the bolt on my Rem 700. You seem to have some of both. Is the FFII enough smaller at the power ring to allow a lower mount? Do you see an improvement in the E1 over the older FFII in brightness, clarity or anything else? I'm seeing some good prices on the FFII with Ballistic Plex right now but want to buy the best model. Also, I'm not wild about the Ballistic Plex in the E1. Does not seem to go edge to edge. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks.

Yes, the power-ring on the E1 is large. The standard FFII does not have a power-ring; instead the entire eyepiece turns, so they can be mounted in lower rings.

Right now I only have one E1, which is on my .17 Hornet, used mostly for ground squirrel and prairie dog shooting, where dialing is more precise than using a ballistic reticle. I have never been able to see any difference in optical quality between the E1 and the standard models, but some people claim they can.

I am not crazy about the E1 BP reticle, much preferring the standard model.

That info makes my decision easy. Thanks.

One more question....in your brightness testing, how does the FFII at 6x compare to a Leupold FXII 6x36 or even an M8 6x36. Those two scopes are my best in low light but barely better than the Weaver K6x38. Wondering if the FFII is in the same ballpark.

They've rated right in the same range as 6x36 Leupolds, whether M8 or FXII, definitely above average but not super-bright. That said, I haven't had any trouble killing deer even in the latest legal light with 'em.

Thanks again.