Two Easy Mods

3RRL · Oct 16, 2006

This weekend I decided to mount another rifle scabbard to the tractor. The "glove eating critters" ate the first one. I bought a pretty nice saddle type rifle scabbard from Sportsman's Guide, one that can hold a scoped rifle. I like to take a rifle along when working in the woods in case I need to kill something, so I really missed the scabbard. I put it on the left loader bracket where it is in easy reach and yet out of the way from branches and rocks or logs below.

Here is another picture that shows it (barely) on the left, but also the new Level-O-Gage I bought.

I mounted the Level-O-Gage on the inside lip of the canopy so it is really easy to see. One thing I'll have to do is straighten it out because the canopy is tilted forward slightly. The gage did NOT seem to function too good in this position. I found myself almost falling off the tractor before it would register about 5° tilt! Man, I better get it moved right away. I'm surprised though, since it is used in boating too and they are not always flat front to back?

Anyway, here's a close up.

johnk · Oct 16, 2006

It looks like an ole tube fed 22 in the scabboard. Nice job....

slaveToHorses · Oct 16, 2006

good location. I like the location of the extiguisher too. I was going to put one on my ROPS but I like your location better.

HomeBrew2 · Oct 16, 2006

Rob, I just have to ask. How in the heck do you keep such a nice rifle and scabbord, and the big foreign tractor so dust free!? From May to December in these parts, it's just a "dust bowl" waiting to happen. Ok, the business half of the rifle and scope are mostly covered but how do you keep dirt from caking on the butt and especially the action/trigger areas? You must be blessed ... the whole rig liiks so clean.
I wound up, many years ago, doing something different. The attached pic is of my Smith 44 with a plain ol' Eubanks holster with my mods. I threw together an action cover and mini-bandalier to keep most dust, wood chips, etc out of the holster while working ... usually a shirt tail covers the grip area. The mini-bandalier holds the selection of ammo that I find most useful ... handloaded snake load, handloaded (downloaded for easy off handed shooting) semiwadcutters, factory full power hollow points (have to set beer down for those).
Different strokes ... cheers!

3RRL · Oct 17, 2006

johnk,
Good eye. That an old Remington Nylon 66 I bought in 1960. I just replaced the barrel on it last week.

slaveToHorses,
Yes, I like that location too. It's easy to get to and out of the way of the operator and other stuff. I have another extinguisher just like that mounted on the other side too.

HomeBrew2,
Well, you are right. It gets covered with dust and oak leaves and branches all the time. I just have to clean it off every so often. I switch off carrying the .22 with either a shotgun or an M1 jungle carbine. I carry ammo in a pouch for all of them. The tractor looks clean because I wash it off before putting it away. (Now that I have water at camp). I also wipe it down for pictures so you guys don't think I'm a slob.

I like that Smith you carry. I have a Smith .357 I used to holster all the time. Now it's my camp gun kept in my tent and for night shooting in case of ??? It's next to my bedroll.

jmt1271 · Oct 17, 2006

3RRL, not to be nosey, but what is the deal with the camp? Work or residence? Looks neat. Nice to see another gun guy on here, although its probably pretty common with tractor guys. Sorry for the restrictive CA laws.

3RRL · Oct 18, 2006

jmt1271 said:
3RRL, not to be nosey, but what is the deal with the camp? Work or residence? Looks neat. Nice to see another gun guy on here, although its probably pretty common with tractor guys. Sorry for the restrictive CA laws.

jmt1271,
The camp is at my rural property. We are planning to retire their someday but for now, we drive up about twice a month and camp there. I have posted many threads about my camp and activities up there. If you are interested, do a search for threads started by me and many of them will have photos and stories.... or you can go to my website.
Thanks,

johnk · Oct 18, 2006

Seeing the stock of that gun reminded me of about 45 years ago when I had one. I think the glack synthetic stock also came with a SS BBL. Then they had the brown nylon stock with blued BBL only...

patrick_g · Oct 18, 2006

Is private ownership of firearms still legal out there on the left coast? I thought they did away with that to make the citizens safer. you know "for the children."

The .357 will git 'er done but I never liked the sound of the Blackhawk I had so I sold it to an admiring friend and got the Super Blackhawk. Now I favor my Colt 1911 national match at home and for fun but chose the baby Glock in .45 ACP for concealed carry due to its size.

For you left coasters: out here in America we are allowed to carry a concealed firearm so long as we aren't convicted fellons or wife beaters.

Pat

3RRL · Oct 18, 2006

Private gun ownership is alive and well out here. There are restrictions to owning "assault" rifles according to classification and other laws that are federal. Some restrictions have been lifted depending on the model. You have to apply for a permit to carry out here. In your residence in the city you have to keep the firearms stored or locked to make it child proof or you will be held liable in case of an accident. But in the rural areas, you'll see most everybody strapped when riding their pony or on an ATV or even in the truck when on their ranch. It's not so bad.

I imagine just about anywhere in the US if the law wanted to hassle you they could and pretty much get a way with it. They would just find an excuse or make up a reason? Some rural areas out here are much more considerate of that though, as they understand many ranchers carry all the time on their property.

Here's another picture. This is my wife when doing some staking around where the home will be.