Old timer here

[JerryKnox]

Hello!

New member here from Missouri.

I was given a Crosman airgun back in the mid 50's as was my brother when we were teenagers. It was marked either Montgomery Wards or J. C. Penny's, I just don't remember which. Anyway, I have not seen the pellet guns since then and don't know what happened to them. My mother gave away all my stuff, usually to the Salvation Army, so I assume that is where they went along the way. It was a big pellet (I assume that it was a .22 cal.) and used a small CO2 cylinder. I checked the Crosman web site and found the manual for a 180 that looks like I remember it and was from the same time period, but not sure that it was the rifle. Never did any hunting, just shooting a cardboard box with a target taped to it. Lost interest just doing that (we lived in the San Franciso bay area).

Move ahead 50 years and I'm now living in the Ozark mountains. I had a terrible squirrel problem about 7 years ago, they just destroyed 4 or 5 feeders. I remembered the old pellet gun! Went to Wal-Mart and purchased the cheapest pellet gun they had. It is a 66 Powermaster, but Crosman. I glanced over the instruction sheet and put the scope on it. I fired a few BB's and then put a pellet in it and sat on the front porch just waiting for the devils to appear. One showed up and the dog moved. The squirrel ran up a tree and then came back down and just "hung" there upside down giving me a profile look. I slowly raised the gun and thought about where to aim. Since I had not sighted in the gun and just wanted to send a pellet whizzing past it figuring that if that happened a few times he would get the idea that he would be better off in the forest and would not return. I decided that aiming at the head would be the best place to aim for and send a pellet zipping past his head, I did not want to kill it, just drive it off. Squeezed off the trigger and wham, struck him in the head and down he went. I was in as much shock as he was, well not quite, as he died. That setup as accurate as could be right out of the box. Walked over to the little sucker and watch his last few twitches as he passed on to the great oak tree in the sky.

Oh, when I opened the tin of wad cutters that was in the box, I was so surprised that the pellets were so small. I know my hands had grown since my teenage years, but the pellet had shrunk. That was my first look at a .177 pellet. I almost took the gun back to Wal-Mart as it was a toy and get a "real" airgun. After the squirrel died I knew it was not a toy.

Now that I have been retired for two years I have been contemplating doing some hunting for a little food. I have a 22 cal rifle and pistol, but they are quite noisy! I have been contemplating getting a .22 pellet rifle. Not sure what to get. I don't want to spend A lot of money for one. I can use the 22's, shotgun or 222 rifle if need be, along with my Browning 9mm Luger semiautomatic pistol. Living out in the country does have it's benefits when it comes to shooting. I have no close neighbors and there is a lot of hunting that goes on around here.

Anyway, it is nice to meet you all and look forward to learning a lot on this forum.

Best regards,
Jerry

[amb5500c]

Welcome to the GTA Jerry.
Richard

[grizzlyadams]

welcome. this place is great. full of helpful information

[dk1677]

Welcome to the GTA Jerry! Great story! Any hunts you do post 'em in the hunting gate , we would love to read about them

[lizzie]

Jerry- so glad to have you here. Welcome to GTA!

[Crosshairs]

Welcome Jerry glad you found us and glad your here. 
                                    Mike

[jonnnyboy]

Hey Jerry, welcome to the GTA from another member just across the big river from you.  The Ozarks is a great place to have and shoot airguns with lots of open space and even more animals to hunt.  My Grandfather had a farm in the Ozarks years ago and I remember visiting him as a child.  I loved the whole experience except the ticks which seemed to find their way into uncharted areas of my adolescent body.  That wasnt the bad part; it was when my mom and Grandmom made me strip so they could search for the little blood-sucking critters.  Even as a child, I was rather modest about some things!!!!!!  Eewwwwwwww!

Anyway, make yourself at home and join in all the discussions.  Let me warn you though, you need to put aside part of your retirement funds for new airguns.  This forum is an enabler of the worst addiction; airgunning.

joe

[redone1992]

Welcome to the GTA

[JerryKnox]

Thanks for the warm welcome to the "club" guys.

I have been out stomping the back 40 looking for a squirrel to dispatch or even a crow or two. I have not seen a squirrel in a long time and the crows soar out of range in no time at all.

I forgot to mention in the previous post that the squirrel I sent to oak tree heaven was shot at 30 yards. Okay, I stepped it off and could be off a foot or two one way or another.

Joe, the ticks and chiggers are still here, you did not take them with you. If my wife even looks outside she gets chigger bit, I've never seen anything like it. I guess that is the reason bug spray was invented. If a mosquito is withing a mile it will find me and not so good me dry. People love to have me around as the 'skeeter don't bother them.

Not to worry about addictions. I have a money watcher that knows every penny I spend and what I spend it on. She even questions when I get a bag of chips to munch on. NOW if she wants something money is no object. LOL!!

Having to lug an oxygen tank around does limit my outdoor activities. I don't really know how long I will be out stalking anything, but I will as long as I can!

Jerry

[Smackey54]

Welcome Jerry! Nice story! Hope you enjoy this place...I know I do! I have learned alot in the last few months! The people on here are knowledgable, funny, and very helpful. Keep plugging and plinkin'! and...keep us up on your expeditions!
Mark

[crayfish]

Welcome to the GTA Jerry! Great story!

[Muppit]

welcome friend