Another Pawn Shop Hattie

[avator]

Stopped by the pawn shop the other day and ask my buddy Duke if he had anything new for me. He usually gives me first dibs on airgun stuff. He went in the back and brought out a Hatsan Striker 1000s. I had bought one of these from him before but I gave more than double for that one and it's promised to another member on a trade. This one didn't have a scope and all the stock screws were loose to the point where they were ready to fall out. Surely someone had been inside this gun and gave up on it so off to the pawn shop it went. At least that was my thinking. Long story short, Duke let me have it for $20 to be used as a parts gun. Well I got it home and tightened all the screws  and cocked the barrel... hmmmm.. that didn't feel to bad at all. I stuck a pellet in and took aim... BANG !! just like a new one. Well, waddayaknow? I have a new tinkerer. Last time I got something like this from old Duke it turned into the Firecat. If ya'll don't know about the Firecat do a search for it. Fun little project. Makes ya wonder what I'm gonna do with this one don't it? Yeah, makes me wonder too.

[avator]

Stopped by the supply cage at work and picked up a couple M3x10mm hex screws to tame that gosh aweful trigger. Longer one in the back to lighten it and drill/tap one in the front to shorten it. The FireCat has a 6" barrel. Might have to go a bit longer with this one. Meantime I'll be thinking up a cool theme for Brother Shadow's camo scheme. Maybe some dark ghosty snake thing. Oh yeah, I filled the stock with expanding foam. Stopped that bass drum from booming in my ear. Delrin top hat and Mike Mellick's heavy tar and shrink wrap trick to the spring guide ought to take all the buzz and twang out.

[19Sheridan57]

  Al that should smooth it out a lot !

[avator]

We shall see..
Bounced out of work at 4:15 am. Home by 4:20. Ten minutes to convince Rambo the Rescue Dog that I would be sleeping on that side of the bed so he and Betty Lou should get to know each other a little better. He complied and Betty Lou in turn decided that she would only enjoy the rest of her sleep in the other bedroom. Rambo and I soon fell fast asleep. Just short of 4 hours later with my first installment of the day's sleep in the books, here we are. The smell of coffee signals me that all is well in Betty Lou land and I have a good shot at breakfast and clean under garments for work tonight. I take it she slept well. Rambo and I did. They say an owner an his dog get more and more alike as time passes. I think this may be correct as we both woke up scratching ourselves in the same area. Just behind the ear,, now you stop that.
I have to admit, after 2 smokes, half a cup of coffee and a BP pill this recliner is beginning to feel pretty permanent. I will attempt to drag myself away from it and the Barret/Jackson auto auction shortly and delve into the "Mad Hatter" project. Oh darn, the cat is out of the bag ain't it? Can't wait to see what kind of camo job Brother Ed comes up with behind that moniker...

[avator]

A few pictures because we know the unwritten rules... no pics.. it didn't happen.

[avator]

I did some work on a couple old Sheridans for another GTA brother the other day. For some odd reason my ProChrono Digital wouldn't register not one shot. I figured it was a battery problem. I had picked up a battery adapter that converts it from 1 9v to 6 AA. I hadn't put new batteries since I installed it and I just figured they were low. Not True... Today it decides to work flawlessly.... Sorry bout that 19Sheridan57.

[avator]

I can't imagine anyone tinkering/modding/tuning without a chrony. Granted I was shooting this gun with open sights but I honestly couldn't tell the velocities were this spread out. Looks like the Mad Hatter needs an enema. It's all good, I was going in anyhow.
Think I'll have some breakfast first..I hate gutting a gun on an empty stomach..... BETTY LOU !!!!

[avator]

Let's set some kinda goal...
I'd have to look back but, I think we got somewhere in the neighborhood of 9 fpe out of the FireCat with a 6" barrel.
Should be no problem getting 700 fps and 10+ fpe out of The Mad Hatter with a 10" barrel. The FireCat is relatively easy to cock with that huge handle hanging off the end of it. This break fit farther down on the barrel. Certainly not going to give the leverage as the Cat. Hence the additional 4" on the barrel.... among other reasons such as more power.
One might ask... Why? Why would you chop up a potentially functional air rifle? To which I would simply answer.... cuz I can. Some of us are always looking for that gun strap on and run through the woods without hanging up on branches, pumping 5 - 8 times between shots, dealing with temp sensitive C02 or trudging back to the truck to fill it back up with HPA. Some of us just do well to stumble through the woods and try not to get snake bit, poison ivy or die of age induced exhaustion only to have your rotting remains enjoyed by the very critters that bought us to the woods in the first place. Some of us just have an imagination and too much time on our hands.. I happen to fit somewhere in the middle.

[avator]

Funny how homemade French pizza bread with bacon, pepperoni and ham loaded with motz, green peppers and onions for breakfast reduces one's level of energy as opposed to invigorating the urge to press on with a project. I had a good buddy back in Ohio. Anytime someone accused him of dragging his feet he retorted his "go to" response... "These things take time". I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I borrowed it.
Where does the time go? It's already time for the second installment of the day's sleep.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I need to read this tonight...

[avator]

Yeah, things written during induced anxiety are better understood in the same frame of mind.
Anyhow, on the way back to bed I slipped outside to retrieve the gun. Pure addiction forced me to toss a few more pellets down range. Ain't no way that thing is shooting that inconsistently. I think first thing tomorrow morning, right after brunchfastner, I'll put some new batteries in the chrony.

[Old Corps]

Will be enjoying following your project! Ever think of writing for a living Bill? Good stuff my friend!

Ed

[avator]

I grew up with monthly issues of Field and Stream and Outdoor Life. I can't remember which one but, one of them had a short story in the back pages every month written by Patrick F. McManus. Mr. McManus grew up in the Sand Point, Idaho area and his stories were based on his childhood adventures. I would stand by the window and wait for the mailman to deliver that magazine just like we wait for Big Brown to deliver our air guns now. And pity on any family member who tried to get it before I got to read my story. Mr. McManus has a way of telling a story that puts you right there. You can close your eyes and experience exactly what he did... or says he did. His humor is so dry and his writings are some of the easiest reads I've ever read. When I was in my 30's I fell head over heals for a elementary school teacher from Wa. Her family was LDS and had a huge ranch in Horse Heaven Hills near Yakima. I lived in Seattle. Every weekend I would drive over the Chinook Pass to spend it with her. One evening she asked if I had every read anything from Patrick F. McManus. She had about 4 of his books that were, not only collections of the stories I grew up with but, a half lifetime of new ones. We would sit and read those stories to each other and to ourselves. We would laugh so hard that our bodies just shook and no sound came out. I think when it was all said and done I had amassed no less than 12 of his books. Turns out, it was the only thing her and I had in common. So, when I write I am so influenced by Mr. McManus. I could only hope I could bring the tears of laughter to readers like he did for me. If you haven't... you must read some of his stories.... you will not be able to stop.

[Old Corps]

I'll have to check out Mr. McManus! Good luck with your newest Hattie project.

Ed

[avator]

Along with a cold snap and trying to adjust to the night shift thing, I've been held up on the project a bit. LOL.. temps in the low 60's is a cold snap.... sorry northerners.. Weatherman says the weekend shows promise for temps in the '70s. I enjoy tinkering at the shooting bench on the deck as opposed to closed up in the shop. I'll run down to the shop to use the mini lathe, drill press, grinder or spring compressor but I have a full set of tinkerer tools at the shooting bench.
Like I said earlier..... These Things Take Time.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Along with a cold snap .. temps in the low 60's is a cold snap.... sorry northerners..

Pffft... I'd be lookin at shooting CO2 outdoors!

Single digit winds here tonight.... and I got a gun to shoot! 

[avator]

Well, It's Friday. Hopefully I can get away with an 8 hour shift tonight instead of the normal 11+. I had complained about the boat anchor of a computer in the press office that I've been struggling to create my scheduling on. I have a new one on my desk in the front office. Last night I was surprised when I walked in to find a new one on the desk in the press office. That makes the night a little less frustrating. I have 1 press out of the 12 that will be scheduled to run tomorrow. It's my intention to pop in and make sure I have adequate people to man it and bounce out of there. Hopefully no more than 1 hour if that. Barring further distractions such as another air gun grabbing me as I walk past it, I should be back on the Mad Hatter.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Just what kind of "Press"
Injection molding?
Compression?
Stamping?
I know we spoke of this in the past but I have experience Maintaining all 3.. at least Managing the Guys who do.
You do have a Maint guy in there also... right?
A broke down line on OT makes for a bad Monday Morning.
 

[avator]

Stamping
Transfer Presses:
1 - 1700 ton
2 - 2300 ton
Tandem Presses:
2 - 1500 ton
1 - 1000 ton
Coil fed Blanking presses:
2-200 ton
1-400 ton
Auto Presses
1-150 ton
1-200 ton
1-250 ton
Complete Tool and Die dept. operating 2 shifts staffed by Korean and American
Complete Maintainance dept. operating 2 shifts staffed by Korean and American
Class A B and C tier 1... Structural and Skin.

[Hoosier Daddy]

You sir... are ON IT!

Automotive sux.... been there , done that!
You ever hear of The Budd Co. ?