A fine day in the desert

With family and friends. Son Noah would be family of course, and my buddy Kenny and his neighbor, Mike. We all headed out for a day of shooting on the west side of the Great Salt Lake, in an area Kenny claims as his own private shooting grounds. So I can't tell you where it is!

Mostly it was a day of cordite aromatherapy through repeated burning processes. We did go out and kick some sage brush and shoot at some jackrabbits. Note, I said we shot at jackrabbits, only one was actually dispatched to bunny heaven.

After that it was a chance to try out the new SKS assault rifle which pleased me very much. The gun works perfectly, has negligible recoil and seems might accurate from the first shooting. The trigger is the worst I've ever used though, I will tell you that! Sure, it has that 2-stage military trigger that has some bit of free travel before engaging the mechanisms, but then it actually moves back more than 1/8" before releasing! You just have to keep squeezing and squeezing and just about the time you pull your head off the stock and wonder what's wrong, it goes bang! Other than that, the rifle is perfect. It is such a good condition specimen of this old rifle that I might keep it perfectly stock and get another one to tinker with. Or not.

Kenny gives me such a ribbing about not keeping things stock, which he claims is the best way to ensure proper functioning. But hey, everything can be improved with a little customization! The SKS will probably suffer the same fate! I do believe I'll keep it mighty functional, but really, do I need a bayonet for going to the range for target shooting?

So the SKS was a hit with everyone and the air rifle works dandy too. We all got some exercise and some time outdoors and we were loaded up and headed out before the rain started. So bonus points there!

I've got to go out now for a Kohler shower control knob since mine fell apart in my hand yesterday. I've also still got to get a haircut and there are guns to clean. And one more week's worth of homework to do!