So I've been playing around with a new bow lately.

I had sold my compound bow back over the summer, and I decided to go a little primitive, and got ahold of a Hickory longbow.

Seen here in this picture...


It draws about 55-60lbs at 28 inches, and is about 60 inches tip to tip. After you hit 26 inches, it get's to be a very stout draw.

Been practicing with it a bit here and there, working on some instinctive shooting skills. Not so good at that yet. Well who is starting out...

I liked the bow so much, that I have a much nicer longbow on the way. This one is a 40lb draw at 30 inches, and is 72 inches tip to tip. It's made of Hickory, and Walnut. I'll post a picture of it once it arrives.

I'm really liking this traditional archery bit, and the fact that it will make me improve my hunting skills.

Got my license upgrade...

Took the test on Saturday, and passed. I'm now a General Class Amateur Radio license holder.

One more step to go.

Now to put the skills to use.

My Fenix E01 has given up the ghost...

Well after carrying my E01 daily for almost a year it bit the dust last night.

Earlier this week it began having issues, I was still running on the original battery that came with the light, well that battery began leaking and actually pressurized the body of the light. I found this out when I twisted the head of the light off to change the battery because the light was flickering.

I tried to shake the battery out but it was swollen inside the body, I had to take a small pair of pliers to remove it.

This was what The damage looked like...

The battery from the side, and the light:


The battery from the bottom:


The inside of the light (not the best picture but best I could get):


So now my search begins for a new EDC light. For the price the E01 was a good little light, but with it failing miserably just short of a year I don't think I will go down that road again.

I'm really considering the new Maratac AAA light from County Comm. It's only a little bit more than the E01, and has a few different modes of light output, unlike the single mode of the E01.

Went to a knap-in this past weekend.

Watched some folks knapping, and picked up some of the needed tools.

This was my first attempt at a point. I don't think I did too bad.


I need to pick up a bopper or two, and a ishi stick, so I can really get into working the stone. Right now all I'm working with is a pressure flaker, leather pad, and a abrader stone.

Radio geekyness... and more

So the past weeks or so I've been tossing radio ideas back and forth with my buddy PJ, on various topics relating to the hobby.

Well I went on a bit of a shopping spree to help prepare for my license upgrade.

I've purchased:
Diamond Heavy Duty Antenna Mount
Sharksticks 6 Meter Vertical Mobile Antenna
Sharksticks 10 Meter Vertical Mobile Antenna

I've already got the antenna mount and coax ran in my Blazer, with the Sharksticks in the back ready to go on when I get the radio wired in.

Other items I've purchased and am currently waiting on:
Yaesu FT 100
ARRL's Low Profile Amateur Radio


ARRL's Emergency Communication Handbook


I can't wait to get the radio so I can play on the HF bands, well at least the areas I'm allowed to as a technician license holder.

The books I ordered are gonna be great reads, as they both relate to aspects of amateur radio that I'm interested in.

Speaking of buying things, I ended up selling my parents my Dodge pickup, and well some of the money went to buying a new vehicle, and part went to the new radio and associated gear.

Here are a couple pictures of said Blazer... It's in pretty good shape for a 97.

Pearce Grip Test

Ok so I've said before that the KelTec is too small for my hands as is. The cheapest solution I found were a set of Pearce Grip grip extensions that replace the floorplate on pistols magazines. I had purchased a pair of them to try out.

You can see the before and after photos in this post: Before and After photos.

In order to see if they made any difference in the shooting ability of this pistol, I headed down to Ohio Valley Outdoors in Lancaster, Ohio to put some rounds down range and see.

I loaded up two magazines with 5 rounds each for this test. I was shooting at about 7ft. which is basic self defense range.

Fresh target up:


First group 5 rounds fired without Pearce Grips:


Second group fired with Pearce Grip installed:


I will admit I need more time at the range with the pistol I'm not grouping it well at all, however I do feel the Pearce Grip does help the control of the pistol better. It didn't help that it was pretty hot in the range, and my shooting glasses were fogging up. But it just gives me an reason to practice more.

Now if only ammo was easier to find...

Range Day.

I finally made it to the range with my camera, and the KelTec P11 to test it with and without the Pearce Grips.

Post forthcoming.