Project???

[wisconsinteacher]

I don't know if this is the right area to post this topic but I know this page gets the most views so I will start here. Here is the problem of life. STRESS!!! I have done some thinking and one way I like to get rid of it is by doing something constructive and related to the outdoors. My question for you wonderful enablers and spenders of other's money. What should I do for a project that would take some time, can be done in the house/basement, will not break the bank and can be done by a guy that is not the handiest?

Thoughts as of now:

Build a muzzleloader from a kit (already have a nice .50 so no real need for another one)
Buy an older Savage rifle and redo the stock and then put a new barrel on it and get it ready to shoot (I could pick from a pile of calibers to build as I progress)
Build musky lures (doesn't take a lot of time)
Build a dozen cedar arrows for my longbow

If you have any ideas let me know. I need to work on something to take my mind away from the world once and a while.

 

[truck driver]

Building a new rifle is always a good one that can be very relaxing and rewarding but most any thing you can do with your hands and produce something you can admire and say I did that usually is.
But the most relaxing thing I can think of is to get a camera and take pictures of wild life or mother nature in general you get to see it while taking the picture and can enjoy it later with memories that will help with relieving stress. And it gets you away from people.

 

[DrMike]

Any of the ideas you list are viable, without a doubt. I enjoy refinishing rifles or rebuilding. I've built quite a few rods and refurbished numerous reels in years past. For many years, I made my own lures, using them to good effect on steelhead and trout. Now, I do a fair amount of handloading, preparing test cartridges for fair weather moments during the winter months. I also offer courses in hand loading to new hand loaders. I will be offering such a course this coming month.

 

[Tjay]

My reloading room does it for me as I have thousands of 223 case to prep. I did paint and restock a Weatherby Vanguard. I have done the arrow thing but find I am more of a rifle guy so of your choices I would do the Savage redo with multiple barrels. I can also destress with a brisk 45 to 50 walk.

 

[Guy Miner]

Exercise. Handloading. Gun-tinkering. Fly fishing and all the related chores. Bird hunting. Working with the bird dog.

Then there's the NEVER ENDING list of maint items on and around this old house we call home...

That's what I do. It seems to help. Any of your projects sound good. I used to enjoy making cedar arrows! Been a long, long time...

Guy

 

[longrangehunter]

Make some furniture, build a few bird houses, fix something around the house maybe? Get out and take a walk everyday, that will help with the stress of life, and try not to worry about whatever you have no control of.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Great ideas guys. I like the photography one but the project is more for those dark winter nights when there is not much going on in WI. I can't sit and watch TV. I need to be doing something. I think a Savage with 2-3 barrels would be kind of fun. I am open to any ideas to get me through the winter. As far as the weekends, I ice fish a lot so I'm not worried about the day light hours.

 

[Dwh7271]

Well, I'm biased.
Do the Savage build.

 

[PJGunner]

When I get stressed out depending on the time of year I prep rifle brass or cast bullets Sometimes I settle down to a massive handgun loading session. Last one was something like 1,800 rounds of .38 Spl. target loads. I really have to get on doing a really massive run of 9MM and with only a two cavity mold that takes quite a while. Runs of cast rifle bullets usually quit at 500 rounds. I like to work with two four cavity molds, of which I have a couple sets.
On brass prep, it's trim, ream out the flash hole and uniform the primer pockets.
Reloading in the summer is difficult unless I get up very early in the morning. If it gets hot enough to use a fan or the A/C in my shed, all my scale, beam or digital are useless. I try to get experimental loads done in the winter and shoot them the rest of the year, weather permitting.I don't like wind and too many times I've gotten rained out this year.
Paul B.

 

[joelkdouglas]

Learn to play the fiddle. Seriously, a musical instrument is good for discipline. And you can learn on cold, dark nights.

 

[Darkhorse]

I'll strongly recommend building a muzzleloader. Not one of those kits that come in a box where you shake the box and a ML falls out. No, I'm talking about a rifle constructed of quality parts.
A number of vendors carry these parts sets, kits if you will. And not all are equal. I have built several of these and I average 100 hours to complete a rifle. But then I can be OCD about fit and finish.
Most of this work is done after supper and weekends for those that work. And this work will tax your brain and hands and push the bad thoughts to the back.
I recommend a flintlock. If you do it right you will end up with a family heirloom.
Then after the rifle is complete many more days will be spent learning the nuance's of shooting the flintlock and overcoming the flinch. Actually that part is pretty simple if you use my method.
Shooting a flinter will develop your concentration and follow through, which bleeds over to your centerfire rifle shooting. It works for me.

 

[tim629]

I would vote the rifle.

When my brother-in-law built my rifles he put a synthetic stock on one so my plan for the winter is to take the removed wood stock strip it and refinish it. Not sure what I will do then but it will be something to do on the days I don't have any work

 

[elkeater2]

I am making my own spreadsheets from scratch for tracking rifles, loads, brass, bullets, primers and powder. There are some available online, but they didn't do what I wanted. It takes time, but I feel like I've accomplished something whenever something is added.
Good luck in your serenity search!
EE2

 

[RaySendero]

wisconsinteacher,
HANDS DOWN - I enjoy rifle projects! Think you would too.

I had a 9,3x62 built on that Vz-24 action. Used a 24" 1:12 Shilen barrel that tapers from 1.2" to 0.85" 6" from receiver, then to 0.70" at muzzle. Weighs in at 8 3/4 Lbs with that 4X scope. Had the rear action hump milled smooth so a rear scope base could be added using 2 screws like the front base. Then reblued the entire barrel and action. Had the original straight bolt removed and a custom bent bolt added. Also, had the bolt jeweled.

I added a new Timney trigger with the Timney safety so the original safety could be removed. Topped it with a Bushnell 4x scope using Weaver's quad rings. I also did the stock work: Stripped it, steam pulled the dents, plugged the cleaning rod hole, reshaped the foreend, inleted the turned-down bolt, inleted safety, free-floated the barrel and glass bed the action. However, it shot better and felt more robust with a pressure point. So cut welded and refit the original top of the front sling swivel to the barrel contour and used electrical tape to build up a pressure point underneith it. Finished it with sanding, stain and 8 coats of satin polyurethane inside and out so its water proof.

Began my reload work-ups with 285 grain Prvi, then switched to 286 Nosler partitions. Got both going right at 2,400 fps at the muzzle. Sighted-in at 150 yards, its 1.5" high at 100 yards and 3.5" low at 200 yards. Never shot anything but paper with the Prvi, as they were only used to work up reloads at $0.20 per shot verses the $0.80 cost of the NPTs. I've also worked up reloads using the 300 grain Swift-As but have not shot any game with them yet cause I haven't found the beast that can stop the 286 NPT!

Quickly became my favorite all around rifle - It's knocked over every deer and hog I've shot - And they don't get up! That NPT goes straight through from any angle so far through taking out all hide, muscle and bone along the way. Blood shot meat isn't a problem, however I do have to check close and clean for bone chips. I've yet to find a bullet but exit holes are all about 1.5" round. Its the only 100% DRT rifle I've own or have ever owned!

 

[elkeater2]

Longbows and cedar arrow building - even though that is pure traditional, it is fun and can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. I made my own cedars and really enjoyed it. It is however, a basement project as it takes space, and some of the steps take drying time with all the arrows spread out. I ended up going the complex route:
- selecting premium shafts according to spine weight
- making a jig to measure spine myself
- making a jig to barrel taper the shafts using a disc sander
- another jig for doing the nock and point taper on the sander
- a cradle for turning the shafts for painting patterns and stripes, powered by cordless drill
- a holder for applying and cutting fletching tape
- dip tubes and bottles for paint, stain, and final finish
Those arrows fly great and hit hard! I shoot carbons now because they are so fast, but could switch back easily. One of the real advantages of cedar is this: because they fly slower and you are instinctive shooting, your 'mind's eye' and hand/eye coordination get together and you develop a real feel for what just looks and feels right at various random distances. Sort of like throwing a baseball!
EE2

 

[Laker_Taker]

I do all my fly tying and hand loading in the winter when I have down time. build up the stock and your good to go for the spring, summer, and fall activities. Even bought a Dillon press for the hand guns.

LT

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

WT - I feel like you are on the right track. I am the Manager of a Movie Theatre and the rotten guest service issues and irresponsible teenage employees have been the cause of many a lost hair for me.

Like you I retreat to the reloading bench or projects to relieve stress in my life. It IS effective.

Only you can make the ultimate decision regarding what YOU want to do but my vote would be for option 1 or option 2. I love both blackpowder rifles and refinishing gun stocks and have always had a knack for it so possibly I am biased.

You could try to get a .54 or a .45 caliber ML for this kit - you could try for a .36 caliber to use for "squirrels and such."

Savage rifles are very fun and easily adaptable to nearly any caliber.

Good luck and be sure to share with us whatever project you do engage in. This forum believe it or not is also a great source of stress relief and is a way for me to live (vicariously) through the projects and adventures of others when I am not able to do those things myself.

Thanks -

Dale

 

[nvbroncrider]

I think you should do them all it just takes a little time I have projects that on the 3 year mark so it's just a matter of time.

 

[Wyo7200]

I can relate- the first two years after I left the service I was bored. Dang near bored to death. It was a dark time for me. Wouldn't get any projects or challenges at work for sometimes months. Feeling like I accomplished something- anything- would make me feel better no matter how small it was. I took up wood working and building. I needed a challenge that could take my mind off the situation and something physical that would show the direct result of my work. It's grown into a passion- if I'm not thinking about shooting, I'm thinking about wood projects. What's cool about it, is there is always a joint or project that will test your ability and push you to try something new. As I go around my house, I have pieces that I made and I see a progression of skills. I'll post pics later.

If I could retire right now and set up a wood shop for veterans, I would do it in a heartbeat. WT, I understand it's your basement you're trying to do this in- depending on the size of access, make a cedar strip canoe!

 

[wildgene]

...I've built a few Black Powder kits, it ain't 'rocket surgery', doesn't take a lot of high end tools, mainly, just some rasps, files, sandpaper, & steel wool, a little concentration, & a little more patience. I like the Lyman kits, you could probably use a .54... :roll: :twisted: :mrgreen:

...or you could 'customize' a build thru Dixie Gunworks, Track of the Wolf, October Country, etc.etc.
Something very soothing about fitting & polishing wood & metal, the 'feel' of it, watching it progress into something that marries art, form, & function...