It was time to retire any notions of revitalizing my 1941 .303 British which was the first and only  high powered rifle I have ever owned. Purchased when I was 15 for around $120 cash it served it's purpose. It was time to modern up and get jiggy with it. I looked and looked and then I fell in love.

The Savage Model 99 was once listed in Field and Stream as one of the best rifles ever made and here one rests in my humble hands, it be a beautiful thing. Interesting enough it has it's roots in the 1800's and the 99 is for 1899. This lever-action baby is chambered for .308's and while quite hesitant at first to employ a lever-action as I prefer bolt action in freezing temperatures, this baby has become my good friend as it slowly earned my trust.

Yes, I do sleep with my rifle.... Part of the reason I'm still single, you can only have one love.

While I suppose many will disagree with this sentiment, a .308 is pretty much an all round buddy to have around. From coyotes to moose she'll do the job and when using the right shell, it is possible to reach out and touch something at over 800 yards. Up close, I feel no fear when a bear is near.

Having grown up north I was never a long-range hunter and preferred heavier and sometimes clunkier weapons. The lever action on the Savage accommodates mittens but on the downside she only has only a five shot clip but then again, if you haven't killed what you want in 1-2 shots then you are a loser.

Right now, sighted in the way she is, I'm pulling 1" spreads at 300 yards and I was just leaning over the hood of my gas-guzzling SUV while it was idling. I'm gonna play at 500 yards and will update this post with the results. I'm using 180 grain Winchester's.

I'm looking forward to putting her through the paces this coming fall and winter as I'm planning on giving her a little heat... heh heh

I would put this rifle up against anything anyone else has. Faith, it be a good thing.

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Further: Thing of Beauty

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Welcome Small Dead Animals readers

While it seems that the rest of the country is sweating their asses off I've been freezing mine. The hard frost on the old windshield this morning confirmed some thoughts that had been building up over the past few days.

Mostly I've noticed the animals getting very restless, deer everywhere out on a feeding frenzy. Could be just that hunting season is just around the corner (here in Alberta archery opens tomorrow) or it could mean that we are in for one very short summer.

No matter though, deer are much easier to drag when you have a nice layer of snow easing down on the friction...

Gotta look good for those coyotes...

I rolled my 12 mpg gas guzzling 4-wheel drive SUV across all three spaces and dusted off my NRA sticker case some eco-fag-cop was to wander by with their little pen to make me an issue. I have me a little mean-streak problem today...