Activity for feetwet‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Edit	Post #40205	Initial revision	—	over 4 years ago
Question	—	Why do snowshoes have a hole in the front deck? I just tried on some modern snowshoes for the first time in some fresh powder and I'm confused by why there's a big hole in the decking in front of where the toe of the boot sits: With my boots strapped as far forward as they can go there's still a sizable gap, and every step pushes snow up throug... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is 5R barrel rifling more accurate than 4 or 6 groove rifling? tl;dr: No. Any theoretical advantage of one rifling profile over another is lost in execution. Since this is a question of practice, not theory, I appeal here to the experience of authorities in this space. Bartlein Barrels, which for years has been on the forefront of barrel research and manufact... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why would one type of 22lr ammo be louder than another? I've worked extensively with the Aguila subsonic .22LR loads. Out of a full-length (i.e., 18") barrel the 40gr runs about 1035fps while the 60gr barely breaks 900fps. So both are soundly subsonic. The 60gr is an unusual load in which the bullet is crimped in a .22 Short case. It's easy to recogni... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Question	—	Rigs for carrying axes and machetes When I go trail-clearing I generally carry two machetes and a felling ax, but I haven't found a practical way to sling them so I can work with one without taking off the other tools. The machetes have cordura sheathes with loops, and the ax has a leather bit sheath with a loop. I have this feeling ... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Question	—	Have mainstream knife steels improved in the last generation? I have a lot of knives that are 20-30 years old, and I've never spent more than $100 on any knife. Have there been appreciable advances in the steels or treatments applied to mainstream knives over this period? I.e., are there knives available today under $100 that would perform noticeably better t... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do shotgun shells containing mixed shot sizes have any applications in hunting? "Buck and ball" loads are commonly available. They're often marketed for self defense, but where legal for hunting they have the same benefits on game, namely: The "ball" (or slug) has more reach for aimed shots on further targets, but if you happen to get a closer-in target you have the "insurance"... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Question	—	Correct way to wield a machete? I regularly use a machete to clear brush. I must be using the wrong technique for the tool ... or the wrong tool given my technique. In order to maximize the speed of the blade, I rotate my wrist forward before it strikes wood. This causes the pommel to dig into the lunar pad (bottom face opposite... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Question	—	How can one assess the fit of a shotgun? How can I determine whether a shotgun fits (or can be easily adapted to fit) me without having the chance to test fire it? (And without spending thousands of dollars for customization?) Whether for shooting clays or birds we know that "fit" of a shotgun to a shooter can be critical to the shooter's... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it safe to fire 38 caliber rounds in a 357 magnum pistol? Absolutely safe. The .357 Magnum cartridge was literally designed as a high-pressure .38 Special: Max pressure on a .38 Special is 17kpsi (with the +P specification allowing for 18.5kpsi). Max pressure on a .357 Magnum is basically double: 35kpsi. In order to prevent people from putting the high... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the difference between a rifle and a shotgun? In the U.S. there are legal definitions provided by code (18 USC 921) and regulation (27 CFR 478.11), which are somewhat derived from the customary definitions. A shotgun is designed to shoot shot (i.e., multiple ball projectiles) through a smooth bore. Yes, you can buy rifled shotguns designed to ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What material are the shells I just purchased made of? Put a strong magnet on top of a shell and turn it upside down. If the magnet sticks then you know it contains steel shot. If it doesn't, then you could have either lead or "non-toxic" shot. If you paid less than $10 for the box, and/or the box doesn't make a big deal of stating that it's non-toxic... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Paper bin waste suitable to stop an arrow? Yes. There are two common approaches to this: Press moistened paper into the target container, which can be a box of any sort. The paper should be wet enough and pressed hard enough that at least a little bit of water is squeezed out upon pressing. You don't have to wait for it to dry to shoot i... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Question	—	What sort of accuracy should I expect at 100 yards from slugs fired from a smoothbore shotgun? A lot of deer hunters put a rifled barrels on their shotgun and shoot sabot slugs. I know that without rifling a sabot slug has no stability. But there are two common types of slugs designed for smooth bores: Brenneke (a.k.a. European) slugs are cast with spiral grooves that supposedly impart som... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How often do I need to clean my rimfires? In school I shot competitive rimfire with valuable Anschutz .22LR rifles. Our team didn't clean our rifles until the end of the season, even though we fired thousands of rounds through them during practice and competition. The problem with cleaning is that it takes barrels some number of "fouling" ... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	What happens when compound bow limbs fail? While rare, I assume that compound bows with metal limbs do occasionally suffer limb failures. Is that correct, and if so What is the effect of a cocked metal bow limb fracturing? I'm trying to picture the dissipation of stresses and one scenario I envision is the fractured limb getting whipped aro... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	How often do I need to clean my rimfires? When is it necessary to clean a rimfire firearm? Only after exposure to excessive moisture? Only when it begins to malfunction (for autoloaders)? With some frequency of shooting, or time, or before extended storage? Update: Since I'm lazy, I want to know what the minimum reasonable cleaning frequ... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	Which animals taste different by sex? I know of Boar taint which describes an unpleasant taste in the meat of non-castrated pigs. Which left me wondering more broadly: Are there other animals whose meat (from an animal of the same age on the same diet) tastes different depending on whether it came from a male or a female of the species?... (more)	—	over 9 years ago