Immediately appears you have found the right man for the job!

My reaction to your load order is to eliminate the second round of #2 adding another slug- if the first load of shot doesn't dissuade a bruin, it's gonna get ugly, and slug placement under duress is gonna be iffy as the time distance factor decreases. :-\

Our local flavour is the black bear. Typically non confrontational. Hence the two #2's.
As well we have a large wolf population which is a secondary reason for two pellet loads.
I'm not opposed to more kill loads, but conservation officials may see it as too aggressive if I did a different loadout.
If I was further north and the great white bears were predominant I likely would have opted for the higher capacity 870 and tricked it up.

I do the bear friendly defence load.
1 cracker/banger whatever you wish to call it. Fires about 100 yards and explodes.
2 #2, 3" magnum. Not a killer, but a stinger.
2 1-1/4 slugs.

The theory is try the cracker to scare them away. If that doesn't work, it gets progressively harder on the target/threat.

Yes, well done Ken. That extended/oversize mag release is huge!
Also is the new bolt release a big improvement?
I think those guys do an upgrade for the trigger as well.

Only a few million more to go and cmax will all be transferred!

Nice looking rig there Ash. Are you planning to go all out with it like you did the dmax?

I'm not sure exactly when the change occurred but I know the LBZ you can, and maybe the LLY.
But you do bring a good point up to make sure it can be done.
I know I could have just done the one that was out however I expect I would have been back in there if I had. Part of me expects to be in the drivers side yet this winter. Would have done it if I had more time but for now it's golden.

Looks like fun to me.

Bobby, all of our exercises are a lot of fun.
Anyone with an ounce of outdoors loves being on ex with us, as a group there is so much come out every time. Always see something new.

The BWST course is as fun after the fact as it was trying during it.

The signal fire construction. I had to group a few different signals to find the various stages.



The start, the tripod and tinder base.



Finished up, lots of green makes lots of smoke.

And a couple shots of the root ball shelter.

First step is to clear all of the limbs out of the way.



Then start adding in the 'rafters' which will become and support the roof.



You add in boughs layer upon layer, upside down from the way they grow, which helps shed water. Keep adding layers until you cannot see daylight through from inside.



On the left, you can see odds and ends of kindling and tinder. These are from all and any cutting and clearing done in the immediate area. The more you can squirrel away without using any energy, the better in the long run.

So I've managed to locate some pictures from an exercise where we were the students.
This took place a few years ago, end of May/early June.
We were lucky that the frost was still in at about 2 feet below the water level.
This can be unpassable terrain at times, as the grass can be floating, and the holes seemingly bottomless.







We then had to traverse this small river, which meant building this bridge.
A bit of a chore, but just another thing we do. We pride ourselves in being able to get to point 'X' wherever it is.

From one night in the past month, just before we froze up.
Last one is the 'boss' and our three hounds.

Are the rails like the T-track that is used with woodworking supplies?

http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?p=61646&cat=3,43576,61995,61646

I hope this link works. Having some thoughts, as my truck is always carrying 'stuff'.

It is an adventure every time I do anything.
Lots of PB Blaster, compressed air, washing etc, then decide if I'm brave enough to dare it.
I still have my lift pump on the shelf in the garage, as I'm afraid of the fuel lines. :-\

Had overheating issues a couple years ago, and pulled and cleaned the stack.
Then I had the brilliant idea to do the trans cooler also.

Air freight a new one to me, as I cracked the fragile end cap.
I have aftermarket  replacement hydraulic lines, so I jumpered the cooler lines together with some AN fittings until the new one came in.
You can drive a bit, and even tow a boat 10 miles, but the whole time I watched the trans temp.
I think just driving you might be OK for a while, I was just happy to get the new cooler before I needed to find out.

So with all four snugged up, I grabbed the head of the ratchet again and tightened the new plugs in.
Torque spec is 13 lb ft,  and mine are in the 15 lb ft range as thats as low as my wrench went.

I then applied an electrical connection compound to the stud on each glow plug.


You can make out the copper colour of the compound if you look closely.
Then it's time to clean up the connectors with some scotch bright and replace on the glow plugs.
Remembering how delicate these are tighten them to 18 lb in, or barely tight.

Make sure everything is back where it belongs, no loose wires etc, all your tools out, and replace the fender liner.
It would be a good time to change a fuel filter if its due, before closing it up.

Replace all the plugs and two bolts that secure it, and then re-attach wiring harness points inside.
Reconnect the batteries, then we're almost done.
I cleared the codes, set the clock and called it a job done.

This morning, the glow plugs cycled like normal, and when there was no check engine light or glow plug code, I knew it was a job well done.

You can tell there is no pavement up there!

Yeah, all muck and rock. Nasty crushed rock to be exact, black shale in a 3/4" down fashion (read: Arrowheads)

I've just accepted that the layer of natural undercoating 'must help' ::)

Let the PB Blaster soak for a while, then very carefully check if you can loosen the power lead from the tip of the glow plug.


With one hand holding the wire and connector, and the other gingerly loosening the nut see if it breaks free, or breaks off.
Try to not break them off if you can avoid it, as the new glow plugs do not come with nuts >:(

So the first step is to disconnect both of your batteries.
This way you will not be doing any unwanted welding if the ignition is somehow turned on.
Then jack up passenger side in this case, and remove front tire.
Properly support the front end while the wheel is off, the jack by itself is not properly supported.

I'd stay with it until you know the gears won't work for you, which I think has been determined that they 'should'. At some point the reality is they don't, that may be the time to do an all out oil change. So I think I'm voting stay with it until needs say otherwise.
Now, if you're thinking locker at this time, then thought must go into building it up only once.

Mmm. Good ole Wisconsin cheese!
The oatmeal packs look like they should be a great addition to the kit bag.

Looks good Bobby.  :)

Thinking of all who have and do serve on this day of remembrance.

Thank you all and God bless. We are truly grateful for your sacrifices.
I'm getting ready to go be in the service here at home.

Lest we forget.

Hope you get the trans stuff all figured out quickly. I really want to see this thing get installed into the truck behind that sexy powerplant and do what it is made for. It is not a big paperwieght, and I have faith you will get it sorted.
However, you did your homework, talked to the suppliers, covered the bases, and should not be in this pickle.

On a side note, this delay may help with the view to the Jap maple, as I'm sure you have several other tangents you can cover while awaiting a soultion.

Yea, I'll get it sorted. Have been reading and studying the transmission design. I can vary the clutch thicknesses, but here we go again...with me having to cipher stuff out instead of relying on industry "Experts."

I grow tired of getting a line that leads to a sale. Why can't we all just be truthful. Say something like, "I believe this will fit with 50% certainty. If not, then it will be on you to purchase new this's or that's, or just send the trans to us for the 6K build with the warranty.

As for the jap maple...The little Ranger and I are going to string Christmas lights on it in about an hour...get a shot of that as we get that all built out!

I TOO AM VERY MOTIVATED to get that honkin diesel back where it belongs. I want to get back onto projects of a more custom, off-road, and military manner.

Well, one way or another you'll get the target. Even if I just end up sending you the scan file of it.
My making it down would require a lot of the stars to allign just right, but just maybe it will work out.

I think I was probably right around the corner a couple summers ago, spent a week in the Columbus area.

Welcome aboard!

Well it's trying to turn winter up here now. We had our first dusting of snow at the start of the month to the tune of around 10" or so. It hung around a few days and left. As of the last couple days it looks like winter is coming. Had some freezing rain and snow mix light dusting on the ground now. Sitting around freezing for highs and nearing -10c/15f for lows. Still running boat to cabin I think this will be the end of the season this weekend. Water temp nearing 35 or so and ice will be on its way.

I really need to get a copy of the book, no excuses now, just haven't bought a copy. I have thoroughly loved all of the bits you've given and really need to pick up a copy.

The avatar is a copy of one of our sniper targets supposed to have brown white and black. Shot that in a work up to CAFSAC our national shooting concentration. And yes now that you mention it he is cold looking.

Essentially every time I'm out once winter really sets in is a survival exercise. My hope is to either find some old pictures (had some computer issues) or remember to take some new ones to do some winter survival stuff in the real man knowledge base. The 30 & 40 below stuff gets easy, (read you can dress for it). The worst cold I've ever felt was at 4c/38f moose hunting. It rained, snowed, rained some more and I was overdressed then once sweated up a bit very underdressed. Never been so cold in my life. So I know of the involuntary shaking shivering need for warm.