It's Big. It's Heavy. It's Wood.

[Mark E. Hurling]

How-in-the-Hell(!) do you get your feet to do that? I would tear out multiple tendons in my lower body trying to pull that off.

[tertius]

In a pair of combat boots, no less. It's not a comfortable position, trust me. I don't do it nearly enough for that.

Anyway, the important bit is the Wall of Stuff behind me. Not my feet.

Last few days have been spent clearing out the rest of our stuff from the house, cleaning, and moving into a house belonging to a faculty member and friend.

I am definitely stronger than the last time we moved. Everything was much easier. A lot of overhead lifting, shoving, and cramming. Getting my deadlift up to even the paltry level I have made it lot easier too.

It'd have been even easier if I was pressing two plates, and pulling four.

[tertius]

On an unrelated note, I am planning on acquiring a .22 rifle (and probably a pistol, at some point), to learn to shoot with. I am rather taken with the Marlins, both the 795 and the new XT-22 series bolt actions. Thinking about the XT-22TSR (tube mag, in stainless, synthetic stock), with a set of tech sights.

Thoughts? Mind you, this is ways off. I have borrowed money from family members to pay off and things like that before I can afford to buy anything like that. Unless I can find one in a pawn shop, or something. I gather that 10/22s are all over the place. But something about the simplicity and durability of a bolt action appeals to me.

Though an M1 Garand would be nice. Then again, so would a M1903 Springfield.

[Jonathon Sullivan]

Jelous. I have to sit zazen in seiza. Do not waste this gift, Grasshopper.

[tertius]

Jelous. I have to sit zazen in seiza. Do not waste this gift, Grasshopper.

I made a seiza bench for myself, actually. It's much more comfortable than full or half lotus, I find.

However, I very rarely sit. I am terrible at cultivating habits, good or bad.

[Oldster]

On an unrelated note, I am planning on acquiring a .22 rifle (and probably a pistol, at some point), to learn to shoot with. I am rather taken with the Marlins, both the 795 and the new XT-22 series bolt actions. Thinking about the XT-22TSR (tube mag, in stainless, synthetic stock), with a set of tech sights.

Thoughts? Mind you, this is ways off. I have borrowed money from family members to pay off and things like that before I can afford to buy anything like that. Unless I can find one in a pawn shop, or something. I gather that 10/22s are all over the place. But something about the simplicity and durability of a bolt action appeals to me.

Though an M1 Garand would be nice. Then again, so would a M1903 Springfield.

I thought I had already responded, but I guess my post was lost.

My son has one of the XT-22's in .22 mag. He really likes it, but he doesn't really shoot like I do, he is more of just a hunter. He's taken quite a lot of small game with it and has no complaints. I can't speak to the 795, I have no experience with it or even know anyone who does. The Marlin 39's are absolutely fabulous rifles if you want to spend the money and like leverguns, which I absolutely adore. I'm not a big fan of SS or synthetic, but that is merely my age speaking I believe. Younger folks find them to be spectacular especially at handling foul weather. I just love blued steel and beautiful wood.

M1's are unspeakably fantastic rifles, but you better have a deep bank account. The one I've been eyeballing runs at prices starting out at $1800.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Jelous. I have to sit zazen in seiza. Do not waste this gift, Grasshopper.

Heh, we've got enough geezers with knee issues like mine in the dojo that half the time we do a standing bow now. I can get into seiza but not all the way down with my ass resting on my hamstrings now since the knee flared up on me in January.

[tertius]

I thought I had already responded, but I guess my post was lost.

My son has one of the XT-22's in .22 mag. He really likes it, but he doesn't really shoot like I do, he is more of just a hunter. He's taken quite a lot of small game with it and has no complaints. I can't speak to the 795, I have no experience with it or even know anyone who does. The Marlin 39's are absolutely fabulous rifles if you want to spend the money and like leverguns, which I absolutely adore. I'm not a big fan of SS or synthetic, but that is merely my age speaking I believe. Younger folks find them to be spectacular especially at handling foul weather. I just love blued steel and beautiful wood.

M1's are unspeakably fantastic rifles, but you better have a deep bank account. The one I've been eyeballing runs at prices starting out at $1800.

That makes more sense. I wondered what was with the radio silence on this issue, which was right in some of y'alls wheelhouse. Good to hear your son likes the XT-22. I mostly intend to use it for target shooting, and maybe some small game from time to time.

As for lever actions, I think they are cool as hell. Course, that probably comes from growing up watching the Rifleman on TeeVee.
Lucas is the man. So the 39 does hold a lot of appeal, most certainly, but it's a rather more pricey for a first purchase. The CZ-455 Lux (or Mannlicher stock) is also a thing of beauty, but again, more than I'll probably want to spend on a first rifle. The extra money could go to club membership (UW has an indoor range, but it might only be for the ROTC), and boxes of decent quality ammunition. Then again, maybe one should go top end? I dunno. The XT series doesn't seem like a compromise, honestly, aside maybe for looks.

As for the M1, I'm willing to take a service grade rifle, I suspect, and some restoration work in the long term. So that puts one well under a grand. You looking at the sniper models in really good condition?

Heh, we've got enough geezers with knee issues like mine in the dojo that half the time we do a standing bow now. I can get into seiza but not all the way down with my ass resting on my hamstrings now since the knee flared up on me in January.

Hence why a bench is useful! I can sit in proper seiza for a fairly longtime, but my ankles start to complain after five or ten minutes, and I don't do it enough to build the flexibility for longer time periods.

[Jonathon Sullivan]

I use a tall zafu for sitting, when I sit, which is often but not nearly often enough.

When the Su Nim at the local monastery looked at my poor struggling legs and told me I should sit seiza, about 12 years ago, it was a revelation. And a relief. I've not even attempted a lotus variant since.

[Oldster]

Good to hear your son likes the XT-22. I mostly intend to use it for target shooting, and maybe some small game from time to time.

Then it really sounds like the rifle for you. In truth, Marlins are truly accurate and dependable to the nth degree. It is tough to beat them. They use a button rifled barrel, my least favorite, but are just out of this world accurate.

As for lever actions, I think they are cool as hell. Course, that probably comes from growing up watching the Rifleman on TeeVee.
Lucas is the man. So the 39 does hold a lot of appeal, most certainly, but it's a rather more pricey for a first purchase.

Can you truly call yourself an American though and not own a Levergun? heh! That is a joke amongst levergun owners. The drawback, especially for a beginner to using a levergun is that they are tubular fed. So if you load your magazine you have to cycle the action to unload it if you don't shoot them all, or else you have to removed the spring mechanism and slide them out, then unloading the chamber. Kind of a pain when you are learning. That is why I always suggest to a beginner that a removable magazine in a bolt action is the easiest and safest firearm to learn on.

The CZ-455 Lux (or Mannlicher stock) is also a thing of beauty, but again, more than I'll probably want to spend on a first rifle. The extra money could go to club membership (UW has an indoor range, but it might only be for the ROTC), and boxes of decent quality ammunition. Then again, maybe one should go top end? I dunno. The XT series doesn't seem like a compromise, honestly, aside maybe for looks.

I have a CZ452 that I really like. It is a rabbit killin' machine and I have it sighted in for 75 yards, which reaches most of the garden without much bullet drop from the kitchen window. I think I bought mine used for about $200 and had hardly been used.

As for the M1, I'm willing to take a service grade rifle, I suspect, and some restoration work in the long term. So that puts one well under a grand. You looking at the sniper models in really good condition?

Here is the basic rifle I've been looking at. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=299985547