I forgot to clarify one important thing: not all of Wyoming is as cold as NW corner of Yellowstone and Jackson! There are 3 significant microclimates: Big Horn basin, Wind River basin, and Crook County.These areas have quite modest winters for the latitude.
I do recall your mentioning that someplace. Fully cognizant of Richard Bach's "Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours", I note that according to the U.S. Census Bureau for Crook County:
Private nonfarm establishments with paid employees, 2001 ... 195
Big Horn and Hot Springs Counties are no better. I imagine that most who relocate are in the "bring your own job with you" category. Even Laramie county shows only 2,350 employers, and Natrona 2,644. Well, my guess is I'd have to move to Cheyenne, Laramie, or Casper to have much hope of finding a job, and it'd be a much tougher time doing so for me than it is down here in the Denver metro area. I do recall reading, a while back, about a boom over in the Green River / Rock Springs area though.
This is getting pretty far into topic drift, but the Wind River area ... recently either the Rocky Mountain News or the Denver Post ran a feature article on the meth problems on the reservation. I wonder to what extent the crime associated with drug trafficking has spread outside the reservation.
rockchucker wrote:
For example, one of my goals this year is to become a more proficient rifleman. Well, I can't afford it right now. What compromises do I make in order to get the money together to buy a DCM Garand and feed it a steady diet?
A fine rifle at a bargain price ($450, right?), but ammo is not cheap as the surplus supply has dried up. Consider a $500 FAL and 16 cent .308 ammo. Even a surplus bolt gun can be used to learn the basics.
Go to http://www.rwva.org and get Fred's targets/etc.
And then join us in Wyoming for the FSW's 3rd Annual Jamboree in
conjunction with Fred! TBA by next month on:
http://www.freestatewyoming.org
Depends upon what quality you're willing to settle for. "Service Grade" can be had for $395 -- they're still within Army issue specs, but might have some throat and/or muzzle erosion.
ODCMP Garand RiflesI'd love to get a FAL, or build one. But a couple of friends have Garands, which I've shot. I just like that rifle. Better than the JLD PTR91 which I've also shot. Can't really say, in objective terms why I like it. But it works for me.
Ammo price is a good point. I used to handload, and will again soon. But pulling that lever several thousand times is expensive in time, and I haven't looked at prices on 30-06 brass.
I'm familiar with Fred's reduced size targets (meaning I've heard about them, and his course of fire, but not used them). I think I can get the same effect by downloading from targetz.com, and then reducing those in size. Not that Fred's are expensive to order.
I'll keep my eyes open for the Jamboree announcement.
