Rifle

It seems that I have incorrectly maligned Ruger in a previous column on .22-caliber problems. I indicated that I have a Thompson/Center 10/22, when I actually have a Ruger 10/22. My only defense on this issue is that I have owned both the Thompson/Center .22 Classic, and the Ruger 10/22. These weapons are both excellent choices for ownership. Why I got them mixed up I don't know, but I will admit my error. The Thompson/Center barrel is screwed in, and this rifle is touted to be extremely accurate.

The muzzleloader first weekend is half over now, but there are still several hours left if one wants to venture into the woods to try for venison. I was looking at the different styles of muzzleloaders recently. It seems like the two most popular brands of muzzleloader locally are the Traditions and the CVA. These two rifles are in-lines and sport different styles of stocks, barrels and firing mechanisms. Mostly, I saw the long fluted-barrel models that are touted to be in the 200-yard accuracy-plus category.

The old rifle wasn't what it used to be, and probably not what it will someday be, but Jimmy Caudill used it Thursday night at the Bluegrass Heritage Museum to aim back into history. Caudill was raised at the site of historic Strode Station and his grandparents and parents operated Caudill Implement Co., which they acquired from the McCormick brothers. The company made bluegrass seed harvesters. The speaker, who worked for East Kentucky Power Cooperative for 38 years, is a farmer.

When I planned to take my grandson hunting during the recent free youth weekend, in my shortsightedness I forgot that it probably wouldn't have been a good idea for him to shoot a high-powered rifle after an eye injury he suffered last year without consulting the specialist who was treating the injury. So I was putting the cart before the horse, but with everything I have seen my grandson do in the past six months I couldn't see how the small recoil of a .243 could have any ill effects on his eye. I have seen C.J. jump from moderate heights that would give him quite a bit more of a jolt than he would have experienced from the rifle recoil.

Members of the George Rogers Clark High School color guard rifle section have been practicing this week in preparation for the band's annual band camp, which begins Monday. Learning the guard's routine for the upcoming marching season are, second from left, top photo, Hang Tran, Sarah Napier, Kathlyn Cummings, Keegan Crosby, Courtney Leggett and Katie Parrish. Karen Wear, left, is one of the instructors working with the guard. Crosby, rifle guard captain, right photo, kept her gaze fixed while waiting for just the precise moment to catch her twirling rifle.

Report - On Thursday, Walter Withrow of 201 Coffee Spring Lane reported that someone entered his residence and stole a rifle and some change.

Stolen gun recovered LIBERTY - A 17-year-old boy was cited Wednesday on charges of first-degree burglary and receiving stolen property after officers recovered a stolen weapon. The Marlin .30-.30 rifle with scope, valued at $235, was recovered Wednesday, according to Casey County Sheriff Jerry Coffman and Deputy Chad Weddle. The rifle had been stolen Oct. 24 during a burglary at the Justin Hines residence on Matherly Road. The juvenile was cited to appear in Casey District Court.

LANCASTER - A Garrard County grand jury has indicted a local man on attempted murder and first-degree wanton endangerment charges. The grand jury handed up the indictment Friday against Ralph Vanover, 34, of 10689 Buckeye Road. He is accused of trying to kill Vanessa Embry on July 30 by firing a rifle at her and of endangering Woody Embry's life by firing a rifle into a vehicle that he was a passenger in. Garrard County Deputy Sheriff Willie Skeens was the grand jury witness.

A 5-year-old boy who was playing with a .22-caliber rifle accidentally shot and killed his 2-year-old sister in Cumberland County on Tuesday afternoon, according to a news release from the state police. The shooting happened just after 1 p.m. at a home on Lawson's Bottom Road. The 2-year-old was taken to Cumberland County Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. An autopsy has been scheduled for Wednesday. Cumberland County Coroner Gary White identified the girl as Caroline Starks.

The youth-only firearms deer hunting weekend is Oct. 10-11, and I'm kind of looking forward to it. If everything goes right, I will have my grandson in the blind just waiting for his first deer. However, there is some range work that will have to be done before that weekend. Everyone should check the zero on their firearms to be sure that the rifle or shotgun with slugs will hit where it is aimed. So far my grandson has yet to fire his deer rifle, but it will be done before the youth season opens.

A 5-year-old boy who was playing with a .22-caliber rifle accidentally shot and killed his 2-year-old sister in Cumberland County on Tuesday afternoon, according to a news release from the state police. The shooting happened just after 1 p.m. at a home on Lawson's Bottom Road. The 2-year-old was taken to Cumberland County Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. An autopsy has been scheduled for Wednesday. Cumberland County Coroner Gary White identified the girl as Caroline Starks.

We want to express our feelings for the loss of all the little children and teachers who lost their loved ones in the worst murder that has ever happened. We want to express just how bad we feel about these guns that should be destroyed for their uselessness. We watched National Rifle Association representatives tell us that guns don't kill people, only people kill people. That is the worst talk. No one needs a Bushmaster AR-15 rifle, of which a person can keep on pulling the trigger.

LANCASTER - The city of Lancaster has been awarded $12,250 from the state Law Enforcement Protection Program (LEPP) to purchase body armor vests and patrol rifles for its police department, Gov. Steve Beshear announced Friday. Under LEPP, administered by the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, appropriate agencies can seek financial help for certain defensive items essential in the course of their duties.  “Not only do LEPP grants help protect our law enforcement officers, they also increase community and citizen safety,” Beshear said.

The modern firearms season for deer is in full swing, and I've seen with my own eyes plenty of signs that deer are in their full rut mode now. There are plenty of scrapes and rubs that can be observed by hunters or observers who venture into the woods at this time of year. I debated with myself about possibly just using my muzzleloader this year, but decided to go ahead and use a center-fire rifle. There is a huge weight differential between the muzzleloader and the rifle. I spent some time spent at the range this year trying to get my firearm hitting where I pointed it. The use of a scope sight is imperative for me, because I cannot see a notch-V rear sight and front sight with clarity.

Report - On Thursday, Walter Withrow of 201 Coffee Spring Lane reported that someone entered his residence and stole a rifle and some change.

HARRODSBURG - A Harrodsburg man was arrested Sunday afternoon after he allegedly obtained an AK-47 assault rifle and engaged in a 40-minute standoff with three law enforcement agencies. Phillip A. Norris, 51, of 111 Hycliff St. brandished the assault rifle after neighbors took away a handgun from him during an initial altercation with another neighbor, Harrodsburg police said. Immediately after the handgun was forcibly taken from Norris' possession, his neighbors locked the pistol in a nearby pickup truck.

Balloon release set for tonight at hospice The Compassionate Friends of Mercer and Boyle counties and surrounding areas will have its ninth annual balloon release 7 p.m. today at Heritage Hospice, 120 Enterprise Drive (off Lebanon Road on the bypass). The event is a special time to remember deceased loved ones. Balloons will be furnished and time allotted for you to write your special message on the balloon. For more information, call Kay Sheldon at (859) 319-1589.

RICHMOND — Kentucky State Police Post 7 in Richmond has several items of suspected stolen property that were recovered on Jan. 19, 2006. They have been unable to identify the rightful owners and are seeking public assistance. These items include:  Jukar muzzle loading rifle; Remington .223 caliber bolt action rifle; Jennings compound bow; Tommy Hilfiger wallet; Timber Wolf knife; Kodak Easy Share digital camera; Sony Play Station Portable in black case; Palm Pilot with black case; Sony Family Guy Play Station portable in case; Sony Medieval case without game; Nintendo games — Warlocked, Metroid Fusion, Star Wars 3, Tom & Jerry, Mario & Luigi, Midway's Greatest Hits (Megaman Battle Network)

Modern gun season for deer started Saturday, and while I have already harvested my buck for the year, I can take a doe if I so choose. I was off Saturday, though at midweek I hadn’t made up my mind entirely whether I was going to go hunting or not. I worked the morning of the first muzzleloader season and didn’t get into the blind until around 4 p.m. Of course, that was daylight savings time. If I waited that late now, I wouldn’t have much time to hunt before dark. Making sure my firearms were zeroed in was a priority last week.