Needed to make a new can hanger as the last one had almost worn through. As I was tying it up I remembered I had some shrink tubing somewhere. Three layers of shrink tube later and we'll see how long it lasts. Destroyed 2 cans on the bounce and the added stiffness seems to have reduced incidents of the can getting caught in the catch cloth.
This hasn't been shot in a while and has an old(ish) bandset on it. Gonna shoot the bands out, throw an AK Velocity set on it and throw it back into rotation. This thing really does disappear in your pocket.
Couldn't pass up this gift of a photo op with the S-Scepter.
A small blackthorn fork, that I was considering for training, binding the fork into a good shape as it continues to grow, got caught up in the annual hedgerow massacre that goes on around here, so I took it early. It's small, but it's perfectly formed.
Also got another interesting blackthorn fork. This one has been dead standing for long long time, 5 years plus. It's quite heavily spalted, on the verge of rotting. It might need some help from the superglue trick, but the thumbnail test on the end grain was good. I'll know for sure once I get to work on it.
I've been resting this stick in the gorse bush in the dog park and shooting it from random ranges, usually a few chunks of wood fly off and the stick goes flying, often landing on another branch to be shot again. This 8mm steel decided to make itself at home.
Spent some quality time with the siblings this afternoon. Cut a couple of cans, smacked the spinners around a bit, and ended the bells ability to ring properly. The 85 is running 22/12mm taper, 165mm active length, 0.5mm AK Velocity, the 90 is running 23/13mm taper, 165mm active length, 0.55mm unbranded. Switching back and fourth 10 shots and switch. Stepping back down from the 9.5mm set up to the 8mm set up feels weird, like it's too light, makes it really easy to shoot. The 90 is also carrying some extra weight in the swell.
The weather is being typically cornish today, wet and windy, and I'm not going to get much catch box time so I'm making the most of my stump shooting opportunities. The S-C96 has been one of my favourite pinch grip frames for a while now, and I'm liking the stainless version a lot. The wood scales are a big plus for me, the Micarta ones are great, but get a load of that grain. I'm going to add some weight under the scales at some point because, for my liking, the weight balance is a bit tip heavy.
Weather has been a bit hit and miss today so once I had a clear moment I grabbed one of the oldest frames in my collection (OG Antelope) and one of the newest (S-Airship 90) and had a little play. 5 shots and switch frames, 5 shots and switch back. Finished up smashing a blue can for a bit of blue on blue violence. Both set up for 9.5mm steel.
Each frame has had at least 50 shots today. Each one cut a can and then used the rest of the shots on the bell target, cork target, or the 40mm spinners.
It didn't need a paracord wrap, but i knew it was going to be making its way to my pocket on the reg so the wrap should prevent the G10 getting too dinged up. I added the silicone textured bands to protect the forks a bit and tbh it is an improvement, not really necessary, but I'm liking it.
First shots of the day, a bit windy so I picked up a 9.5mm steel set up. I was shooting the 85 yesterday afternoon so picked up the S-Airship 90. First shot went low, muscle memory from yesterday, lowered my anchor and the second shot hit smack in the middle of the lower 1/4 and made a very satisfying thwack. I think that shot split most of the can because the third just opened it up and folded the bottom down. Had a nice silver disc to send the fourth shot at and it just pulled the bottom off. It's one of those moments I wish I was filming. Predominantly luck over skill, I've had cans string out and refuse to split. I'm loving the S-Airship 90, and it looks classy af in that blue. Bandset is 23/13mm taper, 165mm active length, 0.55mm Sumieke cw, and the swell of the frame has been stuffed with 8mm lead ball.
When the stainless version was released at the start of the year, like the S-Airship 90, it was just a matter of time. My favourite grade of stainless too, 420. 😁 Seriously though, that is it this time. No more.
I've been a big fan of the S-Airship ever since it came out a few years back. When I saw the new 90mm version got released at the start of the year I knew I'd have one eventually. I set the 90 up for 9.5mm steel and the og 85 is set up for 8mm steel. Both are brilliant. I'm just glad I only bought 2 frames and 2 lots of pouches. That's all, just the S-Scepter and the S-Airship 90, and the 2 lots of pouches. Nothing else. Nope. Not me. I have discipline.
Got myself a S-Scepter from SniperSling. It's been on my want list for a while and I managed to free up some cash. Very positive first impressions. I'm very proud of myself too. I managed to control myself and only get one frame and some pouches. That's it, just the one frame, and the pouches. Nothing else.
Many cans have fallen to this warrior today. It's a bit pouch slappy but the bands are a touch heavier than they need to be.
It makes a nice ringing noise if you hit the lower half. Hitting the upper half makes a hard smack noise. I've got a few more of the steel cones so once this one is totally mashed I can make another, probably improved a bit. The bands on that frame are shot out, I can feel it, they've lost their snap a while back, but I refuse to quit until they split.
Dug out an old frame that I haven't shot for a while, threw a random tube set together, and grabbed some lil 6mm balls. 1632 tubes half butterfly draw. It's been a few years since I've gone this light and I'd forgotten how much fun it can be. Gonna put some paracord on this I reckon.
Cherry Laurel natural fork, 22/15mm taper, 165mm active length, 0.6mm SS black, 9.5mm steel at 10m.
23/13mm taper, 165mm active length, 0.5mm AK Velocity, 8mm steel.
Headed back to the pile of Cherry Laurel to get a bigger fork. I despise the tree/shrub, but the wood shows promise. I've heard it can be prone to splitting even after it's dry. This has been cut down for a couple of years and I got a good fork, plus a nice bit to see how it behaves cut on the bias. I'm going to leave it a couple of weeks to see if it splits at the new cuts. I don't want to fill up my drying crates with it until I know it's good.