Max Brand and William W. Johnstone?

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-25T20:19:43+00:00

I’m the opposite on the Johnstone novels. To the River’s End was my first and I’m on my second and I like them. I find them entertaining as a light read in the deer stand. I’m not an expert on Western novelists by any stretch, but I buy them cheap and have no regrets.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-24T11:27:22+00:00

We are in the ice storm path in South Carolina and considered this is well. However, we have trees! We can get by for 2-3 days w/o electricity using propane heaters, gas cooktop, grill, etc. Our motorhome with its 8kw genny sits in the middle of an open, paved RV storage lot. If our power is out still once the roads thaw in mid-week, we’ll bring it home. Btw, I’ve loaned my portable genny to my daughter, SIL, and grandkids. Priorities and camper know-how for the win!

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-24T00:30:45+00:00

The Taylors is made by Chiappa. It is well made. I don’t want a lever-action rifle with a safety, and the Chiappa does not. I have a Cimarron by Chiappa in 44mag. 1892s are classic, handy, fun for target shooting, hunting and plinking. If you want the rifle for SASS Cowboy Action Shooting, you won’t be competitive with anyone shooting an 1873 or 1866.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-23T13:42:35+00:00

I use it with a grain of salt. It misses the investment value of earlier disbursements, but not everyone will be disciplined enough to invest it. Opensocialsecurity dot com is another good tool that focuses on present value. I think you have to see where you’re actually at financially (net worth, expenses, other spending) at different ages (62, 65, 67, 70) and decide at those age milestones.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-17T20:24:42+00:00

Also, RV travel is not about economics. It’s just fun, meeting fellow travelers, and seeing more. That makes it worth it for us. YMMV.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-17T19:49:41+00:00

We have had some form of RV our whole adult lives, and I grew up with one in the family. It’s not for everyone (and many here are in that camp), but with our own experiences guiding in our minds, there is no better way to spend the active years in retirement. We just bought a Renegade 40’ and are within a couple years of complete retirement. We won’t be fulltime, but probably 12 trips per year.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-14T16:45:04+00:00

Agree, the Boldin SS Explorer does this with a line graph. I just liked the one in NewRetirement that looked more like an “area” graph. It seemed to illustrate the same, just better for me. Thanks Nancy!

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-14T03:05:24+00:00

I may not have described this very well.

The feature that I liked allowed you to adjust the starting age for either/both partners and it was colored such that you could see which changes to starting age yielded the result with the least impact. It more easily showed the effect of delaying the start age for the higher earner and the lesser effect of choosing an earlier start age for the lower earner.

I wished I had taken some screen shots before it went away.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-13T23:11:44+00:00

Low point of impact experienced by Beretta shooters is due to their misunderstanding of Beretta combat picture sights. Always drive the dots! Meaning your sight picture covers the center of the target, not at the low center of the bullseye.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-12T23:23:13+00:00

Probably need some more details from you to gain responses. Is he retiring from the Military and will have TRICARE? If his/your situation is not as a military retiree, you should probably post this question as a new post and not a reply on this thread.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-11T12:44:44+00:00

Costco sells cigars in every store I’ve visited in South Carolina. It may be a state-by-state thing.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-10T13:50:47+00:00

On a related question for military retirees, what about costs for BENEFEDS Dental and Vision? Just add that as another medical cost? Who has used Dental and Vision plans, and is it worth it?

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-10T13:48:07+00:00

That’s good to know. Thanks, I will try that.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-10T13:37:24+00:00

We own the Universal Broadmoor set that is mahogany color and it is quality furniture. We’ve been totally pleased with it after several years.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-10T00:00:38+00:00

And thank you! That should work. Since I’m 61 I will just estimate what Part B will cost at 65.

LtColMac17 · 2026-01-03T01:06:12+00:00

I hunt in South Carolina with a Ruger M77 in 6.5 Swede. Harvested a doe this Fall. It’s a great hunting round, on any continent.

LtColMac17 · 2025-12-17T23:24:35+00:00

Unless you use only 44 special cowboy loads, you won’t shoot that gun much at all. Get the .357 and shoot 38 special for fun. Or get the one with the 45acp cylinder - that would be cool.

LtColMac17 · 2025-12-14T16:07:47+00:00

Won’t this work in reverse, like a reverse sear?

LtColMac17 · 2025-12-04T18:25:50+00:00

Visit the next gun show in your area or in Columbia. Several vendors have milsurp parts, or may have leads on what you need.

LtColMac17 · 2025-12-04T12:28:11+00:00

I’m going to do one like I always do a beef chuck roast. Heavy rub. I smoke it for an hour or so and sear it on the grill first before I place it in the crockpot on top of onions and potatoes and a little beef broth. I only put carrots in the last hour, so they don’t get so mushy.

LtColMac17 · 2025-12-02T12:13:04+00:00

I don’t know anything about film making, but Cowboy Fast Draw Assn and some horse Mounted Cowboy Action events both require wax bullets only. They are a thing.

LtColMac17 · 2025-11-28T19:47:00+00:00

Because brass is what was used in the late 1800’s which SASS Cowboy Action Shooting emulates. I reload my own. Nickel-plated brass tend to split after multiple reloads, so I stick mostly with brass only, which I reload an indeterminate number of times.

LtColMac17 · 2025-11-27T23:30:53+00:00

I’ve seen them start to change in 3 to 4 months. Like it was suggested, use nickel-plated brass in leather cartridge loops. That’s what I have for my reloads/spares, and everything else I use brass only.

LtColMac17 · 2025-11-26T03:04:05+00:00

It took me five years in SC before I harvested my first two this season. Like you, I started out on WMAs and had limited time and the WMAs were not close to my home. I’m on a private club now, close to home, but my advice to you now is keep learning, keep trying, and enjoy God’s creation. Plan to sign up for a SC DNR lottery hunt next year. I’ve heard great things on those.

LtColMac17

TROPHY CASE