Finally have a place to shoot

Doc Hoy · August 15, 2022, 08:05 AM

Some of you may recall that I am a member of the forum from days gone by. I stopped posting a while ago because I lost my place to shoot in Virginia and just lost interest.

About three years ago, my wife and I got a request from my folks in Florida to come down and assist. They have been in their home in Naples for about 35 years and we just could not see them giving it up and moving into a retirement facility.

We had a home in VA, a restaurant in VA and rental properties in VA, all of which we sold.

So we now reside in Naples as of March of 2019. For the intervening three years I have been looking for a place to shoot and finally admitted that I would need to buy. I never shoot on ranges because I don't like the rules of ranges, many will not allow black powder, and most ranges will not tolerate my quirks.

About four months ago I closed on an acre and a half in Charlotte county. It is called Punta Gorda but is actually way out in the country.

I have built the shooting station and target location and am working on a berm. I never shoot more than 25 yards since my eyes are no longer good enough to see much past that.

I will post some photos of the place prolly by this week end.

It feels real good to have a place where I can shoot safely any time I want.

noelf2 · August 15, 2022, 01:47 PM

Hey Doc good to see you posting again! I'm on some land now if VA and have been burning a lot of power. Still working on molding bullets with all that wheel weight lead you traded to me years ago.

Doc Hoy · August 15, 2022, 02:05 PM

Never met your daughter but I remember she was the connection point to the weights.

Hawg · August 15, 2022, 05:27 PM

Good to see you back Doc. Missed seeing your posts.

bedbugbilly · August 15, 2022, 08:22 PM

Welcome back Doc! Looks like you got a little slick if gave to shoot on - good for you! I always enjoyed your posted and seeing what you were up to . . . when you left I sort of wandered off to some other sites and only came back once in a while - going to have to make it back here more oftennow to read about your adventures. Hope you and your wife are doing well - you were missed bt a lot of folks1

Jim

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 05:22 AM

Thanks for the kind words, y'all.

I intend to be more active now that I am fixing, loading and shooting again.

I will be working on the Stevens Favorite, the Remington Number 2 and that H&R bicycle revolver.

I shot up almost all of the .45LC and .45-70 ammunition.

Gun show at the Lee County Civic Center this week end.

More later.

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 06:27 AM

Will include moving some dirt.

I don't have $40k for a trailer and backhoe/loader, so I built one out of a garden tractor.

Started with Cub cadet 46 inch

Welded up the yoke from 11 gauge rectangular tube.

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 06:28 AM

Bucket made from angle and plate

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 06:35 AM

Actuators are 330 pound electrical actuators. I can lift the front of the mower off the ground by running the yoke all the way down. The loader will lift 150 pounds easily which is about a full bucket of sand.

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 06:37 AM

Almost Caterpillar orange

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 06:39 AM

Backhoe attachment. That will use 1320 pound actuators and 1/4 steel.

OutlawJoseyWales · August 16, 2022, 08:12 AM

Good to see you back on here Doc. Been missing reading your posts. I post rarely, but like to drop by all the time. Take care

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 09:31 AM

Good to read your handle.

Hawg · August 16, 2022, 04:48 PM

You're a man of many talents Doc.

Bishop Creek · August 16, 2022, 05:25 PM

Good to see you back.

BirchOrr · August 16, 2022, 07:25 PM

Great to see you again! I've been gone a long time myself. 1st. post in about 5 yrs. Happy to hear you're doing well. I've shifted gears a bit myself. I'll do my best to post more regularly but in the meantime, it's great to hear from you!

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 08:47 PM

Thanks to you both. Good to read your handles.

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 09:02 PM

Too kind. Nice to finally have the time and opportunities to explore.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · August 16, 2022, 09:38 PM

As I recall your posts. Doc was re-building a 1853 musket down in the basement? Did you ever complete the project?
Good to see you back Sir.

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 09:58 PM

Prolly was a Trapdoor. I did about three of those shortening from rifle to carbine.

It is good to be back.

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 10:02 PM

tractor is helpful in moving stuff around. I just cover it and take the keys with me when I leave the site. I am trusting that it won't be stolen.

The pile of branches is the beginning of the berm. After this visit, I took a chipper to the site and turn a bunch of the branches into chips.

You guys may remember that I believe that, when careful, you can get a good deal at Harbor Freight. That chipper was one such deal. It lists for $600.00 now. We bought it about three years ago with one of those store discounts. Never regretted it.

**4V50 Gary** · August 16, 2022, 10:03 PM

Welcome back Doc Hoy.

Doc Hoy · August 16, 2022, 11:03 PM

Thanks 4V50.

Dave T · August 18, 2022, 12:51 PM

Your own private shooting range. Color me green with envy...but a friendly kind of envy. Congratulations are indeed in order.

Dave

Hawg · August 18, 2022, 03:54 PM

Doc, did you ever think you may be overworking the rear end on that cadet?

August 15, 2022, 01:47 PM	#2
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	Hey Doc good to see you posting again! I'm on some land now if VA and have been burning a lot of power. Still working on molding bullets with all that wheel weight lead you traded to me years ago. __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither.

August 15, 2022, 02:05 PM	#3
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Hows the family? Never met your daughter but I remember she was the connection point to the weights. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

August 15, 2022, 08:22 PM	#5
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,288	Welcome back Doc! Looks like you got a little slick if gave to shoot on - good for you! I always enjoyed your posted and seeing what you were up to . . . when you left I sort of wandered off to some other sites and only came back once in a while - going to have to make it back here more oftennow to read about your adventures. Hope you and your wife are doing well - you were missed bt a lot of folks1 Jim __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

August 16, 2022, 05:22 AM	#6
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Noel, 3Bs and Hawg Thanks for the kind words, y'all. I intend to be more active now that I am fixing, loading and shooting again. I will be working on the Stevens Favorite, the Remington Number 2 and that H&R bicycle revolver. I shot up almost all of the .45LC and .45-70 ammunition. Gun show at the Lee County Civic Center this week end. More later. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

August 16, 2022, 06:39 AM	#11
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Next step Backhoe attachment. That will use 1320 pound actuators and 1/4 steel. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

August 15, 2022, 05:27 PM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,211	Good to see you back Doc. Missed seeing your posts.

August 16, 2022, 08:12 AM	#12
OutlawJoseyWales Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 237	Good to see you back on here Doc. Been missing reading your posts. I post rarely, but like to drop by all the time. Take care

August 16, 2022, 09:31 AM	#13
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	OJW Good to read your handle. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

August 16, 2022, 04:48 PM	#14
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,211	You're a man of many talents Doc.

August 16, 2022, 05:25 PM	#15
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	Good to see you back.

August 16, 2022, 07:25 PM	#16
BirchOrr Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Eaton Rapids, MI Posts: 445	Doc! Great to see you again! I've been gone a long time myself. 1st. post in about 5 yrs. Happy to hear you're doing well. I've shifted gears a bit myself. I'll do my best to post more regularly but in the meantime, it's great to hear from you! __________________ Black Powder: Not because it is easy, but because it is hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win...

August 16, 2022, 08:47 PM	#17
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Birch and Bish Thanks to you both. Good to read your handles. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

August 16, 2022, 09:02 PM	#18
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Hawg... Too kind. Nice to finally have the time and opportunities to explore. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

August 16, 2022, 09:38 PM	#19
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	As I recall your posts. Doc was re-building a 1853 musket down in the basement? Did you ever complete the project? Good to see you back Sir.

August 16, 2022, 09:58 PM	#20
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	SSM Prolly was a Trapdoor. I did about three of those shortening from rifle to carbine. It is good to be back. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

August 16, 2022, 10:03 PM	#22
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,873	Welcome back Doc Hoy. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

August 16, 2022, 11:03 PM	#23
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Thanks. Good to be back Thanks 4V50. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

August 18, 2022, 12:51 PM	#24
Dave T Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2000 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 1,457	Your own private shooting range. Color me green with envy...but a friendly kind of envy. Congratulations are indeed in order. Dave __________________ RSVN '69-'71 PCSD Ret

August 18, 2022, 03:54 PM	#25
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,211	Doc, did you ever think you may be overworking the rear end on that cadet?