New Member Intro area?

Home/Self defense is not AGN material.
Good afternoon y'all! I just joined (rather just approved to post yesterday, joined a couple days ago,) after having perused the site for a few days, and having probably already made a mistake in my first Big Bore (henceforth BB) PCP order - not the rifle, the place I ordered it.

Getting this first, introduction post, out of the way is always the hardest. I'm Alex. I live in Albuquerque, 2 blocks from the open desert. I have a lot going on, and not a lot of time to get it accomplished. I'm good with that. I'm a cybersecurity professional that's on disability, but who still does as much in the cybersecurity realm (for people, not corps or G-acronyms any more) as I can. I ride the hell out of motorcycles - when AQI is under 110, my oxygen averages above 90, a combination thereof (or I just feel like it, and carry my inhalers - don't tell my pulmnologist...) I've only got 44k on bikes and Can Am this year. I also "play" the bass, only for my personal edification, vocational rehab, and neuroplacitisty though. (I needed to relearn everything, and music was the key, different thread/discussion.) Also into photography, and learning astrophotography.

Part of the reason for my interest in BB PCP is my safety when I'm out in the middle of nowhere, in the pitch black, at places like the certified dark sky camp in southwestern New Mexico, with my telescope set up, taking 30 minute+ exposure photos of the Milky Way, distant galaxies, or 1000+ exposures of planets.

I'm not new to shooting. I'm not new to air. I am returning to PCP. I am new to BB PCP. Currently, and for the past few years, I've sported a Byrna LE as my warning, and backyard target shooter. After contemplation, reading, and a diagnosis that can't be shook, I decided to (pressure's building... I'm gonna' say it so get the groans out...) pull the trigger and ordered a big bore PCP.

My first foray into the BB PCP world will be the Benjamin Bulldog M357. I have one en route, it'll be here Thursday. First couple boxes of ammo will also be here Thursday or Friday. I ordered the (suggested by manufacturer) 145 grain Noslers (BPN357) and the Diablo Exact 35Cal 81 grain pellets. I'm looking at ordering some H&N Grizzly 357 82 grain and some ZAN projectile Slug HP .357 112 grain when everything arrives. As far as keeping the rounds rotating, I ordered a (duplicate/replica) Omega pump from Amazon, with a warranty... It was considerably cheaper than the actualy Omega.

I ordered everything, this round, from Amazon, because I received great discount(s,) got my M357 for $835, with 7% cash back... Got that same cash back across the board, hence the Amazon first gun order, and my thinking I probably made a mistake in ordering from Amazon, instead of a vendor (such as from here) so I can get support for the platform.

I see that this is an expensive hobby/sport/passion... I'm on a fixed income, with a little bit of "extra" coming in from time to time to allow my hobbies... And, I have one of my motorcycles up for sale to fund my next 2 BB PCPs. I am looking at getting the AEA harpoon in .50 with 8 rounds, and a Hatsan piledriver, also in .50 ... And, of course I'm going to need (at least 1) SCBA tank. I'll need to see if my 50Ah battery I use to run my heated gear in the field when I'm off my bike will run my compressor (I am thinking no, I'll need to upgrade to a bigger battery/bank.)

I was also eyeing the Bintac T9/357 with stock for an SBR... But the reviews, especially for that price ...

Oh, I can also drift to the longwinded side... Intro post is alway an "I" and "me" post... makes me uncomfortable. Now I can hear some other "I/me"s from some of y'all (hopefully!)
 
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Welcome aboard pal! Music (I was gonna be a musician but decided to play drums instead 🤪) has been a passion & occupation for 62 years. Airguns & astronomy also light my fire (8" Schmidt-Cassegrain & 3 FX guns). You've hit on a great forum with many good & helpful folks. A veritable warehouse of airgun knowledge & tips. Enjoy the ride brother. Merry ChristmaHanuKwanza or whatever floats your boat.
 
Good afternoon y'all! I just joined (rather just approved to post yesterday, joined a couple days ago,) after having perused the site for a few days, and having probably already made a mistake in my first Big Bore (henceforth BB) PCP order - not the rifle, the place I ordered it.

Getting this first, introduction post, out of the way is always the hardest. I'm Alex. I live in Albuquerque, 2 blocks from the open desert. I have a lot going on, and not a lot of time to get it accomplished. I'm good with that. I'm a cybersecurity professional that's on disability, but who still does as much in the cybersecurity realm (for people, not corps or G-acronyms any more) as I can. I ride the hell out of motorcycles - when AQI is under 110, my oxygen averages above 90, a combination thereof (or I just feel like it, and carry my inhalers - don't tell my pulmnologist...) I've only got 44k on bikes and Can Am this year. I also "play" the bass, only for my personal edification, vocational rehab, and neuroplacitisty though. (I needed to relearn everything, and music was the key, different thread/discussion.) Also into photography, and learning astrophotography.

Part of the reason for my interest in BB PCP is my safety when I'm out in the middle of nowhere, in the pitch black, at places like the certified dark sky camp in southwestern New Mexico, with my telescope set up, taking 30 minute+ exposure photos of the Milky Way, distant galaxies, or 1000+ exposures of planets. I need to be able to protect myself from those things that go bump in the night... No muzzle flash is definitely an advantage.

I'm not new to shooting. I'm not new to air. I am returning to PCP. I am new to BB PCP. Currently, and for the past few years, I've sported a Byrna LE as my warning, and backyard target shooter. After contemplation, reading, and a diagnosis that can't be shook, I decided to (pressure's building... I'm gonna' say it so get the groans out...) pull the trigger and ordered a big bore PCP.

My first foray into the BB PCP world will be the Benjamin Bulldog M357. I have one en route, it'll be here Thursday. First couple boxes of ammo will also be here Thursday or Friday. I ordered the (suggested by manufacturer) 145 grain Noslers (BPN357) and the Diablo Exact 35Cal 81 grain pellets. I'm looking at ordering some H&N Grizzly 357 82 grain and some ZAN projectile Slug HP .357 112 grain when everything arrives. As far as keeping the rounds rotating, I ordered a (duplicate/replica) Omega pump from Amazon, with a warranty... It was considerably cheaper than the actualy Omega.

I ordered everything, this round, from Amazon, because I received great discount(s,) got my M357 for $835, with 7% cash back... Got that same cash back across the board, hence the Amazon first gun order, and my thinking I probably made a mistake in ordering from Amazon, instead of a vendor (such as from here) so I can get support for the platform.

I see that this is an expensive hobby/sport/passion... I'm on a fixed income, with a little bit of "extra" coming in from time to time to allow my hobbies... And, I have one of my motorcycles up for sale to fund my next 2 BB PCPs. I am looking at getting the AEA harpoon in .50 with 8 rounds, and a Hatsan piledriver, also in .50 ... And, of course I'm going to need (at least 1) SCBA tank. I'll need to see if my 50Ah battery I use to run my heated gear in the field when I'm off my bike will run my compressor (I am thinking no, I'll need to upgrade to a bigger battery/bank.)

I was also eyeing the Bintac T9/357 with stock for an SBR... But the reviews, especially for that price ...

Oh, I can also drift to the longwinded side... Intro post is alway an "I" and "me" post... makes me uncomfortable. Now I can hear some other "I/me"s from some of y'all (hopefully!)
Welcome to the best AGN
Stan in KY .
 
Good afternoon y'all! I just joined (rather just approved to post yesterday, joined a couple days ago,) after having perused the site for a few days, and having probably already made a mistake in my first Big Bore (henceforth BB) PCP order - not the rifle, the place I ordered it.

Getting this first, introduction post, out of the way is always the hardest. I'm Alex. I live in Albuquerque, 2 blocks from the open desert. I have a lot going on, and not a lot of time to get it accomplished. I'm good with that. I'm a cybersecurity professional that's on disability, but who still does as much in the cybersecurity realm (for people, not corps or G-acronyms any more) as I can. I ride the hell out of motorcycles - when AQI is under 110, my oxygen averages above 90, a combination thereof (or I just feel like it, and carry my inhalers - don't tell my pulmnologist...) I've only got 44k on bikes and Can Am this year. I also "play" the bass, only for my personal edification, vocational rehab, and neuroplacitisty though. (I needed to relearn everything, and music was the key, different thread/discussion.) Also into photography, and learning astrophotography.

Part of the reason for my interest in BB PCP is my safety when I'm out in the middle of nowhere, in the pitch black, at places like the certified dark sky camp in southwestern New Mexico, with my telescope set up, taking 30 minute+ exposure photos of the Milky Way, distant galaxies, or 1000+ exposures of planets. I need to be able to protect myself from those things that go bump in the night... No muzzle flash is definitely an advantage.

I'm not new to shooting. I'm not new to air. I am returning to PCP. I am new to BB PCP. Currently, and for the past few years, I've sported a Byrna LE as my warning, and backyard target shooter. After contemplation, reading, and a diagnosis that can't be shook, I decided to (pressure's building... I'm gonna' say it so get the groans out...) pull the trigger and ordered a big bore PCP.

My first foray into the BB PCP world will be the Benjamin Bulldog M357. I have one en route, it'll be here Thursday. First couple boxes of ammo will also be here Thursday or Friday. I ordered the (suggested by manufacturer) 145 grain Noslers (BPN357) and the Diablo Exact 35Cal 81 grain pellets. I'm looking at ordering some H&N Grizzly 357 82 grain and some ZAN projectile Slug HP .357 112 grain when everything arrives. As far as keeping the rounds rotating, I ordered a (duplicate/replica) Omega pump from Amazon, with a warranty... It was considerably cheaper than the actualy Omega.

I ordered everything, this round, from Amazon, because I received great discount(s,) got my M357 for $835, with 7% cash back... Got that same cash back across the board, hence the Amazon first gun order, and my thinking I probably made a mistake in ordering from Amazon, instead of a vendor (such as from here) so I can get support for the platform.

I see that this is an expensive hobby/sport/passion... I'm on a fixed income, with a little bit of "extra" coming in from time to time to allow my hobbies... And, I have one of my motorcycles up for sale to fund my next 2 BB PCPs. I am looking at getting the AEA harpoon in .50 with 8 rounds, and a Hatsan piledriver, also in .50 ... And, of course I'm going to need (at least 1) SCBA tank. I'll need to see if my 50Ah battery I use to run my heated gear in the field when I'm off my bike will run my compressor (I am thinking no, I'll need to upgrade to a bigger battery/bank.)

I was also eyeing the Bintac T9/357 with stock for an SBR... But the reviews, especially for that price ...

Oh, I can also drift to the longwinded side... Intro post is alway an "I" and "me" post... makes me uncomfortable. Now I can hear some other "I/me"s from some of y'all (hopefully!)
 
Welcome to the best AGN
Stan in KY .
Thank you! You live in God's Country, for sure. I saw the 2024 Eclipse from Paducah's town square/library. It was ... I can't describe.

Welcome aboard pal! Music (I was gonna be a musician but decided to play drums instead 🤪) has been a passion & occupation for 62 years. Airguns & astronomy also light my fire (8" Schmidt-Cassegrain & 3 FX guns). You've hit on a great forum with many good & helpful folks. A veritable warehouse of airgun knowledge & tips. Enjoy the ride brother. Merry ChristmaHanuKwanza or whatever floats your boat.
Thank you for the welcome! That's a great kit you've got in your avatar! For me, it was I wanted to be a musician, but I could only figure out the first 4 strings. :ROFLMAO: I gotta' say, that telescope you're sporting, much further along the adventure than I've gotten! I hope you don't mind if I ask you questions that may not necessarily relate to the hobby of airguns, as I get acclimated with the site and my new hobbies!

I did take a bit of time in deciding which forum to join. This one is rich with knowledge, humor, and from what I can see, good people. Merry/Happy (insert your holiday here)!
Welcome from Massachusetts.
Thank you!


That thread, and a few others that I have seen saying the same thing, is why the JSB pellets are on order, and a double order of them! I'm also really interested in those two other rounds I had listed... Especially the H&N Grizzly because they're purported to have great stopping power and good blossom, without risk of over penetration and pass through (a consideration with my small dogs and skunks and coyotes that get into our neighborhood and high fenced yard, from the desert 2 streets away.) The Noslers, I really just ordered them because they are the "manufacturer recommended" and I figure I should fire their rec. ammo at least once (or 60 times...)
 
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Welcome aboard pal! Music (I was gonna be a musician but decided to play drums instead 🤪) has been a passion & occupation for 62 years. Airguns & astronomy also light my fire (8" Schmidt-Cassegrain & 3 FX guns). You've hit on a great forum with many good & helpful folks. A veritable warehouse of airgun knowledge & tips. Enjoy the ride brother. Merry ChristmaHanuKwanza or whatever floats your boat.
"Godless Heathens"
 
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Thank y'all!

Afternoon_Moon12082024.jpg

Photo(s) I took? This is my first stacked/composite moon shot done with my telescope. Took it a week before the full moon (I guess that's obvious...) It is a composite of 40 photos. If the site allows the full image, you can almost touch the mountains and craters!
 
Thank y'all!

View attachment 522967

Photo(s) I took? This is my first stacked/composite moon shot done with my telescope. Took it a week before the full moon (I guess that's obvious...) It is a composite of 40 photos. If the site allows the full image, you can almost touch the mountains and craters!
That’s awesome, it’s wild how much texture can be seen with even modest power. Looking through a good lens makes things so much more three dimensional. The moon is something so familiar, I forget that it’s a giant orb hanging up there 👆🏼