Spent 2.5 years away. Man, I missed it!

[brandonsmash]

Changes in work and life took me away from shooting (aside from hunting a couple times) for the better part of 3 years.

Yesterday I broke the "dry spell" and had a chance to get out to PRGC and do some proper shooting.

Observations:

* Marksmanship is very much a perishable skill. I need more practice!

* I need to do a good bit of cleaning and troubleshooting on some of my firearms, including my perennially fun-but-touchy .22 TCM.

* Man, I've missed it!

Having not purchased a gun or so much as reloaded a cartridge for nearly 3 years, I think that needs to change!

[Jack Dupp]

Hey dude, glad to see you back. Are you still lifting the big weights?

[What]

Welcome back. Where you been?

[paulgt2164]

Hey dude, glad to see you back. Are you still lifting the big weights?

Haha, I always wondered why his username was what it was - till he purchased something I was selling and I seen him. Oh, that makes sense.

lol.

[brandonsmash]

Glad to be back! Thanks for the welcome!

I'm not competing in powerlifting right now. Took a soft retirement in '16 after winning a title at 140kg. I'm still lifting fairly heavy, though, just not training for anything in specific.

My most recent major accomplishment was training for and carrying the actual Husafell stone in Iceland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%BAsafell_Stone

Long story short, it's a f***-all awkward and heavy stone in Iceland that's been used for a long time in top-level strongman competitions. I went "fullsterkur" and carried the stone all 50m around the pen.



That was an objective I'd had for something like 14 years, and been interested in for about 20. Training for that was an absolute bear but being successful at the carry meant a lot to me.

EDIT: I've actually been around mostly in AZ but had some major life shake-ups. I lost my job in 2019 and was considering moving to TX, but the wife nixed that idea. I ended up selling off a bunch of items in the safe to fund starting my own fabrication and construction business. It's gaining traction now but it was touchy there for a good while and I didn't have the time or resources to do anything firearms-related.

[XJThrottle]

What kind of fab work do you do?

[Buckshot Bill]

Welcome back. Man, that video makes my back hurt just watching it!! , but congrats if you did it successfully- no pain or injury!

Buckshot Bill

[brandonsmash]

What kind of fab work do you do?

I started the business as general welding and machining. I've since added 3D plasma and some other capabilities to the shop.

In the meantime I branched out and got my contractor's license and the bulk of the work we do involves erecting shade structures. Turns out in Phoenix there's a demand for shade. Who knew?

[xerts1191]

I just sprouted out a double hernia

[smithers599]

One of these days, some guy is going to pick up that ancient rock, carry it around the pen, and drop it back in place -- and it is going to shatter. Oops! I would hate to be that guy.
Fortunately, there is not much chance that I will be that guy.

[DoubleAlpha]

How close to your left foot did the stone land when you dropped it?

[brandonsmash]

Ha! I don't know. I've spent the majority of my powerlifting career training barefoot and deadlifting with a "sumo" stance. I kind of reflexively throw things *away* from my feet because the alternative means crushed toes.

[landon]

Hey welcome back Brandon! I wondered what happened to you these last couple years. I'll throw some work your way forA shade structure.

Landon

[Pro2a]

Welcom back, did you ever complete that 460 Rowland project?

[Doc]

Having not purchased a gun or so much as reloaded a cartridge for nearly 3 years….

So you spent 3 years away, have you been watching the prices of consumables?

Your pretty much doubled your money by not doing anything. Excellent!