Surfing Around Cabela's Gun Library Can Be Dangerous

[JimT]

I mean, they have so many rifles, shotguns and handguns you can spend hours! But the worst problem is coming across something that you don't need but really really really would like to have!

Like an Astra Cub .22 Short pistol

cub.jpg

I had 2 of these when I was in my 20's and shot them a lot. I used to lay under the Tamarack trees on the ranch in Arizona and shoot birds out of the tree for the cats. There were about 30 cats on the place to keep the scorpions and rattlesnakes down and the got used to me shooting all the time. When I came out with a gun they would follow me. I laid under a tree and shot birds and they fought over who could jump the highest and get it before it hit the ground.

I think I am gonna delete the bookmark to that page before I spend the money on it.
But it's right here if anyone else just has to have one.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/1018416 ... Term=Astra Cub .22 Short

[Bill in Oregon]

What a great story. Wow, 30 cats! And they ate scorpions and chased rattlesnakes? I had no idea. And you shot birds out of the tree with that little old peashooter!

[JimT]

When my Dad moved onto the Spear S Ranch near New River, AZ it had not had anyone living there for quite some time. The needles on the ground from the Tamarack trees were thick under them and turned out to be full of scorpions. I was stung 3 times the first night! Dad got all the cat he could find and they were fun to watch. A cat would catch a scorpion .. play with it awhile and then kill it and eat everything except the last few segments of the tail and stinger.

They also fought rattlers. There was a pregnant cat who fought a rattler and killed it. She was struck in the face during the battle. Swelled up pretty badly but laid around, gave birth, nursed the babies and by the time their eyes were open she was back to normal. Dad and Mom made sure she had food and water all the time but they never gave her any kind of medicine.

I had a hard time hunting rabbits because there would be a bunch of cats following me and meowing, wanting me to shoot something for them to eat.

It was a great place ... we had a 300 yard shooting range right beside the house with a big ole rock mountain for a backstop. Rocky as it was, the place was crawling with rattlesnakes. I lost track of how many I killed. With all the cats around they eventually did not come near the house much.

It was a hardscrabble ranch. 800 acres of patented land and a BLM lease of ... maybe 1200 acres. Not sure anymore. On a good year you could run maybe 400 head. I don't remember any good years. Before Dad moved onto the place a guy leased the grounds to run cattle on and brought in about 400 head of Corrientes. There wasn't any rain and soon they were starving. He tried hauling in feed but ran out of money and they all starved. Years after if you were out exploring you would run onto the remains of some poor cow that starved to death.

[Drawdown]

Yes it is, dangerous towards your $livelihood, and nervous system! Especially when those mod 86's in 33wcf or Mod 71's start taunting me!

[2ndovc]

I have my dad's Colt version of that pistol.

Surprisingly accurate pistols. I set up an IDPA silhouette target ay 50 YDS! I emptied the magazine not thinking
I'd have more than a couple of hits. When I walked downrange to check the target I was thrilled with what I found.
Every round, center mass in a 5" group.

I rarely carry the Colt as it was my dad's, but once in a while If I want to pack a pocket pistol that no one will notice, I slip it in a pocket holster
off I go. There's always heavier backup shooters in the truck if needed.

jb

[JimT]

I've read that up until 1968 Astra made the Colt Junior for Colt. It's the same gun as the Astra Cub. I never shot the Colt's version but I know the Astra versions were accurate.

[.45colt]

Great Cat story Jim! My favorite is when My Kids were little about 35 years ago We spent a day out in N/E ohio on a big farm with friends. out back of the Big barn was a pond about 2 acres and the kids loved to fish. We made our way to the pond and about a dozen cats followed like sharks. The owner told us to throw every little bluegill on the bank , the pond was full of them. for an hour those cats had a feeding frenzy . those cats were wild animals and acted like it.

[jeepnik]

In the early/mid 70's I was stationed at Torrejon AB in Spain. One of the guys carried one of these in his pocket. I wanted to get a 1911 but they were unobtanium at the Rod and Gun Club. They did have a Llama Comanche .357 that looked strongly like a S&W. The action wasn't In the S&W realm, but it was solid and turned out to be very reliable and accurate too boot. It did have a 4" barrel, but this is what I chose to carry. A lot of folks carried either .380's or .38 snubbies.