Benelli M2

So here she is, the Benelli M2. Pictured above is the 12 guage, black synthetic shotgun. She's not the most esthetically fancy but she is definitely the sweetest choice for my first shot gun. Granted the Cordoba or the Supersport would be even more ideal but they are also a bit more expensive too. The Benelli M2 is my happy medium. I'm interested in Browning Citori or Franchi for my stylish OUs and SxS. There is also the Browning Cynergy or the BT-99 that are nice. There are really a lot of very nice guns out there.

There's so much going on with the M2 to make it the best choice. The most important features for me are all the innovations which makes it the least recoiling 12 guage in this price range. There's the inertia driven action, the chevron stock, easily adjustable gel pad and even an adjustable comb for my cheek. I'm splitting the gun with Don so having it easily adjust to both of us is essential. These guns are about $1300 so splitting the cost will allow me to get started on shooting much sooner. If that doesn't pan out then I'll either have to wait until June or July probably just get the Super Nova Pump from Benelli.

I'll be doing trap shooting probably 90% of the time, at least for the first year or so. I currently live in Seattle and have a full time job so reality tells me I wont be hunting as much as I'd like. Besides, I'm a wuss when it comes to foul weather. I'll do my best to go out each weekend but at first, I'll be trying to get very, very good at hitting my targets. I need to handle the gun safely and have it be second nature. That, for me, takes a lot of practice too. Hitting my targets dead on is a requirement. I don't want to wound the animal. I need to make a clean, humane kill every time.

Trap loads have less kick back but I'm planning on shooting at least 50 rounds each day that I am at the shooting range. Hopefully I'm there more than once a week. After a while, I'm sure my shoulder will cry so getting the softest kicking 12g is very important to me. I really want to get good and am considering joining a woman's league as soon as I've learned how to hit the clay targets.

The Benelli M2 is also the gun used by Tom Knapp. I really like him. I've seen him on Bird Dogs Forever and he's a great guy. He's an exhibition shooter. He has the world record for shooting 10 clay targets, hand tossed, in 2.2 seconds. 10! Each one shot cleanly with a shotgun! He shoots Benelli. He also holds the record for fastest and most clays hit with a pump gun and that's also with a Benelli. His Benelli M1 has shot 480,000 rounds and is in a Museum. Benelli supplies the Marines with M4s too. I'm totally sold on Benelli.

I want their R1 Rifle and maybe even the Supernova Pump. :) But that's at least a year from now. Oh.. they are coming out with Vinci. It's funny because one of my co-workers wanted me to name my new puppy Vinci. Perhaps I should get the gun instead. :) I really wonder what this new shotgun is going to be like.

While on the Hunter's Education class, I happened to sit next to the owner of Adventure Sports in Lynnwood, WA. What are the chances? He was there for his son. Joel is great. I am impressed by him. He is really polite and he wasn't scared to answer questions in front of the whole class and he knew a lot about guns. They are both really good people. Very friendly and knowledgeable and have a passion for the sport. I'm definitely buying my guns from their shop. The Benelli M2 is only the first.

I'd also really like a sweet side by side and a really nice over-under someday. Mike, the owner, showed me a S&W, 20g, sxs today. I held that beautiful shotgun and wow. It was exquisite. It had this blue enameled thing going on with the action and it felt so light and easy in my hands. It is sleek and smooth, very clean and simple. It is elegant. As you probably can tell, I really liked this gun a lot. It was $2200 so.. it will be a while. I want to see many SxS and OUs before I make my choice. Instead of buying jewelry, I'm going to hand down my prized guns.

I want my SxS and OUs to be really nice collector pieces but not so nice that I'm afraid to use them. I'll be shopping for those in the future. It's a lot of money to start falling for guns. :) I'll start with my practical guns then get into collecting. :)

I'll never be able to buy a house in the city at this rate but that's alright with me. I think I'll just save for a decent piece of land out in the country to retire in someday. I'll be happy with that. :) Small organic farm, hunt often. Sounds peaceful. :)

Puppy Class

This is Khan's mom, the day before Khan was born. He was one of the big one's Sarah's sister spoke about from the ultra sound. :) Maggie really did look like a pot bellied pig.

She gave birth to the pups the next day, I think started around 2pm? When I called, number 3 was just born. That's Khan. By the time I was off the phone, she was on number 5. I was on the phone about an hour, I think. Number 8 was stuck for a couple of hours, and they all had to go to the vet. He survived and then out came number 9 which was pick of the litter.

Khan is the breeder's favorite. He's got a really great personality and doesn't get scared of things which will be great for all the things we will be doing. I'm considering agility and of course we will be hunting. I really love his coat too. He was my favorite when I saw everyone on the day of pick-up. I really loved the color of and pattern of his coat. He was impressively beefy. Real thick and wide. GSPs are not supposed to be super thick and he's not overly super thick, just heavy boned. Anyway, I figure I have to love the pup even if they don't champion so I better pick one that I like, so I chose the powerhouse. Number 3 became Khan. :)

We attended our puppy head start class and he made quite an impression on everyone! They all loved his coat pattern and complimented me on how beautiful he is. When he was done jumping on everyone and the kids, they realized how heavy he actually is for such a small thing. He's a real thick boned, beefy pup. He's already about 15-16" at the withers. He had a growth spurt but it has slowed now. The trainer used to show her Aussie and she was really liking Khan. He's gorgeous.

The class on our first day was mainly all socializing and lecture. Next week we are supposed to have our pups under much more control and sitting on command. We shall see how we do. :) I'll bring treats. Khan is VERY, VERY food driven. I'm really glad about that.

Potty whine

WOAH! Khan asked to go outside last night! He did the same same kind of worried whine sound at me as when he has to go from his kennel each morning. Made me think of him needing to pee so I automatically went for the door. He headed straight down the stairs from the deck to the grass and peed for a while. That makes me so happy. Now I hope he lets me know again.

Stubborn

Well, sure. He's smart and quick but also stubborn. He's intelligent enough to decide to ignore you too. I think I'll need the help of professionals or figure out a way to be smarter than the dog.

He retrieved a couple of times my way today so that is exciting and promising. He's gotten better at "sit" and "down" and "wait". They are much more comfortable at staying outside now too. They can still get a little whiny but it has gotten much, much better now. I just like to see them get some sun and breathe the outdoor air. They are both such wusses. Both want to be close to me all the time which is sweet and all but can be a little annoying. I need my space too.

He's doing better job at leaving Nadia's food dishes alone. He's very curious and sniffs around them but doesn't climb to get to them anymore. I still keep a very close eye on this and do remind him to leave it a lot but he's doing pretty well on his own now.

I can't wait for him to really get good at playing fetch. That's my favorite game with the dogs. Hank is almost perfect at it. I just don't like it when Hank "throws" the ball at me. I'd rather he fetched to hand unless I say "drop it". I need to tie Hank while I play with Khan also. Hank takes over and I can't focus on Khan to try and play fetch, then Khan gets distracted and plays with Hank. I should get a "chain gang" tie down and work with each separately. :)

He's so smart.

Khan is totally smart and quick, especially when food is involved. He learned "down" and "sit" right away. We do practice a lot and I'm not saying he's perfect but for a 13 week old pup he's pretty darn awesome. I'm probably just totally bias but, he's still an angel. I have such great dogs. :)

Growing fast

Khan has grown a lot just this past week. He's much taller, looking more like a regular dog now. I wonder how heavy he is. He was 17.3 at the last vet visit. They are both on Orijen. Hank on the Adult formula and Khan of course is on the puppy formula until he hits 50 pounds. That might be a little while since GSPs only weigh about 70 pounds full grown. He's growing really fast tho. I hope he doesn't get so big that he's disqualified from showing. That would be pretty lame and depressing.

He's still not potty trained and it's prolly because I'm doing something wrong. :( Hmm.... we will work on it.

Hank is Really Happy

Aww.. just look at Hank. He really is so happy for his puppy. I love dogs so much. If I had my own house and property I'd totally have more dogs. They are so much fun and so sweet. They are one of the best beings on this planet. I love them so much.



Ha ha, Khan looks all big and tough. He's just a little poop squirt. He's such a sweetie apple punkin' crab cake of a muffin.