6x47 Handi handloading and Type 2 Diabetes

[Fred M]

As you all know I have both a custom 6x47 created from a 223 and a 17HMR Lowwall. Both are suberbly accurate varmint rifles. My perference has been with the 17HMR which has broken down recently and requires to be send back to the factory rep in Montreal.
 
To keep the crows away from the bird feeder I had to make some new ammo for the 6x47. I have not made any ammo for the 6x47 Handi for  long time like several years. In the mean time I have developed type 2 Diabetes. Subsequently the decese has caused nerves to degenerate in my finger tips and toes.
 
The non sensitivity in my finger tips creates all sorts of unpleasentries picking up the small 55gr 6mm bullets and small primers with many falling down on the carpet which is most frustrating. Non of the diabetes medications are all that heplfull some causing digestive problem.
 
The best way to curb the effects of diabetes is to quit eating and looseing weight, which I hae been doing for a while to lower my body mass index (BMI).
 
Whith all this trouble I have managed to build a couple of boxes 6x47 to blast the crows, when they come scouting for the bird food. They sit back at first about 75-80 yards in the trees, thinking they are safe from my air pistol. I think the crows are the smartest animals in the woods.
 
I have to rethink about reloading these small calibers. The 17HMR is the best yet a most wonderful
caliber for short range varminting. The 6x47 Handi I love for long range varminting out to nearly 400,
 yrds with incredible accuracy. We go up to th cabin on the weekend and I sse how many crows I can bust.
 
The 6x47 is an easy enough cartridge to hand load with nimple fingers. Expensive to build in an Handi.
But great fun to shoot no recoil and not much noise.

[thejanitor]

Fred- Sorry to hear you lost the feeling in those fingers, I just had this conversation with a guy at work who had his thumb severed and re-attached (no feeling) he hates loading for the 17s now, a guy gave him some kind of fancy tweezer that has a tool dip or something on the bullet grabbing end. He said it is still a pain but he does better without pinching his finger/thumb in the press, and like you- dropping them.
Not sure it will help you but he found it to work better for him.  Take care, thejanitor

[Dinny]

Fred,
  Could it be easier to just buy a .17 HMR Handi rifle and stick to factory ammo? When yours gets back from the factory, you could invite a friend to share along with the crow busting fun!


Diabetes is no fun but, with time, you will get it to a more manageable state. Hang in there!




Thanks, Dinny

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

Fred, I too suffer from the Type 2 Diabetic numby fingers. One little thing I've found to help dealing with the little primers and bullets is a tweezer used by stamp & coin collectors. Sometimes called duck bill tweezers. I don't load the 17's but do load .204's.


Can't let those crows off that easy.

Bill

[gcrank1]

Sorry to hear!
Any chance you can have a reliable buddy make those small caliber loads for you in quantity to your recipe? Im sure you could find an equitable trade of some sort and just simplify your life.
Ive been having to learn (re-learn) that I dont have to do everything myself.........

[Fred M]

Fred,
  Could it be easier to just buy a .17 HMR Handi rifle and stick to factory ammo? When yours gets back from the factory, you could invite a friend to share along with the crow busting fun!
Thanks, Dinny

That is what my wife says buy another 17 HMR. But I am so spoiled with my "Low Wall" and 6x47 I am
reluctent to go for another Handi. The two that I have were a desaster and cost me a lot of money
to make them shoot. The two match barrels that I have on both Handi's are not available at H&R.
I make do with the 6x47. Reloading just takes a litle longer, and crow shootng is a pretty slow with very few shots being fired.

[bikerbeans]

Fred,
 
I agree with you on the intelligence of the crows.  They are always in my wife's horse pastures unless I have a rifle and then they are long gone.  I gave up on shooting them and now just watch them as I don't grow crops so they don't really bother me that much.  It is a lot of fun to watch the purple martins give the crows a lesson in dive bombing & aerial combat.
 
All the best in your medical battle, Type II is a constant battle.
 
BB

[26-t]

Fred, I had trouble with my hands when I was on Metformen( may not be spelled correctly) .I was on it for several years .I talked with my Indocranoligest (doctor) about the problems I was having and he change my med's. And in time it was gone and I have near normal feeling back.  It is a hard row to hoe BUT it is well worth the effort. Keep at it and it can come round for you.   26-t Tom

[gunther66]

Fred
Very sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with diabetes. I can tell you what needs to be done to control this disease but I am not real successful doing it myself.In a few words,get the lard off! Excerise regulary and lay off the carbs.
I'll bet you already knew this.
Good luck.G66

[quickdtoo]

Sorry to hear of the health issues Fred, I'm pre-diabetic and working on avoiding it, loosing weight on a low carb diet, best of luck to you dealing with it. 

Tim