Got a Gun Boot on there for now!

[AlaskaCub]

Well a little creative ingenuity (redneck engineering) and I have established something that tightly holds the gun boot to my sled. I know it aint perty but its really on there, no wiggle at all. That back rail is about all I had to work with, and it appears to be okay. If only I could find some industrial grade wider hose clamps I'd be set. But I can tug on this thing and it no movey!

 

[Jktimm]

Nice work...

Nice work...

Watch out ptarmigan!

 

[truth2ak]

Redneck!

Redneck!

Hey I am a redneck and I resemble that remark.


By the way what kind of sled is that?

 

[AlaskaCub]

Skandic Tundra LT 550

 

[truth2ak]

Your Machine

Your Machine

I have been considering that machine but thinking about the 4 stroke. Do you like it? How's the gas mileage, ride, power of the 550 etc?

I thought it may be kinda tippy if you know what I mean. but I don't know anyone else that has one, and can't get on one because I live in the bush.

 

[AlaskaCub]

I like it a lot. I wasn't interested in the far more expensive 4 stoke, price and weight. The 550 Fan is pretty much bulletproof, the new gearing set up in the clutch system in these new LT 550's is quite impressive hence it makes it feel far more powerful than a guy would think. The stance is narrowish but with the 154" track it keeps her on the snow pretty well. But on the flipside a guy can really man handle this machine, its not very heavy. It turns on a dime and seems to float very well with the 6.9 Pilot skis. It can put a long at a snails pace with no stress on the belt too. The gas mileage appears to be in the 12-14 mpg area and it has a 9 gallon tank, I imagine if you towing a heavy load it may drop a bit. I'd not discard it as an amazing utility sled unless you must have a 4stroke.FWIW I have read that the 4 stroke is quite tippy, probably because its heavier.

 

[sayak]

Long ago...

Long ago...

... and far away, when I was young and spry and out hunting anything that walked, flew or swam all fall, winter, and spring long, I had a gun scabbard hooked to my machine. The machine itself was a Polaris LongTrak 440 and the cowling was long and relatively flat. I made a scabbard out of the plastic from a child's rollable tobaggon- you know, the kind you buy at like safeway for a few bucks. I cut it so that it was the shape of a rifle or shotgun when folded over on itself, lined it with carpet, and riveted where the two sides came together. Before I riveted it, I mounted it to a piece of plywood with carriage bolts inset and epoxied in place. I drilled two holes in my cowling, and used wing nuts to secure it from inside. It worked great, because any time I saw game I just reached down with my left hand and grabbed my gun and was ready to shoot. I used to shoot ptarmigan from the machine, right over the windshield, and they always seemed more mezmorized when the machine was running than when I got off and started hoofing after them.

Drawbacks? It required drilling holes in my cowling; the carpet was a mistake because it held water and would rust my blued barrels if left in overnight; and it was a little awkward when lifting the cowling due to the extra weight. I sold the scabbard with that machine and never made another because I found that having a gun slung diagonally over my back with a loose sling was almost as good. Also, most cowlings don't lend themselves to such an arrangement anymore, though some might.

The only drawback I see with your arrangement is that you will have to come to a complete stop, get off your machine, walk to the rear, and take off the lid before you get to your gun to even line up a shot. Not a problem if your machine is only a conveyance to your hunting area and you plan to walk around, but if you're chasing birds you may want to consider a means for a faster draw.

 

[AlaskaCub]

Not a problem if your machine is only a conveyance to your hunting area and you plan to walk around,

Thats exactly what my goal has been , a place to mount the gun till I get where I am going or for when I am just riding for fun but want to have a gun available if I get an incidental shot at something. I like having a rifle with me, but dont always want to wear it. Of course there will be times when I will have it slung across my back or chest , but not all the time.

 

[truth2ak]

tippy

tippy

I like it a lot. I wasn't interested in the far more expensive 4 stoke, price and weight. The 550 Fan is pretty much bulletproof, the new gearing set up in the clutch system in these new LT 550's is quite impressive hence it makes it feel far more powerful than a guy would think. The stance is narrowish but with the 154" track it keeps her on the snow pretty well. But on the flipside a guy can really man handle this machine, its not very heavy. It turns on a dime and seems to float very well with the 6.9 Pilot skis. It can put a long at a snails pace with no stress on the belt too. The gas mileage appears to be in the 12-14 mpg area and it has a 9 gallon tank, I imagine if you towing a heavy load it may drop a bit. I'd not discard it as an amazing utility sled unless you must have a 4stroke.FWIW I have read that the 4 stroke is quite tippy, probably because its heavier.[/Well I am not sure about the 4 stroke being tippy because of the weight as there is only 30 + lbs difference. Possibly it is just perception]

 

[AlaskaKodiak]

Hey Cub
Where did you get that box on the back? I have the same sled. The gun mount looks good

 

[AlaskaCub]

At the SkiDoo dealership here (Compeaus), its an OEM accessory, equipped with the quick detach mounting hardware. Downside is that it wasn't cheap, you can check em out on the ski doo website under rider gear and accessories.

 

[HuntNphotos]

I ended up doing the same thing, only I used the gunboot mount on the newer boot and then a bungee cord to keep the nose from flopping around. Should work good and I like it being a little higher so the case is not quite as covered in snow and ice when its all over with. Yours looks a little stiffer though.

 

[AlaskaCub]

Looks good! That was the set up I wanted to go with but man it wiggled like crazy. I could only imagine that if it were cold enough out the wiggle I had going on would break the boot. I was given a tip from a buddy that if you silicone some terry cloth around the rim of the lower portion of the boot, that when you slip the top on it seals it up tight so snow wont blow in it. Will be giving that a try .

 

[HuntNphotos]

This new mount doesnt seem near as wiggly as the older one I have and with the bungee cord it is pretty snug. Good tip on the terry cloth though. That should work nicely to keep the snow out!