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Originally Posted by Icelander
That was pretty awesome of your father.
Do you recall anything about the ammunition in the 80s, who made it and how it was marked? Were those Jacketed Soft Points? How heavy were the bullets?
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Jacketed soft points, yes, as were almost all US 'hunting loads' at the time. Remington. Not sure of the size, but I tended to favor light bullets at that age, for reduced recoil. Maybe 80 grains? (Don't quote me.)
12 was the legal age to hunt. And I've always been a bit of a shooting prodigy, of which my father was inordinately proud. But you know I think I mis-remembered: I used my uncle's .30-30 for my first deer season, so I got the .243 when I was 13. Then I got a scope when I was 14. And I still have that rifle. I haven't fired it in a decade, but I just can't sell the deer gun my dad bought for me...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Icelander
Also, do you recall anything about the .22 LR ammunition you used in the 80s? What brands could you buy and what kind of bullets did those have? Was there anything soft or expanding? What about 'ball' ammo, under what name would it be sold in stores?
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I'm pretty sure these were usually Remington, too. You could buy bricks of 500 rounds. There were other bargain brands, though, for plinking. What was the brand? I'm blanking. And there was another common inexpensive brand that had gold-colored bullets. Grr- I can't remember. But, yes, hollow points were commonly available. High-quality Lapua target ammo was hard to get, but could be had if you wanted it badly enough. Usually your FLGS would have to order it for you. You bought it by the box of 25, though. That stuff was (and is) expensive.
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Originally Posted by Icelander
On the subject of school holidays, did you get a long Christmas break or just time off for the actual holidays themselves, i.e. Christmas Day and maybe the day before and after?
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We had a long Christmas break, usually through New Years Day. But that was Pennsylvania. And if you had already had a few snow days they would shorten it, or shorten spring break. School districts vary a lot in the US- there is no national curriculum.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Icelander
The PCs are in a tiny village on the 20th and 21st of December, 1988, and I'd like to know what the status on the local school is and where all the children will be during the day. Even if there is no teaching on those days, would there be some sort of day-care for younger kids still operating?
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Public day care?!? In the US in the 80s? Of course not! Thats why you have a mother, and preferably an extended family in the area. The kids will be out sledding or whatever is popular locally. "Free-range" kids, remember? :)
EDIT-- Aha! It was the
Remington budget/inexpensive .22 ammo that had
gold bullets! They still sell them in 36 or 40 grain.