woodshunter
Member
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2019
- Messages
- 57
I know there will be differing answers to this post. If I made too long a post just skip over it...but I will relate mine, I was dumb as a rock when I wanted to get into it. Had just bought a 22-250 varmint rifle with every penny I had and wanted to see what it would do compared to factory Remington green box. Met a gentleman who had a real gunshop about 20 minutes from where my wife and I had just moved to and fell in love with the place at first visit, in fact he had just sold me the varmint rifle. He was a good reloader that had patience and made the time to share his knowledge with me, he taught me in his own way and took into account that I didn't have much money to spend (2 boys to raise and lots of bills). He set me up with the basics and showed me how to make do with some basic common sense. Rockchucker press with an RCBS balance scale, RCBS hand primer so I would learn what primer seating pressure felt like. He said don't scrimp on the case trimer or case prep tools but showed me some tricks to get around brass cleaners and case lube equipment. A low cost way to get by without a powder measure or trickler, but for goodness sake spend whats needed for good dies. Showed me how to read a fired case and watch for subtle signs of pressure (every gun and chamber are different). Finally I reached the level he was at and as times changed and I could now afford any tool I wanted or needed, I continued further on to some bench shooting and match prepping brass. Weight sorting and primer pocket deburring and concentricity work. Chamber formed and lightly bumped brass, sizing wax and graphite (pencil mark inside case necks for sliding over sizers). He taught me how to build my own rifles from pieces (Savages are one of the easiest with the removable barrels) so I could see the difference as I developed ever tightening loads. I owe it all to him...….I told him I joined a forum and it had a lot of decent posters and mods, I hope he comes on and happens to see this thread he sure changed a lot for me. woods