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Kind of neat how some problems take care of themselves...

Most Modest Regards, Matt.

Told myself don't bother.......but I'm gonna........

You should understand that there a group of pretty experienced folks on this board but practically NOBODY that thinks they know it all. Most of this group pretty easily recognizes a barge full of BS when it floats past.

There are also a bigger bunch of folks that only know what what ballistic tables, marketing releases, and their buddy down the block says.

Many of the second group post repetitive (seemingly dumb) questions because they suspect that they might be mis/un-informed.

Many of the second group WANT their rifles to shoot 200 fps faster than pressure tested data says it should. (So they keep stuffing in powder until it happens) "ain't blowed up yet...must be OK"

Or they believe that a 300 super ultra bitchin' will get 'em that ass shot elk @ 479 (est.) yards that their '06 would not.

Whatever........YOU should get the point.

Most of the more experienced group tend to be very patient in their manner of address to the less experienced, and try to be helpful. Occasionally they will flame a "barge floater" but there is less flaming here than on any board I have seen.

Before you go.......................your experience could/should be invaluable to the inexperienced or the ballistically naive. You could be a valuable asset to many here......but the attitude needs adjustment for you to be welcome.

Just my $0.02...............JimF

Have a nice trip, write when you find work!

458Lott writes: "Sounds like somebody is suffering from grumpy old man syndrome"
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Sheister: "Sounds like somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed today."
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...and who would have thought? His photo makes him out to be a happy chap.
For those of you who do not know, I'm the rookie who asked the question about 10 days ago, "To what calibers might I convert my 300 Wby Remington 721."

I freely admit that I know very little about centerfire rifles. A number of you took the time to respond and the consensus seemed to be: Leave it the $%^& alone! And I am very, very grateful to ALL of you who took the time to respond!!!!!

3 years ago (starting on the other board), I knew NOTHING about binoculars. (I think my first post was, "What kind should I buy?") Thanks to the time taken by many of you good folks (and John's book), I have learned a boat full and I have stopped making (hopefully) stupid mistakes in my own purchases and in my recommendations to others.

In many disciplines and hobbies (Flying, equestrian, amateur radio, handguns, etc.), I've seen otherwise good folks bark at or insult the newbie to the point that the newbie feels uncomfortable or discouraged and leaves the sport--and that is a loss for all of us.

I understand those frustrations as I have experienced it from both ends, but it takes little discipline to hold my tongue or refrain from typing something on the keyboard that is rude or dismissive. It may take a little more self control to hold your tongue when the newbie keeps bothering you in person, as can happen around an airport, but on the keyboard, one can merely move on to other posts if the stupid question should drive you to distraction.

If the good folks at sixgunner.com (John Taffin, Paco Kelly, Doc O'Meara, et al.) had said to me what they were probably tempted to say when I asked rookie questions 5 years ago ("What's better, the .44 or the .45?"), I would have lost interest in that hobby. And the stupid questions I asked about reloading handgun cartridges amaze me still. In there somewhere was the "What kind of loader should I buy?" (Answer: A Lee loader and a couple of load books and see if the hobby agrees with you.)

But I am deeply appreciative of all of those folks who either a) took the time to respond, or b) held their thoughts to themselves and moved on to some more sensible poster.

One definition of an expert is "anyone who knows more than I do." I am sure Stephen has forgotten more than I'll ever know about rifles and their loads and I am sure I could learn a lot from him and for that reason I hope he sticks around. If he should find my questions too pedestrian to bother with, I hope he can merely ignore them and move on to another.

My 2 cents

I've seen thin skin before but this guy must be darn near transparent. Certainly can tell he's an import to the west. I read his website said he's divorced and nobody called or wrote to him on Father's Day. I'll be darned if I can figure out why. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Heck, I was going to be in his neck of the woods day after tomorrow and even thought about looking him up. However, now I think I'll pass. Hope you are having fun by yourself in Saint Marie's.

Beltrack, awesome post dude! I sure wish I would of had a place like this to come to and ask questions 25 years ago. I would have saved a TON of time and even more money. I am sure I pestered the hell out of the guys at the BR shoots, pistol shoots and every other shoot I could find. I was probably the annoying kid, but once in a while I would hook up with a really cool gent that would not only answer my questions to my satisfaction, but invite me to shoot his guns. WOW...now that is cool! I guess that is what made me so gun nutty today (among other things). I love talking to new shooters and helping them with their questions. I let them shoot my stuff for free and hopefully hook them on the sport and safe firearms handling. Nobody knows everything, but some sure come across that way. They are the ones that smell of B.S. and usually can't hit their butt with both hands. You know the type. I just love this place!

B.S. spewers don't last long on this forum and for that I am grateful. AR is so puffed up with stuffed shirts, that I can't even stand to go there. It seems as though everyone is an expert. I get tired of that "hollier than thou" attitude over "there". Flinch

Beltrack--second what Flinch said. Outstanding post! We should all take your comments to heart... Thanks, SM

These boards sure have shortened my learning curve and I appreciate all who have helped me with the most basic and redundant questions. However, I'm not sure how much money places like this save me. I didn't know I wanted swirly McMillan stocks before finding this place! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Matt, how right you are.

ricciardelli, I understand where you are coming from. About fifteen years ago I started hunting and purchased a used Post 64. I was very young at the time and life was good using factory 150 core's and power points.

Then I started reading several magazines. After a while I became dazed and confused by all the magazine articles. Apparently you can't kill properly unless you shoot 1/2" groups from a bench with a magnum loaded with a bullet that gets you 90% + weight retention.

With my next purchase I was overwhelmed with all the new choices and strugled to define what my preferences were. Rather than jump in and find out, I took the simple path asked around (which complicates things even more).

About loading, I agree that help getting started is great. But I tend to think that people are just too lazy to enjoy the fun of trial and error. The irony is that the more trial and error, the more of an expert on the topic you become.

I don't think it's lazy at all to seek advice and/or load suggestions. Is it lazy to consult a reloading manual? It's basically the same thing isn't it?

There were some good back and forths when Mr. Ricciardelli started this post-logical, unemotional, factual rebuttals.

Then, there was the first insult. Others showed up to repeat insults, add more insults, even to the point of making fun of his appearance.

Maybe he was trying to say that there is joy and satisfaction in experimentation and discovery. Maybe he wasn't. Were all the personal attacks necessary? I do not think he went far enough to warrant such. Ya'll told him to lighten up so how about doing the same for now. He is not coming back so let that be the end of it please.

What started out as one member stating an opinion degraded into a p****ng match with personal insults. Rather shabby.

I understand, in part, where Steve is coming from. One of the best teachers I ever had said she would never "give me an answer" but would always be glad to help me work through a problem that I had already given some thought to. That, I grew to understand, is how we truly learn.

jim,

I beg to differ with your assertion that ole steve would never make it in marketing. On the contrary, start a thread with a controversial topic (over 1k views so far), one that most certainly will draw a ton of responses and INTEREST in this persons web site. BTW, one that cannot be shown in a signature (because he is obviously too cheap to pay the price !!!).

Wanna bet that his web site got hit a ton over this thread ??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I actually thought it was a pretty slick move on his part !!! LOL

Now about his site and the topic of this thread......his site is interesting and IMO, I think if ole steve was pushed to fess up, he would agree that these forums are a great place to exchange ideas and information. No matter how the questions are worded !!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I think you've been busted steve !!!! LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Tony.

DH,

I think it depends on how you approach it. I personally will consult load manuals before asking on a pubic forum. But it wasn't always that way, when I first started to get into the idea of reloading I asked a lot of those questions ... and there is nothing wrong with it if you don't have your own reference material and want understanding ... but as I aqqurired more reloading manuals my need for questions goes down. I think it is a personal preference ... there are a lot of people who just don't like to read. I personally think by the time a question is answered on the web ... one can usually find the resorces on the web.

So Steve's argument has some validity .... IMO .... you can either have some one give you the answer or in the same amount of time you can find it ... granted not all the answers are easy to find ... that's why I love this place so much. When I cannot find an answer, someone here if not give me the answer ... most likely I will get steered in the proper direction!

And there is nothing wrong with the compare and contrast questions ... as long as you personally thought about it before hand. As RemFan makes mention of ... there are quite a few of us on this board who cannot purchase several rifles or handguns to test and see what we like ... most likely after we purchase it we are stuck with it and have to make the best of it for a couple of seasons. By asking questions on something you are at least slightly informed makes the answering all the easier.

The ones that kill me are I need a pair of Binoculars ... which one should I buy! Instead of those people asking the question ... odds are someone asked the same question less than 2-3 weeks prior. Read those posts ... and then ask a more specific question. Even "who makes a good glass for $250" quantifies the question a little.

Just my $0.02 ... don't spend it all in one place <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This has split into two threads, for some reason. I just left a post about this subject on the other "What..." if anyone cares to read it. I'm far too lazy to type it twice.

I bowed out of Accurate Reloading after carefully considering--over an extended period of time--whether the owner Saeed was in fact an enemy of my country. I came to the conclusion that he most certainly is, as are several of the foreign members at AR.

Not my kind of company...

Dan

I'm sorry but I can't let Dan's comments regarding Saeed go unchallenged. What in the hell makes you think that he is "an enemy of my country?" Do you have any facts to back this up or is it the fact that he is from an Arab country? Of all the unfounded posts I've ever read in any forum, this one takes the cake. jorge

As I said, I carefully considered the situation for a while before coming to my conclusion. There is no question in my mind that Saeed, and many of the Aussies and Canadians who hang their hats at AR are unquestionably anti-American.

Hang out in the Gun Ownership and Politics section a while. I can't make it any plainer than that. Saeed is constantly posting links to anti-American publications. He constantly puts down our government, veiling his slams as only against George Bush. But it's simple enough to see where his mind is. He was big time against us going into Iraq and draining that cesspool. He pretends to be the "gracious host," but thinking men aren't fooled.

I'll graciously <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> give you the last word here as we'll get nowhere trying to change each other's minds, I fear...

Dan

Yes, go visit the forum Dan mentioned and I think you'll see exactly what he's talking about. I'm done with AR.