deerslayer

A friend recently notified me that I could have his deceased father's Dillon RL 550, but that it may not be worth the trouble (it was in bad shape). Knowing Dillon's reputation for quality and "no BS" warranty, I decided it would be worth getting. I wasn't disappointed. I contacted Dillon, told them the story, and was told to send it to them. For the cost of shipping, Dillon refurbished the 550 and upgraded it to a 550B. They replaced almost $200 in parts. Here's what they started with: Here's the 550 now (with a couple extra accessories): Needless to say, Dillon is top-notch. For $18, I got back an almost new 550, and I wasn't even the original owner. When Dillon says lifetime, no BS warranty, they mean it! BTW, I plan to compensate my friend for hooking me up.

In Memphis, some of your best options less than 4 hours away are in Arkansas. Try Spring River in the spring--it's full of drunks in the summer, but there probably aren't too many canoers in April. Farther north (actually across the line in MO) is the Current River (MUCH less crowded). Petit Jean State Park just past Conway is a cool place. Blanchard Springs north of Heber Springs is nice, too. Farther west, there are all kinds of places in the Ozarks. Buffalo River area is worth checking out. In TN, four and a half or five hours away is Fall Creek Falls State Park, and it's worth the drive. Two more hours past that is my favorite place, the Smokies, but they are a little far for a weekend or even a three day trip. I've hunted at LBL, but never really camped there. I've heard lots of good stuff about it, and want to go someday.

Let me get this straight. With a 500 yard zero, your .264 is still dead-on at 700 and only drops 2"-4" at 1000? I haven't consulted any ballistic tables and I know the .264 Win Mag is a flat-shooting round, but I find this a little hard to believe. To zero at 500 yards, the round would have to be way high at 200-300, then after dropping on the zero at 500, it seems it would continue slowing down and therefore, continue dropping. To remained zeroed at 700, the bullet would have to stop dropping at 500, and follow a straight path for 200 yards. Then it starts dropping again? I'm no ballistics professor, but something doesn't add up. Just sayin'

I shoot handguns left-handed, but am right eye dominant, and do the same thing--rotate my head slightly to the left (as opposed to tilting it), and I can see two hands, two thumbs, two guns, and two sights when I think about it. I just ignore the one on the right (the one I can see through). I've been doing this for 30+ years, and rarely notice it. Sounds like you're perfectly normal, unless this recently started. It gets really interesting shooting a scoped rifle with both eyes open.

+1 I immediately thought the same thing--there are several other ways to qualify for CMP buys. I'm not being negative either, just responding to what the original post stated. Whatever the case, I'd love to attend a CMP clinic. I've got a Colt 6601 that's bored to death; it would be the perfect rifle for me to use to get some High Power schoolin'.

I measure my ingredients by hand, but am extremely precise a few ounces of Dales some Worchestershire a little bit of Heinz 57 a few sprinkles of Cavender's Greek seasoning a few drops of Liquid Smoke Several years ago, when CWD became an issue with deer meat, I started browning it lightly in a skillet before dehydrating it. I was afraid this would ruin the taste and texture, but it wasn't a big deal. Then mad cow showed up, so I started browning beef as well (usually stew chunks). Now I just brown everything. Every time I make it, I think, "what went wrong," but after three days in the fridge, it's always just right.

FWIW, IMR 4350 when loaded in a .30-06 is not as efficient with the lighter bullets (150 grain and less). 4064 and 4895 are more typical for 150 grain bullets. Not sure about all cartridges, but I think it's a good powder for mid-range to heavier bullets for most calibers.

I think a .308 is typically about 100-150 fps less than .30-06. .308 is my next rifle, BTW. Gotta have one (sniper wannabe). .243 compared to .30-30 IS a laser. Highly versatile cartridge, too--55 grain bullets from Winchester (lightest I know of) to 105 grains. With 55s, you get .22-250 ballistics for varmints, and with 100s and 105s, you get a legitimate whitetail thumper, all in one rifle that won't shake your fillings loose.

Let us know the new date.

+1 .30-378 is the king of hunting rifles (if you need that much horsepower)

I have Bellsouth/AT&T. I know I have lots of e-mail storage, but have no idea how to utilize it for posting pictures on a forum. I'm a bit of a binary numbnuts.

What always cracks me up is when guys try to tell me how bullets rise. One guy had proof too--"it shows it on the back of the Remington ammo box." Some refuse to believe me when I tell them that bullets don't rise; the barrel is pointed slightly upward in relation to the line of sight so that the bullet will drop right on target. Kinda like when Peyton Manning throws a ball--it goes up, then comes down as it slows.

Agreed--Core Lokt is cheaper stuff; I just kept quoting their numbers for apples-to-apples comparisons. A quick search of Remington's ballistics pages reveals very similar numbers with their Premier Accu-Tip loads. I prefer 168 Ballistic Silvertips in my .30-06. My load is 56 grains of IMR 4350, and velocity is 2800-2850 out of a 24" barrel. My dad's favorite load for his Ruger M77 was 51 grains of IMR 4064 with 150 grain Sierra flat base Spitzers. They averaged 2900 out of the M77's 22" barrel, and he shot several one hole groups with them. Most 150 .30-06 loads average around 2900, but some approach 3000. 2600 sounds like a reduced-recoil type load. I agree with mugster--a 500 fps difference just doesn't sound realistic. BTW, I wan't knocking the .243--I think it's a fine round and I want one someday. IMO, it's just not the laser beam that many seem to think.

Ok, since the TGO changeover I can no longer post pics. Under forum rules in the bottom left corner, it says "you may not post attachments." How is everyone else posting pictures? Are you using a host site, such as photobucket?

That was one long sentence. So you think that 200-300 fps that the .300 offers over the .30-06 was the difference in penetration? No two shots/hits are exactly alike. What kind of bullets were you using with each? From my experience, .30 caliber 150 grain Ballistic Tips come apart and do not penetrate at .30-06 velocity (~2900 fps), especially when hitting part or all of the shoulder. Drive that same bullet out of a .300 at 3100 or 3200 fps, expansion will be even more violent and fragmentation will be even worse. FWIW, a .243 was mentioned earlier as being "a laser." According to Remington's website, once again, a 100 grain Core Lokt load zeroed at 150 yards drops 10.4" at 300 yards--barely 1" difference from the .30-06. I'm not trying to come across as a .30-06 Nazi or something, just trying to point out that the advantages offered by other calibers thought to be far superior are almost insignificant.

Well, let's see. According to Remington's website, here's a quick comparison between the four calibers I mentioned. All are using lighter "Core Lokt" bullets for apples-to-apples purposes. results at 300 yards with a 150 zero: .30-06 w/ 150 grain bullet 11.4" low and 1445 ft.-lbs of kinetic energy .270 w/ 130 grain bullet 9.8" low and 1472 ft.-lbs of kinetic energy 7mm Mag w/ 140 grain bullet 8.5" low and 1878 ft.-lbs of kinetic energy 300 Win w/ 150 grain bullet 8.7" low and 1828 ft.-lbs of kinetic energy While some may see these numbers as earth-shattering, I wouldn't turn around for the difference. The lowly .30-06 only drops barely 2.5" more than the mighty .300 Winchester Magnum at 300 yards. All the calibers still have plenty of power to flatten the fattest mule deer. Keep in mind that the kinetic energy formula squares velocity, which I'm not convinced should play such a significantly bigger role than bullet weight. I still know plenty of people who hunt with a .30-30. It's definitely ballistically inferior to the rounds above, but a friend used one to take a deer at 180 yards WHEN HE WAS 14 YEARS OLD. Not something I would encourage a 14 year old to try, but it can be done.

I can almost tie them without looking...

The 2009 TSR (just outside Memphis) has been moved from its usual March date to September. This is a plus--the weather is much more likely to cooperate (last year it was a bit wet). Also, the timing makes for a great tune-up right before the Nationals. Although we had 160 shooters at the 2008 TSR, nationwide match attendance seemed lower last year. $4 gas was probably partially responsible. In order to encourage attendance in this economic downturn, the 2009 TSR will have no prize table or match t-shirts, but the match fee will only be $55. Plaques will still be awarded to top shooters, of course. Make no mistake--this will be a serious match with some of the most challenging IDPA stages you will ever see. The Match Director is an evil man when thinking of stages--he enjoys a good challenge. I have to deal with his madness all the time. Also, this is one of the few matches that actually includes an equipment check and a chrono. The MD set up a website just for the match: http://home.comcast.net/~tri-state-regional/site/?/home/ Come out and shoot with us--meet some good folks and shoot some quality stages!

Perhaps he was new to guns?? Maybe he was raised a flower child and has seen the light?? Cut the guy some slack--at least he's interested in getting a gun, which makes him a potential ally. I don't see the problem here. If I go to Best Buy and ask someone how I install some RAM in my computer, I'm no smarter than this guy was. Tying my shoe was a sonofabitch the first time I ever tried.

combat, self-defense. tomato, tomota. Three thugs with bad intentions may require more than five hits, which may well require more than five rounds. Handguns are merely loud BB guns. I may not always be able to simply run away or avoid the area. I've never been in the Marines or to Vietnam or to Gunsite, but I have learned to never say something can never happen. Thus, I don't carry according to what the so called "average" gunfight is thought to be.

.30-06 here. The trend is to get a 300 Ultra Super Short Extended Super Belted Magnum, but I think the perceived need for all the extra power for taking 150 pound whitetails is silly. If everyone realized how little the difference is in energy and trajectory between a .30-06, .270, 7mm Rem. Mag, and .300 Win. Mag, there would be a lot of suprised people. I bet the .30-30 still has the most confirmed kills.

Glock 19 or 23 w/ an extra magazine. The spare is more for fixing a malfunction that for having extra shots on tap. Now that I own a S&W 442, I sometimes carry a BUG in the front pocket. Whether talking about BUGs or extra mags, I think the SEALs sum it up best: "Two is one and one is none."

A single stage press shouldn't be ruled out for reloading rifle rounds (depending on how many you will need). I'm about to get a Dillon 550 set up and running, with the intention of cranking out 9mm now, and hopefully .223 down the road. Everybody tells me the general rule of thumb is to go ahead and get the 650 if you ever want to run a casefeeder, but I doubt I ever will. The Dillon "no BS" warranty is just that--they are a great example of what "American made" used to mean.

Had one--a CDP II Compact w/ internal extractor. Worst $1000 spent in the history of mankind...

Good advice except for the assumption that "realistic combat" never involves more than five rounds...