I agree, there's a time and place for a calculated and proportional response. The challenge is balancing what you perceive to be an appropriate response with what your future/potential customers will perceive as an appropriate response.
As an individual, I'm very direct with people. I don't like passive-aggressive comments, subtle jabs, or indirect attacks, and I make a habit of addressing those issues when they come up. I'm much more cautious any time my professional reputation or credibility could be compromised by what I say or do. I'm fortunate enough that none of my work is related to my hobbies in any way, so nothing I say or do online will have any impact on my business dealings. You're in a much more difficult position because your passion and your business are so heavily overlapped.
Just remember, perspective dictates perception. How the public sees your interactions will determine what they take away from those interactions. You can be above the rest of the internet swamp and still defend your product and brand. Hammer is already well ahead of most of the competition. All you have to do is sit back and let your products speak for themselves.
I was trying to think of a way to make this exact point tactfully, I'm glad you did prior to me. I 100% agree with what your saying.
At the point that you are providing projectiles for Weatherby, why do you even care what a member on a forum says to or about you? It isn't going to hurt or change your business. Perhaps I have a different perspective, I have people say all types of insults and derogatory remarks to or about me on a nearly daily basis, and since it makes no difference in how I do my work or affect my job, I ignore it and carry on. My work speaks for itself, just like your products do. If I "kick the chihuahua" so to speak, I loose my job and maybe go to jail myself. To take those offenses personal would be somewhat immature and middle school-ish, and get me in hot water. But honestly, immature middle school banter is somewhat of the perception you are putting off, like it or not. I think your a good guy Steve, and I know you are passionate about what you do and that is fantastic, and I hope that never changes. But man, you gotta find a way to let these things go and rise above it. Dragging dirty laundry into an otherwise great thread isn't doing anyone any good, and just leads to another thread being dragged through the mud. I'm not saying this trying to hurt feelings or call anyone out, but I'm trying to help.
Think of it from Weatherby's standpoint too, if the owner of their premium bullet line, along with his friend, are continually getting in online verbal confrontations with past, current, or possible future customers, do you think that has the potential to shine some negative light on the partnership?
I'm not saying to stop posting or leave the forum, you offer good insight and a great resource of information related to your projectiles, and I think everyone has enjoyed following along as your business has grown, but try to be more tactful with your responses. This thread could have avoided most or all of this garbage if you had simply omitted one sentence.