Thanks for all the best of luck and wishes I have received. I know basic is going to flat out suck, but hey, its only 9 weeks and I'll never have to do it again. It will give me a great sense of accomplishment and pride that I will probly never get by doing anything else. Airborne does not intrigue me. I dont like heights. I am going to fort jackson, SC for basic training, then I'm off to fort lee, VA for my AIT school. I'm going to put in my request to be in fort lewis, WA because its close to home. But I doubt they'll send me where I want to go. They'll put me where they need me, not where I want. But it would be nice because I could drive home on a 3 day weekend and visit my family or hunt or whatever. I just hope I dont get stationed back east. Not what I'm use to for hunting or shooting. Its to thick back there for longer range shooting, unless you go to a 1000 yard match, out here its a lot less hassle to find a place to shoot 1000 yards. Also, I"m use to be able to do all kinds of hunting for animals. I get 2 kinds of deer, elk, bear, antelope, sheep, goats, which i've been on both hunts with family members who drew those tags, all kinds of upland/waterfowl, coyote, and squirrels. You just dont get that kinda mix back east, or the south. I guess I just love the northwest. I'm really gonna miss all the hunting and shooting I can do. All I gotta do is drive 5 minutes and I'm either shooting out to 1150 yards, or in coyote/mule deer territory. My g/f and I are talking about marriage, we have been together for 4 years, so thats another thing thats been on my mind lately. I just really want to build a LR rifle. I was thinking going full out and getting an Allen Mag, but there range is farther then I can shoot. A 300 RUM is still plenty for the distance I have practice at home which is out to 1150 yards, I think a 300 RUM could still take care of a bull elk or bear at that distance. Later on, if I wish in the future, I can always rebarrel to a 7 Allen Mag though. I will also be rebarreling my ruger 77 target, which is now a swift, I want a little 6 BR from all the talk on here. I got to looking into one of them and there ballistically amazing for only burning 30g of powder. I was thinking of a 220 swift AI, but again your burning 45g powder. Thanks again guys, you are all a great group of people, I am glad I became a member of this site.