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Things you wished you knew when you started?

My last one that I steered off bath was when I was replacing scales. Instead of investing into the a&d fx-120i, I bought a gem pro 300 which is good. But it leaves me wanting more and now looking at getting the entire fx-120i with v3 auto trickler and auto drop. But that's 1300 Canadian so might have to wait just a bit but will be my next big reloading purchase hoping by april

Its a purchase you won't regret. the A&D FX120i is worth every penny and the V3 auto trickler is you reload a lot. I have the scale but passed on the V3.
 
Re. Sending your used 550 for an overhaul. If it doesn't have lube holes I strongly suggest you send it in. I have both a newer and an older 550 and when the older model ( no lube points) froze up it was a pain in ********* to tear apart, order parts then order more parts when I found more worn parts. Spend the $100 for the overhaul and end up with a virtually new unit. And faster.

That's not a bad idea for a used machine. I've been the sole owner of mine for 21 years, and last year got the alignment rod thing from them, and tore it down and lubed it myself with chassis lube. Took about 90 minutes going slow. But had a bought one from someone else I'd send it to Dillon and they would check everything and make it like new. They also would do more than lube it, and replace all the normal wear and tear parts for that price, which considering the labor is cheap.
 
Can those that know please expand on the OP #4 lesson? I'm hoping to some day link up with some of you guys in the Gem state to actually get some real instruction (I have a list of excuses a mile long with young kids, sports, hall-passes, etc). But..... I have experienced inconsistencies that baffle me.
Currently I do 100% of my practice and killing with the same setup (pack as a front rest, rolled up coat over my left hand for rear support).
Someone please tell me I'm an idiot and that there's a better way.
My reasoning is that those two things will ALWAYS be at my disposal when hunting. So I figure I should practice the way I'm going to likely shoot at an animal (and therefor learn my capabilities/limits).
**** you get hall passes not me
 
I'm going to try to cover a broad spectrum of things with as few statements as possible I hate typing all the aforementioned things apply to me but I most wish I was nicer to my body early on in life I never thought about disappearing in the mountains for weeks if I had the chance but now with prescription meds etc. it is much more difficult and could possibly be dangerous if I was stuck there for a while also my vision would be muchBetter and generally just wish I got into long range shooting and reloading much earlier
 
Some things I wish I knew when I started.

1. How to properly work up a load
2. How important seating depth is
3. How to correctly find my lands
4. How to size brass to fit my chamber
5. Using temperature stable powder
6. Use the highest quality brass available for the cartridge you're shooting
7. Saving a few bucks on this or that can cause a headache later on down the road
8. Using a Magnetospeed chronograph
9. Stop Neck Sizing 😘
10. Don't shoot groups or go to the range if you're in a bad mood
11. You don't need a million rifles. Stick with a few, make each one have a specific task, and learn them inside and out.
12. Buy the best that you can afford. Save money for months if you have to in order to buy the best you can. It will pay you in the long run.
13. Never stop reading, testing, and tinkering. No matter how good you think you are or your setup is, always stay humble, always keep learning, and always continue improving. I've had a couple people in my life tell me that I was overthinking something or doing stuff that was unnecessary etc. What matters is what you see on paper and the proof is in the pudding. Even if there's no measure-able difference from the old way to your new way, if it gives you confidence, then keep doing it.
 
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Some things I wish I knew when I started.

1. How to properly work up a load
2. How important seating depth is
3. How to correctly find my lands
4. How to size brass to fit my chamber
5. Saving a few bucks on this or that can cause a headache later on down the road
6. Using a Magnetospeed chronograph
7. Stop Neck Sizing 😘
8. Don't shoot groups or go to the range if you're in a bad mood
9. You don't need a million rifles. Stick with a few, make each one have a specific task, and learn them inside and out.
10. Buy the best that you can afford. Save money for months if you have to in order to buy the best you can. It will pay you in the long run.
11. Never stop reading, testing, and tinkering. No matter how good you think you are or your setup is, always stay humble, always keep learning, and always continue improving. I've had a couple people in my life tell me that I was overthinking something or doing stuff that was unnecessary etc. What matters is what you see on paper and the proof is in the pudding. Even if there's no measure-able difference from the old way to your new way, if it gives you confidence, then keep doing it.
I am disgusted by #9! You should be ashamed :)
 
I am disgusted by #9! You should be ashamed :)
Haha trust me I have more than a few rifles as well. My point is, don't have 10 "deer rifles" and 6 "Varmint rifle" and so on. You can have as many as you want, but when it comes time to deer hunt, grab the rifle you use the most and know the best. Don't have 10 options and have limited time with each one. By having a few specialized rifles, it makes it easier to buy better and more expensive upgrades and components for them. Buying 10 Nightforces is a lot more expensive than a couple 😂
 
What a fun thread to read while stuck home.
1. Knowing when to throw brass away.
2. Trying to decide, if you load to shoot, or shoot to load.
3. Listen to the targets, read the language.
4. Brass prep is measurable on paper.
5. Stay humble!
6. Sometimes you have to return to where you started, when you began loading!
7. Keep your loading bench clean,
8. Create records, that include, temp, rounds fired, and recipes. And notes
9. Know when to clean your gun, and when to not!
10.Share
 
4) When the wife says "that's fine, go ahead" she doesn't mean it
Uncanny how long it takes to return to bite your ***... Not about money....
Because I'm not sitting next to her watching mindless, self imposed drama evening BS....

We had bought her a few guns she liked. And was always welcome.

Never answer the question! "Why do you go to the range so much?"
A) Guns don't let me down as much as you do... (never the right answer)
 
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