BLeeber

Good thoughts here. I too am looking for a press. I have the Dillon SDB now for .45acp but want to move to a press to get me into rifle loading. Speed isn't that big of a deal for me. I like the idea of setting your dies and leaving them, swapping out turrets for a caliber change.

I agree. I've been shooting for about 23 years. I taught myself from day 1. Last year I finally gave into my desires and took a training course. I figured I had some ingrained bad habits of self teaching. Actually, I didn't. I just had never taken it to the next level. I took a Practical Rifle class from Randy Cain and was shocked at how much I learned and how better I got in just 3 days and 450 rounds. I got more out of that 3 day class than probably 15 books and 3 DVD's. Now, I just have to make it to the range more often and practice what I learned.

I agree with Jake and Field's reply below Jake's. When you change your training, or start something new, you'll always have soreness. If you are able, the best way to prevent that is to do it year round to a lesser degree. Maybe keep trail runs in your program but at a frequency of 3 to 6 times a month in your "off" season. This will be the most effective way to not get sore and keep in shape. No supplement in the world will prevent muscle soreness...and I am a Nutritional Biochemist in the nutritional supplement manufacturing business. I could sell just about any supplement to anyone, but I won't sell something that won't work for someone or is misleading in anyway, like most fitness magazines (and their ads) do. Some will assist with recovery to some extent but the soreness will still be there. As mentioned here, diet certainly helps. I tell clients in a simple way the best way to eat...plants and animals in their most natural state. Of course, I go into more detail than that. But, you get the idea. Heavy skinned berries (like blueberries) are great and should be a staple for their nutrient density. Calorie for calorie, it is hard to beat the nutritional value of blueberries. Fish or fish oil is a must in our diet. Consistency is key...you can't eat right 2 days in a row and then not for a week. Topical creams that reduce pain and inflammation will probably offer the best, quickest relief. Find a strong one with emu oil, a blend of herbs/spices that reduce inflammation and delivery system that allow it to penetrate the skin into the underlying tissue. The popular one's at the pharmacy that cost around $5 will not work...just make you smell. Don't get me wrong, you need high amounts of camphor and menthol for it to be effective but that's all they have for active ingredients and that won't work. Good luck!

Practical Rifle class with Randy Cain. Has anyone taken this class? Thoughts? Thank you!!

I have a Ruger Redhawk 5.5" .44 mag. I bought it back in college (1991) thinking that I was going to get into handgun hunting. Well, I never started practicing. I've shot probably 200 - 300 rounds through it at 25 feet over the years and can group in 3" range regularly and under occasionally. That's offhand. I'm at a point in my life where I can go to the range more often and would like to start making my handgun hunting dream a reality. Now, I'm questioning if that Redhawk is the right platform to start with...with all the revolvers that are on the market today. I took the Redhawk to the range a month ago and fired at 25 yards...I needed a ruler to measure my groups. Even with a rest. I know that wasn't enough to be considered practice but I thought that my groups wouldn't open up that much. I know a lot plays into accuracy. Practice, more practice, load development, etc. I guess this post has developed into 2 questions... 1. Of those who shoot handguns at 7.5 yards and 25 and 50 yards regularly, what do your groups open up to at the greater distances? 2. Is the Redhawk a good platform for hunting? Should I consider customizing the Redhawk (trigger, sights, grips, etc.) or should I sell it and start fresh with a different platform/make/model? Just like to get some other opinions. Thanks!!

Hello all. First post. Glad to be here and am sure I'll learn a lot. Thank you in advance. Is there somewhere where I can find a list of the different shooting organizations that hold matches? Maybe even links the their websites. I'd like to learn about the different ones before I decide to join one. Thank you!!