Bill T

Here are some pictures of the Savage 12-F/TR scoped out and ready to go to the range. As you can see I went with the Bushnell 3200 Elite Tactical 5-15X on it as well. I really liked the clarity, quality, and price. The Burris Extreme Steel Tactical Bases show up as a almost gun metal grey color for some reason, but they are very similar to the rings in color and finish to the naked eye. Kind of a crappy through the lens shot of the reticle. It almost looks segmented because it isn't straight and vertical in the photo, causing the pixel blocking you see. Time for a better camera. Overall I'm pleased how they both mounted up. Just enough clearance for the front lens covers. Bill T.

I really like this Bushnell 3200 Elite Tactical. It's really bright and very clear. So much so I ordered another one for my Savage 12-F/TR. The only problem I had was the 6-48 tapped holes were full of crud, and no way I could get the screws for the bases in. I took it to a local gunsmith and he told me he had a heck of a time cleaning them out. He had to charge me for the tap he used because it really dulled it beyond further use. I wish Savage would use plug screws on the models they coat with whatever it is they use. I had no such issues with the screws on the 12-F/TR. They went right in. The Burris Signature Zee Rings are a pleasure to work with. They really hold nice and tight without having to lap. Another thing I've found is once you get the reticle adjusted nice and straight, it will stay put without moving. Just tighten away and you're done. The bases are Burris Extreme Tactical Steel. I won't get a chance to get out to the range until next week, but that is fine because by then I'll have the 12-F/TR scoped and range ready as well. I've got a half dozen handloads prepared. I'm anxious to see how they both print. For anyone who is interested Bruno's has the best price on these Bushnell's. Bill T. http://www.brunoshooters.com/

It appears to be dropping fast in value, just like everything else. Bill T.

Both Cabela's and Sportsmans Warehouse have it at or near $49.95 a bag. Anyone finding anything cheaper in the Phoenix metro area? Bill T.

Thanks. For rings I'm going to go with Burris Signature Zee Rings with the plastic inserts. I have a set on one of my Weatherbys, and they are the only rings I use. The plastic inserts won't mar a scope tube or induce any stress on the tube itself because they allow the scope to "float" within the rings themselves which take out any stress that might be induced from misalignment. They make lapping totally unnecessary. They have tremendous holding power. Try a set and you won't use anything else. When the Patent runs out on these things you are going to see every maker offer them. Bill T.

Great minds think alike! That's the same scope I plan on mounting on mine. Thanks for the heads up on the stock. Is your Farrell base steel or Aluminum? Bill T.

I have had excellent luck with Remington brass as well. I anneal the case neck myself by chucking a long screwdriver shank in a cordless, variable speed drill. Slip the case mouth over the shank and revolve it slowly with the drill while hitting the neck area with a propane torch for about 10 seconds. I then place them on a metal cookie sheet and let them air cool. After treatment by this method they will reload as many times as a Lapua case. If you take the time to sort them by weight, your loads will match anything put together with Lapua. I don't know where you are from but Cabela's usually has Remington brass on hand. If they're out they restock quickly. I can't say that about Sportsmans Warehouse. When they run out, they seem to stay out Bill T.

For the best, (or at least one of the best), prices on Leupolds you might want to try Bruno's right here in the valley. He has a ton of them in stock, and his prices are among the best I've seen on the Benchrest Target, and Mark IV models. I have a C&R License which gives me dealer cost from Midway and I can get the Leupold Mark IV 8.5-25X with non illuminated reticle for $993.00 which isn't too bad. I believe the same scope with the illuminated reticle is $1,199.00. Still not bad. A C&R License is very easy to get and will be the best $30.00 you'll ever spend! Bill T.

A Model 12 F-TR, and a Model 10 FP, both are in .308. I picked both of them up last week. Now the fun begins with scope and mount selection, along with putting it all together. I've got some .308 handloads, but I've got nothing but time to hit the press and try and come up with some type of meal they'll both like. I won't be doing any serious shooting with either of them until the Fall when these temperatures break a little. I've got high hopes for the both of these guns, and they are the first Savage bolt guns I have bought. In all of the years I've been seeing them at the range, I really haven't seen a bad one, or an unhappy owner for that matter. I'm planning on getting both of these guns scoped out, loaded up for, and ready to go at the PR & GC by the time the cooler weather comes in October. These are the 7 loads in .308 I've worked up with new brass to get things started. 1.) Mixed Headstamp, 44.0 Gr. Varget, Federal 215 M Primer, Sierra 168 Gr. Matchking H.P. 2.) Remington Case, 40.0 Gr. AA 2230-C, Federal 215 M Primer, Sierra 180 Gr. B.T.H.P. 3.) Winchester Case, 42.2 Gr. AA 2230-C, Federal 210 Primer, Sierra 155 Gr. Matchking 4.) Remington Case, 44.0 Gr. Varget, Federal 215 M Primer, Sierra 168 Gr. Matchking 5.) Remington Case, 42.0 Gr. IMR 4064, Federal 215 M Primer, Nosler 180 Gr. Ballistic Tip 6.) Remington Case, 42.0 Gr. IMR 4064, Federal 215 M Primer, Nosler 165 Gr. Ballistic Tip 7.) Lapua Case, 44.0 Gr. Varget, Federal 215 M Primer, Sierra 168 Gr. Matchking I lucked out in that both chambers will seat .020 off the lands with the same O.A.L. For glass I don't have anything written in stone as of yet, but I'm leaning to this Leupold Mark IV for the Model 12F/TR: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...&t=22164010 And this Bushnell for the Model 10 FP: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...&t=22164010 Most likely with a Warne 20 MOA base and Burris Signature Zee Rings. These are both rifles as taken from the box. Bill T.

http://www.gibrass.com/brass.html Good prices and Jeff is good to deal with. Bill T.

Don't forget what has happened to fuel prices in the last year or two. We bitch and moan because it costs an extra $20 to get to and from work. Try and imagine what .50 cents a gallon does to UPS or Fed Ex. In the city those big brown trucks are lucky to get 6 or 8 MPG. They run all day long, every day. A fully laden 747 uses 3,000 gallons to takeoff and climb to 30,000 ft. At cruise it burns 1 gallon PER SECOND. That's 3,600 gallons per hour. Airlines are going broke left and right. 3 went under last week alone. Delta is scheduled to lay off thousands in the near future. Fuel costs are a big reason why. To be totally honest, I'm surprised the shipping costs are still as cheap as they are. They still have free shipping on large orders of bulk bullets. And remember, Arizona has 8.3% sales tax. You don't pay that on a Midway purchase. You would be hard pressed to incur a $83.00 shipping fee on a thousand dollar purchase from Midway. And even if you did, you broke even over a local purchase of the same $$$. Bill T.

I just finished loading these 2,350 rounds the other day. All went without a hitch. Just thought I'd ask, are you inside lubing the case necks? And if so how? I soak a Q-Tip with Dillon Case Lube and push it through each and every case neck. This allows the expander plug to glide through the neck with minimum resistance. I load on a Dillon RL-450, but I first resize and deprime, then I run them through my Giraud Powered Case Trimmer. (That thing is the best tool I ever bought!), after that I swage the primer pockets, then tumble. After that I run them through the Dillon and box 'em up. The best thing about the Giraud is it trims to length and puts a nice inside and outside chamfer on the case neck in one shot. This is the Giraud in action. If you set up so there is minimum wasted motion you can easily do 20 cases a minute. All come out +-.002 in length. Bill T.

6 Hours with ground corn cob and Dillon Rapid Polish. Bill T.

This is a bulk sale. If you buy 10 or more it pays. Less it doesn't. My total for 10 mags was $154.00 even with a .60 cent "roundup" to the NRA. Thats only $15.40 a mag delivered. You won't do better elesewhere. Bill T.

http://www.natchezss.com/category.cfm?cont...rodID=GLMF21113 Natchez has a really good sale on factory Glock magazines. If you buy 10 or more they are only $13.99 each. I just ordered 10 for my Glock 21. They have all the popular models in stock. Natchez is very good to deal with, and they ship promptly. Bill T.

Be nice! bill T.

This is my better half being naughty when she's not blasting with her 3 AR's, (she wants 3 more, whats a guy to do?). I love it all. She needs to be "spanked" for being such a bad girl. Paris Hilton doesn't have a thing on her except the dollars! Bill T.

http://www.inkjetbooth.com/?EBID=11511 This is a link to a website I just purchased ink cartridges from for my Epson printer. They were delivered on time via. UPS, at the correct cost, and work just as advertised. I thought I would share this with fellow members because if you buy these from "Staples", "Office Max", or elsewhere, your getting "raped", as I was. This is a much cheaper alternative that works just as well. Bill T.

I bought 2 of the 40 round Bushmaster mags as well. Both function well, and are steel, not Aluminum. Bill T.

I just found that out today. I was told some time back they wouldn't interchange. I may do as you suggest, simply upgrade the prime and powder drop. I love my old RL-450. It's built like a tank. How many presses come with a die cast metal spent primer catcher? Bill T.

If I could still get shellplates and retaining pins for my old RL-450, I could simply purchase the Hornady Lock-N-Load Powder Measure System, and install it on my RL-450. I would then have automatic powder charging with a better measure, and wouldn't have to by another press. At least not yet. Bill T.

Here is the deal. In the late Summer or early Fall I'm going to a dedicated progressive press for .223/5.56MM. I am more governed by avaliable space, than I am cost. At present I've got 2 progressive presses for metallic reloading, both Dillon's. A Square Deal, (.44 Mag.), and an older RL-450 with manual powder charging and priming that I've had since the early 80's. It has served me well, and still does, but Dillon doesn't make shell plates for it anymore. I can "convert" it to a RL-550B, but that will cost more than it's worth, so I'm afraid one of them will have to go because I just don't have enough bench space to support another press. The 3 I'm considering are the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP, the Dillon 650, or the Dillon Super 1050. All 3 are quite large, and have a large footprint so like it or not, I may have to get another bench, and make room for it somehow. If I go with either the Hornady or the Dillon 650 I'll get the case feeder to optimize efficiency. I like the strength of the Hornady, (it doesn't have the large cutout to accommodate the tool heads), and I really like Hornadys powder measure setup far more than Dillons which are kind of cheap die cast and don't meter really fine ball powder well. (I've had trouble with both of my Dillon measures). They were very good replacing both with their excellent guarantee, but that doesn't make up for it's design. As far as the presses themselves the Dillon Super 1050 is no doubt the best, but it's also the most complicated. I do like the fact the 1050 primes on the upstroke, and takes care of swaging primer pockets in military brass that I will no doubt be reloading at some point. I would like to hear from anyone who loads on a Hornady Lock-N-Load on what you think of it. Bill T.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...leitemid=895719 I've always had good luck with these. Bill T.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/store...hallpartial/0/0 I bought this one from West Marine. It's the exact same one Sinclaire International sells. Bill T. http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/catego...&type=store

This is my .338-378 Weatherby Accumark. It shoots very well at the longer ranges out to 1,000 yards. The gun is at it's best with the 300 Grain Sierra Matchking and a very healthy dose of WC-872 Ball Powder. The 1 in 10" twist of the Accumarks Stainless Steel barrel stabilizes this bullet very well. I topped it with a Leupold Vari-X III 6.5-20X 40 MM in Leupold rings. I'm happy with the combination thus far. The Weatherby Accubrake the gun came with cuts the recoil down to about the level of my unbraked .300 Winchester Mag. Model 700. Bill T.