Snakeoil...everyone should have a good friend like you!
Thanks. But let me tell you what kind of guy Steve is. I told him I was thinking about shooting F class. He says don't buy anything. I'll set you up so you can try it. Keep in mind, bullets, primers, powder, etc., is almost impossible to find. Next time I see him, he hands me a custom built 6mmBR built on a 700 action. Tells me to treat it like it is mine and do whatever I need to do to make it work for me. I shoot lefthanded, he shoots RH. I rearrange things on the rifle to suit me. Oh, and it has a Nightforce scope on it, too. He also gives me a few hundred rounds of loaded ammo for me to use at 600 yd practice to get a feel for the rifle. Then as the match approaches, he hands me 8 lbs of powder and several hundred Berger and Sierra match bullets as well is match small rifle primers and of course, the best, Lapua 6BR brass. Oh, and the dies to reload.
I shoot the first match and whine about how long it takes to make precision ammo. So next match, I'm in his basement using his $1000 Autotrickler to load for the next match. What a difference. Then when I'm done, he want to take me out for lunch. Needless to say, I paid.
Steve has given me Hadley eyecups, a brand new Mueller scope, a used but superb Weaver scope and he's done similar things for other shooters at the club. The guy is truly a saint. I have a standing joke I use around him. "Careful what you say around Steve. Don't tell him your house burned down because he'll say, "Take my house. I don't need it. I can sleep in the truck."". But in reality, he's really that generous and helpful. And the guy knows how to shoot rifles. I've learned a ton from shooting with him. He'll never argue with anyone or contradict. He's very polite and respectful. But when it is only you and him, he'll say, "Stop listening to all those crazy opinions. I'll tell you what works." And he does and it does.
So, being able to help him out puts a big smile on my face. I don't think that folks do enough nice things for Steve in comparison to the stuff he does for others.
I never did a true itch to shoot F-class. It was fun, but did not truly light my fire to dive in head first with a new rifle, scope, rest, etc.. Maybe some day down the road. Met a bunch of great guys at the matches. But it was more work than it was fun. Although Jim Hart told me to give another tray later on. He said I was drinking thru the firehose and I have to agree.
