I’ve been a “gun nut” for as long as I can remember, though grew up in a home with a dad who had two guns. A single shot 28” barrel, 20 ga. shotgun and a Marlin model 20 .22. His brother in law gave him the Marlin when Dad was 12 or 13 yrs. old. That would have been in 1923 or 24. So, in the 1950’s when I became gun consumed, you can tell there had not been a lot of gun love or conversation in my home. I give this preamble to let you know my growing up years.
Sometime around 1957 I bought my first gun, a stock butchered Arisaka 7.7mm “war bring back” from a school buddy. Paid $7.50 for it. Next gun was a 1917 Colt in .45 acp. for $17.99. Next came a Model 62 Winchester pump which I traded for a customized, caliber converted (.300 Savage)
Arisaka. That one didn’t last long. I then got something else, then something else and so on, so on and so on. I have no idea how many rifles, shotguns and handguns have occupied my closets, bureau drawers and safes over the last 5 decades. Many came and some went within a short time, and others have stayed on to the present.I have been reloading ammunition since mid-1960’s and repairing and occasional customizing my guns since 1970’s. In 1980 I purchased parts, ramrod blank, and a maple stock blank at Dixie Gun Works. Four hundred hours later I had built a .40 caliber, 43” octagon barreled, full stocked, Missouri pattern caplock rifle from the Dixie pieces and parts. A powder horn, short starter, patch knife, gunstock warclub and possibles bag were also made during that time. I killed my first Ozark whitetail buck with that rifle. The rifle now hangs from a prominent display in my den and has never been fired since taking that buck.
My point in this post is, …my learning and doing over these last 5 decades was accomplished without seeking, and depending on advice garnered from any internet forum posting. Many books were purchased over the years and judiciously read. Occasionally, individuals were sought out to answer questions about issues with which I needed assistance. Just recently, I contacted two individuals introduced to me through this Levergun site, 86er and our Rossi‘92 guru. By contacting these men directly, I felt I would be able to get to the meat of my needs without wading through a bunch of conflicting opinions, and technical advice about things which I was already knowledgeable.
Now back to “Terry the Terror”. I believe what TERRY’s “rants”, as some would label his comments, are based on the concept of “do your own homework”. I COMPLETELY agree! That’s what I and most others here have had to do, since there wasn’t the crutch of the internet when a lot of us here were coming of age and needed information or assistance. Seek out answers on your own, learn from your mistakes, buy loading manuals (plural). Spend time at the range trying out various loads appropriate to you needs and guns. Spend time reading and doing instead of coming to this site and asking others to give you the magic answer to your needs. Do for yourself. Don’t clutter up bandwidth with questions that you can answer with your own initiative or which have been answered multiple times in many, many previous posts on the forum. I know Terry has posted that point of view in previous posts. And, oh brother, was he soundly chastised by many here who desperately want to “give him what for” for that opinion.
As has been stated several times by those who really know Terry, “he’s a good guy who doesn’t suffer fools gladly”. That’s not to mean that he’s not gruff, plain spoken, ungentlemanly and rude in his responses. He is often all of those, but it doesn’t mean that he should be called names, denigrated, treated as a pariah, maliciously poked fun at and taunted from the anonymity of a screen name. From what I see here from time to time, there are others who get tired of seeing the same or similar questions popping up with regularity. New members should perhaps be given a pass, but other veterans here are occasionally guilty of that same redundant “attention getting” device.
Finally, to suggest that Terry must be barely tolerated and suffered with by his “brother” Shootists is hardly the case, I would think. As I understand, the “Shootists” is a brotherhood of honorable men, with strong and longstanding experience whose members are invited to join and aren’t extended such invitation in a frivolous manner. I wouldn’t dare to denigrate any member of the body of shooters who make up the group as I’m confidant such membership is an honor to all the folks making up this body.
And lastly, don’t forget that everyone has an opinion just like everyone has one of those star-shaped things, of which MrMurphy so elegantly reminded us.
Boy this was sure longer than I had intended. Sorry for that, but I must have felt the need to get this off my chest. Oh, speaking of Shootists, a "Big Thank You", to the Razorback Shootist who guided me to this site some 7 or 8 years ago. It's been a real haven and great "time out from life" to come to this place to get to "know all you folks" and a relief from the boredom or stress of daily life we all experience on occasion. Here’s to better times, boys!! – John Jeffers
How "old" do you have to be? I've been coon-fingering firearms for about 55 years. I know "a bit" about them. I'm not or ever was in the industry. I can't gunsmith worth a dang. All these braggarts that don't have the time for "dumb questions" are about as useful as tits on a boar hog. So.....do you have fifty years of experience, or just ONE year of experience that you've repeated fifty times?? 
If you don't agree what is said or happening, don't stir the fire, just mosey on down the road. Life too short to get your feathers ruffled. Sometimes people make smart remarks about my questions or opinions. It don't bother me none. I don't snore in your face at night. Don't worry be Happy. Hey Pitchy don't leave , we love you here.
I've posted OT threads. I've contributed to Birthday & Prayer request topics, among others. I don't know much about guns or reloading; but, sometimes someone asks the "right" question, and hopefully, I don't sound too stupid with my answer.
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