I started with a cheapo lee kit. Everything has been replaced. I still use the original press to remove spent primers but everything else is done on different equipment.
Are you looking to duplicate factory ammo performance or competition grade ammo? As previously stated, how much time do you...
No offense taken, I included that comment to explain that I hunt from a blind in addition to mountain hunting.
My experience is that putting in earplugs takes less time than getting a rangefinder out, and I've never had a high probability shot opportunity (one I was pretty sure I could make)...
When mine got out of jail it never left the barrel. Now, it only sees range use. The extra length and weight - for me - is not better than a pair of earplugs. I've never had a problem putting ear pro on when hunting.
I would go for extra quiet over weight/length reductions. I almost never use...
The hunt part of the trip went so smooth I wouldn't change anything.
Logistics, there's some info I wish I had going in.
1) Alaskan airlines has a companion ticket if you get their card. This saves about $500 each if you travel in pairs
2) NAC will ship anything to/from kotz or Anchorage for...
August 19 was the first hunting day. My experience with bugs probably isn't typical for that time of year. We were in the tops and the wind never went below 20mph. We never saw any bugs
Put me in the Win Mag camp. Plenty of good factory options plus tons of historical reloading information make it a great cartridge to start with. Plus when you're proficient enough at distance to shoot things further than the win mag allows you will for sure have burned the barrel out.
Up for sale is a ruger FTW hunter in 7mm. It's got a rifle basics trigger set at around 2lbs, and has been bedded to the stock. Rifle shoots 1/2 moa with hand loads (recipe comes with the rifle). Also has both 1inch and 30mm rings. I'll throw in all of my 7mm reloading equipment (dies, brass...