Aaron?

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  • Last Post 13 November 2025
pat i posted this 06 November 2025

Haven't seen Aaron on here in a while. Hope he's doing altlright.

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Aaron posted this 07 November 2025

Thank you for the pulse check. That means a lot to me. 

I have an issue going on with work that has distracted me. I may be retiring because of it. I will not compromise my values nor take a knee to the woke crowd to save my job. To be honest, I have had it up to my eyebrows with the "dance of woke" and walking on eggshells so as not to upset some sissy boy or sensitive person. 

I have also had a tooth extracted which led to a raging sinus infection for the first half of last month. Who would have thought it huh? I am still recovering from that and have just landed some flu like nonsense now. Slept 12 hours last night. Good Lord.

I do snatch a quick look at the latest posts but truthfully, have nothing to add to them that would set off flash cubes in the dialog.  I have started a new article for the Journal but haven't completed it yet. It's to do with learned lessons about my 30-30 cast bullet development. The posts from Wilderness got my writing juices flowing again and hopefully can relate some useful information to our newer bullet casting members.

Again, thank you for the pulse check. As my world of physical human friends shrinks (as I age), I touch base with my virtual friends more and more. You all are great and I look forward to ruffling your feathers and getting your blood pressure up with my posts!

surprised

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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pat i posted this 07 November 2025

Glad to see your still above room temperature. If it's financially viable leave the working world behind you and enjoy the rest of your life. Time's getting shorter for all of us.

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Bud Hyett posted this 07 November 2025

Retirement adds five more Saturdays to each week. Just be careful of friends now demanding all of your time.  

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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Wilderness posted this 08 November 2025

Hello Aaron - relieved to hear you're still kicking.

I retired 14 years ago, but did it gradually. I had a couple of years of casual work at the end doing the interesting stuff but with no need to acknowledge organisational rubbish. I had a job that took me all over Pastoral Northern Australia working with some really interesting people, with someone else paying for it, so I can't say that I stayed too long.

My main regret is that the new interesting stuff has to be done with a less capable body, but we learn to get the repairs done and work with what we have. On the hunting I am leaning more these days towards being an ambush predator.

Meanwhile, back at the lead pot .....

You are only as good as your library.

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John Carlson posted this 08 November 2025

Word of advice: When you do retire.........DON'T TELL ANYBODY!

When they find out you have nothing to do everybody tries to help you out.

John Carlson. CBA Director of Military Competition.

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beemer posted this 09 November 2025

Hope you get things set straight, everything seems to hit at the same time. When you retire after 50 years of bull it takes a while to get your head and life wrapped around it. Once that happens you will love it.

I retired a little early myself. Not because of woke stuff, jobs were scarce and hard to find a good one at the time. The company was trying to work the few decent hands they had to death, long hours, push and shove, not happy with anything. Long story short I told them it was NOT my problem anymore, the response was comical or at least I thought so.

Being that I am working with a Marlin 30-30, mostly target loads, I am looking forward to your new article. I am also reading everything that Wilderness sends in. 

Best of luck,

Dave 

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Aaron posted this 09 November 2025

Being that I am working with a Marlin 30-30, mostly target loads, I am looking forward to your new article. I am also reading everything that Wilderness sends in. 

The issue at work is a misunderstanding at a subordinate level of staff, which has snowballed into a maelstrom due to their lack of knowledge that the issue at hand is being addressed at the highest level. Each level is unaware that the issue is being addressed by the other party. It's a complicated issue brought on by a misunderstanding and a HR report by menial staff. Legal is involved as well. I'm ready to just say the heck with it and watch the system burn. This woke stuff has debilitated society.

I'll put my head around the article as soon as I find out if I am still employed - or wish to be employed anymore. It has been many a sleepless night with the Sword of Damocles poised above my neck and it is wearing very thin.

By the way, how is the throat on the Marlin? Short or longer?

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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MP1886 posted this 09 November 2025

God bless you Aaron standing up to those woke bastards!  About time those of us that can't stand what a certain party is doing to our country and say they've had enough of it.  Way to go old chap!  I bet the tooth you go pulled was on the top row or teeth, right?  Get well fast my friend. 

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Aaron posted this 09 November 2025

God bless you Aaron standing up to those woke bastards!  About time those of us that can't stand what a certain party is doing to our country and say they've had enough of it.  Way to go old chap!  I bet the tooth you go pulled was on the top row or teeth, right?  Get well fast my friend. 

 

Yup. Upper molar. Had to have a bone graft to seal the sinus communication. That was a bad infection after the extraction.

The job situation is coming down to the wire. Should know in the next day of two if I am done working.

 

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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beemer posted this 09 November 2025

Aaron, You need some relief. Hope it works out to your benefit, don't worry about the idiots. Maybe they will consume each other.

My Marlin is a Micro-groove, has basically no throat and the bore is tight. I actually think it is tighter at the throat than the rest of the bore for some reason.  Actually having a good time working with it.

Will not get into it farther at this time, you have more pressing issues.

Take care

Dave

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Aaron posted this 10 November 2025

Dave,

In a nutshell with the 30-30, I was casting with a Lee 309-170-F bullet and all was well in a variety of LE guns and the T/C Contender. I then purchased a MP mold to cast hollow point bullets and all was well.......until I discovered it would not chamber in the Miroku Winchester M94. What the heck?

The Lee bullet has a .300" bore riding nose but the MP bullet has a .308" nose on it. In a rifle with more throat, no problem. In a rifle with a very short throat, big problem. I had to seat the MP bullet MUCH deeper in the case to get it to chamber in the Miroku M94. I had no idea there would be this much variation among the various manufacturers.

Regarding my situation at work....I have informed my employer I will be at home awaiting the results of his meeting with the university. If they will have me back, fine. If not...I retire that day. I will not stress over this any longer and if back on campus, I will endeavor to become like the student body and isolate myself from all human interaction. It's actually creepy to see it.

 

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Wilderness posted this 11 November 2025

Keep your tail up Aaron.

The Lifeline counselors tell us we can divide our issues into what we can affect, and what we can't. Then deal with the first group and don't waste energy worrying about the second.

As regards the .30-30 cast bullets, I consider it an advantage to have the cast bullets either on to or into the rifling (for better guidance), so your Miroku may be a positive in that sense.

But then there is the question of the bullet base protruding beneath the neck and into the powder space. This has a secondary effect also of reducing useable case capacity. But is it such a sin if we allow the bullet base to protrude into the powder space?

I have loaded my .312" #U321297HP bullets into the powder space, having been forced to do so by COL requirements. Exposure comprised the gas check and part of the first band. Bullets were also about .060" off the rifling, so compromises everywhere. Load was 32 gns 2208/Varget. To help protect the exposed bases I was topping off the powder with 1.5 gns Precision Spherical Buffer (white plastic stuff like ball powder), enough to compress slightly.

Rifle was the 99 Savage with Leupold scope set on 7x, on a range well protected from wind. Four five shot groups were shot with buffer, and the same again without buffer.

Groups with buffer averaged 2.00", without buffer 1.96", overall 1.98".

Velocity with buffer was 2174 fps, SD 12; without buffer 2168 fps SD 12.

Conclusions: Buffer had no effect, and the load shot pretty well despite compromises at each end of the bullet. If bullet below the neck was having an effect it can only have been slight.

Others, including as I recall Richard Lee, have demonstrated bullet damage from seating below the neck. I seem to recall this was done with fast burning powder. Perhaps that is the key - fast powders bad, slower powders not so bad.

Perhaps we need a separate post on the question of bullet bases seated into the powder space. Someone in the group might have had a proper look at this. And for your article Aaron I'd suggest it as a definite line of discussion arising from the Miroku experience.

You are only as good as your library.

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Premod70 posted this 11 November 2025

The hardest part of retiring is learning to say no to those that can't rest without their nose stuck in someone's business.

Dale Flinchum

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MP1886 posted this 11 November 2025

Keep your tail up Aaron.

The Lifeline counselors tell us we can divide our issues into what we can affect, and what we can't. Then deal with the first group and don't waste energy worrying about the second.

As regards the .30-30 cast bullets, I consider it an advantage to have the cast bullets either on to or into the rifling (for better guidance), so your Miroku may be a positive in that sense.

But then there is the question of the bullet base protruding beneath the neck and into the powder space. This has a secondary effect also of reducing useable case capacity. But is it such a sin if we allow the bullet base to protrude into the powder space?

I have loaded my .312" #U321297HP bullets into the powder space, having been forced to do so by COL requirements. Exposure comprised the gas check and part of the first band. Bullets were also about .060" off the rifling, so compromises everywhere. Load was 32 gns 2208/Varget. To help protect the exposed bases I was topping off the powder with 1.5 gns Precision Spherical Buffer (white plastic stuff like ball powder), enough to compress slightly.

Rifle was the 99 Savage with Leupold scope set on 7x, on a range well protected from wind. Four five shot groups were shot with buffer, and the same again without buffer.

Groups with buffer averaged 2.00", without buffer 1.96", overall 1.98".

Velocity with buffer was 2174 fps, SD 12; without buffer 2168 fps SD 12.

Conclusions: Buffer had no effect, and the load shot pretty well despite compromises at each end of the bullet. If bullet below the neck was having an effect it can only have been slight.

Others, including as I recall Richard Lee, have demonstrated bullet damage from seating below the neck. I seem to recall this was done with fast burning powder. Perhaps that is the key - fast powders bad, slower powders not so bad.

Perhaps we need a separate post on the question of bullet bases seated into the powder space. Someone in the group might have had a proper look at this. And for your article Aaron I'd suggest it as a definite line of discussion arising from the Miroku experience.

 

What type buffer were you using?

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Aaron posted this 11 November 2025

I was topping off the powder with 1.5 gns Precision Spherical Buffer (white plastic stuff like ball powder), enough to compress slightly.

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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MP1886 posted this 12 November 2025

Wilderness try the shot powder from BPI products and the one you want is the standard shot buffer, not the one for steel or tungsten. You'll have TOTALLY different results then what you got. Those Precision Balls don't do much except fill the case. The stuff I'm talking about won't flow through a powder funnel very well, you have to tap it unless you're just putting a little amount in at a time. Been shooting the stuff for 24 years in cast bullets when I need to, not all of my loads. 

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Wilderness posted this 12 November 2025

MP1886 - this is precisely the material that I used.

I ran out of it long ago and have no further need of fillers so am not replacing.

You are only as good as your library.

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MP1886 posted this 13 November 2025

Aaron being I'm back to loading a cartridge that I have loaded for many years and the fact that I'm going to use a duplex load it it, I'm going to use the buffer I posted about. 

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gnoahhh posted this 13 November 2025

Aaron, sounds like you're in the same boat I'm in. I'm semi-retired but keeping my hand in with a couple days a week gig with an old Ivy League-style liberal arts college, emphasis on the "liberal". By and large the ivory tower woke nonsense and lack of attention to the folks that actually make the place run makes it less and less attractive. But for the fact that the income is pretty nice icing on the cake I would've bailed out long ago. As it is I keep my head down and do my job and go home (lab tech, building/maintaining the apparatuses used in the physics labs). Having solo access to a well equipped shop wherein I do a lot of "government jobs" for myself is further incentive for staying on. It does suck though to have to avoid the boys in dresses and girls with purple/green hair because I'm afraid I'll say something I'll regret.....

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Aaron posted this 13 November 2025

I pondered the thought of shop work a few days a week but frankly decided to retire completely. I need to break the bonds and learn to live on the new reduced income. Just debated paying for my NC CCH Instructor credentials at $50 a year. This will be my 31st and probably last year as a NC DOJ Instructor. Have to be very selective now with what I pay for. 

I will know on the 19th of the month if I will retire or hang in there for a few more months. The thought of continuing is souring however as I enjoy these few days with no agenda or demands. At some point I will have to officially cross the threshold so I am training my brain to learn the ways of the retired folks and become one of the "invisible" people. 

 

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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