I wanted to get to posting this story earlier in the week but my wife's

recent THYROID issue has taken up a good amount of time between Saturday

night and right now. On Saturday past A/R's own RETREEVER from north east

Pennsylvania came to my home in north west New Jersey to get me on the right

track hand loading for my 450/400 3.25" calibered D/R. I've had the pleasure

of Mike's company a number of times already since December 2005 when I

joined you all here on A/R, and this occasion with him was as excellent

as the previous meets. We had our breakfast and he showed my family and

me many great photos of African safari action. Then we headed to the

loading bench and got to work loading ammo. Thirty rounds were primed and

ultimately 24 fully loaded rounds were completed. Six rounds per powder

charge were established. Using IMR 4831 I'll be testing loads at 75, 77,

79.5 and 82 grains powder charge. I can't wait to get to the range and bench

shoot to see which group performs best. After we got the rounds loaded, with

the help of all three of my children, {Mike being retired from teaching school

he was a natural at introducing them to the hand loading world} we headed back

to the kitchen for lunch and more good conversation. Once the loading lesson

was completed and Mike was fully feed it was time for him to head back to Pennsy

and his fine wife Cherie. As usual he was great company and I look forward to

more meets with him, and for that matter, other A/R members too. I'll post about

the accuracy when I get to the range. I hope it's within the next ten days. A big

thank you to Mike for coming way out of his neighborhood to help a buddy get started

reloading for the big bores. I really could not have done so with confidence without
his willingness to help!

Mike and his wife are great folks! It is always a treat to get to spend some time in their company!