Surpised

[Fiftydriver]

First off, I want to make the point that I am not directing this in any specific direction but I have spend a couple days reading over alot of posts here on LRH and have to say something.

I have not been on here nearly as much as I used to be. Just not enough time with the work load in the shop. Can not complain about that.

Several years ago, LRH seemed to be THE place to go for long range shooting and hunting advice. I have been reading over the past couple evenings just trying to catch up a bit and see whos around and I have to say, I have been really suprised.

Alot of the advice being given now on LRH seems to be based more in opinion now days then in actual fact and experience from those that have been out there, did the testing and record the actual results. Used to be if someone recommended something on LRH, it was based on fact and actual field testing and that those results could be backed up with records of those tests.

I guess the reason for this post is simply to recommend that if you reply to a posters question, please have the experience and data to back up your advice. There are alot of new members here on Longrangehunting.com and I have seen alot of recommendations that simply not up to the quality of LRH.

I hate to say it but it appears to be slipping toward something like 24hourcampfire which is something that I am sure none of us want to turn into.

Again, when a question is asked, if your going to asnwer or reply, just make sure you know what your talking about with actual experience. I realize this is how we all learn but people come to this site to learn and when they get a reply that has incorrect information that they take as fact when in reality its simply someones opinion from reading the gun rags or other computer media.

If you have experience, please offer a reply, if you do not, just hold off.

Again, not pointing to anyone inspecific direction with this, just a shout out to everyone, alot of new guys are depending on your replies, make sure they are factually based and not opinion.

I may **** some off with this post but do not intend to do that at all. We just need to keep LRH the valuable resource its always been. Its always been a special place to come to and learn from those that have and those that do so that others can become the ones that have and do. We do not want to become the board of those that "Sit and Read and Spout" instead of those that "Do, test and report"!

Nuff said from me, just had to vent a bit.

 

[partisan1911]

I can see exactly what you are talking about. I started to use the 24hourcampfire and it seems like attacking the people with low post counts was like a game or something? I found LRH and what impressed me most was the knowledge and passing on of the knowledge rather than dismissing the questions as dumb.

I rarely post on LRH because I don't have the knowledge to answer any of the technical questions but I am pretty sure I read every post just trying to pick up on some of the information that gets thrown around. I tried to read a couple of the posts about B.C. but couldn't even understand what was being said!

The best think I picked up on are those guys that post on the more technical questions. I remember those screen names so I can read what they are posting. I see what you are talking about when it comes to opinion but for the most part if you spend enough time reading posts on this website you can sort out a lot of the false information that gets put out.

 

[Fiftydriver]

A persons post count is meaningless when it comes to their basis of experience. I have learned from posters that have only single digit post counts. I have also read some things from posters that have several thousand posts that make me sit back and say WHAT THE HELL DID HE JUST SAY!!!!

Case in point, I just read a post where someone stated that he saw a 105 gr berger VLD driven to 3390 fps out of a 6mm-284 be used on a bull elk at 80 yards and it works GREAT and the bull did not even twitch when he fell.

Now some new long range hunter reads this and takes that to heart but when he gets in a similiar situation, what will happen when that paper thin jacket happens to land on a shoulder knuckle instead of slipping between a couple ribs.

Just read on another post where we were talking about what bullets to use for Canadian big game and one guy recommended using match bullets for the rifle and then pack a 454 on his hip for protection if needed. The Canadian RMP may have a big problem with that as its not legal to bring a handgun into Canada for hunting.

Again, if you do not know what your talking about, please, for the quality of this board, keep your hands off the keyboard. If you have something to offer that is based in factual testing, feel free. IF we disagree, big deal, thats part of the fun but when its obvious that there is no real experience behind the comments, it just gets hard for new members to sift through the garbage to get the good data.

There are usually at least two ways to skin a cat but when its clear no cats have been skinned and its just opinion or second or third hand experience being passed along, thats when it can get bad, or even dangerous to a new member. Not to mention possibly wasting alot of time and money.

When we post a comment, there are always reactions to what we post. Make sure our OPINIONS do not cost others alot of time and money and headaches along the way. We are here to help, not offer opinions.

 

[kcebcj]

Well said Kirby. I don't think I'm guilty of that but...... Now though being you're in a good mood how about some solid info about the distance you set your chronograph from the muzzle when shooting magnums. I'm putting in a permanent chronograph mount and don't want it to close. 12 feet works good for the 06 type blast but don't want it to close for the bigger rifles. I trust your knowledge on such things and don't want to do it twice.

 

[Fiftydriver]

10 feet but 90% of my rifles and customers rifles have my PK muzzle brakes that eliminate any muzzle blast from reaching the screens. With a naken muzzle, I would step back to 15 to 20 feet depending on the chambering just to insure consistant velocity readings with no interferance from muzzle blast on the chrono.

 

[kcebcj]

I was thinking 16 feet. Your advice makes that a decent number. Thank you.

 

[eddybo]

Vent away, Kirby.

I for one would love to have you around here more to help keep things in check. I usually agree with you, but if I do not know that a gentlemanly debate without condecension will follow. I have been away a while myself, and although I am missing a lot of familiar names, there are some great newer members.

 

[comfisherman]

Hate to admit it but I've been pondering the same thing.

I think its the nature of web boards, At first its a tight nit group of people doing some extraordinary things. Followed by many people finding interest in the subject, then it grows to the point where ever other question is 2 degrees off of the same.

When membership hits the number that lrh is hitting there is bound to be some bad advice floating around. There still is good information, you just have to wade through a bit of useless stuff.

I started reading when I was laid up in dec 2005, a google search came up with some of Kirbys work. At that time the membership if memory serves me correctly was like 2800 or less, there were only a couple sections and I think over the course of my stay indoors I read the entire history of the board. Didnt feel it would be worthwile to join until I had a rudimetary knowledge of what has been done. Think it took a year to read all I could digest, and then I finally joined. I think around that time Kirby was releasing a whizzbang cartridge and rifle every week. And if he wasnt Dave vierse was (it was great fun to read), maybe the past always looks better or I'm just biased.

There is still a wealth of information here, I think there always will be some changeover and the addition of some great new members and some not so great ones. I only read LRH, used to red rimfirecentral but gave that up 4 years ago. Was starting to really wane on LRH until I tried to research the 338 norma on snipers hide..... I think LRH is still a good board, ill do my best to provide facts backed behind burnt gunpowder experience.

 

[royinidaho]

Well shut my mouth!!

I'm in on the recommendations.

 

[RDM416]

Kirby,
Great post! Thank you for bringing the subject up, I think maybe your "rant" should be a "sticky"

I too have noticed a lot of bad or often just "ignorant" advice showing up on the board. It seems like there is also a lot of "this one is better than that one" out there. A 340 WBY shoots faster than a 338 win mag......... but that does not make the 340 "better", just faster. That kind of stuff is one thing I don't like..... just give the performance capabilities of each and let the user decide which better fits his needs, that is the one that is "better". That general example can be applied to everything..... scopes, mounts, barrels etc. Just give the facts..... based on what you "know" from real experience!

I'm gonna pick on you a little now though! We know you are busy (hurry up on my 338AM!) but this site misses you when you are not around. You, Shawn Carlock, Goodgrouper, Buffalobob, eddybo and other of the "old timers" have either gone away or quit posting much. Kirby, when you or some of the other guys weigh in on a subject the "bickering" stops because of your known knowledge and expertise. So, I hope you will show up on the site more often......... but keep busy on my rifle!!!!!

 

[Scot E]

Great Post Kirby. This REALLY needed to be addressed but I knew I wasn't the one to do it as I haven't been here too long.

Nice to see you back. I always enjoy your posts!

 

[geargrinder]

I've noticed the same thing Kirby. I've gotten where I just skim through the New Posts and move on.

I miss the old days and all the solid folks who consistently gave great info.

We need one more epic battle between Ric Horst and Good Grouper.

 

[sp6x6]

Kirby, You hit the nail on the head. I am a builder facing a slow winter, so I have been on here, way more than my fair share. And as I was following a thread I saw you pop up. With much insight and info as usual.After reading a few replies I felt like I should PM you and say thanks for so many informative and detailed posts. Then I stumbled on this, I dont have the experience of some on here, but try to help out in a productive manner. The weather is starting to break and I EVEN went fishing today. Shoot straight and thanks again. SP

 

[eddybo]

Well shut my mouth!!

I'm in on the recommendations.

There are several posters I respect enough that if they told me the moon was made of cheese I would get a spaceship and crackers, you are one of those guys. Of course I would do my own testing to see what kind of cheese it was before the trip Limburger yuck.

BTW thanks for teaching me how to light the reticle in my NXS scopes