For the record, I'm not disagreeing with what YOU do, or questioning YOUR experiences. I'm sure you'd agree that one doesn't put on some Google-fu, buy a rifle and scope, and become an accomplished long-range hunter overnight? Oh, but if it were that easy.....?

If I've learned anything from shooting precision rifle, it's been to listen to the guys who've been doing it longer than me. You're never old enough or good enough that you can't learn something you didn't know and become even better.

But those of us who do know even a little about long-range marksmanship also need to be careful that we don't over-encourage the new guys to write checks with their gear that their skills can't yet cash. I've had links forwarded to me of guys like Carlock and Hodnett by less-experienced guys who think what they do is cool - but who don't exactly see it as the product of patience, discipline, and dedication to the craft that we know it to be. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but I'm guessing that might be close to what BullCamp's been saying all along, too?

Our OP needs to get himself a rifle before he's able to do much of anything. It probably doesn't do any of us much good to fan the flames of expectation much until he gets that box checked?