Hey Tony,
I'm glad to see you're back here, as I've grown to appreciate and respect what you have to say. You're killin' it in the BR world, and this isn't new; you've been doing so for a long time and have the trophies to prove it. I hope you'll become a fixture among us to share your perspective and experience because I've come to believe you're about setting a better example....please take that for what it's worth. I've watched people on this forum, not in Vudoo threads, mistreat you based on a lack of understanding, and I didn't stand for it and I won't. I spoke up then and I'll do so again if need be.
Personally, I'll be headed out this Spring with my rig. It's a forgone conclusion that the action is a V-22S with a revived Mueller barrel, Vudoo/Flavio Trigger and BBRS stock. I'm using Kelbly Dovetail Rings and a Nightforce Competition with a SEB Max front rest.
@Tim7139 mentioned a rear bag a while back that I need to look into. At the moment, what I just stated is as much as I've cared to know about Benchrest. In fact, the rifle is still in KY, but I'm headed back to Ivan's week after next to move forward on our project and will bring the rifle home. Based on my lack of interest, the rifle has been there for quite a while.
I'll start out at local matches after I head to Lapua to test ammo, but the "Big Stage" isn't in my future....I truly have no interest in it. However, I'm quite certain there will be V-22S based rifles on the "Big Stage," but I can't speak as to whether it's this Spring or not. It's not my focus to have them there as the meat of this community for us is different....it's more about servitude than anything else. It seems this approach has been terribly difficult for some to understand and what I've watched as a result continues to fuel my lack of interest and the interests of others (lots of newer shooters) and there's only one answer....it's going to take many more than you to set a better example.
What has been expected in this thread and other threads I manage is total transparency, honesty, humility, service to others and the willingness to add real value while standing one's ground when these things don't exist in any dialogue. Anything that falls outside these tenets will not survive in any Vudoo related thread. Beyond that, we've had guys from the niche part of the community call the shop to order an action and speak to our employees in an "ill manner," more recently there was a guy that called the person on our end of the phone a liar. So, we refunded his money on the spot and fired him as a customer. That's what the right examples going forward has to represent and please know, I'm not saying this "to" TKH, you're already part of how things improve....I've seen it.
I'm asking, publicly, with humility, that you, as a senior part of a unique niche community, help propagate what newer shooters are really looking for. It has nothing to do with the V-22S or any other piece of gear, nothing to do with bragging rights about anything, nothing to do with matches on the "Big Stage;" it's really as simple as the things I mentioned above. That's how the community grows....
Thanks Tony and I hope you hear what I'm saying for the reasons I'm saying it....
MB