I'm 57 years old, my dad taught me to shoot when I was 6. We shot an 1890 Winchester in 22 WRF, a M1910/22 FN Browning, and a Remington Rand M1911A1. Through out the years I've continued shooting. I bought my first rifle, an 1891 Argentine Mauser (in un-issued condition), at the of 13, followed by a 1865 Remington Rolling Block in 7mm and a excellent condition M1903A3, a .38 Webley and a .38 S&W break top.

When I graduated high school in 1970 I entered the Army for a four-year "hitch." While in the Army I became a Drill Sergeant. During that duty I taught and shot the M-16A1 a great deal. I fired thousands of rounds semi and automatic fire. I also acquired several other firearms during this time. My own 1911A1, and a .25 ACP "Colt Junior."

After the Army I continued to collect firearms. A Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt, and a Super Blackhawk. An M-1 carbine, a Savage 110 PL in 7mm magnum, some shotguns (pump and double barrel) were my long guns. It was about 1975 that I bought my first "Lee Loader" in .45 Colt and started re-loading. Lee Loaders for most of the rest of my guns followed. This only lasted a year or so, an RCBS RockChucker (which I still use) replaced the tedium of the Lee Loaders and production soared.

During the intervening years I've owned and sold many, many different firearms, many I wish I hadn't. Russian SVT-40, MAS 49/56 (with issued scope), many, many different Armalites (AR-15's), M-1 Garand, SKS's, RPK's and AK's, Hakim, BM-59, and Springfield M1A1 were just some. I reloaded for them all, including the SVT-40 for which I hunted up some Berdan primers and reloaded the original Czech brass cases. I also collected pistols in .32 ACP, .380 ACP, 7.62x25, .38 S&W, .38 Special, .357, 9mm, .45 ACP, .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt. I reloaded for all of these too. These firearms taught me a great deal as I cleaned and maintained them, on occasion repairing something that broke.

I worked most of my adult life as a machinist, manufacturing parts for hay balers, hand tools and hydraulic tools, machinery used in the lumber industry, nuclear power plants and submarines, CNC machines used in the manufacture of micro-processors and more. For the majority I worked to tenths of a thousandth. I also worked as a hobby gunsmith the whole time, repairing refinishing my and others firearms. I bought my own lathe and milling machine and began a part-time business in 1989. Since then I've built race guns for competition, police duty weapons, and concealed carry pistols. I've done general gunsmithing during all this time also.

I used to compete in bowling pin shooting and in 1988 won first place in the state finals in the single action pistol and .22 rim fire class. Placed second in .45 ACP Pistol and shotgun, third in 9mm pistol. I'd fire anywhere from 100 to 200 cartridges a day when I competed, re-loading them all.

While all of this was happening I joined the Oregon National Guard where I've had a good second career with firearms. I've fired many more thousands of rounds using the M16A2, M-4 carbine, M240B, M-240 and M-2 machineguns, and missile launchers. This experience gives me over 24 years of military service. Being in the guard allowed me to return to college and earn a B.S. degree in Law Enforcement.

I've worked as a government employee since 2001 and for a time this employment involved Depot Level Weapons Maintenance for the Oregon National Guard. I got to repair and test fire all the firearms I'd been using for years.

So, I have a fair amount of experience re-loading and repairing firearms, machinery, and life in general.