u/DownOnGrandpasFarm

On my ‘06 Avalon with 238k miles, had both an independent shop and dealership say we should do new front control arms (and CV boots, by the indie shop). Is there a ‘tell’ that they both see? Some bushing, etc where they’d both suggest the work? Or is this just a thing when a vehicle has higher miles? Seems to drive fine (slight play in steering but was thinking that was one of my front tires needing filling often). (Dealer was like $3k and other shop was $2k)

For my CMP matches, I’ve been using IMI rounds. I hand deprimed rounds (about 500) then hand primed them. This is my usual mo. I ran them thru the sizing die and was about to load a bunch….but I’m finding that in every round, my 69gr SMKs just slide in and out of the neck as if there’s no resistance at all. (Using a Matchmaster too) What gives? Seems like a neck sizing issue, but the die was working well with just the right amount of resistance. The Matchmaster doesn’t crimp, but maybe I need to taper crimp these? Thoughts? (also tried Nosler 69s and same thing….even the bullets got stuck in the seater pin and I had to pull the die all apart to get at the bullets!)

Was cleaning out a relative’s estate and found a small bottle of “Singer Platinum Collection Sewing Machine Oil”. It seems as light as reel oil (that I use in my service rifle, 1911, etc). I assume sewing machines run hot, so wouldn’t this be a good oil to use?

For my CMP matches (5.56), I sort brass by one of two buckets- LC and IMI (I don’t use anything else)
But for those days when we choose 30 cal, I’m wondering if it’s even worth sorting into respective buckets as well (ie Winchester, UMC, Fed, etc) or just keep all 308 in one bucket, all 30-06 in one bucket, etc
What do y’all do?