.... Skip forward 3months and 15odd days- yeps a bit over quarter a year later- finally got my licence approved (without any issues- who knows how long it would take if there were issues:o) and the PTA arrived a week or so later.
I took Crackers, Brad Y, Mistit, TrevorT advice (huge thanks for the suggestions guys as I hadn't even really considered it!) and went with a plastic stocked Howa. Sorry Camel couldn't stretch coinage to the M85.
I've already swapped the Hogue out for a Walnut stock. Expecting the Leupold DD bases to arrive any day.
In the meantime- the 2 places I've been bow hunting have been sold. So I gotta find a new places to hunt.
Got the 223dies setup in the simplex press- Camel thanks for the offer mate (-really wasn't expecting such a generous offer)- and I've made up a batches of increasing loads- so I am almost ready to rock and roll and find a good load.
Thanks guys- owe you all a beer,
Tex.