Poll: Should we re-write the "Determining Max OAL" Stickie ?

[Wobbly]

Is our most popular Stickie too wordy to be really clear ? Is it as useful as it could be ?

Thread under discussion:  https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=34225.0

When the "How to Determine Max OAL in a CZ Pistol" was first posted, we were answering that question many times a week. An existing thread was taken and slightly modified (spelling and punctuation only) to produce the much needed Stickie. This particular thread seemed to include all the elements needed for a full explanation, even if the author did seem a bit frazzled at times during the conversation.

At first I liked the conversational tone. Now, looking at the other more recent, "how to", cookbook type instructional Stickies, this one seems to drift a bit, somewhat disorganized, and very verbose.

On the opposite side, this post has well over 98,000 reads. One part of me is yelling, "Don't mess with success !!" Since it's our most popular thread, we must be doing something right ! Of course, the numbers might only indicate that the same 50 people keep returning to it over and over because it IS so hard to follow. 

These days we know a lot more about the issue. For one thing we know 95% of the issue is in the 9mm Luger chambered pistols, which the example numbers mentioned don't support very well. If this thread was totally re-written the next installment would most definitely use a 9x19 Luger cartridge as the example.


Anyway, the thoughts and ideas of both the Expert and Novice reloader mean a lot. We've all worked very hard to make this the friendliest and most knowledgeable reloading site on the web. I'm just wondering what your thoughts might be. Could our most popular thread be better ?

? Your ideas on the subject are always welcome.


Thanks in advance for your help. Results will be posted in 30 days.

 

[painter]

I think you should edit the title of that thread back to it's original, and write a completely new guide.

It seems that the issue really only applies to the CZ 9mm chamber, and all the load talk for 45 ACP gets in the way.

A brief explanation of why it's important in the CZ using your great 'cartoons', and a concise description of the process...done.

[Earl Keese]

I didn't have any problem getting exactly what I needed from that thread. However, what painter suggests makes sense to me. If what painter said was a choice on the poll, I'd choose that.

[Moken]

It, in my opinion, the best thread on the net for that subject. I'll leave it to the "collective" to change or not. Either way is a win in my book.

[daved20319]

+1 for what Painter said.  Although I had no trouble getting the necessary info from the post, it could be a lot more concise, and more specific focus on the CZ 9's would also be worthwhile.  Either way, thanks for the hard work.

Dave

[Scarlett Pistol]

I like the cookbook style versions and I also like sort of FAQ sections afterwards. Maybe have something like Painter suggested. Have a new concise cookbook version addressing things like a cookbook and getting to common FAQ?s You still see AND keep the original  one. Then you can name them something like,
"Determining Max OAL - Concise Version?
And
"Determining Max OAL - Conversational Veraion?

Then it allows people to view and use both and over time you?ll see preferences play out via usage numbers.

[tdogg]

I like painters suggestion and I'd actually take it one step further.   How about we create a one stop shop for all threads/ concepts that we refer to regularly.   Similar to the components sources thread with links to each individual thread/ concept.

We could clean up the sticky section and link them in the one stop shop section as appropriate. They could be numbered for easy reference when discussing them.

We could have a definitions section that would help new reloaders with all the lingo and acronyms tossed about here.

We could order them in the appropriate order of the reloading process similar to work instructions.

Cheers,
Toby

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Scarlett Pistol]

I like painters suggestion and I'd actually take it one step further.   How about we create a one stop shop for all threads/ concepts that we refer to regularly.   Similar to the components sources thread with links to each individual thread/ concept.

We could clean up the sticky section and link them in the one stop shop section as appropriate. They could be numbered for easy reference when discussing them.

We could have a definitions section that would help new reloaders with all the lingo and acronyms tossed about here.

We could order them in the appropriate order of the reloading process similar to work instructions.

Cheers,
Toby

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Sort of like a linked table of contents with some directions of how to use?

[tdogg]

I like painters suggestion and I'd actually take it one step further.   How about we create a one stop shop for all threads/ concepts that we refer to regularly.   Similar to the components sources thread with links to each individual thread/ concept.

We could clean up the sticky section and link them in the one stop shop section as appropriate. They could be numbered for easy reference when discussing them.

We could have a definitions section that would help new reloaders with all the lingo and acronyms tossed about here.

We could order them in the appropriate order of the reloading process similar to work instructions.

Cheers,
Toby

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Sort of like a linked table of contents with some directions of how to use?

Yes.  In order of progression.

Definitions:

1. Is reloading for me? - Link to good thread
2. Equipment selection - link
3. Component selection
4. etc...

Cheers,
Toby

[Wobbly]

Yes.  In order of progression.

Definitions:

1. Is reloading for me? - Link to good thread
2. Equipment selection - link
3. Component selection
4. etc...

Cheers,
Toby

That would be nice, but unfortunately the Stickies jostle for position, just like the regular threads. Moderators can create stickies, but can't make them maintain any kind of order within their domain.

[painter]

I like that idea Toby. When the page is 1/2 taken up by stickies good topics get pushed to the second page and get lost.

One single thread with topic descriptions, and links would be fairly simple to accomplish.

I'm sure Wobbly could come up with a creative title for the thread..

Yes.  In order of progression.

Definitions:

1. Is reloading for me? - Link to good thread
2. Equipment selection - link
3. Component selection
4. etc...

Cheers,
Toby

That would be nice, but unfortunately the Stickies jostle for position, just like the regular threads. Moderators can create stickies, but can't make them maintain any kind of order within their domain.

Since they're for information what's the difference? IMO as long as all the content is retained who cares in what order it's listed.

[tdogg]

Yes.  In order of progression.

Definitions:

1. Is reloading for me? - Link to good thread
2. Equipment selection - link
3. Component selection
4. etc...

Cheers,
Toby

That would be nice, but unfortunately the Stickies jostle for position, just like the regular threads. Moderators can create stickies, but can't make them maintain any kind of order within their domain.

Wobbly,

I'm sure we can cull some of them and most would get linked in the One stop shop sticky (with your creative genius title) and not need to be a sticky anymore.  Just a thought.

Cheers,
Toby

[Dan_69GTX]

Wobbly - I thought you ARE the domain! 

Any of the ideas here are great!  I wonder if the "wordyness" of the post is why some folks can't seem to read/comprehend it?  The content is GREAT!

Thanks

[Wobbly]

Any of the ideas here are great!  I wonder if the "wordiness" of the post is why some folks can't seem to read/comprehend it?  The content is GREAT!

And that was my thought. Last couple of novices seemed to take a long time to absorb the lessons. It's got to be the content's layout. I've already copied the text and looked at how it might be streamlined. Looks like it might be only 3 posts. That's about 1/3 shorter. I also noticed some of the content is not in order.

[Wobbly]

I like that idea Toby. When the page is 1/2 taken up by stickies good topics get pushed to the second page and get lost.

One single thread with topic descriptions, and links would be fairly simple to accomplish.

I'm sure Wobbly could come up with a creative title for the thread..

Well, I could always have a single post with the individual links to each of the existing threads. In that way we could get down to 3 or 4 Stickies (max) AND the links themselves could be in the order Toby suggested. The threads themselves would go back into the stacks.

That would clear the top of the forum AND allow things to be in 1,2,3 order.