NOOB with a TIMING light gun

Or the pick a random RPM number to set total.

If the distributor is still advancing at 4K and you set it at 3K, is the total you set really the total?

You run RPM up until it stops advancing to set total... PERIOD!!!

This nugget is really good!
When you are setting total, you need to make sure it doesn't KEEP advancing. I NEVER assume "it's all in." Get it where you "think" it is at 25-3000, and then while watching the marks, "blip" the throttle to make sure it doesn't move.