What's the order ...

I don't think this is a stupid question at all Freedspeak or you'd have had an answer by now.

My logic tells me that as we're using a lot of power during takeoff, we'll want to decrease power once we have positive climb and/or are safely airborne.

Now I'm quoting from a snippet I found in a book:

Basic Rules To Avoid Overstressing The Engine:

-To decrease power, first reduce manifold pressure by pulling the throttle control lever backward, then decrease propeller speed by pulling the prop control backward.

Make any sense?

Thanks Tailhook,
Make sense to me. Just what I've been doing.

The old Military axium, G.U.M.P (Gas, Undercarriage, Mixture, Prop) comes to mind, I think there was another one and one refered to take off the other landing. I always set the throttles, then the props for any changes, but this might not be correct. Maybe some of the history buffs in here can shed some light?

Yes! I remember my lessons! 😀 Rod explained that when you reduce that pair you THROTTLE DOWN FIRST THEN PROP RPM DECREASE. When you increase those two you INCREASE PROP RPM FIRST THEN THROTTLE UP.

I believe that is correct.