Brake pedal travel and shoes adjustment - how far is normal?

[JellyBeanDriver]

86' C30 crew cab, 454, TH400, carb'd dually.


Brake pedal travel is long. I estimate that it will travel half the distance before significant braking occurs. Nothing happens in the first 1/4 of the depression. Normal?

Going to inspect the rear shoes, was reading the factory service manual on how to adjust the brakes (lousy instructions on the whole rear braking mechanism BTW).

Adjust Brake adjusting screw until the wheel can
just be turned by hand. The brake drag should be equal at both
wheels. Back off the adjusting screw 33 notches.
Important
• Brakes should have no drag after the screw
has been backed off about 15 notches. If a
heavy drag is present refer to “ Parking
Brake Adjustment.”

Really? seems like it's backed off too much. Also how does one 'count' the notches when backing off? I've always used a rod to push away the adjuster lever and then loosened the star wheel until the drag is low. I've never been able to 'feel' the number of notches when loosening.

What's your experience?