Zen and the art of reloading

[halfmoonclip]

Been away from the loading bench, courtesy of the great primer crunch.
Been buying Blazer Brass 9mm, 9s used to be what I loaded the most.
But I've been on the mend (from some relatively minor surgery), and the supply of .380s was pretty scarce.
Ran three hundred rounds on the D550, but not too much spoiled the good vibe. Five primer draw throughs, solved with a decapping pin on the old RCBS Junior, and two crushed cases (growl!!!!). This last, courtesy of a short case/too little flare.
But it was a pleasant afternoon, and a reminder that reloading is both money saving and gratifying.
A buddy sees reloading as therapy, and maybe he's right.
Moon

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Very much so. Zen is not a thing or a frame of mind; it’s the quintessential lack of self awareness for a brief moment of time.

TL/DR: Yup! Cool

 

[FROGO207]

When I just want to escape today's aggravations I choose two ways. First if I have a full tank of fuel or cash for such, a ride along the local trails in one of my Jeeps is always a fun adventure. The other that I use mostly in the wintertime or when time is limited is head to the reloading bench. Nothing like sit down and concentrate on building good ammo. The worlds stupid ills just shed off my back and I get into a groove and produce ammo. Or somtimes just prep brass in bulk. Working with my hands and producing something valuable has always made me feel good.

 

[halfmoonclip]

When I just want to escape today's aggravations I choose two ways.

My Plan B is the porch at camp, watching the river run, with a beer and a book in the sunshine.
And maybe burn some of that ammo.
But the bench was good for my head yesterday; it had been way too long. A tip of the hat to Dillon, with their liberating 550 press. I'll have to check with Everglades or Berrys about some plated DEWC for full charge wadcutters.
Moon

 

[splattergun]

The required focus to detail that reloading requires is a direct path to a Zen-like experience. It is not unlike the focus required of an artist, a musician, or a skilled craftsman. I have had the pleasure of watching a tool and die maker deep in his process talking to his machinery as if it was alive and he and forgotten I was there I've seen a singer on stage who was totally inside her song. It's a state of mind that can come with our passions.

 

[ms6852]

To me the processes before the actual loading is the fun part. I'm in the garage blaring music from a boom box I bought years ago, I get a 5 gallon bucket of brass and start depriming on a lee press with the universal decapping die. I drop the brass in a bucket of soapy water to let it soak as much of the brass is range brass. I do this for about an hour only and stop. The next day I repeat. The following day I transfer brass from the soapy water to a sonic cleaner and clean for 30 minutes. Music is great at least mine since I prefer Mo-town , Country and some rock and roll. I do everything in stages. The only time I do not have music is my final stage when I begin to load. It can take me several days by the time I get to that point so I make sure there is no distractions so that I don't have to play air guitar or air drums.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

To me the processes before the actual loading is the fun part. I'm in the garage blaring music from a boom box I bought years ago, I get a 5 gallon bucket of brass and start depriming on a lee press with the universal decapping die. I drop the brass in a bucket of soapy water to let it soak as much of the brass is range brass. I do this for about an hour only and stop. The next day I repeat. The following day I transfer brass from the soapy water to a sonic cleaner and clean for 30 minutes. Music is great at least mine since I prefer Mo-town , Country and some rock and roll. I do everything in stages. The only time I do not have music is my final stage when I begin to load. It can take me several days by the time I get to that point so I make sure there is no distractions so that I don't have to play air guitar or air drums.

If I listen to anything other than the leaves blowing and the birds singing, it’s big band. Boogie woogie, hop, swing and I like the old crooners, too. That classic 4:4 backbeat is great for timing.

 

[Mark_Mark]

If I listen to anything other than the leaves blowing and the birds singing, it’s big band. Boogie woogie, hop, swing and I like the old crooners, too. That classic 4:4 backbeat is great for timing.

I like Death Metal from the 90’s when I reload!

 

[HowardC]

Bach, Beethoven, and Borodin here......
-West out

 

[PWC]

Before retirement....could come home and chew nails; half hour of brass prep or reloading and I became a mellow fellow.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I like Death Metal from the 90’s when I reload!

I just CAN"T hit like on that post
I listen to SRV or Red White and Booze channel if wanting something a little faster or Willie and Waylon when needing to concentrate

 

[41 Mag]

WEll I would say that hand loading IS VERY therapeutic, in fact old the oldest grandson that yesterday. My problem is, I got to a point I have more than enough loaded up, most if not all is hunting ammo tailored to specific rifles or handguns, some using bullets on the expensive side, some using bullets that I haven't seen listed in a year or more.

So I started casting verses loading. That was just as fantastic a relief, and got to be a habit as well. Now I have built up a stockpile of my favs that should last quite a while. Both target and hunting. I did start on a couple of new project loads though so several hundred of each will be gone through over the next few months.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I just CAN"T hit like on that post
I listen to SRV or Red White and Booze channel if wanting something a little faster or Willie and Waylon when needing to concentrate

When I need to concentrate on say a Lee Progressive, I like 70’s & 80’s Rap like African Bombata and the Soul Sonic Force! Good reloading music

 

[halfmoonclip]

It can take me several days by the time I get to that point so I make sure there is no distractions so that I don't have to play air guitar or air drums.

Distraction is the deadly word. A late buddy's son did his reloading, and he watched TV. This led to evil things, like 5 bullets stuck in the barrel of a .32 S&W.
Yeah, I like music to load by, but the stuff in my collection are eclectic to a fault; rock from the last century, folk (especially Irish folk), Warren Zevon in abundance.
Moon

 

[Mark_Mark]

Distraction is the deadly word. A late buddy's son did his reloading, and he watched TV. This led to evil things, like 5 bullets stuck in the barrel of a .32 S&W.
Yeah, I like music to load by, but the stuff in my collection are eclectic to a fault; rock from the last century, folk (especially Irish folk), Warren Zevon in abundance.
Moon

All kidding aside, I normally load in silence. Not that music or tv would be distracting. I just enjoy Silences

 

[FROGO207]

Well a little Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, and Led Zepplin all played on random/repeat makes my background music filter smile. Just not too loud for what I am doing.

 

[CQB45ACP]

All kidding aside, I normally load in silence. Not that music or tv would be distracting. I just enjoy Silences

C'mon, those voices in your head are always talking to you.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Bach, Beethoven, and Borodin here......
-West out

You know a man has low blood pressure when Mozart is too wild for him.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Well a little Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, and Led Zepplin all played on random/repeat makes my background music filter smile. Just not too loud for what I am doing.

Who in the world still listens to Jethro Tull? What, Aqualung on continuous loop? I sure couldn't have that on while reloading.

Have showed this before. Saw both Tull & Zepplin the same night back in HS ('69).

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Who in the world still listens to Jethro Tull? What, Aqualung on continuous loop?

Locomotive Breath.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Locomotive Breath.

I can remember a little but have mostly let the sands of time take all the hard rock out of my memory. Was a fan of that only a short while. To this day, if I can't hum it as I walk down the street or while I mow or measure OAL, I'm not interested.

 

[ballman6711]

Saw both Tull & Zepplin the same night back in HS ('69).

I saw Dillon, Petty, and The Dead at RFK stadium, don't remember the year.

I like to listen to the radio when I reload, but keep the volume down so it's not distracting.

chris

 

[CQB45ACP]

I saw Dillon, Petty, and The Dead at RFK stadium, don't remember the year.

I like to listen to the radio when I reload, but keep the volume down so it's not distracting.

chris

Wow. I remember that one! EPA issued an emergency air pollution alert and FAA prevented flights over the stadium due to toxic cannabis cloud.

 

[Walkalong]

Working with my hands and producing something valuable has always made me feel good.

Same here, all my life this has been a "good place" for me.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Yes, making my own ammo to my own specifications is all I need and is indeed a good place. Everything else is a distraction while I'm doing it.