Has Anyone Decided When They'll Call It Quits?

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Had an older friend that used to shoot with. He reloaded for numerous people and took great pride in it. After hammering open the cylinder of a 357 mag next to me one day, stopped shooting with him. He was loading "max" loads with bullseye. Growing up in a previous time brought a obsession with reloading as cheaply as possible. Next he snuck some reloads into a pistol class, and blew up a students 38 special. Until the range was convinced to only use only factory rounds, he reloaded all the pistol rounds for family range day.

Would consider this a relevant topic, kinda like making decision to stop your parents from driving anymore. If you haven't been there, eventually you will be. Gave up my motorcycle for age related health reasons.
 
So I got anal about documentation.
More people should do this. I started that a long time ago, everything is labeled. I want me or whoever inherits it to have it clearly marked for our safety. Regardless of age, today might be the day we leave here, one just never knows. I have soft recoiling handguns for when I am older, weaker, and need that, sure, I enjoy them today, but someday it will be all I can handle. I sure hope I don't have memory issues as I age, I have seen people close to me go through it.
 
Several years ago, I was on mega doses of many chemicals trying to survive a bout with cancer; a side effect of the cocktail was extreme and quick agitation - very quick to anger. At the time, I was CCW and still carried; my wife sat me down and asked if I thought it smart to carry a handgun while I was in this condition. All I could do is relent as she was right - “no” was the only answer. When I reflect on that time, I tell myself that I should have known but the brutal truth is that I did not see it - I am glad she sat me down.
 
Hi...
I am 64 years old and have no intention or interest in quitting shooting or reloading.
I have always documented everything and always leave a filled out data sheet with each box of reloads...even in the ammo cans that contain my bulk general purpose loads.
Always document the case, bullet, powder charge, primer and the date it was loaded.

Not just for me but for my son because he shoots the same ammunition that I reload. I also taught him to reload and to document everything.

If I reach the point where I can't or shouldn't be reloading, he will be able to do it for me. He already does at least half of it now.
 
Had an older friend that used to shoot with. He reloaded for numerous people and took great pride in it. After hammering open the cylinder of a 357 mag next to me one day, stopped shooting with him. He was loading "max" loads with bullseye. Growing up in a previous time brought a obsession with reloading as cheaply as possible. Next he snuck some reloads into a pistol class, and blew up a students 38 special. Until the range was convinced to only use only factory rounds, he reloaded all the pistol rounds for family range day.

Now that's what I call scary!

Would consider this a relevant topic, kinda like making decision to stop your parents from driving anymore. If you haven't been there, eventually you will be. Gave up my motorcycle for age related health reasons.

I can relate to that.....before my Dad died. Reminds me of the statement about drinking........something like, "Friends don't let drunk friends drive?" I hope I have such friends if/when I get there.......I don't drink.....but each year the risk in getting older is more real. ;) That said, I have a rare neighbor who just turned 100, and he's still sharp as ever....still drives and does it well and safe still.....amazing. I don't think for a second that I will be able to do that....like I said, that's rare.
 
i'm 80 years old and have been re-loading centerfire rifle ammo since 1953-54. Don't re-load handgun ammo. Still weighing every powder charge. Was formerly shooting 3,000-5,000 reloaded rounds per year but slowed down until this year when i picked up the pace. The quick burning powders like 4227, 2400, etc. are kept out of the reloading room unless i'm loading .17 or .22 Hornet: i've always done that.

Stay active. Much of this old age stuff is related to mind set. Dr. says i'm the only patient with multiple medical problems who is doing well. My friends have either passed away or are laying around eating, pooping and waiting for the grinning reaper. i can still work 8 hours but it takes a couple days to recover.

Enjoy reloading in your old age.
 
idunno, ArchAngleCD I think it's a legit question......I'll be 70 in December, and I can tell you that the conversation is different among me and my shooting buddies these days.
The OP was talking about quitting over fear, that's what my response was aimed at.

I really like your camera through die that looks into the filled case, very cool.
 
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The OP was talking about quitting over fear

"Fear" is an emotion. A reasoned calculation that the risks of an activity now exceed the rewards is nothing to be jeered at, though.

I don't ride motorcycles. It's not because I have a negative emotional reaction to them... it's because I think the inherent dangers (including the dangers posed by other drivers whose action I cannot control) outweigh the enjoyment I might get from it. For activities where our own actions are the primary influence on the level of risk - and reloading is certainly one of those activities - it is reasonable and prudent to periodically make a conscious assessment of whether anything has altered our ability to control/mitigate risks to an acceptable level.

I have seen a few older shooters "retire" themselves from USPSA/run-and-gun games, because they find themselves having a harder time maintaining the spatial orientation needed to avoid breaking the 180. The games that were once acceptably safe for them became unacceptably unsafe. I have a lot of respect for those guys who take themselves out of the game before they hurt themselves or someone else, rather than waiting to be told they are no longer welcome as participants.

I'm in my mid-40's and I hope to have many, many years before I have to really wrestle with these questions; I also hope I will have the integrity, honest self-awareness, and presence of mind to make rational decisions when the time comes.

I think it's unfortunate that the general anti-gun climate/pressures have made us all so defensive of the right to engage in various gun-related activities (from reloading to concealed carry) that we've developed a culture of thinking anyone can do these things responsibly. Well, that's not true. There are some people who have no business reloading. There are some people who have no business handling a loaded firearm. Thinking that the government is a poor arbiter of that question is not the same thing as thinking that people should not answer those questions seriously for themselves. And sometimes the answer changes over time.
 
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Stuff happens no matter what you do. Does that prevent you from doing everyday activities.??
You can "blow up a gun" with factory ammo as well. You can slip in the shower and die.

Dementia/Alzheimer unfortunately is not something the person realizes is happening

What was the topic??:uhoh:
 
Are there objective events around which anyone has "pre-decided" that, if they happen, by definition they will close the reloading bench? I'm not asking this in the context of a universal set of events. I'm just wondering if anyone here has said to themselves "If <x> ever happens I'm going to decide that's an indicator I shouldn't be doing this any more."
IMO, a Good Subject, OR. Thanks! :)

Not something that I have done, but your Thread has added this to my current, myriad-but-diminishing, Life considerations.
 
I belong to a muzzle loading club that has more than a few Senior members. Heck, at 65 I'm kind of in the middle with this group...
Anyway, one of our lady members has stopped shooting because she recognized that she was having memory issues. She freely admits it and still comes out to the club with her husband to watch.
 
Stuff happens no matter what you do. Does that prevent you from doing everyday activities.??
You can "blow up a gun" with factory ammo as well. You can slip in the shower and die.

Dementia/Alzheimer unfortunately is not something the person realizes is happening

What was the topic??:uhoh:

Close enough.:) When the cards are dealt, we have no idea what we are in for. One of my closest friends....since 8 years old....my age, who has taken care of himself way better than I have, just got sick and they found cancer on his pancreas.....this is an exercise fool, smart eater, who doesn't smoke, drink, or even eat McDonalds, who would never have slowed down....and in one month he looks like a skeleton....can't even believe it. "Tomorrow" is the biggest, sometimes unfairest mystery.

Alsakr: Good for you! My dad died at 94....he made it to his rocker at 93......me? I doubt I'll make that....but it won't be for the lack of trying....except I do have an Egg McMuffin and a Dr. Pepper more than I should!;)

Memory issues: We all have them....more as we age. But when we forget to zip up the pants.....we need to quit......Kidding!

If all the money and effort the Democrats are using to get rid of Trump, was used to find a cure for Alzheimers, we'd have a cure.
 
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When I blow up two guns I’ll stop. One mistake can happen. Learn from it. If I blow a second up, I’m done.

Or when I have enough ammo to carry me into my 80’s. I’d like to think I’ll still be shooting, but who knows. My gramps was sharp until 90. Other relatives died early.
 
Living in the retirement capital of the WORLD. I sure do see and avoid a LOT of drivers on the road that should have turned in their license and keys long ago!

Now don't get your Depends in a bunch, not all 86 years olds are bad drivers. Many teens are worse.
Heck if they can still hang on and be aJudge of the USSC:what:
 
One of my closest friends....since 8 years old....my age, who has taken care of himself way better than I have, just got sick and they found cancer on his pancreas.....this is an exercise fool, smart eater, who doesn't smoke, drink, or even eat McDonalds, who would never have slowed down....and in one month he looks like a skeleton

Sorry GW...that's a tough road. Whatever they say, it's my impression pancreatic cancer is on the increase and I've seen it take a neighbor recently....one with plenty of money flying monthly to the best national center for treatment for it. He lasted a year, long enough to walk his youngest down the aisle, but is the longest after diagnosis I've known to date.
 
I've already "called it quits" on a few aspects of "gunning".

I'm not buying any more rifles/pistols for myself as range toys,,,
I've quit participating in anything other than fun shoots,,,
I've started selling/gifting guns I rarely shoot.

I figure that as long as I can see out to 25 yards,,,
I'll keep carrying a pistol on my person.

Aarond

.
 

OK, troll it is...for you anyways

Sometimes it's fun to click the "Show Ignored Content" button at the bottom of a page.
You can read that content and re-affirm your choices...
Why don't YOU click on my name and click "ignore"...easy peesy :thumbup:
:D
 
If I start forgetting things during reloading like what powder I’m using or the correct charge weight then I’ll stop. FWIW, I’ve always considered an auto indexing press to be somewhat safer regarding double charging a round than a single stage.
 
"Fear" is an emotion. A reasoned calculation that the risks of an activity now exceed the rewards is nothing to be jeered at, though.

I don't ride motorcycles. It's not because I have a negative emotional reaction to them... it's because I think the inherent dangers (including the dangers posed by other drivers whose action I cannot control) outweigh the enjoyment I might get from it. For activities where our own actions are the primary influence on the level of risk - and reloading is certainly one of those activities - it is reasonable and prudent to periodically make a conscious assessment of whether anything has altered our ability to control/mitigate risks to an acceptable level.

I have seen a few older shooters "retire" themselves from USPSA/run-and-gun games, because they find themselves having a harder time maintaining the spatial orientation needed to avoid breaking the 180. The games that were once acceptably safe for them because unacceptably unsafe. I have a lot of respect for those guys who take themselves out of the game before they hurt themselves or someone else, rather than waiting to be told they are no longer welcome as participants.

I'm in my mid-40's and I hope to have many, many years before I have to really wrestle with these questions; I also hope I will have the integrity, honest self-awareness, and presence of mind to make rational decisions when the time comes.

I think it's unfortunate that the general anti-gun climate/pressures have made us all so defensive of the right to engage in various gun-related activities (from reloading to concealed carry) that we've developed a culture of thinking anyone can do these things responsibly. Well, that's not true. There are some people who have no business reloading. There are some people who have no business handling a loaded firearm. Thinking that the government is a poor arbiter of that question is not the same thing as thinking that people should not answer those questions seriously for themselves. And sometimes the answer changes over time.
It's refreshing to read your post as someone your age who "gets it" and understands what could be in your future.
:thumbup:
 
I have already been through a few small things like multiple cancers, years of heart issues, and many other issues. I no longer go into burning buildings but still am a firefighter. Hands are so stiff I can't run the controls on a bike either. As for flying not in 25 years. Clint said it best in one of his movies "A mans got to know his limitations." and this is so true. Just appreciate what you can still manage.
 
I'm with you on the documentation!
When I started working in R&D for a large company I was issued a numbered Lab Book and encouraged to write and sketch any and all ideas I had in it every day.
When that book became full it was turned in and another one was issued.

Wow that was an eye opener for me, we would review those ideas regularly, as a group, and any entries deemed worthy of further development would be copied and notarized for a permanent record of "prior art" if a patent application ever developed...and they did.

Documentation (writing stuff down) frees your mind to move on to different ideas and data.
jmo,
o_O
 
When I can no longer physically or mentally of doing the task, I'm 66 now. My dad lived a few months short of 92, his dad 96. Both still had their minds (sharp as a tack) and physically able to move about and drive without any assistants. My memory never has been any good, so I've always had to write things down I need to remember. Physically I've had my shares of injuries over the years. Just last year I had shoulder and wrist surgeries done. My back gives me the most pain and limits what I can do, 4 major surgeries. I've got arthritis in my hands but I keep pushing on. The key to longevity is stay as active as you can, keep moving. I've seen too many people retire and had no hobby to keep them active, pass away in a very short time.

I had a close friend call it quits several years ago due to physical limitations. The doctors said he needed to have both shoulders replaced along with a hip and knee. When it hurts to lift your arm due to your shoulder pain, you get the message. He's also fighting bladder cancer.
 
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