Letting Young Kids Help Reload?
- Thread starter bassjam
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lightman
Member
I think you are ok. If you feel like you can keep an eye on him and still load ammo you should be ok. Just be aware of the potential distraction that could effect your procedures. I agree about watching out for his hygiene. As far as working the press handle, it may be a little soon. Also, be aware of the possibility of him becoming familiar with your loading room and feeling welcome to go there on his own. Maybe change the lockset out to one requiring a key and keep the room locked.
He will probably remember these times with you forever so try to make them interesting and fun for him. He may even get the reloading bug himself.
He will probably remember these times with you forever so try to make them interesting and fun for him. He may even get the reloading bug himself.
Gemmer
Member
I taught both of my daughters to reload when they were about 10. In their 40s now and still at it.
Obturation
Member
My older daughter will be 3 in May, she helps me a bit. But I don't let her near the press or any lead. She likes looking at the brass and putting tide in the wash bucket. Maybe I can let her help a bit more once she can listen to directions better .shes like me though, kind of wild.
As long as your little guy has fun, stays safe and washes his hands I don't see any harm in getting him involved.
As long as your little guy has fun, stays safe and washes his hands I don't see any harm in getting him involved.
68Dave
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My kids were really interested in reloading when I first started. They would beg for a bag of spent brass and the universal decapping die.
Now it’s just something dad does out in the garage.
I hope one of them likes it again when they are older.
David.
Now it’s just something dad does out in the garage.
I hope one of them likes it again when they are older.
David.
AlexanderA
Member
I agree. When I am reloading, I pay very careful attention to the processing steps, such as charging all the cases with powder but not double charging. The presence of a small child in the room would be a distraction for me, even assuming that the child itself doesn't meddle in the process. Heck, even the presence of an adult would be a distraction.
mokin
Member
I remember one evening when my five year old daughter walked into the garage while I was sorting brass and said "Dad, your hands are black!" It was not much long after that she loaded a few rounds with me. She thought it was pretty neat to wash her hands after reloading with me.
She isn't really into shooting at the moment but will go to the range with me occasionally. As it is, I'm pleased she knows the difference between bullets - the things that we put into a cartridge case, and bullets - basic ammunition. She also know about primers, gunpowder, and a lot of other things that make a firearm go bang.
She isn't really into shooting at the moment but will go to the range with me occasionally. As it is, I'm pleased she knows the difference between bullets - the things that we put into a cartridge case, and bullets - basic ammunition. She also know about primers, gunpowder, and a lot of other things that make a firearm go bang.
herrwalther
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My son "helps" me on all sorts of projects around the house. Help usually means he is in the general area and sort of watching me. He is 6. When it comes to reloading he might fumble his hands in the brass or the tumbling media. Other than making sure he doesn't make a mess I make sure he washes his hands well.
As far as a empty case getting complete or a double charge, what I do is have 2 trays loading on a single stage. Empty brass comes from one, full brass goes to another. Empty on the left of the powder measure, charged on the right. Haven't had any issues.
As far as a empty case getting complete or a double charge, what I do is have 2 trays loading on a single stage. Empty brass comes from one, full brass goes to another. Empty on the left of the powder measure, charged on the right. Haven't had any issues.
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bassjam
Member
That's more or less the approach I take. I let my 4 year old daughter look at the guns whenever she asks. We start out by checking together to see if it's loaded and a quick line about how guns can hurt people and to never touch one without me telling her it's okay. I started my stepdaughter with this approach at 6 and she's 11 now, we go to the range together now and I don't have to help her with anything anymore.
It was different in the house I grew up in. Dad kept his guns "hidden" in the back of a closet and I was never allowed to see them. So guess what I did every chance I got? I pulled them out of the closet and played with them, never knowing (or caring) if they were unloaded or not. I don't want my kids to grow up like that.
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bassjam
Member
So yesterday I did learn a lesson in letting the boy familiarize himself with my reloading press. I was packing up some guns to head to the range, keeping what I thought was a close eye on him as he played with a small mallet on the bench. The press was next to him, but there were no primers or brass in it and the powder was turned off. He had tried to reach for a bucket of cleaned brass, but I put it away up in the cabinet where he couldn't reach it. Next thing I know I look over and he's got a cup of dogfood, filling up the hopper tubes with kibble where the brass is supposed to be stacked!
SlowFuse
Member
My daughter back a few years ago would help me trim brass, which was a welcome bit of help considering I still use a manual Lee trimmer. Kills my fingers. That's when she was say 8 to 10 years old range. Now shes 13 almost 14 and doesn't give 2 sh*ts about anything shooting or reloading related.
My boy is 6 and he shows interest, but the most i've let him help pull a lever to do the deprime/sizing or final seat/crimp on a single stage. He does have the discipline to do certain things, he's been shooting with me a few times since he turned 5. But he's definitely not ready for the full immersion. I think that he will eventually be a big help and maybe start reloading his own one day, but no need to rush into any of it.
However, from my perspective if your kid shows an interest, let them help no matter how small the task. As long as it's a safe process, feed that curiosity and their interest may stick. But, as I experienced with my oldest it could be a very small window. Not saying her interest is gone forever, but you never know. This hobby is something I wouldn't force, if they're around it enough they'll naturally show some sort of interest in time.
My boy is 6 and he shows interest, but the most i've let him help pull a lever to do the deprime/sizing or final seat/crimp on a single stage. He does have the discipline to do certain things, he's been shooting with me a few times since he turned 5. But he's definitely not ready for the full immersion. I think that he will eventually be a big help and maybe start reloading his own one day, but no need to rush into any of it.
However, from my perspective if your kid shows an interest, let them help no matter how small the task. As long as it's a safe process, feed that curiosity and their interest may stick. But, as I experienced with my oldest it could be a very small window. Not saying her interest is gone forever, but you never know. This hobby is something I wouldn't force, if they're around it enough they'll naturally show some sort of interest in time.
danez71
Member
I think this is (or should be) more of a question as to what do you let him help with.
For example, let him be mostly a 2nd QC person.
Have him feel the primers after theve been pressed in to see if any are high or low. Show examples... explain the difference in 2yr old terms... feel the difference. Then let a few get through to see if he catches them. If he catches them, he's proud of helping daddy. If he doesnt, you know his ability.
Have him visually check the charges. Explain and show a double charge and a non charge. See how he does with escape tests
Have him seat a few primers... show him what happens when you don't pull the handle all the way.
I think you'll find he's too young right now for most of it. Feeling the primers is probably good because it provides instant sensory feedback and positive reinforcement when he finds one of your "mistakes".
Keep in mind that, unless he's truely gifted, a 2yr old has the attention span of about 5, 6 minutes..... unless a butterfly happens to fly by then it's cut short.
Keep things safe so you don't have to explain to him later why daddy only has 3 fingers on 1 hand and wears a cool eye patch.... or worse.
For example, let him be mostly a 2nd QC person.
Have him feel the primers after theve been pressed in to see if any are high or low. Show examples... explain the difference in 2yr old terms... feel the difference. Then let a few get through to see if he catches them. If he catches them, he's proud of helping daddy. If he doesnt, you know his ability.
Have him visually check the charges. Explain and show a double charge and a non charge. See how he does with escape tests
Have him seat a few primers... show him what happens when you don't pull the handle all the way.
I think you'll find he's too young right now for most of it. Feeling the primers is probably good because it provides instant sensory feedback and positive reinforcement when he finds one of your "mistakes".
Keep in mind that, unless he's truely gifted, a 2yr old has the attention span of about 5, 6 minutes..... unless a butterfly happens to fly by then it's cut short.
Keep things safe so you don't have to explain to him later why daddy only has 3 fingers on 1 hand and wears a cool eye patch.... or worse.
Scooter22
Member
Sooo is that suppose to be funny? A learning experiences? As I said too young. I had several others saying I was wrong about my post. Well this proves it. Don't get me wrong. Involving your kids is a great thing that memories are made of. But playing with 40-60K of pressure your holding or hugging when you pull the trigger isn't something I want a 2,3,4 year old to have part of assembling. You don;t want a memory of " Daddy went BOOM". JM adult O. Kids are kids. Don't expect them to be little adults. Theres plenty of adults that aren't adults.
1KPerDay
Member
Yep. Or completed cases you’ve need handling with your hands that have been touching that stuff. I let my kids pull the handle while I inspect powder level and place bullets. Usually they get bored after 8 or 10. I let them help me work on my motorcycles and stuff if they’re interested also. Just be safe, pay close attention, and wash hands afterward.
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bassjam
Member
Yeah, it's funny. He put dog food in an empty reloading press that he has no access to unless I let him in that room. I blew the dust out of the tubes and everything's OK. No harm, no foul. And you misread my original post if you think I'm giving him a part of the assembly process. He's taking fully assembled loads and placing them in a tray for me to inspect later. His role is in logistics, not manufacturing.
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bassjam
Member
He's certainly too young to really understand any sort of QC night now. But since the time he was mildly coordinated this kid has LOVED taking things and placing them in a container. I've watched him put pebbles in a bucket, one by one, for an hour. When the bucket was full, he dumped out the pebbles and started over. He does the same thing with wooded blocks, or crayons, or anything in multiples that he can get his hands on. Based on that I think the job I'm giving him will keep his attention. If not, oh well. I can only hope he eventually picks up some of my hobbies, but I certainly can't force him too.
theotherwaldo
Member
I would let a conscientious and alert toddler gather and sort range brass, operate a de-priming press, and load and operate a brass tumbler - all with both of us wearing dust masks and nitrile gloves.
Start them off right!
He or she would not be allowed to get involved in actual reloading until they showed that they were intellectually ready... .
Start them off right!
He or she would not be allowed to get involved in actual reloading until they showed that they were intellectually ready... .
Mine put dog food in the shampoo bottle and replaced the cap. I think they have an attraction to dogfood.
You should use that as a teachable moment for yourself. Never turn your back on your child while they are near potentially dangerous things.
I'm all for having kids"help".
frankmako
Member
let him. i did it and it did not hurt anything. i all so did it with the grandkids. when they are real young give them tasks like putting loaded ammo into cases or sorting brass. all so it is a good way to learn them how to count and how to learn math. it will make your reloading time slower,,,but it worth every extry minute you spend with your kids. one day they will grow up, leave your home, and have a family of their own. but they and you will remember the times in the reloading room.
I wasn't too much older, maybe 3, when I began "helping" my grandfather reload the 22 hornet he used to kill deer that were in our fields at night. He used a Lee Loader and would sit me on a stool in front of the bench with him standing behind me then he would let me hit the die with the hammer and pour the powder into the case with the scoop. He obviously checked to make sure I didn't do anything wrong and handled the cast bullets and primers himself, but otherwise would let me do everything myself. Later when I started deer hunting with him at 6 he watched me load all the ammo that I shot to get ready for deer hunting and the ammo I would use for the hunt itself again with a Lee Loader but this time in 30/30. Not having a dad that was around while I was growing up, those and helping him work on his various cars and motorcycles are some of my best, and most vivid, memories of growing up. And those are all hobbies that I still enjoy to this day.
BSA1
member
As Sgt. Hulka said in the movie Stripes “Lighten up Francis.”
There was no harm done and I do find it humorous. I have learned not to get stressed out for such little things.
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Young children are quite susceptible to lead poisoning that can stunt their emotional and intellectual growth, and can even introduce some physical problems. So you might want to keep them away for that reason. Once they are 10 or so, it is much less of a problem so at that point you might want to allow them to help.
incidentally, much of the problematic lead is not the bullets but the fired cases and the cleaning media. It is probably best if you do your tumbling outside and keep young kids away.
incidentally, much of the problematic lead is not the bullets but the fired cases and the cleaning media. It is probably best if you do your tumbling outside and keep young kids away.
doubleh
Member
I'm all for encouraging kids to do things they are interested in, with adult supervision of course. I'm dealing with great grand kids now. The oldest is eleven and perfectly capable of doing the the entire reloading process by herself and I imagine her eight year old sister is too but she has shown no interest in it. Of course grandpa would be sitting by either one with an eagle eye out to make sure there are no mistakes. Now the five year old is another kettle of fish. She's a red head with a red head's instant temper and tends to throw things when becoming just a little frustrated even though she knows it's going to get her in trouble. As long as mom and pop aren't around she is a much better behaved kid but she's going to have to be more mature before I let her around anything that has a potential to be dangerous. Her twenty-two month old brother, blond, not red headed, is an entirely different little kid. He minds well, doesn't throw temper tantrums, and has already figured out how to defeat childproof door knobs. I may have another candidate to teach reloading to if I last long enough. Then there is the five month old new girl in the que but I'll probably be too feeble to make it to the reloading bench by the time she's old enough to show an interest.
As a footnote: I no longer tumble brass. It gets a bath in water, lemon juice, and a bit of liquid soap. Then it gets rinsed in hot water. I don't care about my brass looking like it's brand new. I just want it clean and and the wet cleaning should take care of any nasty stuff to be encountered while handling it with no gloves or masks needed.
As a footnote: I no longer tumble brass. It gets a bath in water, lemon juice, and a bit of liquid soap. Then it gets rinsed in hot water. I don't care about my brass looking like it's brand new. I just want it clean and and the wet cleaning should take care of any nasty stuff to be encountered while handling it with no gloves or masks needed.
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Arkansas Paul
Member
My daughter killed her first deer when she was 11 and she loaded the bullet she killed it with.
Of course, I was over her shoulder explaining each step of the process. She's proud of it though, and I am too.
Of course, I was over her shoulder explaining each step of the process. She's proud of it though, and I am too.
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