embarrassing mistake

not quite reloading related, but embarrassing nonetheless. Picked up a new rifle, and scope a couple days ago. Went to sight in the scope yesterday. Got almost dead on after a couple shots, but noticed my shots were still about 1" to the left @ 100 yards. Packed up and went inside. While looking at the scope, i noticed the turrets were labeled for the wrong thing. left/right was on the top of the scope, while up/down was on the left side. took the caps off to switch them and make it right. wasn't until about 5 hours later that it hit me, i mounted the scope turned 90 degrees to the left side, so the turrets were actually correct before i swapped them, i just had the scope sideways. Doh. filpped it the right way and now she's right on center.

I once forgot my flip tray was actually a "flip" tray. 100 tear-downs taught me slow down a bit.

gonoles_1980 said:

I've gone to the range wanting to try some new loads, realizing I left that gun at home .

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I compiled a list that's hanging on my shop wall that contains all the stuff that I need for a range session.
E.G. Guns, ammo, sandbags/fore rest,targets,staples,spotting scope,shooting glasses.earmuffs.
Same for Blackpowder shooting plus, Powder, balls, caps, patches, cleaning patches and bore cleaner.
Needless to say, the above is the result of "forgetting" something!

The worst mistake I think I ever made, was when I went out to shoot some full tilt 44 mag. H110 loads, and forgot to put my ear plugs in. My ears are still ringing to this day, and that was more than 10 yrs. ago. I'm not joking either, I permanently damaged my hearing that day.

GS

gamestalker

The worst mistake I think I ever made, was when I went out to shoot some full tilt 44 mag. H110 loads, and forgot to put my ear plugs in. My ears are still ringing to this day, and that was more than 10 yrs. ago. I'm not joking either, I permanently damaged my hearing that day.

GS

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I totally understand, except mine was not that bad.
I put my ear protection on the table next to me and pick up my S&W revolver with some hot 357 loads in it. I had my glasses on and pulled the trigger....WoW..!!
My ears rang for months after that.
I could just imagine a 44 mag hot load. :banghead:
I have heard of some guys who got dizzy after something like that...I guess it really screws your ears up

Sorry
TxDon

I now have 2 bags that go to the range with me to make sure I don't forget any thing. Now if I can just remember to put the reloads in the ammo bang!
Catpop

I came about 1 second from trying to seat a batch of bullets with the expander die in a moment of brilliance a few minutes ago. I caught it right before pulling the handle.

I've done the thing with seating primers backwards before.

Eventually, you kind of come up with your own system to cut down on mistakes like that.

It's also possible to drive 1.5 hours to your favorite rifle range with only one rifle, your Browning .243 BAR... in which you installed the gas piston backwards. Instead of a semi-automatic rifle, you now have a single shot rifle... and because you only brought one rifle to the range, you now have the only single shot rifle that resembles a semi-auto... you just tell everyone you have it in the manual mode, so you need to hand-eject every case.

Took 41 Special ammo and 44 Special gun to the range. Funny noise and enlarged 41 Special case.

I have arrived at the range without ammo ... without targets ... without hearing protection ... without my key card to open the gate.

I now have a range box that ALWAYS goes with me. In addition to all of the above (ammo determined by guns going, of course), it includes cleaning supplies, tools (screwdrivers, punches, allen wrenches, etc.), staple gun, extra staples, masking tape, extra foam earplugs to share with others, spare batteries for my Peltors ... you get the idea. Box stays stocked, and always goes. Has really cut down on personal grief, and has helped me "save the day" for others who forgot something.

I have forgotten mags for the gun I was going to shoot in the past, luckily I always keep a few 1911 mags, 45 ammo in my bag. and always have a 1911 when I go to the range, so at least I had something to shoot

The other day i drove to the ange to chrono some new reloads i was testing. But when i was setting up, i realized i forgot my tripod for the chrono....

I said no big deal, ill just set the chrono on the bench and shoot from further back...
then i realized i left the ammo i was supposed to test at home too

Yep, we all do it. I was filling my MEC shot bottle through a black funnel. When the bottle was full a pulled the funnel not realizing the funnel had backed up was still full. I'm still seeing #8 shot in my dust pan when I sweep the basement floor.

I usually prep my brass in batches. After the cases are wet tumbled and dried, they go into a gallon ZipLock until it's time to prime them. I have tags so I can document what stage of prep the brass is in. Went to my brass box this weekend to start priming some 9mm. Scooped out about 500 cases from the bag and started with my RCBS universal hand priming tool. After about 250 cases, one came up with spent primer still in the case.
Went back to the bag they came out of to look at the tag and saw they hadn't been sized yet.
Off came the de-capping pin and back to sizing I went.
The tags work well when you take the time to read them. :banghead:

I've driven to shooting ranges 90 minutes from home and then realized I forgot all my magazines.