Ever have a day when Reloading just gets difficult?

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Mogas

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A few days ago I was reloading a few 6.5 grendel rounds. I was doing good with full length sizing and getting the old primer out. After that it went down hill fast. Realized I was using small pistol primers instead of small rifle, I actually got a case stuck in the die removing the small pistol primers. Then had the worst time removing this case from a Lee die. I won't go into details about that. After all this frustration I knew the only way back to sanity was to head to my favorite gun store and pawn shop... I will get it together and reload in a day or two. Days like this can only be remedied by shopping for a new/old gun...
 
Mogas said:
A few days ago I was reloading a few 6.5 grendel rounds. I was doing good with full length sizing and getting the old primer out. After that it went down hill fast. Realized I was using small pistol primers instead of small rifle, I actually got a case stuck in the die removing the small pistol primers. Then had the worst time removing this case from a Lee die. I won't go into details about that. After all this frustration I knew the only way back to sanity was to head to my favorite gun store and pawn shop... I will get it together and reload in a day or two. Days like this can only be remedied by shopping for a new/old gun...
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I had to polish the inside of my Lee Die and use cooking spray as a case lube. I know the frustration of using Lee die on small rifle case.
 
As they say, “haste makes waste”.

I have found it is best to take the time and verify and double check each step you are taking as you make a change. You’d be surprised how frequently you catch problems before they become major issues.

Once you have verified the setting of the new set up, you can breeze through the action knowingly that it is correct.
 
I certainly have and I have extra dies of a few calibers on hand so that if I stick a case (even while using lubricant) I can try a for a few minutes to remove it. If it doesn't work I can swap them out and continue being productive. If I get frustrated lock it up and go split firewood or something like that.
 
You bet! Bad day at the bench, bad day at the range, bad day cleaning up after shooting, we’ve all had them.

When you feel it start drifting onto the rocks, its time to put it away and find your zen activity to right the ship. ;)

Stay safe.
 
Soonerpesek said:
It's the Law of Averages......
That means soon you will have one of those days in which everything goes RIGHT......:)
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my cop friends told me about the law of Average. “ Dang, one of those nights”

my State Troper buddy tell me about nights of ABSOLUTELY nobody breaking the law.
 
Honestly? No I've never found reloading to be difficult or challenging. But I learned by the book....not the Internet.
 
Like anyone, I've had occasional troubles at the bench, but never "one of those days" where everything goes bad. Of course, I do get fatigued on occasion, so unless I'm doing something brainless - just popping out used primers or whatever - I'll quit until I'm rested.

Bullet casting, on the other hand, is definitely a hobby where sometimes nothing works, and the only real option is to try again tomorrow.
 
It has been really tough for last month and half. Had to rip my basement and reloading room apart because of water leak and mold. So all my reloading stuff is on shelves in the warehouse at work. :(
 
jak67429 said:
It has been really tough for last month and half. Had to rip my basement and reloading room apart because of water leak and mold. So all my reloading stuff is on shelves in the warehouse at work. :(
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That sounds like quite the bummer! Hope it all gets back together for you soon!
 
For me, when I finally realize the day reloading isn't working out, I stop, put everything away and come back the next day. Happens more often as I approach "old Geezer"...
 
Yes I have. No just with reloading but with other task as well. It helps if you can just put things away and come back later. But you can't always do that. So I have tried to improve my preparations and to slow down and plan better.

I have had a broken depriming pin and rod stop me from loading. I stock spares now and have slowed down some.
I have run out of case lube. I've learned of other things that will work. And I keep better inventory control now.
I have run short of components. Primers, powder or bullets. Again, better inventory control.
I have mis-placed tools that I needed to perform the task. I formed better habits.

And sometime you just drop, fumble or otherwise screw up everything you touch! Thats when I walk away!
 
lightman said:
Yes I have. No just with reloading but with other task as well.
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Yeppers, in my experience, those kinds of days can come along with all kinds of tasks a person has planned. :uhoh:
I’m long time retired now, but in my 30+ years of doing electrical maintenance and repair work, I had plenty of days when it seemed like everything that could go wrong DID go wrong. And believe me, there are just as many (probably a lot more) things involved with doing electrical work that can kill or maim a person as there are with handloading.
The difference is, when I was doing electrical work, I usually couldn’t just “walk away” when it seemed like nothing was going right - my family depended on my paycheck. But when it comes to handloading, I can, and HAVE “walked away” from it for a few hours, or a day (or more) whenever I felt I needed to.
Did I mention I’m long time retired? I still have my hands and most of my eyesight too after 30+ years of electrical work. I’m not about to risk those things by not having the good sense to know when it’s time to walk away from the loading bench for a while. ;)
 
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Happens once in a while, I just walk away. I messed up a whole batch of .357 over the winter. By just leaving everything in a cold garage on a really cold snap I came out and turned on the heater and went to work. Nothing worked, could not figure it out. I just came to the conclusion that all the different metals being cold caused problems. Walked away, came back in a few days but took all my components out and let the heat run for a few hours first so everything warmed up. It all worked fine after that, first time I ever had a problem with temperature. I did say a bunch of not so nice things while pulling 100 bullets, dumping powder and resizing cases.
 
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