Letting others use your reloading equipment...

Status
Not open for further replies.
Steelworker

Steelworker

Member
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
91
Location
NE Indiana
I have a nice setup. XL650 with manycaliber conversions, and the RT1500 trimmer for 223 300blk and 308.

I am thinking about letting others use this equipment to load their own ammo. I will NOT be loading for them. BTW, these people would be experienced loaders.

Am I crazy for even thinking about this?
 
I let my best bud run my presses until he bought his own. He had all his own components and I didn't even watch. I did train him to be extra anal and attentive.The risk was his I told him. He signed a waiver of liability, just like he does at my hunting property.

So to summarize, good friends yes. Anyone else doesn't even know I have a reloading room setup.
 
We had a guy here locally who did exactly that. I'm an active reloader because of him, as are many others in the area. I owe a LOT to him. Really I am actively posting in this sub-forum and continue to gain extra knowledge because the start he provided me! Some day I will do the same for others.

Yes there are liabilities and laws, but they are not total obstacles. I am not a lawyer but the main legal part is dropping the powder.
 
Let others use my reloading equipment???

Ain't happening. My son is the only other person I trust with my reloading equipment.

I would show a non-family member how to reload on my equipment but unsupervised use is never going to happen. Ever.
 
Most of my friends would return a sledge hammer damaged.

I learned a long time ago not to "lend" anybody anything I wanted back or undamaged. Most of my lending's ended in no returns of item or returned broken , rusty and/or damaged in some way that repair was impossible.

And this is triple for family member's. I lent my brother a 22 pistol, I just found out he gave it away !

Maybe your friends are better than mine...but human nature says , if I didn't buy the borrowed item , then I really don't care about breaking it...it's not mine !

Your gear and your friends...good luck.
 
I often let friends use my reloading equipment. One guy simply can't afford his own. If I help him to afford to shoot more...great...Others I hope using my stuff makes then want to buy their own and shoot more, too....have I had a small piece or two broken? Yes...No big deal. I just order a replacement and go on.
 
Wow. I certainly wasn't talking about physically handing over equipment, or leaving a medium level newby alone with my equipment.

Funny thing, a guy borrowed one of my pipe benders. I forgot about it completely. Then I needed it. Couldn't find it, nearly drove me nuts. Where is it??? Anyway the guy stops by one and hands me my pipe bender. Undamaged. He said it was the wrong size! (arrghh)

To the OP, not crazy at all.
 
Sure, if I knew somebody who had an interest, I'd let them crank out some ammo using my equipment. Totally supervised, of course. Thing is, everybody that I know has their own equipment.

I do encourage my sons to load their own stuff. It generally ends up that I supply most, if not all of the components. I'm just trying to keep the tradition alive after I'm gone. Young men are usually pretty busy doing their own things but we do get in a session from time to time.

Laphroaig
 
When we had the shop I did teach reloading. Had a Rockchucker mounted in the back and did let certain preferred customers load on that setup as they waited on their own gear. I was always present in the area.

Ron
 
Let my two sons reload, using my components, however they prefer shooting my reloads unfortunately. As far as letting my friends use my equipment, I'll show them the proper way to reload, however it's not a hands on operation. BTW my grandson uses my MEC shotgun reloader to reload his shells very proficiently I might add unsupervised, however he is 18 years old and very responsible.
 
I let one buddy use my equipment to reload his brass at my bench in my house. He is the only person I have let do so, though. I have loaned out certain equipment to another friend. I loaned him my RCBS primer pocket swager/bench tool. I have no issues with doing that.

The Dove
 
Last edited:
I've had a few friends that have come over to use my equipment. I was always present as they would have required my help. I have a few friends that would be welcome to use my stuff even if I were not there, but thats a mute point because they have their own set-ups. Sometimes by helping a guy out you can bring a new reloader into the hobby. Always a good thing to have a new member to the hobby with good training and understanding towards safety.

Its not quite what the OP meant, but I have a Giraud case trimmer and a Giraud annealing machine. I regularly have a few friends over for a case prep party. Usually before a Prairie Dog hunt. Someone runs the trimmer (usually me), someone feeds and moniters the annealing machine and a couple of guys do primer pockets and case inspection. It kinda makes the dull job of case prep more enjoyable.
 
I don't find it out of the realm of possibilities.

I've let friends use my reloading stuff all the time - they supply all their own components.

Let's face it, the start up cost to reloading can be prohibitive to some:
  • $400-500 or more Press
  • $50-75$ die - 1 caliber
  • $50-$100 Scale
  • $50 - $150 Tumbler

Plus incidentals - calipers, case sizers, trimmer, books - by the time your done you're well into $1000.00 worth of set up and you haven't reloaded a single bullet or bought any components.

I see it as a way to help someone get into the hobby before they jump in with an investment in a hobby they might not even like.

Heck, I've taught a few friends wives how to reload - now they do it on their own - well worth my time and effort
 
I think it is important that we all encourage others to start reloading. The more of us there are the more available tools and components will be. I understand that there are an estimated 4 Million reloaders in the US. If we were to double that, we would be a we would be stronger economically, and pressure manufactures to make sure components didn’t disappear from the shelves.
I let anyone who is competent reload on my equipment, Dillon and RCBS will replace any broken parts for free.
 
I've been training a neighbor to reload for the last month. He getting to the point that he can do most of it by his self now without supervision. He is using his own components. I started him on a SS press and have started training him on a LNL-AP to load high volume pistol ammo. He's currently looking at presses and hasn't decided on which one to get. I know he will still come over to use my case trimmer and annealing machine for rifle once he gets his own press.

I have a range setup here at the house so all I need to do is step out either the back or front door. He normally comes over to shoot with me since I have a pretty nice setup.
 
BTW, these people would be experienced loaders.
Click to expand...

Well my thought is how can they be experienced loaders if they don't have their own reloading equipment.

However I don't see any risk in having someone come to your house and use your equipment under your supervision. That way if something breaks you will know why it happened.
 
I have a very short list of three people that I will let borrow regular tools. No way I'm letting anyone use the reloading tools. Everything is always good until something breaks. Once something breaks it can be a problem getting the person who broke it to pay. This is why I have such a short list. Had to many issues w/ people breaking tools so I just don't let others use them anymore.
 
50 years ago a "workbench" was in dads basement with a shotgun loading station, I added a centerfire rifle station about ten years later.

Fast forward thirty years: my brother built a house with an awesome reloading area that four or five experienced loaders used for years without a problem.

Fast forward another twenty years: my brother and I still load in a space that has Mec 12, Mec 20, Lyman, RCBS, Hornady, and Lee mounted to the rather long bench.

When you trust the folks and they know exactly what they're doing, it's all good.
 
Not a fan of it, only because they will not be as careful with a piece of machinery that can break as I am.

I've done it. May never happen again, and one range buddy has been outlawed from it, but I've done it.
 
I envy those of you with friends who like to shoot enough to WANT to reload.
While I have many friends, I have none who are into shooting like me.

I would allow friends to come over to reload, but the equipment isn't leaving my house.
I reload a box or 2 probably 3 or 4 days a week.
 
I would think that if someone uses your equipment and blows a few
fingers or an eye off. The lawyers will be coming after you full speed.

Zeke
 
Hmm.
Evidently some folks let others into their space even though they don't trust them.

And when I say trust, I mean trust.
You know: trust with your house keys, your bank account numbers, your safe combination, and yep, even your wife.

If they don't meet that, they're certainly not welcome in my house, let alone use my equipment.

Friends are chosen.. Choose wisely.
Family is there, but don't have to be a factor at all if you choose not to include them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

GoldieMI
  • Locked
Super 1050 Setup for 223/5.56
Replies
10
Views
506
DukeConnor
D
S
  • Locked
New to Rifle Reloading
Replies
17
Views
1K
lightman
L
L
  • Locked
RL1100 rifle brass processing queries
Replies
2
Views
165
jmorris
jmorris
H
  • Locked
Minimum equipment recommendations for loading/reloading .38 Super and 9x23
Replies
6
Views
620
Brian Williams
Brian Williams
J
  • Locked
Reloading 223 help
Replies
6
Views
533
xfyrfiter
X
Back
Top