My 3 y.o. and reloading

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SuperNaut

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My 3 y.o. prepped, decap/sized, and trimmed/deburred a .308 case all by himself last night. He had to hang his entire weight on the arm of the press and bounce, but he got it all the way in and out of the die.

I think I'll make a video.
 
Too funny, I can see him now, dangling from the arm of your press. Now if I could only have my 4yr old process the 4000 pcs of .223 i've got waiting...
 
My 5 year old likes to put the case in the shellholder and place the bullet on top of the charged case. She will actually come up to me after dinner and say "can we do some reloading tonight?"

Now if I can only get the 12 year old to load the 400 rounds of ammo he and his 10 year old brother shoot per month.

I have this dream where I am shaken awake by either of my boys. They are saying, "Wake up dad, its time to go to the match. The ammo is loaded, the guns are in the car, and your coffee is ready. Grab your pillow, you can sleep in the car while I drive. I hope you like roast beef sandwhiches for lunch."

Wouldn't that be awesome??
 
I have my niece into reloading shotshells,step by step. She was 7 when she asked if she could help now 9 and still wants to load. They can be good little helpers and it surprises is you how they remember the things needed. If yours sticks to it you can only wonder how much knowledge he will have in the years to come. I would like to see his teachers face when he stands up in front of the class to to a verbal speach on reloading.
 
My 5 y/o son likes to think his job is to put the finished rounds into the plastic ammo storage boxes. Makes me smile to know he's somewhat interested...
 
Teach him to pick up spent primers and whatever else you drop...

His eyeballs are closer to the floor. :evil: :D
 
I remember picking up primers for my dad when I was just little. Over time he let me do more and more. Way to start 'em young!
 
SuperNaut:
Very cool!

We'd love to see the video! (at least I would) :D

Please remember to be careful - his developing lungs are much, much, much
more susceptible to airborne lead poisoning than we adults.
 
HONDO, I just want to thank you for reminding us all that:

"developing lungs are much, much, much more susceptible to airborne lead poisoning than we adults."

I had forgotten about that.

Supernaught, it sounds like you got the tiger by the tail. They grow up way to quick. Enjoy every minute amigo!

The Dove
 
Shooting is a great hobby for children because they learn to obey rules at an early age. Plus having time with your kids or grand kids is GREAT! Enjoy them while you can because they grow real fast.
 
My youngest was always at my side helping me reload. He grew up in the shooting sports and took on reloading for his own guns when he turned 21. Together we built shared reloading capability for 7 or 8 calibers.

Two nights ago, the fun ended. I went to reload some 38 Super, which my son had introduced me to about 18 months ago. Loaded 100 primers into the tube, got out the cleaned brass, pulled out my new box of Zero bullets and got every thing situated. Went over to the storage cabinet to get the Dillon tool head loaded with my son's 38 Super dies. Looked into the drawer and there was my tool head... without dies. :eek:

Note to Parents: One day your "little helper" will grow up, get married and move out. Taking their reloading dies with them.

:cuss:

Seems like just yesterday we were on the 4H BB team and shooting 22's in Boy Scouts. Spend as much time as you can with them, because one day it all comes to an end. ;)
 
My 8 year old helps me decap and resize, and my 10 year old likes to drop the bullets in before seating.

Of course, they both like emptying cases the 'fun' way, too, so they beter help! ;)
 
Thats awesome! It is a great time spent with kids.

My 11 year old can do the whole process on her own, although I still measure the powder for her... when using scoops I scoop/scrape and she charges the rounds. Should see her shoot too!! Just remind them to wash their hands after handling the materials... especially if a young one is involved with casting.

erm_loading.jpg

I would love to see the video...
 
And that's what the Good Book meant when it said, "Train up a child in the way it should go, and when it's old it will not depart from it."
Click to expand...

Arkansas Paul - Amen brother, amen!

mcdonl - thanks for posting - I just LOVE seeing the kids get involved. It means reloading has a future.

My prayers go out to all parents who involve their kids in hobbies such as this. Keep up the good work!
 
Mr. Wet Blanket

One thing I would remind us of is that if we teach our children to reload, especially as young as 3, we must be very careful that they cannot access potentially dangerous components if they decide they want to surprise us by loading up some rounds. When mine were smaller, the powder, primers, and anything else that could cause problems were inaccessible. That included, for me, making sure that presses and moving things were secured to preclude pinched/lacerated/chopped off fingers/parts. I also had to put rubber tubing over bolts on the bottom of my RCBS Lubri-Sizer after my 18 mo. old son walked into them & cut his head. I guess the bottom line is we have to teach them, like everyone said, but we also have to watch them like hawks (mother/father hawks ;) ). I forget whose THR signature it is, but it is too true: "I child-proofed my house but they're still getting in." And getting into everything in it... :scrutiny:
 
Seems like just yesterday we were on the 4H BB team and shooting 22's in Boy Scouts. Spend as much time as you can with them, because one day it all comes to an end.
__________________



Very well said. I know the feeling.
 
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