Response to: TO THE NEW RELOADER

[AJC1]

I thought you were a hot shot youngster from your avatar, you are just old -- like most of the other posters in the H&R Forum.

I'm like the third youngest after jdmac and 2700oke. I'm not sure if me or mark-mark is older....

 

[Handshaker]

I thought you were a hot shot youngster from your avatar, you are just old -- like most of the other posters in the H&R Forum.

Which is why this place is so enjoyable. In other forums its mostly disrespectful haters that know it all and have done nothing... lol

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I'm like the third youngest after jdmac and 2700oke. I'm not sure if me or mark-mark is older....

Just my opinion/observation. It’s a funny avocation in some ways and this is one. The chronological age of the handloader makes very little difference in their level of experience. By the same token, how long someone has been handloading makes less difference than how broad their experience has been.

I have met old farts who have only ever reloaded one or two cartridges. They may have loaded tons of one cartridge - .45ACP, .38Spl, some hunting rifle cartridge, etc - but have virtually no experience otherwise.

Other side of the coin, I have conversed with kids a quarter my age who have handloaded a dozen different cartridges in a dozen different loadings and they have some really interesting insights about the process. Age is just a number; maturity… well, that’s a whole other topic and not one suitable to this forum.

 

[colton1337]

Which is why this place is so enjoyable. In other forums its mostly disrespectful haters that know it all and have done nothing... lol

Good God do not browse the reloading subreddit. That place is absolute trash a majority of the time.

 

[bdb242]

I have learned a few things over the years from working and reloading. Haste makes waste and tomorrow is another day. Since I started reloading as a young high school student around 1960 or so I have loaded for 7 different pistol rounds, 17 centerfire rifle calibers including 2 custom tite-neck heavy barrel bench type rifles, 5 .223 bolt guns and several AR's 2 factory & 1 custom build, belted magnums and non belted magnums, from WW2 7mm military to Ruger #1 7mm Mauser, from 300 Win Mag to 30/30 Winchester. I read every online powder and bullet post from every manufacturer looking for loading data along with 12 different reloading manuals dating from 1959 thru 2022. I have learned a few things and continually seek to learn more.
I tell all my friends who shoot to join this group and read and enjoy. I'm so glad I stumbled onto this site.

 

[bigpower491]

Everyone knows he who dies with the most toys wins...

My sig line says it all.......

 

[Handshaker]

My sig line says it all.......

I use the term there is no such thing as a trailer hitch on a hearse.

 

[billybob44]

"KISS" Keep it Simple S....You dont need 4 rooms full of stuff and dont need to spend 5k. Your reloading skills are not graded on how much equipment you have.

" Your reloading skills are not graded on how much equipment you have."
To a point=A Lee Loader Kit with a ROCK will only take you so far???..Bill.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

" Your reloading skills are not graded on how much equipment you have."
To a point=A Lee Loader Kit with a ROCK will only take you so far???..Bill.

So who's the more skilled? The person who can bang out extremely consistent ammo with a rock and a Lee Loader kit or the person who does the same on a bench-mounted progressive? Which takes more skill, pulling a handle or using a hammer and hand-held dies?

 

[markr6754]

"KISS" Keep it Simple S....You dont need 4 rooms full of stuff and dont need to spend 5k. Your reloading skills are not graded on how much equipment you have.

Now you tell me.....

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

my deceased brother who passed last year started reloading at the age of 14, two old men in the small town we lived in agreed to sell him an old 303 British Enfield, and an old 7 mm mauser. Could not find any of that ammo in the small town we lived in and about the only two places that sold ammo, Western Auto, and a sporting goods store did not carry nor would they even try to get that ammo. He started loading with old Lee Loaders, and progressed
from single stage , turret presses, and finally progressive presses He finally got a Hornady lock n load, and talked me into getting one. He passed last year at the age of 69. He also cast his own bullets, and had for about 25 years. He advised me to get two books, the Lyman cast bullet manual, and an older copy of the ABC's of reloading, and was great advice. I recommend those two books for anyone starting to reload, and cast bullets

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

I did reload in the 1970s and 1980s when stationed in Alaska, for the same reason, could not get the ammo I needed. I did not pick it back up till about 2017, and used a turret press and Lee PRO 1000

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

Am I the only old codger that remembers Western Auto selling guns and ammo?

 

[Handshaker]

" Your reloading skills are not graded on how much equipment you have."
To a point=A Lee Loader Kit with a ROCK will only take you so far???..Bill.

IDK but i can load every caliber consistently with my lee turret press and lee single stage press(for decapping only) to the same specs as a any 5k or more setup. I didnt buy what i bought because i didnt have the means to go bigger, it just made no sense to me and i dont like the idea of using progressive press. Does it really matter what you do and what i do as long as we both have fun doing it? Unless you can enlighten me which calibers you can load and i cant?

 

[tightgroup tiger]

No, your not the only one. I still have a semi-auto Western Auto 22 rifle and 12 gauge paper shot gun shells.
They sold about every thing. I miss those stores and the GC Murphy's 5 and 10 stores.
I bought a lot of Revel glue together plastic model cars and airplanes from them.

 

[bigpower491]

That sticky was a good read. I still use my original Rock Chucker single stage for all rifle loads. For the most part, I was a rifleman early on shooting. When I started getting into semi auto pustols, I realized real quick I needed a progressive, as I could eat up 3 hours work in an M&P40 in about 20 minutes.

When I started pressing my own, there was no web, and I knew nobody else that loaded. Well, I had Layne Simpson and the rest in the gun rags. Pretty much had to teach myself, out of the reloading manuals, probably the same as a whole bunch of others hanging around here.

When I finally got a computer, I was a regular at the reloadersnest(I've seen a few familiar screen names here), and outside of a few nutbars, things there were pretty good and there was a bunch of good dudes that knew a ton of stuff.
As far as internet loads.....certainly someone very green could very well look at a certain load and see those velocity number and maybe think why not. An experienced loader can look at those loads and very well conclude what is reasonable and what is not. I don't have a problem posting my loads, as for the most part, I always seem to get good results with modest mid power loads. FPS means doodly squat if you can't shoot it, and it sure is friendlier on the equipment.
Our game isn't for everybody, there's some knuckleheads I know hope they never ever get the gumption to take it up......no matter what you tell these individuals, they'll never listen. Until they're missing a few digits or worse...

 

[Yamifrk]

I don’t think it matters what you use to load with…as long as it works for you. You do it safely and responsibly. I’m not too proud to ask questions and not necessarily take the first answer as correct. Lots of research and reading on my part. There are some great guys on this forum, that are willing to teach and educate, and more than once make me laugh. I would just like to thank everyone for the help along the way.

 

[BushMaster-15]

Having been reloading since February of 1965 ,I'm no spring chicken nor am I over the hill but have had decades of experience !.
Still got all #8 fingers ,two opposing thumbs both eyes and ears ( what's left of those ) and #9 times out of 10 can do the math faster than the computer . Seriously reloading can be super dangerous or relatively safe ,it's an individuals choice but no matter it takes CONCENTRATION .
I strongly advise new reloaders NOT to have distractions ,those can become seriously detrimental to ones well being

The Day I stop learning ,is the day they shovel dirt over me or torch me . An open mind is akin to a sponge a closed mind is a admission of defeat .

 

[Handshaker]

In order to get more people reloading so we keep the hobby alive, potential reloaders shouldn't be intimidated by the equipment cost. If we tell them you have to spend a ton of money to reload, less and less people will. It can be easily done with a cheap singe stage press that is just as effective and a top of the line Dillon, just a bit slower.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

In order to get more people reloading so we keep the hobby alive, potential reloaders shouldn't be intimidated by the equipment cost. If we tell them you have to spend a ton of money to reload, less and less people will. It can be easily done with a cheap singe stage press that is just as effective and a top of the line Dillon, just a bit slower.

Well, it’s also good to remember there’s different kinds of people in this world: Type A need instant everything, get real impatient real quick, and will throw gobs of cash at a task to avoid getting slowed down; Type B like to study a task, won’t be rushed, and would rather wade through reams of technical instructions than spend time or resources guessing.
And then there’s the Type C folks who want instant gratification, don’t want to spend a penny to save a dollar, and would rather watch a UTuber than read the jacket cover on a manual. Watch out for them Type C’s! They tend to be around when shrapnel flies.

 

[bigpower491]

In order to get more people reloading so we keep the hobby alive, potential reloaders shouldn't be intimidated by the equipment cost. If we tell them you have to spend a ton of money to reload, less and less people will. It can be easily done with a cheap singe stage press that is just as effective and a top of the line Dillon, just a bit slower.

The biggest problem isn't the cost of the equipment, which incidentally is substantially more than it cost just a few yrs ago, but that component availability issue we all deal with. I've had a few approach and ask about getting started, and I tell them that's the biggest hurdle.

Hate to break the bad news, and things have been getting somewhat more available, but that million dollar Dillon super goony goo goo press, or bargin Lee special does no good when you ain't got primers. Those seem to be the most difficult component of them all to get, and most peeps ain't gonna buy something and have it sit for a spell til they get the goods.

 

[AJC1]

Well, it’s also good to remember there’s different kinds of people in this world: Type A need instant everything, get real impatient real quick, and will throw gobs of cash at a task to avoid getting slowed down; Type B like to study a task, won’t be rushed, and would rather wade through reams of technical instructions than spend time or resources guessing.
And then there’s the Type C folks who want instant gratification, don’t want to spend a penny to save a dollar, and would rather watch a UTuber than read the jacket cover on a manual. Watch out for them Type C’s! They tend to be around when shrapnel flies.

Type c is great when fixing your refrigerator that died and your broke. That same philosophy shall not be applied to ammunition and explosives long term with healthy effects.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Type c is great when fixing your refrigerator that died and your broke. That same philosophy shall not be applied to ammunition and explosives long term with healthy effects.

LOL!! Well, a refrigerator CAN be just as deadly - if the UTuber whose directions you’re following forgets to mention you need to unplug the thing before opening up the back. I have a coworker who is still convinced UTube tried to kill him because he watched a video about swapping the battery in his car and it did not specifically say not to grab both posts.
OTOH, I managed to coddle and get an extra 6 years of life out of a washer/dryer set by requesting a set of schematics and parts diagrams from the manufacturer (Electrolux) and replacing the circuit boards, door locks, tilt switches and pump filters myself over the years. No UTubers needed, just a good schematic and access to an OEM parts warehouse. I drew the line at replacing the washer motor board for $900. New washer was only $100 more.

 

[markr6754]

Well, it’s also good to remember there’s different kinds of people in this world: Type A need instant everything, get real impatient real quick, and will throw gobs of cash at a task to avoid getting slowed down; Type B like to study a task, won’t be rushed, and would rather wade through reams of technical instructions than spend time or resources guessing.
And then there’s the Type C folks who want instant gratification, don’t want to spend a penny to save a dollar, and would rather watch a UTuber than read the jacket cover on a manual. Watch out for them Type C’s! They tend to be around when shrapnel flies.

I find myself as more of a type D person. I throw gobs of cash at a problem...sometimes...I study, study, study...and yes, still throw gobs of cash at a problem. I spend a dollar (well, hundreds) to save a penny (Hornady Neck Turning Tool....I've saved about 30 total 300 Blk cases that I converted from thick 5.56 cases MEM headstamp), and I've watched hundreds of hours of UTuber videos to add understanding to the manual that I didn't understand. I could go on...but merely wanted to stress that we could likely use the entire alphabet to attempt to categorize and classify the types of people and personalities that entered this sport/pastime/passion/obsession known as reloading (or loading with new brass) small arms ammunition.

 

[AJC1]

LOL!! Well, a refrigerator CAN be just as deadly - if the UTuber whose directions you’re following forgets to mention you need to unplug the thing before opening up the back. I have a coworker who is still convinced UTube tried to kill him because he watched a video about swapping the battery in his car and it did not specifically say not to grab both posts.
OTOH, I managed to coddle and get an extra 6 years of life out of a washer/dryer set by requesting a set of schematics and parts diagrams from the manufacturer (Electrolux) and replacing the circuit boards, door locks, tilt switches and pump filters myself over the years. No UTubers needed, just a good schematic and access to an OEM parts warehouse. I drew the line at replacing the washer motor board for $900. New washer was only $100 more.

When my matag started smoking thermal switches I found the schematic taped to the upper portion of the unit next to the control board. Eventually I just ran it bypassed while present and it lasted 2 more years until the timer unit failed. The design of my house is dumb and the drier is in the middle of my house and the water pipes are all on external walls....