Strange Range and Reloading Rituals

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ThatGuyHank

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After thinking about it a bit I find that I may have some strange-ish rituals or habits when I go shooting at the range or I'm in the garage fiddling with my reloading gear.

For instance, when I'm at the range and shooting any semi auto gun, be it rifle, shotgun or handgun, I'll slam the mag home and rack the slide/work the bolt but even if it went down positively and some kind of loaded chamber indicator is up I still draw the slide/bolt back just enough to see that it has a round properly seated. Everytime, no exceptions unless I really focus on not doing it.

Another one is when I'm reloading. When I first started I noticed it was awfully quiet in my garage and the slow mechanical sounds of the press was really starting to annoy me. So I went over to my old CD playing boombox and turned it on. The CD in it was a Three Tenors disk and I just let it play (I love operas, even just to listen to the arias). So now when I reload I always play one of my many opera CDs, usually rotating through. Mind you I play it LOUD so I've had neighbors call me and ask what I'm doing. I just tell them that I'm torturing people and want to cover up the sounds:p

So what strange or OCD like habits to you have when you go to the range or sit down for a reloading session (or any other gun related action)?
 
I check to see if my gun is unloaded every time I pick it up even if I checked it 5 seconds before before I put it down and it never left my sight. I guess I am sick:eek:
 
I check to see if my gun is unloaded every time I pick it up even if I checked it 5 seconds before before I put it down and it never left my sight. I guess I am sick
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That's not sick, it's prudent and a darn fine habit to have as habits go.

A ex army and police guy that taught a tactical shotgun course that I took would check chamber and mag plug through the ejection opening every time he picked up his gun. Even if it had only be out of his vision for a second and he knew no one was there.

His point was that when he was in a crowded situation with a bunch of other guys even though they were his comrades in the teams he did not know for SURE that no one had switched the gun or loaded it for him while he was distracted with something else. So he just made it a total habit whether alone or not.

I now try to emulate that habit.

Other than that I haven't been shooting long enough to become OCD over anything or pick up any weird quirks... YET! :D
 
I check to see if my gun is unloaded every time I pick it up even if I checked it 5 seconds before before I put it down and it never left my sight. I guess I am sick
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No, you're just getting old. I can forget almost anything within 5 seconds.....:eek:;):cuss:
 
You guys would like this. Me and a budd both brought guns to work to check out. We both safety check our own gun and show each other the empy chamber/magwell. We then switch handguns and perform our own safety check.
Deadin I am getting old. The beer sticks to me now and I dont know what to do. I could cut back on it but that sounds stupid.
 
Not much "ritual" or habits for me at the range. I will say that when I first arrive at the range I will typically unpack my stuff and load up almost all my magazines before I start shooting, rather than just loading as I go. Its just more enjoyable for me to stop less frequently once I have them ready to go.
 
For instance, when I'm at the range and shooting any semi auto gun, be it rifle, shotgun or handgun, I'll slam the mag home and rack the slide/work the bolt but even if it went down positively and some kind of loaded chamber indicator is up I still draw the slide/bolt back just enough to see that it has a round properly seated. Everytime, no exceptions unless I really focus on not doing it.
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What you call "OCD" or strange, I call "following safety protocols."
:)
 
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My only ritualistic behaviour..bordering on obsessive compulsive..is that the bench has to be totally organized. Nothing laying around...everything MUST be where it's supposed to be....completely clean and organized. If something gets out of place or it's somewhere where it ain't supposed to be...I start twitching!
My wife thinks I've lost it! She's probably right!
 
I tend to lay out my guns with the magazines in order ... so like ...

.22 on the right, on the gun holder thingie, with magazine underneath, lip facing inward and ammu underneath that.
.45 on the left, magazine underneath, facing inward, ammo below.

Other than that I have noticed no real other rituals, but that really just may be me not noticing. I just like my shooting space neat and tidy.
 
I've been ridiculed a time or two about my habit of sticking a bright yellow nylon zip-tie into the chamber of each of my semi-automatic firearms---pistols, rifles, and shotguns---as sort of a poor man's chamber flag. One can buy a whole bundle of them at Home Despot for just a few dollars. Every rifle, shotgun, and pistol I own has one in there. In fact, it creeps me out a bit to see a showcase full of pistols---all pointing in my direction, mind you---with their chambers closed and no flag.

I mean, the question was strange habits, right?
 
In fact, it creeps me out a bit to see a showcase full of pistols---all pointing in my direction, mind you---with their chambers closed and no flag.
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Never used a chamber flag in my life (never had to) but I have seen those showcases with a few of the guns that have hammers laying cocked. Imagine if a stray round found its way in (I've safety checked guns in stores and on more than one occasion had a hot, live round pop out) and the sear or trigger mechanism failed.

I mean, the question was strange habits, right?
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Well strange is a relative term so I suppose any habits would be applicable.
 
I guess I only really have one realoading quirk,ritual, whatever.....

I have a Rem. 243, that I use for nothing but whitetail deer. When I shoot a deer, I mark the ejected case with a sharpie pen, and reload that single round before I hunt again. I started doing it about 4 years ago, and have killed 18 whitetail deer, with the same brass case....
 
Some of my reloading rituals are rational and geared toward safety. When I'm done with a session:

If I'm coming back to the same powder next session, I put a yellow sticky on the powder measure indicating what's in it and how many grains it is set to throw. This even though the can/bottle is sitting right there next to the measure.

If there are primers left in a tray, I tape the box sleeve to the tray so I can't screw up what's in there.

But I have a couple that are more like quirks:

I play a CD of classical music. I find it relaxing.

I say a quick prayer, thanking God that I live in a country where I can do what I'm about to do, and asking for His guiding hand so I don't do anything stupid.
 
OCD...is...fun...I...have...to...tap...the...keyboard...three...times...between...each..word...I...type...

Of...course...when...the...tactical...instructor...called...for...the...class...to...shoot...tripple...taps...I...freaked...

I...thought...he...meant...me...so...I...ran...like...Hades...

Good...thread... :neener: :neener: :neener:

Geno
 
reloading rituals

I am very much like you Hank. I have a Glen Miller CD that goes on when I reload. I become structured in where I place the casings that are ready to be charged, where I place them afterward....rechecking powder measure throw every ten charges, and the rhythm that develops along with looking into each case before seating the bullet. If I am interrupted at any point (phone call or wife's questions) I have to get the rhythm going all over again. I think being this "structured" increased the quality control of the reloads. I don't have to deal with pulling a bullet because I can't remember if I charged that case or not. I know I have already looked inside. I put a label on the powder measure as to what is in it too.
 
I think I'm mildly OCD...

-Every magazine has to be fully loaded, and slammed to seat all the rounds to the back.
-I am never the first guy to walk onto a cold range, or the first guy to shoot on a hot range.
-I have to shoot all of one type of ammo first.
-I have a specific order of what magazines I use first.
-I have all my ammo neatly arranged.
-After I shoot, I load all magazines before leaving.
-Cleaning is a nightmare for someone with any level of OCD, so it takes a while.
 
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