I'm back at it......
Posted: 26 Dec 2023 11:21
Back in July 2021 I packed up all my reloading gear, everything, removed the benches and cupboards from my reloading room. Did any and all repairs to the room, painted it and installed new flooring. New bedroom. Recently a "younger" friend and his son, both avid hunters and shooters, started asking me to teach them how to reload. We discussed it quite a bit and I finally agreed. I started going through my "stuff" to figure what I/they would need to start this process. RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme press, Uniflow with stand, Hornady scale, calipers, comparators, gauges for said items, trimmers, some appropriate powder, primers and anything else I could think of. Big box of "stuff". Took this down to them a couple weeks ago and we spent some time going over what and how the process of reloading works and what the items were for (comparators, headspace gauges and what we were measuring and why). No reloading at this point. Just the how's, why's and why for's. We also went to a range he belongs to and shot a few rounds with a 7 mag I gave him with some of my reloads along with a couple other rifles he brought along. I found I'm still a lousy shot at range.
Now, after all this BS background I've found a renewed interest (through their interest) in reloading so have set up a small reloading area and finally have everything pretty close to organized and set up. Bought the Lyman universal press mount so I can swap presses (also have some Lee mounting plates and will probably utilize them at some point) Sat down a couple nights ago to load SOMETHING and decided to just do a few 223 rounds, you know something easy. Have to tell ya all, 2plus years away makes a difference.. Took me probably well over an hour to do 30 rounds and the brass was prepped, not primed but all else was. I guess just mentally unorganized was the issue. That and I couldn't seem to hang on the those little bullets and kept dropping them. BUT, I only pinched my fingers once while seating a bullet... Long story on how and why I'm back in the game. Didn't realize it's something I NEED to do, helps my sanity.
A little side story, when I was at my friends place we went to a couple sporting goods stores he wanted to show me and to look for/at reloading stuff and components he was interested in. While there we stepped over to the area they keep all the guns AND primers (big area behind a counter) and I asked the sales guy if they had any large rifle primers and he replied they did and walked over and brought a case of them over to me. Asked him how much and he said 129.00. Now, I have to preface this by saying he had this superior attitude that you find in a golf pro shop when asking about golf balls, and I did not think very customer oriented so my mumbled wow, that's pretty high elicited a "I don't set the prices so buy them or not I don't care" which elicited a response from me to the effect " you can keep your primers AND the attitude and if you'd like to further the discussion I'd be happy to come around the counter and we can further our conversation", or something like that....I heard my friend behind me mutter "here we go again"...as I started toward the swinging gate at the counter further disaster (either way) was averted by an apology from said employee. Now I'm an old guy who is normally very sedate in my demeanor but this guy was a real Pr...! Must have been the holiday season that got him like that. Probably not. I was wishing Larry W was with me........... I apologize for the long off topic post..
Now, after all this BS background I've found a renewed interest (through their interest) in reloading so have set up a small reloading area and finally have everything pretty close to organized and set up. Bought the Lyman universal press mount so I can swap presses (also have some Lee mounting plates and will probably utilize them at some point) Sat down a couple nights ago to load SOMETHING and decided to just do a few 223 rounds, you know something easy. Have to tell ya all, 2plus years away makes a difference.. Took me probably well over an hour to do 30 rounds and the brass was prepped, not primed but all else was. I guess just mentally unorganized was the issue. That and I couldn't seem to hang on the those little bullets and kept dropping them. BUT, I only pinched my fingers once while seating a bullet... Long story on how and why I'm back in the game. Didn't realize it's something I NEED to do, helps my sanity.
A little side story, when I was at my friends place we went to a couple sporting goods stores he wanted to show me and to look for/at reloading stuff and components he was interested in. While there we stepped over to the area they keep all the guns AND primers (big area behind a counter) and I asked the sales guy if they had any large rifle primers and he replied they did and walked over and brought a case of them over to me. Asked him how much and he said 129.00. Now, I have to preface this by saying he had this superior attitude that you find in a golf pro shop when asking about golf balls, and I did not think very customer oriented so my mumbled wow, that's pretty high elicited a "I don't set the prices so buy them or not I don't care" which elicited a response from me to the effect " you can keep your primers AND the attitude and if you'd like to further the discussion I'd be happy to come around the counter and we can further our conversation", or something like that....I heard my friend behind me mutter "here we go again"...as I started toward the swinging gate at the counter further disaster (either way) was averted by an apology from said employee. Now I'm an old guy who is normally very sedate in my demeanor but this guy was a real Pr...! Must have been the holiday season that got him like that. Probably not. I was wishing Larry W was with me........... I apologize for the long off topic post..