Passing on reloading skills

[Brad Quarnberg]

My Dad taught me to reload. At a young age. I was fascinated by him taking a bunch of components, putting them together and making fully loaded cartridges. I took over reloading duties when I was about 15 after several years of his tutelage and oversight. For me, it was a way to be able to shoot more at significantly lesser cost over factory ammo. I learned a lot about bullet performance and which bullets were really not ones I wanted to use on deer or elk, and which would explode on impact dropping coyotes and rabbits in their tracks.
I have taught several friends and relatives to reload and now that my son is closer, I'll pick up where we left off many years ago and pass the skill on.
To those just getting started, I'll tell you what my Dad had when I first started (I still have and use his equipment sometimes). He had an RCBS press, balance scale (I use an electric one now but still have the one he used), a uniflow powder measure, a debur tool, and the dies/shell holders. We didn't have a case trimmer and still got away with loading cases many times before they started to show signs they were getting to old to use.
We had no tumbler. Our cases were picked up and wiped down after each outing, and we only shot them in one or two guns. It wasn't a hard process and we certainly weren't concerned about bug holes on the range: the purpose was to put meat in the freezer. In fact, my Dad seldom shot more than a few rounds each year. One to make sure his gun was hitting where it was supposed to and then a bullet for each deer or elk he shot at. Did he miss, yes, but it was a rarity.
You don't need a lot of equipment to start reloading and the satisfaction of seeing the end product working the way you want it to is satisfying.

 

[Nipper]

It used to be significantly less expensive. For me, now it's about controlling what I use.

Component costs have greatly increased lately and we forget that we didn't start with the best equipment. For some, they think they need to start with the equipment a 30 year veteran has and that scares them off too.

I have given some of my old equipment away over the years to help new people get started. Garage and estate sales can have some great finds, but one has to look.

I agree 100%. I started reloading in 1973, I surely didn't have the resources to buy the best of everything. But I got what I could afford. I have my grandsons come over to just watch me and the oldest comes out and says , boy Pop Pop. You have a lot of stuff which I probably do. But the important thing is. Not to overwhelm them with too much at once. All I have them do at first was help clean the brass and show them all the absolute bare minimum requirements for them to start to. " remember ". And work from there and because they love to go out and shoot afterwards always makes them want to come back to learn more. I guess it's just a good thing to not overwhelm them with whatever you show them and just keep them busy and interested in what they're doing and when you show them a finished product and they can go shoot that cartridge. They somehow get the satisfaction of what they're doing and want to learn more!! I think that's what overwhelms kids when you try showing them too much at once, you have to try to keep them interested in what they are doing and make it fun for them, I think in my 50 years of reloading I taught 8 kids and 2 adults that still reload. I guess I must have made an impression! And am happy with my accomplishment..

 

[Hudge76]

I have two sons, one loves hunting/fishing/shooting, and the youngest can't stand it. Just yesterday, my son and I were at SW looking for 6.5 PRC ammo. I told him to buy dies and I'd reload/teach him how. He declined.

 

[Mike Matteson]

I have done some teaching on reloading. Where I am at in reloading and info has expanded. If I am talking to someone new I make there heads spend. My sons have followed, and a few others. I have one grandson that his dad is teaching him. I started at age 14 for a 300 H&H Mag. Ammo cost to much for me at that time not to reload. I got the reloading equipment at the time I purchased the rifle. The Rabbit hole too. There isn't a center fire rifle I don't reload for. Only factory ammo is pistol and 5.56 ammo. I have the equipment to load them Shotgun case in 28, 20, 12 gauge with PW presses. I also have Dillion 1050 press.
Being here on Long Range Hunting and being more active. I have update my reloading equipment.
I find it interesting and knowledge of reloading has increased or ways of reloading has changed or updated.
There is far more equipment out there today than every before. So I don't think that reload isn't dying, but increasing. The amount of new equipment is ever increasing, and the complexity for accuratic has increased. Long ranger shooing beyond 500yds has repuired more accurates loads. Range finders have added to the quest to make better reloads. Possible confusing to people and especially people new to reloading. The biggest problem is components now days.

AS THEY SAY "THE RABBIT HOLE, AND DOWN WE GO"

 

[DustThroughaFan]

I've helped one person I know get into reloading. He's a creedmore guy and wasn't down to reload for a long time due to the availability of decent factory ammo. He always said he just didn't have time to reload, " I just buy ammo and shoot"
Well, the more he shot, the more interested he became in reloading. He calls me up time to time and I see him at work occasionally and will offer advice on a particular subject or issue he's having. He's done well for no longer than he's been at it. He loads for just about all of his rifles and pistols now.

I started out at 11 years old with shotgun stuff. I liked to shoot and grandpa had all the stuff. I'd sit I the garage and pull the handle on that mec press all day. At 14 I'd started reloading for my rifles, a 300winmag and a 22-250. Over the years I've inherited all my grandfathers (from both sides) reloading equipment. I've got two rockchuckers, an rcbs Jr and a lock n load AP. Several uniflow powder measures and three or four mec shots shotshell loaders in various states of repair.

I really only use the Jr and one rockchucker and the AP now but I'm a pretty sentimental person and just can't bring myself to separate with the other stuff.

One of my cousins sons has expressed interest in loading for his 300blk bolt gun and they're into shotgun stuff. I may get the chance to help him along in this stuff and I could probably get him setup with spare equipment I'm not using. He just turned 16 though so we'll see how long he stays interested. I'm hesitant to donate the tools if they will just be forgotten and left to go to waste. Like I said, I'm overly sentimental.

 

[memtb]

I have done some teaching on reloading. Where I am at in reloading and info has expanded. If I am talking to someone new I make there heads spend. My sons have followed, and a few others. I have one grandson that his dad is teaching him. I started at age 14 for a 300 H&H Mag. Ammo cost to much for me at that time not to reload. I got the reloading equipment at the time I purchased the rifle. The Rabbit hole too. There isn't a center fire rifle I don't reload for. Only factory ammo is pistol and 5.56 ammo. I have the equipment to load them Shotgun case in 28, 20, 12 gauge with PW presses. I also have Dillion 1050 press.
Being here on Long Range Hunting and being more active. I have update my reloading equipment.
I find it interesting and knowledge of reloading has increased or ways of reloading has changed or updated.
There is far more equipment out there today than every before. So I don't think that reload isn't dying, but increasing. The amount of new equipment is ever increasing, and the complexity for accuratic has increased. Long ranger shooing beyond 500yds has repuired more accurates loads. Range finders have added to the quest to make better reloads. Possible confusing to people and especially people new to reloading. The biggest problem is components now days.

AS THEY SAY "THE RABBIT HOLE, AND DOWN WE GO"

Mike, your story is similar to mine. Also, started at 14 with a Lee Loader so I could afford to feed my little .308 Win. And, much like you, I handload for all of our centerfires!

In fact, due to the expense of buying bullets in the early '70's, I started casting bullets …..first for my handgun, and since for all of our rifles except the .223 Rem's. They weren't much for long distance…..but made shooting affordable! When you start a family in your teens, and a minimum wage income…..you cut costs any way you can! memtb

 

[shadetreetrader]

I firmly believe that reloading is a skill that is being lost bit by bit. It's far to easy to just go buy it new rather that attempting it. Some say, "it's the cost of getting started". There's always a cost in anything you do.

But ultimately, the skill is dwindling.

Have any of you mentored anyone? Taught classes? Showed what you know?

I'm talking about "in person" mentoring/teaching only.

While agreeing with what is said here, my own experience was mostly self teaching, with the casual help of others in conversation at rifle matches and hanging out in the range shack, later enormously augmented by NRA & other publications on Match rifle reloading and Precision Loading. It amazes me to see how much further the bar has been raised since then, over the last 30+ years.

Perhaps we're 'round about the high water mark this art will get to, now that it's pretty clear the tide's receding in the larger world?

I share your hope that this will be passed on, while noting a major form it has taken is instructional videos...

 

[shadetreetrader]

Tried teaching my boy few times.But he keeps burning threw my ammo.Dad its opening day and I have 3 rounds-ME, so I told you to reload this winter

I've heard this one from a friend who cranked out prodigious quantities of ammo. At least _his_ son has a clue how to use it!

My own son isn't even interested enough to burn up 'free' ammo... raised in the worst part of California, that way, Berserkley.

 

[shadetreetrader]

Mike, your story is similar to mine. Also, started at 14 with a Lee Loader so I could afford to feed my little .308 Win. And, much like you, I handload for all of our centerfires!

In fact, due to the expense of buying bullets in the early '70's, I started casting bullets …..first for my handgun, and since for all of our rifles except the .223 Rem's. They weren't much for long distance…..but made shooting affordable! When you start a family in your teens, and a minimum wage income…..you cut costs any way you can! memtb

When I was involved in casting bullets, we were not mindful of adequate ventilation...

 

[memtb]

When I was involved in casting bullets, we were not mindful of adequate ventilation...

Me neither, did it in the house on the stove…..but, I did have the hood fan on! memtb

 

[Mike Matteson]

Mike, your story is similar to mine. Also, started at 14 with a Lee Loader so I could afford to feed my little .308 Win. And, much like you, I handload for all of our centerfires!

In fact, due to the expense of buying bullets in the early '70's, I started casting bullets …..first for my handgun, and since for all of our rifles except the .223 Rem's. They weren't much for long distance…..but made shooting affordable! When you start a family in your teens, and a minimum wage income…..you cut costs any way you can! memtb

I have the casting dies for most caliber, and the equipments to cast the bullets. It's set back for a rainy day. I just got a lead testing for hardness the other week. I am still adding to that part of the reloading. I have buckshot & slug dies. Reloading manuals on lead bullets. I do realize that the velocity is cut down and generally below 2000fps if I remember. Somewhere I have info on making your own black powder I believe. I haven't looked at it in a very long time. Most of it is in one container and locked way. I haven't order out the lead for those dies. I figure 300lbs should do it.
Low wages is a problem for sure. I worked after school for a $1.00 per hour. Not getting betting much wages each week didn't allow me to spend much.
It was an CH press, and dies. Used it for years, until I got a Rockchucker single stage press. I used it up until last year. Move up to Area-19 press. I had gotten Forester, Layman, RCBS and Ohaus scale, turning equipment to cut case lengths, cut necks for thickness. That was back in the 1990's time frame. Neck sizing dies for most calibers I presently load for. Now have changed to Redding bushing dies FL. Adding Redding bushing NS dies to the loading equipment. Not to say all the other updated equipment to increase the accuratic in my reloads. Also have added several steps in working over my brass, and gotten better grades of brass.
Presently don't have a place to set up to reload at. I have drawn plans for reloading shack, and purchased the materials for the shack. That will start in Sept. Only a few days to build it.
I have two rifle in the system. One I call the forever rifle. It's been at the smith from the time I purchased it. in June 2016. He finally got the barrel attached. The other I just started a few months ago. It waiting for that reamer, a Bartlein barrel and 700LA action.

 

[memtb]

I have the casting dies for most caliber, and the equipments to cast the bullets. It's set back for a rainy day. I just got a lead testing for hardness the other week. I am still adding to that part of the reloading. I have buckshot & slug dies. Reloading manuals on lead bullets. I do realize that the velocity is cut down and generally below 2000fps if I remember. Somewhere I have info on making your own black powder I believe. I haven't looked at it in a very long time. Most of it is in one container and locked way. I haven't order out the lead for those dies. I figure 300lbs should do it.
Low wages is a problem for sure. I worked after school for a $1.00 per hour. Not getting betting much wages each week didn't allow me to spend much.
It was an CH press, and dies. Used it for years, until I got a Rockchucker single stage press. I used it up until last year. Move up to Area-19 press. I had gotten Forester, Layman, RCBS and Ohaus scale, turning equipment to cut case lengths, cut necks for thickness. That was back in the 1990's time frame. Neck sizing dies for most calibers I presently load for. Now have changed to Redding bushing dies FL. Adding Redding bushing NS dies to the loading equipment. Not to say all the other updated equipment to increase the accuratic in my reloads. Also have added several steps in working over my brass, and gotten better grades of brass.
Presently don't have a place to set up to reload at. I have drawn plans for reloading shack, and purchased the materials for the shack. That will start in Sept. Only a few days to build it.
I have two rifle in the system. One I call the forever rifle. It's been at the smith from the time I purchased it. in June 2016. He finally got the barrel attached. The other I just started a few months ago. It waiting for that reamer, a Bartlein barrel and 700LA action.

Have you looked into powder coating your cast bullets! I've only done a little, 2 different bullets for my S&W 460 (300's for plinking, and 400's for hunting), and some 430's for my 45-70! I'm very impressed with the powder coated bullets so far! memtb

 

[C-130 Dude]

While agreeing with what is said here, my own experience was mostly self teaching, with the casual help of others in conversation at rifle matches and hanging out in the range shack, later enormously augmented by NRA & other publications on Match rifle reloading and Precision Loading. It amazes me to see how much further the bar has been raised since then, over the last 30+ years.

Perhaps we're 'round about the high water mark this art will get to, now that it's pretty clear the tide's receding in the larger world?

I share your hope that this will be passed on, while noting a major form it has taken is instructional videos...

Videos are essential. But my experience has proved time and time again that there is no substitute for butt in the seat person to person hands on experience. This is where the intricacies and caveats are found and taught.

 

[AGGRO]

Videos are essential. But my experience has proved time and time again that there is no substitute for butt in the seat person to person hands on experience. This is where the intricacies and caveats are found and taught.

yep

Nothing worse than getting a primer stuck while depriming or a case stuck and you have to go troll the net trying to figure a solution when someone teaching you has already experienced all of it. The internet is great though.