Should have done this a long time ago!

I CANNOT work in silence - I HAVE to have some background noise - of my choice. When I am focused on the project at hand, then I don't hear the noise, but I do hear the absence of it!
I'm like you, I have to have background noise to concentrate. Even in college if I went to study in the library I was either asleep in a few mins or mind wondering! Always have the TV on in my reloading room, don't usually know whats on but something has to be on.
 
Uh, no I can't. I weigh everY single load after I've pressed a bullet, to double check myself exactly for that reason. I do that at the bench, and in my lazy boy. View attachment 245391

Hope this doesn't sound too ignorant, but is that trickler homemade by any chance? I'm very new at this and since I'm still trickling my loads from a Lee dipper I'm not familiar with the range of tricklers out there.

As a rank newbie, it's interesting to read the comments from experienced handloaders. When I read the original post, my first thought was "Hey, all the reloading manuals say to eliminate any and all possible distractions." But even the first time I read that admonishment in a manual I thought "That's a bit extreme. I'll bet some attorney advised them to put that in there." I understand the sentiment, but it reminds me of some folks I once encountered on a motorcycle safety forum who planned every ride, no matter how short or where it was, so they wouldn't have to turn left across traffic. I never told any of them they were crazy or stupid; if it made them feel safer, awesome. I didn't see the need, myself.

At this point, I'm still consulting the manual while I load to make sure I don't screw something up. I imagine some day down the road I might feel like I have it seated in my brain well enough to have some music on. I'll load the way I feel safe and live with the consequences.
 
Different people concentrate in different ways. I personally prefer just some background noise. If you set certain precautions for oneself, such as weighing each cartridge, I think there is nothing wrong with the tv on as long as you're not the type of person who is easily distracted. Some people can concentrate better in different levels of activity. When I was finishing my degree in biology and speech-language pathology, I honestly studied better when I was quite buzzed (never around clients or classmates). Not hammered, but good and buzzed. It seemed to put me at the next level of interest in my studies, therefore, being able to concentrate more on the task at hand. I know it doesn't seem to make sense, but it worked for me. I made straight A's my final 3 years, even in things like cell biology, organic chemistry, vertebrate anatomy and physiology, and even physics and calculus. So, I say as long as you set yourself some fail safes to keep things safe, do what works best for you.
 
Nothing fancy, but very functional. I put 40 lbs of weight in the desk to stabilize it. Adjusted the legs to make it level. Now I can watch football, and burn through my bullets, primers, and powder that I can't replace. LolView attachment 245022
The national felon league still playing football... who knew? 😂 cool setup but I personally don't want any distractions... 👍🏻
 
Hope this doesn't sound too ignorant, but is that trickler homemade by any chance? I'm very new at this and since I'm still trickling my loads from a Lee dipper I'm not familiar with the range of tricklers out there.

As a rank newbie, it's interesting to read the comments from experienced handloaders. When I read the original post, my first thought was "Hey, all the reloading manuals say to eliminate any and all possible distractions." But even the first time I read that admonishment in a manual I thought "That's a bit extreme. I'll bet some attorney advised them to put that in there." I understand the sentiment, but it reminds me of some folks I once encountered on a motorcycle safety forum who planned every ride, no matter how short or where it was, so they wouldn't have to turn left across traffic. I never told any of them they were crazy or stupid; if it made them feel safer, awesome. I didn't see the need, myself.

At this point, I'm still consulting the manual while I load to make sure I don't screw something up. I imagine some day down the road I might feel like I have it seated in my brain well enough to have some music on. I'll load the way I feel safe and live with the consequences.
It's an old school rcbs trickler. It's old but a good trickler. When beginning reloading I would absolutely agree that removing distractions is very wise. I didn't create this thread to be holier than the next guy. I was honestly just sick, feeling couped up, and bored. I made the stand a while back to take to the range for load work up, and decided to use it inside for the championships. Mistakes can be made from the best loading bench there ever was, to my little lazy boy setup. Focus is key. It took me a long time to get to the point I'm at. I haven't read a reloading manual in a while. Not because I'm above it, but because I've read them all dozens of times, and I'm super confident in what I'm doing. Little tricks like weighing your loaded rounds after they're done to double check your work is stuff you pick up along the way. I have tons of other things I do that I don't wish to share now. When I start with a fire formed piece of brass, I figure I'm going to spend an intimate 5 minutes per piece of brass from beginning to end. Sometimes more if my head isn't in it. So when I sit down and do 100 pieces I'm looking at a minimum of 500 minutes, or 8 hours roughly. It's a long slow thought out process for me. Some people want to make assumptions, and I get it. 10 years ago, I would have scolded myself for reloading next to a fire place. If you ever have questions let me know. I can even write down my step by step process.
 
Here's from just before thanksgiving. 1501 yards, from my 8lb 7saum. I was practicing for a whitetail hunt I went on in Oklahoma, where I took this buck at 809 yards. Not too shabby.

76DDF6B0-A352-432B-9B08-B3E2BB388162.jpeg
C1FEC059-56F6-4E23-9D86-6FAFA88812C5.jpeg
8B95FD04-B567-4F64-9777-78912678545D.jpeg




Here's 1005 yards from my 6.5 needmoor as some might put it. Just a buds guns scratch and dent howa chassis rifle.
3E3E9A06-1043-429C-8A43-42B18602FB5C.jpeg
46913330-9F07-46E2-A99A-7F687C2FEB8C.jpeg
3A7AA4A2-3EBE-47C2-BA1C-0BE455877730.jpeg
486AFDFA-255D-4B01-A467-68041E6BC9CC.jpeg
 
Look sorry I'm moody. Among the other symptoms I've been dealing with anxiety has been one of the worst. I'd didn't even know that was a symptom. I appreciate that everyone of you has your own reloading bugaboos. That's good. We shouldn't take it lightly. It can be a very dangerous thing. Trust that I know what I'm doing, and I trust you to do the same. Just thought I'd share what I was up to this fine Sunday evening.
Some people may not be able to reload with someting going on around them if you can have at it have fun be safe so far its a free country hope we can keep it that way
 
It's an old school rcbs trickler. It's old but a good trickler. When beginning reloading I would absolutely agree that removing distractions is very wise. I didn't create this thread to be holier than the next guy. I was honestly just sick, feeling couped up, and bored. I made the stand a while back to take to the range for load work up, and decided to use it inside for the championships. Mistakes can be made from the best loading bench there ever was, to my little lazy boy setup. Focus is key. It took me a long time to get to the point I'm at. I haven't read a reloading manual in a while. Not because I'm above it, but because I've read them all dozens of times, and I'm super confident in what I'm doing. Little tricks like weighing your loaded rounds after they're done to double check your work is stuff you pick up along the way. I have tons of other things I do that I don't wish to share now. When I start with a fire formed piece of brass, I figure I'm going to spend an intimate 5 minutes per piece of brass from beginning to end. Sometimes more if my head isn't in it. So when I sit down and do 100 pieces I'm looking at a minimum of 500 minutes, or 8 hours roughly. It's a long slow thought out process for me. Some people want to make assumptions, and I get it. 10 years ago, I would have scolded myself for reloading next to a fire place. If you ever have questions let me know. I can even write down my step by step process.

Well now I don't feel like such a slow-poke taking two nights to load up 20 rounds. I usually do the prep for an hour after dinner the first night, hitting each case with a Scotch-brite, checking for splits and cracks. They seem to show up a lot better when the brass is shiny. Three or four swipes with a case neck brush and a roll on the lube pad, then I size them, wipe off the lube and check again for splits or dents, check the length, trim and de-burr, and give them another once-over for good measure. That'll take me an hour or so. The next night I'll prime them, using the depth gauge on my caliper to make sure the primers are all seated properly, charge each case and seat a bullet. Last is step for each round is to measure the CBTO and do a final inspect, but I like the idea of weighing each cartridge when it's done. I think I'll add that to my routine.
 
Well now I don't feel like such a slow-poke taking two nights to load up 20 rounds. I usually do the prep for an hour after dinner the first night, hitting each case with a Scotch-brite, checking for splits and cracks. They seem to show up a lot better when the brass is shiny. Three or four swipes with a case neck brush and a roll on the lube pad, then I size them, wipe off the lube and check again for splits or dents, check the length, trim and de-burr, and give them another once-over for good measure. That'll take me an hour or so. The next night I'll prime them, using the depth gauge on my caliper to make sure the primers are all seated properly, charge each case and seat a bullet. Last is step for each round is to measure the CBTO and do a final inspect, but I like the idea of weighing each cartridge when it's done. I think I'll add that to my routine.
Snag yourself a cheap case tumbler off amazon and some walnut media, and ditch the scotch brite.


It's a little too rough on the brass in my opinion, and not necessary. If you have the money, get you a nice rotary tumbler.


Then you can size your brass, and dump them in. Speeds up the process of cleaning primer pockets. Saves your fingers too. The walnut media takes a few hours, where as the stainless steel does the job in an hour or less. The rotary tumbler makes the brass look better than new.
 
Snag yourself a cheap case tumbler off amazon and some walnut media, and ditch the scotch brite.


It's a little too rough on the brass in my opinion, and not necessary. If you have the money, get you a nice rotary tumbler.


Then you can size your brass, and dump them in. Speeds up the process of cleaning primer pockets. Saves your fingers too. The walnut media takes a few hours, where as the stainless steel does the job in an hour or less. The rotary tumbler makes the brass look better than new.

Interesting that you should say that about the Scotch-Brite. I used to use fine steel wool, but was running through it pretty quickly. So I switched to the Scotch-Brite and noticed that it seems to scratch the cases more than the steel wool did. I thought that was odd that a piece of cellulose would do that. I looked it up just now and learned that they add abrasives to it. I guess I'm going back to steel wool while I look at tumblers.
 
Some people on here sound like OSHA safety scrooges. Don't get me wrong, being safe is great, and I don't want to see someone get hurt, but, this is America. PowellsixO is FREE to do as he pleases. And you all are entitled to your opinions, but if he wants to set in front of the fire and watch a game while reloading that's his right. No need for the throwing of the.....well you know. We are all on the same team here fellas.
I personally cant watch TV while reloading but I do listen to music and enjoy a good beer or two. My boys are usually the biggest distraction, but I like having them there and they have to learn somehow.
 
Warning! This thread is more than 4 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.
Top