Eh, fireworking is a whole lot more dangerous. Especially when you start making your own flash powder (never tried it... the thought of spreading me into the rubble was unappealing).
Will reloading disapear with the new too lazy to do it generation
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Hello ne5u. From n4alr great to see another ham.!!!
Sealesniper
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Just like fine Italian shotguns, their beauty and desirability is lost on the current younger generations. Many kids (35 and younger) of today want nothing to do with wood stocks and over unders or sxs. They want camo plastic stocks on guns with 5 plus rounds on a semi auto action. I am glad I sold almost all my very high end shotguns 10-15 years ago as their value continues to drop as our generation die off. Heck kids under 40 don't know what a LC Smith even is, nor do most know the Bertuzzi, Purdey or Perazzi and many other high end makes. The same is going for reloading.
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I like synthetic and wood stocks for different reasons. My synthetic stocked guns are tools for hard use. Most of my wood guns are about character and easier use for the most part. I love my old LC Smith. It's a late 20s, early 30s gun. I still shoot doves with it some. I do like Semi Auto's also for the lack of recoil.
As an instructor I have several guns for students that haven't shot before or do not own a gun yet. I prefer not to hand them a nice wood gun for their early lessons. There is a lack of both handling skills and respect for aesthetics in many adults and young kids. Not so much after they have spent a little time with me. I very much prefer to start most folks that haven't shot off with a Semi Auto with an enhanced closer button. I control the ammo. One shell is loaded, one target is shot. They shoot, the action stays open, I can drop a new shell in, they press the closer, they're ready to shoot again. Much simpler and less recoil than an over and under. Plus it saves time. They don't get to load 2 shells until they prove they are safe and capable. Plus most of the semis today have lop spacers, cast, and drop shims that can quickly be changed to get reasonable gun fit to start with that won't break the bank. Not beautiful like wood. But tools for a purpose.
Many parents and hunters simply do not spend enough time teaching and enforcing gun safety to their kids. It's more like a cell phone. They just get their kid a gun, show them where the safety is and how to load it, and that's basically it. They can learn the rest on You Tube. A gun is not a toy. It needs to be given thenproper respect. Many of these same parents either lack the knowledge or the safety skills themselves to teach someone else. The worst safety offender is the guy that's hunted all his life and has the gun safety habits of a Gadwall. Top that off with can't be told Shiitake because they already know it all and you have a recipe for disaster. They're out there. We've all seen them.
I'm somewhat off topic but circling back! People and knowledge level are the common denominators. Add a little powder, a primer, a bullet, and brass to scenarios I just described. Things can go bad quick. Reloading right is not particularly dangerous but safety glasses in my opinion are not optional. One primer detonation during the seating process can reinforce that opinion. Ask me how I Know! Reloading performed by the new kid, the parent, or some of those guys that simply won't listen or already know it all can get someone hurt. So many today are into instant gratification. Gun safety, skills, and reloading require learning and then working to improve skills and reach proficiency. That process can grow exponentially with the right mentor. I feel sure that many today simply don't have or won't take the time reloading requires. Rising component prices are also a problem. But I don't think reloading will vanish. There are still going to be enough folks out there that chase precision accuracy or accuracy on a level that can't be obtained with factory ammo and their particular rifle. I think those folks will keep reloading alive.
Coming from someone who reloaded almost every centerfire round fired from my guns for over 20 years and for more than 100 different cartridges, I very rarely load my own ammo anymore. The equipment is all set up in the shop, and there are enough components to burn out the barrels on most of the guns I have. I just have other priorities these days.
To imply that people who don't load their own ammo are lazy or not smart enough to do it is just insulting. The shooting sports have changed over the last 10-15 years, and so have the people participating in them. New shooters just have other things they want to dedicate their time and money to. It has nothing to do with politics, intelligence, or motivation.
To imply that people who don't load their own ammo are lazy or not smart enough to do it is just insulting. The shooting sports have changed over the last 10-15 years, and so have the people participating in them. New shooters just have other things they want to dedicate their time and money to. It has nothing to do with politics, intelligence, or motivation.
Not exactly true, go check out a SCTP practice or better yet Nationals in Ohio where you will see thousands of shotguns like the Beretta DT-11, Perazzi MX-8, Kreighoff K-80. These kids absolutely love their guns and almost become shotgun snobs. It's kinda funny and cool at the same time.
Sealesniper
Well-Known Member
I did say "many" not all, but I see your point. BUT, if you look at most "run of the mill" sporting clay and trap courses with 35 year old and under, they are swinging camo semi-autos, but I am not going to argue the point.
There's probably more. I was mostly a CW op but now I keep an FT8 station up on 6M and occasionally get on when it's open. 73
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I have seen some of those kids given Blaser's, Krighoffs, Zoli's with beautiful wood as young as 13-14 years old. My family traps for national events. As well as youth foundation and SCTP events. Some of those kids throw those guns around like it's a hammer that rides in the back of a truck. I've seen one girl that got mad throw her gun at a golf cart from 4 yards away. Some don't have any appreciation for what they got. By the gun rules at my house, that would have resulted in a lengthy suspension of gun rights and a willow switch when we got home. I've seen guys give themselves one as a retirement gift when they've worked all their life making do with what they have. You can bet those guys appreciate what they have.
Yes, reloading will disappear as soon as current reloaders pass away except for a very small percentage of new reloaders.
WildernessBob
Active Member
You mean you were looking at the Sears catalog back when we were in Uniform flying stand by for $14 waiting the 30 minutes to get on the Eastern airlines flight from Loiusville to Tampa? Hmm or was that a Delta Flight?Ok, so what section of that Sears catalog were you looking??
adam32+P
Well-Known Member
I think it's more that the younger generation doesn't have the disposable income like the past generations had, especially since most of us are currently paying for your retirements. I also don't know many people with $10k+ laying around to buy a shotgun they will never shoot.
100%
It's pretty unreasonable to expect the average person in their 20s, 30s, or mid 40s to have a ton of expendable income. That's a point in life where most people are raising a family, building savings, and just starting to be financially stable.
memtb
Well-Known Member
The vast majority didn't either when we were young and raising families! I dare say that the majority of us on this forum don't have a $10K shotgun….or rifle for that matter! memtb
