With all the new reloaders...

Everyone one knows where the computer is in the house. Everyone knows how to turn it on. If someone want to ask questions about reloading they will ask, this isn't the only website that offers a forum on reloading.

After we guide the new reloaders,, I'm sure the will not "blow their fingers off". Myself I didn't use the internet to start reloading. I had a family friend that stayed with us fr a while and I watched him reload countless nights. I didn't ask him about gasses or pressures or anything like that. I asked him basic questions and he gave basic answers. He's been reloading for over 35 years and I've been reloading for over 15 years. I've never read the front pages of the reloading manual, if I didn't have someone to show me how to reload then I would read the front pages of the reloading manual.

In this day in age, if your not on a forum and asking for help with any kinda of problem than your not a citizen ( thank you Al Gore for the internet, not.lol)

If your a newbie and blow your fingers off, that's negligence, if you did not ask for help.

Interesting.

I would think that the majority of those who are being worried over will never take a second look at this blog entry.

The world has become one of instant gratification. 'Why take the time to look up any information? Just demand it and 'it' with come.'

When I started, I had no money. Hell, I was 11 years old. Didn't convince my mother to let me till I was 12. I would collect pop bottles and sell them back at 'Darby's Market' (Never understood why Coke and Dr Pepper bottles were 2 cents but RC and Vess were only 1 cent?) My dad bought my stuff for me. Not that I was prohibited but it was a matter of distance. 47 cents for 100 primers, $4.15 for a pound of powder was just too much for me to waste. I spent many hours at the Public Library. Now a days I'm sure that Home Land Security would be watching me. I read and re-read ever gun loading book/s I could find. Not to 'be safe' but because that was a close as I could get to real loading. Over the years I have had two mishaps. One was a high primer (I think). Anyway when I closed the cylinder on a S&W Model 60 one round fired! The second was 2400 powder in a .357, the primer poped, nothing more. The 2400 had a little ball of congealed powder near the spent primer.

The point is. Never looking specifically at any safety warnings, I had read enough to understand the potential and made every effort to do the right thing. The 'all of a sudden loader', in today's rush, don't take the time to look up their own loading data. So are they (this is the generic 'they') going to have a clue as to what not to do?

What to do? Smile and offer any help that I can. All the time hoping that they don't do something really stupid!

Sometimes the guy who's been doing it for years has years of bad habits and only a little bit of good luck left. Reading the best manuals available gives a reloader the basics from reputable sources, and even someone who's got a "mentor" would do well to read them.

I purchsed a new Lee Classic Turret and I'm trying to figure out what the wood ball on the end of the handle is pose to do??

Thanks for help.

Smokeyloads

Use a 8lb sledge on ^^^^^^^^^ to hammer in nails.

I can only speak for myself. I know I'm a tool when it comes to anything mechanical. I have been so cautious I'm RCmodel logs off and knows the next question I'm going to ask before I even ask it. And I think I've come a long way, with overall very good results. I have had one squib in my M-1 carbine that I caught before I did damage. I have walked a couple of my buddies through the basics, and theirs worked too. I read the manuals, double-check load data, write everything down. For being entirely self-trained by youtube, manuals, and this forum, I think I'm doing pretty well.

i have also noticed the increase in new bloggers. wonder if other "reloading" sites are increasing as well.

to all the new loaders: this business takes a lot of common sense. if something doesn't feel right, don't do it. if you have a question, ask it. we are all here to help and be helped.

welcome.

murf

p.s. get a reloading manual or two.

Thanks RC and others for helping me to realize when I am talking down to them. I don't intend to offend them for having limited knowledge of the hobby, and I sometimes forget that I was once in their shoes. I think sometimes I am just so over whelmed by obvious lack of study, or not adhering to what they have read, that I react as though I am scolding a child for acting up. I'll certainly try harder to talk too them, and also inject some effective form of education into my responses.
GS

As a new reloader i don't see a problem with anything that you have brought up. Having concern for new people getting into a hobby like this is normal. At this point I am simply gathering the necessary components and reading my manuals/asking questions. The input I get back from experienced reloaders such as yourself is very valuable. Just keep in mind that what we lack is experience but with input and guidance from people with experience we will safely expand our knowledge base.

rcmodel said:

If they had owned & read one chapter of one reloading manual while setting on the throne in the bathroom every morning before work that is.

It is troubling to me too!

rc

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That was me from about age 10 to 14. I read everything I could get my hands on. Elmer Keith, Jack O'Conner, all the Field & Stream and Outdoor Life legends. I think I knew about the powder trinity before I knew what girls were.

That last part may have been an exaggeration...

I think one of the biggest problems is the 'instant gratification' society that's been evolving over the years. Too many of the younger generation just want to know now, and don't want to take the time the find out the old fashioned way through research. There is such a wealth of information in the various threads on this site that I spend the vast majority of my time reading threads, instead of posting questions. In looking through the threads here, I've found answers to questions I never would have thought of to ask in the first place, and I've been reloading since the late 70's. I learned to reload by reading and paying attention to what I was doing. If one pays attention, and understands the processes involved, and how things work, it's a very safe hobby.

I AM concerned about the new reloaders that have more money than patience, go out and by a big fancy progressive press, and just want to keep pulling the handle and producing rounds with little thought and or understanding of what is actually going on.

I'm always willing to answer any questions that I can, and or confirm anyone else's correct answers, but am at times concerned with some of the confusion caused by some of the bickering that goes on in some of the threads, that doesn't really do anything to answer the OP's question, rather it just confuses the OP.

I rarely post a question since I'm usually reading and finding answers to any questions I have, hence I'm not real good at posting responses, since most questions are answered before I get to the threads, since I'm reading other posts. I am sometimes amazed at how much patience the prolific posters here have, as they answer the same questions that have been answered countless times, and with good spirit and great intentions. I think that is what drew me to this site, and has made me a regular reader, and sometime contributor.

Thank you all for everything you do to try and make this hobby safer and easier for everyone, and your willingness to share your knowledge so freely.

Some people here have certain expectations. Maybe in another life they were drill sergeants.. for true.
Sometimes people are short with one another.. what is best?
Assume personal responsibility people, with each breath you draw and every action you take, it may well be your last regarding the most mundane thing.

The wood ball helps prevent blisters and other soreness from pulling the arm over an over against an irregular surface.

FL sizing rifle brass requires a lot of torque. Take the ball off, and give it about 50 pieces- you will see what the ball is for

blarby said:

The wood ball helps prevent blisters and other soreness from pulling the arm over an over against an irregular surface.

FL sizing rifle brass requires a lot of torque. Take the ball off, and give it about 50 pieces- you will see what the ball is for

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Johnson Paste Wax is always the answer.

I'm not worried about them. If they don't have enough sense to learn about it before they jump in Darwinism will run its course. Simple nature!

.....

Fear for anyone? No. They ask dumb questions because they're new, is all.

Reloading is easier than painting by numbers, anymore. You buy all the stuff premade. Bullets are uniform. Powders are calibrated. Dies are ready to use out the box. I don't think learning to use a scale and following a recipe from a loading manual makes any of us Einstein.

Consider the selection bias. The guy that starts a thread on THR rather than taking 5 minutes to read his manual(s) is 1 out of maybe 1000 people who are conscientious and take personal responsibility for their loads.

That said, rcmodel and many others have graciously answered questions (ranging from basic to complex) that we lurkers benefit from. For all the folks like me that hang back and absorb your wisdom, I thank you.

rcmodel said:

II have some Hercules Bullseye in a rusty can, some old Alcan powder in a paper bag, Lg primers in an unmarked primer flipper with tape on it,

rc

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Well... better an unmarked flipper than a glass jar.

If I can get one finger ...saved... it will be worth it. The first thing I did, a few years ago, when starting, was store all the indexing parts on my new Lee C.T. Then I made/ bought numerous dips. With a hand primer, my method is slower, but safe. It does save time by not having to monkey with stuff all the time. I have been using a old fashioned powder drop that fills a tube, and is then hand dropped into a funnel, to fill the cases. The dips are faster, but either way, I see this. A few looks into the powder filled cases, with the light and magnification, means no mistakes. Just keep other empty cases away, to avoid a momentary lapse of attention, and load away. Plus my cases have time to get trimmed and prepped the way I like.



P.S. that scale is not the one used

I remember when my brothers and I started re-loading, we bought a 50 lb. barrel of 4831 at the hardware store for $25.80--it can in a cardboard barrel
The year was 1956.

Smokeyloads

I'm worried about my safety more then theirs. Besides unwanted media attention from a rash of kabooms. I don't care if another Reloader blows his gun up or hurts themselves. I do care if I get hurt. Or worse yet me 12yo step daughter that goes to the range w/ me all the time. Injuring others because of negligence is unacceptable to me.

This exact topic is being discussed on another forum. I will say the same thing here. If you aren't mechanical then you shouldn't be reloading. A lot of people think they're mechanical when fact is they aren't. Look at all the DIY home projects that get screwed up by people that "think they know what they're doing." At least in that case they aren't dealing with a controlled explosion.

To many people want it now and aren't willing to do any research. I can't tell you how many people I know that haven't picked up a book since high school. These are the people that are a potential risk.


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Well I am one of the new guys around here. I just wanted to say thanks to you guys for taking the time to share the valuable knowledge many of you have gained over decades of reloading. As some have said, reloading is not rocket science, but it is serious business in my mind. The better safe than sorry motto definitely applies. That may lead some of new guys to ask a question just to confirm what we think is right. I wish I had a knowledgable mentor locally to learn from, but sadly I do not. I did a lot of book learning and online research before I even bought my press just to make sure I thought I was cut out for it. But no amount of words and pictures on a page can replace real world experience. That's where you guys come in, so thanks again and thanks for your patience. Maybe someday I will be qualified to pay it forward.

P.S. I shot my first ever reloads, 45 acp, this week and all went well. All went boom with no FTF or other abnormalities.

I think you're right to be concerned.

Bad things caused by and/or happening to ignorant/irresponsible shooters/reloaders have a tendency to generate bad things for all, like more restrictive legislation for instance.