Getting older. Anything reloading/shooting related to look forward to?

[buck460XVR]

One can always look forward to passing on their love of shooting/hunting/reloading to their children, grand-children and others, young and old. Passing on knowledge and traditions is what life and the propagation of our species is really all about. I find myself nowadays getting more joy outta my sons' success when hunting than I ever did. I'm also more proud of both my sons' skills in hunting and shooting than I ever was with mine. I am just beginning to get that from my grand-children as they are just coming of age to start hunting and shooting seriously.

 

[Rule3]

One can always look forward to passing on their love of shooting/hunting/reloading to their children, grand-children and others, young and old. Passing on knowledge and traditions is what life and the propagation of our species is really all about. I find myself nowadays getting more joy outta my sons' success when hunting than I ever did. I'm also more proud of both my sons' skills in hunting and shooting than I ever was with mine. I am just beginning to get that from my grand-children as they are just coming of age to start hunting and shooting seriously.

Now that is a really great post!

 

[Nanook]

I retired 3 months ago. I love it! I'm 62 so I haven't quite reached geezer-hood, although the definition of that depends on who you're asking. LOL

I'm busier than ever, plenty of hobbies plus I'm adding woodworking to the mix. Got to keep the mind and body going, no couch potato TV for me.

I got my first pair of glasses when I was 2-1/2, so I don't know what it's like to shoot without them.

 

[Manny]

I'm just a few years older than your 50 but have been wearing glasses since 8 and find shooting accurately with irons to be ever tougher. Couple things I discovered that help: NO RAMP SIGHTS!!! They are the devils work IMHO! A good patridge sight is worlds easier to see. Fiber optics, tritium dots etc. help lots. My concealable snubbies wear CT grips and I'm looking at trying an RMR on my combat Tupperware and larger revolvers. My 10/22's wear EOtechs and I think there is no finer sight for them. Optics are very good things!! When I launch a bullet I want to see my target clearly to place the shot accurately. High power isn't needed, but clarity and the single sighting plane is. Tradition be damned, I see NO positives in sticking with hard to see & use sights. There ARE BETTER WAYS!!!

JMHO, YMMV (but I'm right)

 

[Jesse Heywood]

To quote William O. Douglas: Go east young man! Get out of that gun-hating land, and go somewhere you can legally own a model 10.

You can look forward to your arms growing shorter, the floor getting lower, the ability to comb your hair with a washcloth and a 10 yard range becoming your favorite. And you will learn to love the steel-cased ammo, it can be picked up with a magnet.

And you will also learn that when you run out of brass, the solution is to spend more time at the range.

Good luck, i've now been permanantly umemployed for 10 years.

 

[ddc]

50? That's an issue? I'd give my left nut to be 50 again. Kids these days... I just don't get it.

 

[diesel instructor]

50!

new to this board, my first post, just turned 82 in May, I am senior on most other boards, been reloading with the same RCBS Jr press and shooting for over 60 years. heck at 50 you have over 30 darn good years of shooting left.

 

[Potatohead]

Now that is a really great post!

Agreed. Ive noticed Buck often has great posts.

 

[jmorris]

I keep tinkering with things building this or that keeps my interest up.

The lab radar chronograph will be interesting to play with, if it ever makes it to market that is.

 

[PistolPete45]

Bad back here and the revolver removes the picking up spent brass . Indoor ranges that is not a big deal but my back yard pistol range .. picking the brass out of the grass .. I see distance fine so front sight and target is not a problem Reading the reloading manual I need the glasses A real well lit reloading bench and I am getting the apron .. thanks Higgite

 

[emptybrass]

Well, 65 here and just renewed my interest in shooting a couple of years ago after basically no firearm activity since I was 25. I decided to start reloading one month before the latest upheaval and it tool me a year to accumulate supplies and tools (loading 380 Auto, 45ACP and .223) and I spent that year reading forums (mostly this one) and several books and watched a zillion YouTube how-to videos. Wife and I still work but now we work out of the house. At 62, my wife decided she would take a trip to the range with me. After two trips to the range, we went to the new Cabelas close by and when she saw someone shine a handgun laser on the way, she instantly pointed and said "I want one of those!". An so as soon as her eye heals from a little procedure she had today, it's off to the range with her Sig P238 and CT laser. What the years have done to me, aside from trifocals, is make me be certain I have zero distractions and am not tired or in a hurry when I sit down at the reloading bench. That never hit home as much as it did when my wife started shooting my reloads. Never to late to start new stuff, go for it!!

 

[splattergun]

I'm 57 with my first heart attack behind me (Hey! I thought I was the healthy one in the family!). I have arthritis in my back, shoulders and wrists. Bad eyes all my life, I've been using progressive lenses for 10 years. I use a cheap reach tool from HF to pick up brass and now that I bruise more easily (medically induced hemophilia sucks), I have to use a shooting pad on my (OWWW) shoulder.
BUT
I shot the 1st ever 1/2" group out of my 30-06 yesterday. I still have decent reflexes and balance left over from practicing karate years ago and I can usually catch things that fall off the bench. I still stay active, exercise, and keep up on my 3 major hobbies; shooting and hand loading, raising honeybees, and (much to my cardiologist's dismay) home brewing beer (roomatiz medicine, I much prefer to prescriptions that knock me out). Life ain't over yet. But as they say, growing old ain't for cowards.

 

[oldreloader]

50? That's an issue? I'd give my left nut to be 50 again. Kids these days... I just don't get it.

Well there went that mouthful of whiskey and coke!

 

[oldreloader]

I'm 57 with my first heart attack behind me (Hey! I thought I was the healthy one in the family!). I have arthritis in my back, shoulders and wrists. Bad eyes all my life, I've been using progressive lenses for 10 years. I use a cheap reach tool from HF to pick up brass and now that I bruise more easily (medically induced hemophilia sucks), I have to use a shooting pad on my (OWWW) shoulder.
BUT
I shot the 1st ever 1/2" group out of my 30-06 yesterday. I still have decent reflexes and balance left over from practicing karate years ago and I can usually catch things that fall off the bench. I still stay active, exercise, and keep up on my 3 major hobbies; shooting and hand loading, raising honeybees, and (much to my cardiologist's dismay) home brewing beer (roomatiz medicine, I much prefer to prescriptions that knock me out). Life ain't over yet. But as they say, growing old ain't for cowards.

Well said. I'm 61.Pretty much the same her but they caught the problem and gave me a stent before I had the heart attack, and I prefer a Rich&Rare and coke to the beer.

 

[oldcelt]

whats to look forward to? Plenty, 32 years ago I was at the half century mark and now I am still casting bullets loading ammo and burning powder. Also I will help the young un with what ever I can with the shooting sports. Plenty to look forward to, my next adventure is looking for a new gun as soon as I decide what I want. Think positive.

 

[dickttx]

On the other hand, you may be as washed up as Jerry Miculek is at 50+!!!

 

[LiveLife]

new to this board, my first post, just turned 82 ... heck at 50 you have over 30 darn good years of shooting left.

Welcome to THR! Maybe you can give me some insight on late 90s and newer Ford/International PowerStroke vs Dodge/Cummins pros/cons.

whats to look forward to? Plenty, 32 years ago I was at the half century mark and now I am still casting bullets loading ammo and burning powder.

Well, 65 here and just renewed my interest in shooting a couple of years ago ... At 62, my wife decided she would take a trip to the range with me. After two trips to the range ... when she saw someone shine a handgun laser on the way, she instantly pointed and said "I want one of those!" ... What the years have done to me, aside from trifocals, is make me be certain I have zero distractions and am not tired or in a hurry when I sit down at the reloading bench. That never hit home as much as it did when my wife started shooting my reloads.

Reading many 60-80+ posts makes me feel "younger" by comparison. When I had a little difficulty focusing on 15-25 yard targets for some accuracy load development recently, I had a thought of "Oh my, am I finally getting OLD?" .


Thankfully, my unsupported grip/front sight is still rock steady although draw/aim and transition from target-to-target is slower (like other body parts particularly my brain as reminded by wife).

Exercise? I have identified some exercise routines with free weights and resistance bands when traveling out of town for work (does ocean fishing for ling cod count as resistance exercise? )

Cardio? I did plenty of that in the service and used to jog several miles each day and cycle 40-50 miles on weekends but over 20 years ago. I guess I will sneak into wife's cave she stole from me and get on the treadmill/elliptical and we just bought a Gazelle Supreme which wife/daughter wanted. At least I can watch TV while using these machines.

Diet? Due to Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol (might as well throw in work stress too ), I am on various medications for them and fortunately, lab values are finally within normal range (took almost a year to get there). I have made "healthier" choices and modified my cooking menu over the years but told my doctor I can't give up BBQ/steaks and I will likely die with a chunk of prime rib stuck to my teeth when I die. She told me at least I will die happy.

Eye sight? Thank goodness for optics! My current pair of progressives are much better than my last pair (who knew there were different levels of progressives?) and I plan to use scopes/red dot into my retirement. My sister had eye surgery and now has 20/20 vision but I am scared of sharp objects.

 

[ricbor]

Won't bore you with all of my ailments at 55, but one thing I sure enjoy is having my 17 year old pulling the handle on my reloading presses and do the cleaning after a day in the field or at the range. He enjoys shooting and anything gun related as much or more than I do, so he gets to do the heavy lifting now, and i get to relax a bit.