Here's to the close of the age...

[hdwhit]

I use that subject line with due respect to Michael Been and The Call.

In a typical visit to the range, I will shoot between 60 and 100 .223 Remington rounds, and/or between 50 and 100 9mm rounds. I may also shoot a dozen or so .38 Special rounds or a dozen or so .45 ACP rounds. The latter two go to the range just to allow me to keep my skills from deteriorating.

I do not take every gun I shoot with me on each trip; usually just two long guns and a pistol.

I visit my range four, maybe five times a year. This may grow to as many as eight times a year after I retire in 2018.

As I recently completed my inventory of components, I came to realize that with a few exceptions (like another pound of powder for .223, or another pound of powder suitable for 5.7mm Johnson, like IMR 4227 or H110, etc.), at current utilization, I now have enough components to meet my needs for the rest of my life (based on my actuarial life expectancy). In fact, that's probably generous as I don't really see myself out on the firing line at age 80 shooting my grandfather's 1911 even if I am still be alive.

Neither of my sons has any interest in reloading, so within the family, the hobby dies with me. It was a very sobering thought. And a very liberating one since I can now re-purpose some of what I have been spending on reloading components on more altruistic activities. To paraphrase Luke 12:15b, "...a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his reloading components."

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm happy you feel you have enough components but I must warn you, that may not hold true after 2018. Even though you think your range trips may only increase by a few each year funny things happen when you have all day, every day to do as you please. You may find your range trips will be weekly instead of monthly. Don't ask me how know lol.

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement.

 

[Walkalong]

It's always good to have a plan. I don't have enough components to last and hope to be shooting at 80 if I make it. I have actually purchased a couple of things I feel will be shoot-able for me at that age.

 

[Reloadron]

I visit my range four, maybe five times a year. This may grow to as many as eight times a year after I retire in 2018.

Congratulations on your pending retirement. I retired in 2013 at 63 simply because I could. I have found I do spend more summer and spring days enjoying the range. Previously I was limited to weekends when I had nothing else going, now I wonder how I ever found the time for work.

The beauty of stocking up or maintaining a large supply of reloading components is they have a fairly long shelf life like canned goods in a pantry. While I really can't forecast when I would run out of anything I have always made sure I was looking at a decade before I would be concerned. Again, reloading components, when properly stored, have a very long shelf life. At this poing neither my son or son-in-law have the reloading bug but I have hope on my son-in-law. Should I check out before my wife then she can give the stuff away or sell it, really matters not. Like the song says "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)". I would like another 20 years but will take what I get and be content. Even with a good stock as I see things available or on sale I will continue to add stuff.

Ron

 

[Ironicaintit]

I wonder if my dad thought the same kind of thing. We always had a common interest in firearms, but I never gave much thought to reloading. But he did! I remember waking up in the middle of the night several times, to the sound of the press.
It wasn't until after he passed that the bug bit me. Maybe it was all the stuff I'd inherited....
And now it's one of my favorite hobbies!

 

[evtSmtx]

well you have more money for guns in those calibers "just not worth the time to fiddle with" which means more components.

 

[hdwhit]

You may find your range trips will be weekly instead of monthly.

Actually, I'll be living at my range.

The "range" is 225 meters across the flat top of a dam that impounds a state-licensed reservoir with a 70 foot high berm on the far side. I can set up targets at 25, 100, 200 and 250 yards so it is kind of like being back in basic training.

Still, my wife and I will be living on 52% of our former salary, so I won't be able to afford to appreciably increase my shooting. What I go into retirement with may be the bulk of what I have to shoot. Until now I've mostly been concerned with hitting the circular divot on the side of a milk jug at 100 yards/meters and just hitting the jug itself (which I take as a proxy for the vital areas of the local white tail deer) at 200 yards, but I may have to tighten that up and start going for a smaller bulls-eye.

Besides, the county I will be living in flirts with bankruptcy every year so I'll have to find something to do to contribute to forestalling that. Whether it means re-starting my firm up there so the county can get the sales taxes or volunteering to write grant applications, I could end up being as busy as when I was working full time.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Actually, I'll be living at my range.

The "range" is 225 meters across the flat top of a dam that impounds a state-licensed reservoir with a 70 foot high berm on the far side. I can set up targets at 25, 100, 200 and 250 yards so it is kind of like being back in basic training.

Still, my wife and I will be living on 52% of our former salary, so I won't be able to afford to appreciably increase my shooting. What I go into retirement with may be the bulk of what I have to shoot. Until now I've mostly been concerned with hitting the circular divot on the side of a milk jug at 100 yards/meters and just hitting the jug itself (which I take as a proxy for the vital areas of the local white tail deer) at 200 yards, but I may have to tighten that up and start going for a smaller bulls-eye.

Besides, the county I will be living in flirts with bankruptcy every year so I'll have to find something to do to contribute to forestalling that. Whether it means re-starting my firm up there so the county can get the sales taxes or volunteering to write grant applications, I could end up being as busy as when I was working full time.

A suggestion for shooting more after retirement, put in the reloading components before you retire while you are still making more money.

Put in 100K primers, a few cases of 8lb jugs of powder and bullets and brass. You should be able to increase your shooting without squeezing your budget after you retire.

 

[Phlier]

I don't really see myself out on the firing line at age 80 shooting my grandfather's 1911

Don't sell yourself short! My father is 86, and still goes to the gym every day, as well as the shooting range. He's as sharp as a tack, and I'll still shoot any reload he makes with full confidence that it'll be just as perfect now as it ever has been.

 

[thomas15]

I wonder if my dad thought the same kind of thing. We always had a common interest in firearms, but I never gave much thought to reloading. But he did! I remember waking up in the middle of the night several times, to the sound of the press.
It wasn't until after he passed that the bug bit me. Maybe it was all the stuff I'd inherited....
And now it's one of my favorite hobbies!

Exactly the same thing with me. I wish that I could spend just 1 hour at the bench with my Dad. I wish my Dad could see my bench! I'm sure that if he could there would be one gigantic smile on his face. Every time I pick up one of his handloading tools I think about him.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Exactly the same thing with me. I wish that I could spend just 1 hour at the bench with my Dad. I wish my Dad could see my bench! I'm sure that if he could there would be one gigantic smile on his face. Every time I pick up one of his handloading tools I think about him.

Yes, for sure I wish my dad could see my bench. I have a much more reloading dedicated work space than he ever had room for! I think he be pretty proud of the rounds I'm rolling up, too.
I have all his cartridge recipes, but then I decided to work up my own...just to see if they could be improved, and to help me learn the ins and outs.
And wouldn't ya know, with the exception of 45acp (I decided I like unique better than the bullseye he preferred) I found that his loads were the most accurate.
I cherish and use all his tools, refer to his notes, and think of him all the time.

I like finding new things still. Going through some old books, I still sometimes find notes jotted down on the pages.

I hope I do well enough, that my boy will smile when he reflects on the memories I leave him with.

 

[rg1]

I get your point. It's quite a jolt when you realize you're in the sunset years. Started reloading at about 30 years old and went through the golden years when components were available everywhere, tons of surplus military components available and inexpensive and it was not very costly to load and increase your inventory. Now at 66 I don't shoot very much and the inventory pile is taking up space. Once thought that we alI would need this inventory for our protection and to protect our rights. Still think it may be down the road but not in my lifetime. I still love reloading even though much of my stockpile will never be shot by me at least. Still feels comfortable to have "enough" ammo and when I do go shooting I often take family members and have a little reloading for when I return home. Also things have changed since the 70's-80's. The nearby shooting range is crowded, range officers looking over your shoulder, range Nazi's they are called. And while I expected that retirement times would be slow and time for everything. Not so, still seem to be rushing with not enough time for the simpe pleasures.???

 

[Hardtarget]

My dad never started reloading though his brother did. I found two reloading books in his file cabinet so I guess he thought about it!. I started reloading in the mid '70's. I'm 66 now. I inherited his leather crafting tools. Having a good time with that. My sons have shown very little interest in either hobby. In their defense...raising children DOES take up most of their time. Maybe I'll live long enough to see the interest take hold.
( rg1...I read your post and it seemed like I was reading some of my own thoughts! funny)
Mark