thoughts on teaching others to reload

[Winger Ed.]

I've taught two. It was a one on one sort of deal, and a few years apart.
One kept at it because he was a tight wad. He quit reloading when I told him it was time to buy his own equipment.
The other was a competitive shooter and it let him make better ammo. It made his hobby more affordable, and his scores were better.

Others were interested, but when it came time to put away the beer, sit down, actually learn, and do it:
They just never quite made it over.

[toallmy]

I was the first in the family to load my own , but I shared my understanding of loading ammunition with 3 of my younger brothers in the 80s & between us it has multiplied many times over the years . I have and will continue to encourage shooters even if they choose to not load their own , to at least read a few loading manuals .

[starnbar]

Actually, I am like you. I was gifted some things from an older friend who no longer reloaded. I wish he had lived closer but at that time I was in FL and he was in KY. My parents brought it down on vacation and said it was from "The Old Man" . He was a bit older than my dad. I miss them both. I guess in a way I'm kind of like him. I have no kids so when I'm gone it will just be a mess of stuff for my wife to get rid of.

Yeah got started the same way I had a carbide cannon that needed fixin my neighbor was a horse soldier rode with Black Jack. he fixed my cannon for me saw i had a keen interest in things that go bang. When he passed I was almost 20 he left me his equipment took me around 3 months reading his manuals until I got it figured out.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I started with a Rock Chucker master kit 26 years ago. The Speer reloading manual that came with it had everything a beginning reloader needed to know to get started. In 2012 I gave all my reloading equipment including that manual to my eldest son because I thought I was done with shooting. He had no trouble getting started. These days with the internet and a good manual someone who is motivated should have no trouble learning on their own. Showing such a person your reloading room is a good way to get them going.

[John Wayne]

Liability!!! I too have taught several but one on one only. One time a father and son. But today's young men that apply at the machine shop where I work can't read a tape measure. So I will only teach folks I know that have common sense, ability and won't sue me later. The lawyers of today are looking for a way to take ALL of your assets including your home.

[richhodg66]

Yeah got started the same way I had a carbide cannon that needed fixin my neighbor was a horse soldier rode with Black Jack. he fixed my cannon for me saw i had a keen interest in things that go bang. When he passed I was almost 20 he left me his equipment took me around 3 months reading his manuals until I got it figured out.

Man, that is a great story, I hope you still have and use all of his stuff.

I have an awful lot of stuff my Dad used over the years, but there was some stuff in his accumulation I know came from friends of his who passed and he ended up with, quite a few cast bullets I knew were cast by a gentleman who was a WWII vet and used to go to gun shows and such with us. I always like using this stuff or things I've gotten from estate sales and such, seems like there's an old guy smiling down from somewhere that I'm still using it.

[JoeJames]

I got an RCBS kit for Christmas in @1981 with a Speer #10 manual. Worked my way through it, and even did a little bit of casting back then. Started casting again about 2 years ago when I saw the handwriting on the wall. Anyhow, two have asked me to help them get started - one is an accountant whose office is next door, other is via email. Loaned my neighbor an old Hornady Manual, and it has generated an awful lot of questions - which is a good thing.

[farmerjim]

I must be a genius.

Started reloading over 50 years ago. No internet....no mentor...no one in my immediate family was a shooter.

If a person cannot teach him/her self to reload they are either lazy, stupid or both. I do not like being around people like that.

I did the same about 60 years ago.
I am now helping my neighbor who is just starting.

By the way "Genius" is my last name.

[sundog]

This is a good place to start. If the person wanting to learn cannot make it through a few short reading sessions with this, I am not interested in going further with them.

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Reloadi.../dp/0935998977

This is a process learning guide, not a reloading manual.

Other than learning the process itself, the other thing the mentor can do is lead the 'newbie' into not wasting resources (money) on things not needed to get started, but still have the essential 'stuff' to do it properly and safely. Those saved resources can then be used to gather components to get started.

[John Guedry]

I am self taught reloader. When I started I knew no one who was "into" reloading . I had a friend who dealt with a who dealt with a wholesale sporting goods business. Got me a real good deal on a Lyman T-Mag.Included was a Lyman #47 manual. If a person does not enjoy reading I don't see how they can "self teach". I had no mentor,internet or any other references,I had no options.

[Bent Ramrod]

If you are interested, you can (and will) learn how to reload on your own. A reloading Handbook, some care, some hands-on experience, and the normal use of one’s hands and brain, are sufficient.

I joined a gun club once. The club officers said I wasn’t doing enough for the club. I offered to do a class on a Saturday to teach ammunition reloading. They said that was a great idea. The class was advertised in the club newsletter and by word of mouth, the same as they did for their Hunter’s Safety classes, which drew big crowds.

The day of the class arrived, and I was there with supplies, equipment, prepared speeches and instructional willingness. One guy showed up (he wasn’t one of the people that wanted me to do the class). He listened attentively, went through the processes willingly, asked intelligent questions, and thanked me when it was over.

He never started reloading on his own, though. The Hunter’s Safety class was a state requirement for a hunting license, which probably was the reason for the attendance. A lot of the club membership did reload, and didn’t need instruction from me or anybody. Their own interest was enough.

It isn’t String Theory, after all.

[MstrEddy]

I've taught a 5 friends to reload, but only one at a time. I first have them read a guide or manual. If they are still interested, then I have them come over and take them through the steps on my RCBS. When they bought their own equipment, I had them bring their press over, we go over the set up, adjust dies, etc, and load 50 rounds. Of the five, two or three are still actively reloading. The others are not shooting much at all, so haven't "needed" to reload.

I've also shown a few others, and taken them through the processes and they've made their own box or two of ammo.

[salpal48]

most people claim They want to learn. In reality most want me to load there old cases . I give them a small list of Required Items, then never hear from them again. Works well for me

[BigAlofPa.]

I mentored a young man. I used some of the books i got from members here. He used them. Since then he bought updated ones. I have them back in the library. Waiting to help the next person who may want to learn. Only those who i feel are level headed and responsible ill teach. I had some one ask recently. Who breaks everything he touches. I told him after he buys his own equipment i'll teach him. Never heard another word about it.

[Char-Gar]

If a person wants to reload, they'll buy a manual and learn it on their own. It is not hard, you just need an average amount of attention to detail.

I started with Speer reloading manual #11 back in the 80's. I had no mentor, no internet and no videos. It was just me, my manual and a few pieces of equipment I bought at Long's Drugs in Colorado Springs.

I agree, I started with a Lyman 41manual in 1959. I will add there is a very big difference between knowing how to do something and the ability to teach others how to do it. As I read the answers to various posts on this board, I see way to much unnecessary detail and complexity beyond what the questioner needs or wants to know. Lots of big information dumps designed to impress others with the posters knowledge.

[Three44s]

Self taught all the way! Started with load manuals and then anything of use in the gun magazines.

Some of my finer points for accuracy came from a monthly column on hand loading. The writers name is Jameson and he went into cartridge design and then formed his own company.

Three44s

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

ive been pondering idea of teaching others to reload in maybe small group/ like maybe class like sessions. what got me thinking of this is I have a friend who is involved with lots of shooters. years ago he was on national geographic prepper show and over the years has kind of has a community of fellow preppers but he doesn't reload nor do many if any of his fellow peppers but they all do lots of target practice. there is one local gun shop that does have a good variety of powder, projectiles and right now limited primers. the prices have never been cheap there, compared to powder valley or Midsouth or Grafs, but there are supplies available local. maybe its just a crazy idea that could open me top to some crazy liability issues.
has anyone else taught more than one person at a time to reload?

It's one thing to teach a person that comes to you and eagerly wants to learn to load their own...and is willing to start by reading all of a good reloading manual first.
AND...it's another thing to advertise, or whatever, and to teach a class to anyone who "might" have an interest.

If it's the latter, I surely wouldn't do it.

[Wolfdog91]

Be nice if y'all would lean to make a video. If you have a smart phone it's pretty easy.

[dk17hmr]

Lesson learned from my professional career, if they aren't asking don't volunteer. People that don't ask questions don't have any interest in it.

Often in meetings and classes I'm the "dumbest" one in the room. When I don't have a question or comment about something I definitely don't care.

[Dusty Bannister]

Be nice if y'all would lean to make a video. If you have a smart phone it's pretty easy.

It is already out there, just not for free.
https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-99910-Pr.../dp/B001F0NRP4