Can't get friends into reloading no matter what I do.....

[Outer Rondacker]

Heck now that I think about it I know guys who own guns and do not even have a bullet in the house for that caliber. I am not joking.

On another note yesterday yes on Easter a guy came to me and ask if I would load him up 5000 rounds of 9mm. I told him I didnt load for others and 9 was cheap enough he could just buy a few thousand for $350 ish a 1k at the shops. He said common Ill give you 100 bucks a 1000s. I laughed and asked let me guess you got your first pistol? Ya and I want to shoot and there is going to be a dollar tax per bullet soon on ammo in NYS. I said I have way to much reloading equipment and I would gladly sell you some at a more than fair price and even show him how to reload it. Heck if we get along perhaps you can even stop bye and shoot on my range with me. The reply was as expected. I just want to get some cheap ammo to blast stuff. I told him you have a good day and dont mud up the yard turning around. Should of asked him how he knew I was a reloader. I suspect one of the others who have tried the same in the past told him a story and he figured he would give it a go.

People think reloading makes ammo FREE or darn close to it. In my area cheapest I can buy a 1000 9mm is about 400 dollars with tax. Well before the NYS new tax hits. Then it will be an extra dollar to ever round and the money will be used to support more gun legislation.

I find its funny how ever once in a while you will talk about something and it seams to happen very shortly after.

[Dancing Bear]

I know how you feel. I'm the only reloader in my group of shooters/hunters. Mentioned I'd teach them many a time but not one taker. And boy you should have heard the complaints just before the last fre hunting seasons!
Even during the buying ammo was cheaper than reloading era I still saved brass. I check the trash cans at the range and save in calibers I don't have right now. Can always trade or give it away.

Outer Rondacker: this guy wanted to pay 10 cpr? I'd do it If he provided the bullets, primers, brass, powder, dies and a progressive press with you keeping the press and dies.

[charlie b]

An aspect I had never thought of before.

My daughter's friends discuss prepper compounds and such. They get to a point when they sum up what skills each of them has to offer the group. Most are fishing, sewing, weaving, carpentry, etc, etc. She does not have any of those types of skills. So, she came to me and asked if I'd teach her to reload so she would have a useful skill to bring to the table.

I am just fine being the 'odd duck' who casts and reloads. Let the others buy their ammo. After all, if it weren't for them there wouldn't be many components for us to reload with

[dverna]

During peak of the ammunition shortage, I loaded some hunting ammunition for a guy at deer camp. There was no .270 ammunition available. The ammunition shot very well and then he asked me to load 500 rounds for his AR. I politely declined the "opportunity". I will never do that again.

People think you just sit down for a hour and crank 500 rounds out. I can do that with pistol ammunition (Dillon 1050) but not with rifle ammunition (Co-Ax). Plus, helping out a guy to hunt is a lot different than making blasting ammunition. It is not only illegal, but I do not enjoy making ammunition. And like others have said, they think it is "free".

I offered to show two guys at deer camp how to reload but told them upfront to plan to produce about one box of ammunition per hour until they learned the process Every case had to be inspected, cleaned and then trimmed before it could be reloaded because we had to buy unknown cases. They whined about the cost and availability of hunting ammunition but did not want to put in the effort.

Do not make the mistake of helping out a friend by loading a box or two of hunting ammunition for them. They will expect you to "help" them again. And today, ammunition is available so there is no need. If it costs $30+ a box, it is not your problem.

[JoeJames]

I have always been particular about my shooting. Being on the college rifle team in the late 60's encouraged that. Been reloading since @1982. Did a little casting, but really got serious about it about 4 years ago when I could see the handwriting on the wall regarding bullet supply. Then as an extra unforeseen benefit I discovered my cast bullets tended to be more accurate than store bought; at least in the pistol calibers - 32S&W Long, 38 Special, and 44 Special. One friend has started reloading for 41 Special. I have helped him get over the hurdles with that caliber, but he's not gotten into casting yet.

[Rockindaddy]

Stopper:
Had great success teaching my grandson how to reload. He bought himself a really nice Ruger 77 at a gun show. Being 18 years old and shopping for just the right rifle and learning how to negotiate with older sellers; worked a fair deal. He kind of cringed when he saw the ammo prices. So it was "hey pap, you reload don't you". Can you whip up some shells for me. Of course I said yes but will need some help. He showed up with his new rifle on a Saturday with his girlfriend. Figured I would start from scratch. Handed him the RCBS 270 dies I had on the shelf. He stopped earlier in the week and bought a 100 Hornady 140 gr bullets. Showed him how to screw the dies into the press. He learned how to resize and reprime. He had his girlfriend weighing powder charges and seating bullets. What really made it was the fact that I have a 100 yard range on the farm. He and his friend took his new rifle oout to the range and shot the different powder charges to pick the best group. He shot a nice 10point buck that fall with his reloads. He banged several woodchucks with his reloads too. Now he has an AR platform 223 that is his coyote rig. He got to reloading for that rifle and shoots dime size 100 yard groups. Check out Ethan the "yotey" hunter! Shot with his pet handloads. Sometimes you can teach a skill and your student runs with it. Sometimes there is no fire or ambition and your student is lazy or just cannot be bothered.Attachment 312836

[Targa]

Of the few friends I have, all gun guys, I am the only one that reloads. They threaten to take up reloading but haven’t made that leap yet. Of course it probably doesn’t help that I am an enabler and with exception of the high volume bottom feeder stuff I reload for their wheel guns .38Spl to .44mag and to an extent a few rifles.

[Dancing Bear]

Oh, and I have an acquaintance who offered to go the range with me and help me shoot my 44 mag reloads. No thank you. About 10 years ago I put together an analysis of reloading costs vs manufactured ammo for him and his son. But....

[Froogal]

Next question. Do we shoot so we can reload? Or do we reload so we can shoot?

The answer to both questions is YES.

[Stopsign32v]

Next question. Do we shoot so we can reload? Or do we reload so we can shoot?

The answer to both questions is YES.

I absolutely love reloading. To take a mess of parts which don't mean much and put them all together with your own knowledge and turn them into 1 thing that has a purpose...Well it's the closest thing to giving birth us men can do.

[Adam Helmer]

Post #2 says it all.... I always encourage folks to get into reloading, IF they ask for help. I began reloading in 1962 and casting for most of my guns in 1967. I do not think I have a dozen boxes of factory on the farm.

I would be reluctant to have some of my friends reload ammunition. Many gun owners are not "too swift." Case in point: last year a fellow gun club member got gas at a full-service gas station nearby. The attendant checked the oil in the truck as said it was "about a quart low." The truck owner asked the price, which seemed too much, so he got a quart of oil at Walmart on the way home. About an hour later he called me and asked me to come over. I went and saw the hood up on his truck in the driveway. He said, "The oil won't go down." I told him it would go better into the crankcase than the power steering reservoir!

Some folks should let reloading ALONE! LOL.

Adam

[murf205]

Stopper:
Had great success teaching my grandson how to reload. He bought himself a really nice Ruger 77 at a gun show. Being 18 years old and shopping for just the right rifle and learning how to negotiate with older sellers; worked a fair deal. He kind of cringed when he saw the ammo prices. So it was "hey pap, you reload don't you". Can you whip up some shells for me. Of course I said yes but will need some help. He showed up with his new rifle on a Saturday with his girlfriend. Figured I would start from scratch. Handed him the RCBS 270 dies I had on the shelf. He stopped earlier in the week and bought a 100 Hornady 140 gr bullets. Showed him how to screw the dies into the press. He learned how to resize and reprime. He had his girlfriend weighing powder charges and seating bullets. What really made it was the fact that I have a 100 yard range on the farm. He and his friend took his new rifle oout to the range and shot the different powder charges to pick the best group. He shot a nice 10point buck that fall with his reloads. He banged several woodchucks with his reloads too. Now he has an AR platform 223 that is his coyote rig. He got to reloading for that rifle and shoots dime size 100 yard groups. Check out Ethan the "yotey" hunter! Shot with his pet handloads. Sometimes you can teach a skill and your student runs with it. Sometimes there is no fire or ambition and your student is lazy or just cannot be bothered.Attachment 312836

Wow, that's a big coyote. There is nothing like having a grandson/daughter at your side to teach a lesson/hobby to. Congrats to him and the girlfriend for making this pay off. This grandfather thing is even better than I thought it would be.

[Recycled bullet]

I shoot so I can cast

[Bruntson]

I find that reloading is a separate hobby from shooting. It involves a different skill set and different equipment. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reloading. If I had to judge which hobby I enjoy more, reloading would come out on top by a slight margined. As a subset hobby in reloading is casting and sizing. Once again its a different skill with different set of equipment. I cast from 6 different pistol molds in 4 calibers. If I had to rank order, top to bottom, which hobby gives the most enjoyment it would be; reloading, shooting, then casting. I have attempted to get others interested but their main goal is to save money on ammo. What with start up cost in equipment, dies, powder, and primers (if you can find them), they quickly lose interest and buy factory ammo. I did show one relative how to reload. He said he was interested if he could use all my reloading equipment and supplies. But he did offered to just pay for the powder, primers, and bullets he used. I politely declined.

[makeurownfun]

Oh man, I have gone back and forth on this topic. I have a couple of "gun friends" and none of them load.

IF they ask, I tell them to get into it, and I'll help. I won't do it for you. But I do not mind sitting down with them and explaining anything I can.

Reloading is a hobby of mine. I enjoy buying and building guns. I enjoy shooting. So, reloading only made sense. My grandfather reloaded back in the late 80s to 2000 or so. While in school I would go and load his primer tubes for him (not knowing anything that was going on) and man what I would give up, to have those times back! I inherited his equipment and my uncles, so that just cemented my passion for this hobby. I now keep track of what and how many primers/powder I have on hand, like my Pappaw.
I started collecting lead about 6 years ago because I could see the writing on the wall. I now cast my own projectiles and my buddies think it's awesome. Yet, none of them have as much as dipped their toe in.

I've explained to all of them when they ask, it's not hard, but also not fast. It's a labor of love, and if you don't enjoy doing it, you won't do it. Some weekends are only brass prep...

[farmerjim]

I started reloading 12 ga shotgun 59 years ago to save money. $3 for 25 vs $1.50 to reload. When checking the shot patterns on my gun I found many had big holes in them.I found a 1 5/8 2 3/4 in load that shot like a dream. After a couple of years of shotgun loading I got into rifle and pistol loading.
I bought a couple of molds and 300 lbs of WW for $.005 a pound. Got out of reloading for a while ( lived in Canada and had to leave the pistols back in Louisiana) I got all my old reloading equipment bought back in the 60's and started reloading again. I have tried to get others into reloading, but with no luck. I did reload some 30 carbine for a friend when there were none to be found, but nobody wants to learn. Everybody is complaining about the cost of ammo, but I am still loading with components bought back in the good old days.

[Kestrel4k]

Had great success teaching my grandson how to reload. [...]

Really good job on that; sounds like a new lifelong reloader & certainly good to have on board.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I have had acquaintances and neighbors ask me to reload for them. Some act like they are really giving me a great opportunity to make money. Comfortably retired, I always offer to teach them to reload, using my equipment to start, even supply component for the first box. NO TAKERS. I do enjoy reloading, finding that 'just right' combination for a particular firearm and purpose, easy shooting for fun, a few thumpers for elk, speedy, flat shooters for pronghorn. Hunting, shooting are highest on my list, tinkering on guns and reloading for accuracy and specific purpose next, casting, not so much. I like to shoot cast bullets, I have all the stuff to cast and a mold for every rifle, plus a many more, but there are many cast bullet sellers with high quality products at very reasonable prices that I use. Chasing after scrap lead is time consuming and expensive where I live. UPS and USPS deliver reliably so... Some calibers - 9mm, 40 S&W are not worth reloading at current cost of replacement primers, I do enjoy shooting my .32 Special's and .35 Remington's while others can't find cartridges.

[rbuck351]

When I lived in AK I was on Alaska Outdoor Forum which has a shooting and reloading section. I offered anyone that wanted to learn to come to my house and use my equipment and I would show them how to reload with several different types of presses. In several years I had one show up as he wanted to load some 32/20 for a revolver. I supplied the powder, primers and boolits for 50 rds. Might have been a couple of dollars worth of components. I think he just wanted to shoot an old revolver he got from his grandfather.
One other friend had a Ruger 44mag that he wanted to reload for. I cast him some boolits and let him use my press. He is the only one I have ever actually got into reloading and he went nuts with reloading and more guns.

I DO NOT reload for others except for my son but I will let most anyone use my loading gear and knowledge to learn to load.

I reload so I can shot as much as I want. If I didn't load I would have trouble shooting many of the guns I have. 25/20, 32/20, 35, rem 350 rem, 358 Norma, 7.62x25 , .410 7.7 Jap, 30 rem. and others are very difficult to find.

[Murphy]

In my 40-45 years of reloading, I've gotten exactly 3 people into reloading that I know of who are still active at it. Two of them started years ago, one started during the pandemic. I told the last one, you couldn't have picked a worse time to start hoss. His work had him traveling quite a bit, and that helped him gather some of the items he needed. Once he had obtained all the necessities, I went to his house and helped him mount the press and get started. He hasn't been back in touch but 3-4 times since then.

Casting you say? Not one person has wanted to learn when I told them I cast my own, none. I do have one who own's and operates a local pawn & gun. He has all the equipment, and has had for 3-4 years that I'm aware of. He said he and a friend were going to learn. I told him I'd been doing it for decades and would be more than happy to come lend a hand if he'd like. So far, he still hasn't fired up a pot of lead.

I guess it all comes down to priorities. Either someone wants to shoot, or they don't. Okay, economics do come into play and I understand that. Been there, done that.

Takes too much time? I guess that depends how much a persons time is worth to them. I don't really know what my time is worth, I truly don't. That's up for each individual to decide for their self.

Truth be told, I'm starting to run really, really low on empathy for people who haven't figured it out yet. It costs more to shoot these days, period. Or, you can learn to reload and save a fair amount. And that's even going to cost more than it used to.

One of the irony's of this site, is the number of people who don't cast. After all, the intent and purpose of this site to begin with was to learn about casting and share experiences.


Murphy