Do you have a shooting and reloading buddy?

[Bazoo]

I don't have any (in person) friends that reload or cast. I only have two friends that shoot. Only one of those shoots for the fun of it. The other one shoots occationally but is more into hunting and hunting dogs. Neither have the interest of leveractions and sixguns that I do. Neither can shoot very good and our shooting together entails only close ranges. Least both are good people and not rowdy.

Just setting here pondering it.

Just figured I'd share, so all those folks that have a good shooting buddy can see how lucky they are.

[mattw]

I had one of the best until he passed 3 years ago. We both shot long range 6 guns, bench guns and AR's together. He was my casting, reloading and shooting buddy through and through. We had been thru a lot in the 30 or so years we were buddies. Really miss him in the shop all winter long. Really miss him on our makeshift range all spring and summer and I really miss him during deer season!

They don't last forever and it really stinks.

[Mytmousemalibu]

I'm lucky in this regard. I have a number of shooting & reloading buddies, most of which are from our USPSA club. All of us are friends, some closer than other but almost all of us reload and not just pistol stuff. A lot of us share bench talk about equipment and load data. A handful of us are casters too. It's a fun club to be in and helpful to us all. Thank you for reminding me, it's certainly something to cherish!

[Winger Ed.]

My shooting, drinking, & hunting buddy for 30 years passed away a few years ago.
I still miss him, and think about him every day.

I can only hope everyone else has ever had, or will have as good of a friend as he was.

[StuBach]

I’m lucky enough to have met a reloading/casting buddy through CB. RogerDat I’m looking at you.

Other than that sadly have no one but myself to go shooting. That’s why I had kids, once their old enough they will be my shooting buddies I hope. Gotta pass on all this equipment I wasted their inheritance on instead of investing, right?


Thought I’d add this. Two years ago grandma helped bring my oldest out to the range one day to see how he responded and he loved it. He’s still way to young to go out but we’re getting there.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200413/986272c9029278f7b19e6b1a309b287e.jpg

[Rcmaveric]

Just my friends on here. No one in person or local. I always end up talking to someone at the range though so it isn't lonely.

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[sigep1764]

I only know 2 people who shoot, both I work with and am friends with. Neither are that good a shot and neither reloads.

[Chad5005]

my best friend reloads a little bit,and wants to cast a little,my whole family likes to shoot especially my wife,and one or two friends,we shoot at our house,weve got 30yard off one side of the porch,50 off the other,the 100 and 150 across the pond

[fatelk]

I see I'm not alone. I've had a number of friends over the years who like to shoot, though never to the degree that I do. I have very few friends who reload, and definitely none that reload nearly as much as myself. Finding someone who has the time or interest to get out to the range more than a couple times a year is nearly impossible.

So, I had to grow my own. :) My 14yo son is my range buddy. He goes through lots of .22lr, .223, and .38 Special. He's very small for his age so he's not into anything that kicks yet. I know as he gets a little older other interests might preclude going to the range with dad very often, but for now it's a lot of fun.

[Bazoo]

I'm hoping my little buddy will pick up the love for shooting, but got another decade as he's less than a year.

I have few friends, and no so called best friend. Not counting my wife and mom of course.

[rcslotcar]

My Cousin that is 12 yrs younger (I'm 65) has some reloading but no casting/swaging equipment. He like me likes to shoot a lot so I cast and swage bullets for him. He pays for the cost of components and I do the work. He works for a large fishing reel/bicycle mfgr. so I can get some things at his cost. This has worked out for both of us.

[Idaho45guy]

No one I know reloads or casts boolits other than my dad. My good friends all own guns, but are not into it as much as I am. They all ask me for advice when buying firearms.

My current best friend is my girlfriend, and she only shoots when I take her.

[smithnframe]

I used to............I moved to Texas almost 17 years ago and he's in Pennsylvania!

[Wayne Smith]

My best friend and shooting/reloading buddy just moved about 50 miles away up in Gloucester. I taught him to reload and cast. He was a US Army Captain and had his M9 at the range - I'd never handled one. He was complaining that it wasn't shooting well, I asked him to let me shoot it. I put five rounds into a small circle and he immediately asked for it back. "I can do that" he said, and proceeded to prove it. That was years ago, he and his wife and LOML and I are now co-grandparents. Our son married his daughter. We will be getting together when this virus stuff has calmed down. Getting all of us together - the kids and five grandkids and their older son equal more than 10!

[Land Owner]

mattw, WingerEd,

I am there with you two. When my widowed, Reloading-Casting-Hunting-Shooting Mentor, co-worker, and "Right Arm" Buddy of 30-years passed three years ago - by his own hand - it sucked the air out of the room for me in all of these areas. I have had a very difficult time rebooting and only now am beginning to thaw out. For two difficult immediate years thereafter, and to a degree - still, I have dealt with his estate.

I didn't develop friendships at the local Public range either, because I have my own Personal range. My range is my personal hunting, shooting, and often bullet/boolit-research-lab land that is 1/2 mile as the Crow flies from the outdoor Public range.

The Public range had (I've tried) availability restrictions, shooting distance restrictions, escort restrictions for certain ranges, annual (and oft increasing) membership cost, and personality issues. Some "empowered" Range Officers were overbearing (probably for good cause - but not because of me). But mostly issues came up with the mind-fused insensitive (mostly younger) Public: I paid for this privilege, I will do/shoot whatever I want, move in next to me with their over bored, ported, take the paint off of the roof (really!), 600+/- caliber Magnum, Mind Blower).

I couldn't stand it! Not my idea at all of fun...I never met anyone there either with whom I made a connection. Probably my own fault in that. I have my OWN range anyway! I still do. Would be nice if you were near me then I would be near you.

[MrWolf]

No one where I am at now. My son used to shoot with me but once he turned 18 it kinda went away. He is still in NJ so no go. I lucked out in that my girlfriend was willing to learn and is actually a natural. Been dating almost 15 months and she is a keeper. She also loves where I live and likes staying home. Actually spend more time on porch swing watching the world go by. Not bad for a 60 year old this month after 5 years of separation and finally a divorce.

[kbstenberg]

Being very abrasive not many people would be interested in learning with me. But i would love to have a shooting buddy!

[brass410]

had to learn to shoot alone(father didn't particularly like guns didnt get one till I was 18) learned to reload alone, hunted alone, till about two years ago even the local gun smith isn't a reloader and doesn't advocate it. Shot at the local range 4yrs ago, no one there. I'm a member at the local R&G club but the next youngest to me is 78 yrs old and is only a member (like the rest) so they can get out of the house and chew the fat, been to 5 get togethers with them and I was the only one there with a firearm!! So if you have a buddy/partner you are very lucky, and if you get the chance, take that kid out with you, you just might find a pal to shoot with in those not so golden years.

[Bazoo]

Interesting responses. Thanks everyone. Makes me feel better that I'm not alone, in being alone.

[Texas by God]

Through death and distance, mine have dwindled down to just a couple of friends that reload and none that cast. I have my own range and we love to have company over for eating and shooting including family holidays. I think that’s why I post so much- because CB is my new circle of loading and shooting and gun nut buddies. Cheers to you!

[Kraschenbirn]

Yes and No. Yes: I've got a long-time friend, a pretty serious shooter, with whom I've shared many trips to the range. No: while my local 'buddy' is also a reloader, we both prefer to pursue that side of our shared hobby in solitude, without distraction or someone looking over our shoulder.

Bill

[sghart3578]

No.....

[Markopolo]

i have a fishing buddy.. my Crotchety ol friend named Bob... he drinks to much, cusses like a sailor, is a staunch left wing democrat, and an atheist and a devout fly fisherman... we do all our wood cutting, all our fishing, and most of our hunting together... folks around here call us the odd couple.. makes for some interesting conversations!!!! completely the polar opposite in everything except ... well... let me think about it... lol

260239260240
260241

I do all of our reloading and casting, which he has absolutely no interest in... he ties all of our flys for salmon which i could care less about any more... and bob is an excellent cook, makes salami and different sausages, wonderful breads, and creampuffs to die for... i just love the old codger..

marko

[Dapaki]

I love all your stories, I am sorry for your loss, those that have lost their shooting buddies, that sucks.

My oldest boy is my reloading buddy now that he is 30 years old and no longer knows more than me! :-D

My wife will shoot with me but she loves cooking, not reloading. My youngest boy likes to pound the 45-70 but has no interest in reloading. The girls all like the .22 bolt actions but wont ever police their brass!

Life is good, family is loved, God is good!

[375supermag]

Hi...
I had a shooting buddy in my older brother but his interest earned as he aged and his health deteriorated. By the time he passed away my son was old enough to become my new shooting partner. He had been shooting since he was about eight years old or so(now 26). We hunt together, go shooting almost every weekend and he does about half of our reloading.

I have a friend that shoots with us now and then...he doesn't reload and since his divorce he hasn't had much interest...about two years now.

[PNW_Steve]

My shooting, reloading, camping etc buddy passed 20 years ago. My own activity fell off over a couple of years. Eventually I had quit.

I have just started to get back into reloading and shooting. Casting to follow. BTW: the Buddy position is still open :)

I am enjoying myself but it sure isn't the same as having a good friend to share it with.

I did manage to find a new fishing buddy. Unfortunately she is not a shooter. Nobody is perfect so I married her anyway.

[Cast_outlaw]

Like when I’m skiing their are no friends on a powder day. Their are no friends in my reloading room at least for the reloading process. Don’t have any that cast with me but have had some help smelting. Unfortunately they are not too good at sorting some zinc got buy him and threw quite a few coww in the steel pile. And have not developed any hunting buddies and where I live seams anyone will be four fishing friend if I’m paying for the gas

[white eagle]

Do you have a shooting and reloading buddy?

no am I missing something

[Hossfly]

Yes, I have a reloading buddy. He’s 11 years older and in bad health, can’t walk without crutches. I’m 70 he’s 81 and loves to reload on his Dillon 650, he’s had for over 40 years. He did cast back in the 60’s but no more, but encouraged me to do so. I help him as much as possible with fixing stuff around the house. He’s a genuine hoarder, i think kept every bullet and primer box delivered to his door. He’s a real friend, and buddy.

[lightman]

I am fortunate to have a few. Some of us go to the range together. Some of us have shot in competitions together and some of us have hunted together. I also have a couple of buddies that come over to cast. My work bench is big enough for 3 of us and they leave their stuff there year around, except for their molds. We also help each other smelt. We use my set up, in my shop, and usually smelt once a year. Sometimes for more than one day.

I'm in a new hunting club and none of the members are gun guys. I miss talking about guns, scopes, ballistics, reloading and casting. My last club had several reloaders and I enjoyed the conversations, and sometimes arguments!

[Huskerguy]

My shooting and reloading buddy is a little over 3 hours away. We moved several years ago and still keep in touch and talk guns and reloading a couple times a week and we regularly visit each other. Visits tend to center around reloading, shooting, melting some lead or something related. I now PC bullets and have all the equipment for that so I haul it and molds when we visit. Treasure the times, they will be over too soon.

[Thin Man]

I have half. Our oldest daughter's husband is a very active shooter and enthusiast and has made several mentions about learning how to handload. The problem is to pry him away from his daytime jobs (2) and family needs. Maybe some day he will learn how to slow down and enjoy learning a new craft. This should happen soon or he may miss the opportunity all together.

[OldBearHair]

My shooting / hunting buddy lives in New Mexico. I watched him begin to hunt elk in 1976 and become one of the best elk callers around. I moved away from N.M. twenty years ago but we still manage a hunt together somewhere every year since. A good "partner" to hunt fish or reload is priceless and if you have one like that you are fortunate.

[M-Tecs]

I grew up in a rural area and everyone had firearms. A large percentage of them were also reloaders. Through the years I've mentored 70 or 80 people on reloading and or casting. I never really thought of the percentages. I don't have any close friends that are not shooters. Of them most are also reloaders. Of the reloaders maybe 50% are casters also. I have been shooting competitively since I was 8 years old. Most of my friend come from that group. I also have doing gunsmithing for friends since the mid-70's.

I do have a 100% NRA membership rule. If you want to go shooting or hunting with me you will be an NRA member. The only exception is new folks that have never owned a firearm that want guidance I will help out a couple of times. After that they need an NRA membership. Same for gunsmithing.

[Reverend Al]

I'm lucky in that I have a number of shooting friends and we often get together up at the range to shoot together. Of course my wife is a shooter and comes and shoots with me on occasion too. I had a great old shooting buddy that was well into his '80's that didn't drive any more and about once a week I would pick him up and we'd go to the range to shoot together, usually followed by lunch out somewhere. Sadly, cancer took him about 2 years ago and I still miss our enjoyable days together shooting very much.

https://i.imgur.com/sK0AZtI.jpg

[M-Tecs]

I have half. Our oldest daughter's husband is a very active shooter and enthusiast and has made several mentions about learning how to handload. The problem is to pry him away from his daytime jobs (2) and family needs. Maybe some day he will learn how to slow down and enjoy learning a new craft. This should happen soon or he may miss the opportunity all together.

One of the lesson learned about mentoring is understanding their needs and not just spouting off faulty common wisdom. Common wisdom is that everyone needs to start with a single station press. That is bull. Everyone needs to understand exactly what and why each step is done. For people that have limited time and shoot a lot a single station doesn't cut it.

[rustypot]

Yes he moved N.C. a few years back ,we still talk couple times a month.

[Scrounge]

I’m lucky enough to have met a reloading/casting buddy through CB. RogerDat I’m looking at you.

Other than that sadly have no one but myself to go shooting. That’s why I had kids, once their old enough they will be my shooting buddies I hope. Gotta pass on all this equipment I wasted their inheritance on instead of investing, right?


Thought I’d add this. Two years ago grandma helped bring my oldest out to the range one day to see how he responded and he loved it. He’s still way to young to go out but we’re getting there.


Then he's getting there! I fired my first handgun at age 4. SAA Colt in .45Long. Knocked me flat on my butt! I've loved guns ever since! Not sure I'd recommend that as an introduction, though. ;)

[Win94ae]

One of my shooting buddies came with me today.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abasvfs4MdY

Tomorrow might be the dog?

[mattw]

I do love that ring!

[Texas by God]

Marco, you need to vote early before election day them take Bob out and get him drunk to where he can't vote! OR.....confiscate his guns since that's what his party wants to do to yours haha!

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[Misery-Whip]

Nope I dont. Have tried to get a few of my shooter friends interested but they are too busy working and other responsibilities. One even claimed he didnt shoot enough to justify it...as he just got done blasting 150rnds of 45-70! I informed him that he coulda saved at least 2/3 of what he just spent.

I have neighbors that shoot, but our shedules never align either. For now I chose the radio station and crank away in solitude. Even shoot alone most of the time. Kinda why I signed up here...

[skrapyard628]

I have one shooting buddy. We try to make it out to the range together at least once a month. And we usually plan a camping trip every year where we pack the truck up to the top with guns, ammo, and some fun reactive targets. Then we proceed to blast away all day, clean guns at camp in the evening, and then enjoy a few cold beverages around the fire for the night.

No reloading buddies, Im alone on that one. Not alone in my reloading room though. My girlfriend has her gem faceting machine in my reloading room and usually hangs out and cuts gemstones while I am in there. We both are usually concentrating on what our individual projects are when that happens though so there isnt too much idle chit chat to distract us from our work.

[Schreck5]

I have never been lucky enough to have a hunting, fishing, shooting, camping, reloading, casting buddy. Sometimes i enjoy the solitude, other times i would like to have someone along to enjoy a well placed shot, a big bass, or a campfire.

[Bazoo]

Interesting stories and responses. Thanks. I enjoy solitude in my hobbies and the wild myself. But I also desire a friend to share it with some of the time.

[Pete44mag]

I was luck enough to join a very active gun club several years ago. I became a member of the Bullseye pistol team and we shoot matches on Tuesday nights and practice together on Sunday mornings. Also shoot several rounds of trap or rifle on Sunday afternoon. Although we don't reload together we are always ready to give advise or help out a reloading buddy.

[tinsnips]

Besides my two boys . One of my best friends for 40 years now ,we still go shooting and he reloads a lot. I lost real good friend a few years ago we went hunting and shooting a lot. He was over the top when it came to shooting I don't think I ever out shot him.

[LIMPINGJ]

Every time I have found a friend that enjoys shooting they pass. Quit trying to make friends at the range to keep everyone healthy.

[Markopolo]

Marco, you need to vote early before election day them take Bob out and get him drunk to where he can't vote! OR.....confiscate his guns since that's what his party wants to do to yours haha!

Funny thing is, I have his Tika 30-06 in my workshop as we speak....

[toallmy]

I have several friends and family members that shoot and load their own ammo , but life gets in the way to get together often . I have a friend / shooting buddy a mile or so away from the house and believe it or not I have a hard time getting over there .

[dverna]

I have made some great friends shooting competitively. We would even travel to shoots together.

I do not want anyone around when I reload.

[Markopolo]

i am with you Don... when I enter the reloading room, i dont want to be disturbed, and have learned that focus is required!!!

[Jedman]

Years ago I was a avid duck and goose Hunter. Back then myself and several hunting buddies all loaded lead shotshells for every type of hunting and clay target shooting. Once steel shot became mandatory only myself and one other continued to handload I myself have also loaded centerfire rifle and pistol since my early 20's. Back when I was a teen I cast sinkers, jig heads and walleye lures and muzzleloader balls and Boolits. As I owned more and more centerfire rifles and pistols I mainly shot J words and always handloaded all my ammo.

Now some 50 years after I started handloading shotshells with a LEE hand tool I have more die sets than Carter has liver pills and no longer cast.
I have one friend who is on this forum and lives close to me who still reloads and casts boolits.
He and I bounce ideas around between us on all things involved with hunting , shooting, loading ,and he now is my cast bullet supplier and we trade stuff all the time. I am fortunate that he and I have a lot of similar interests as all my other friends that use to hunt and reload have quit shooting and if they do shoot prefer to just buy their ammunition.

I have been trying to downsize my guns and equipment for years but as soon as I sell a few I find a few to replace them and am not making much progress.
I have loved guns for so long I know they will always be a major part of my life until I assume room temperature someday.

Jedman

[Bazoo]

I wouldn't say I'm on the forum because I don't have any friends that share the same passions as I do. Coming here is a lot like going to the gun store even though you're not planning to buy a new gun.

Course if I found a friend here, that be great.

[alfadan]

Mine was my dad. We casted and shot together, and fished and pretty well everything. Since he passed, it's been hard to get back into stuff, but it's getting a little better. Now instead of feeling like I'm trying to have fun without him, it's more like he's with me. It's still not much fun to look behind me and not see him sitting there smiling. We were part of a small club that held informal competitions but that kind of fell apart. It's strange that even if lots of people around you are shooters, it's hard to find someone who likes the same aspects as you.

[15meter]

Reading through this, I am almost a freak, I have between 1 and 2 dozen guys I shoot with regularly. Most have been to my house or I to theirs, trade reloading stuff back and forth on a regular basis. We don't reload together, but certainly share tips/tricks/tools and components if someone is short or wants to try something different.

Varmint rifle match 1st Saturday of the month(20 years and still going), military rifle match 2nd Saturday of the month(15+years and still going).

Air rifle league Jan, Feb, March every Sunday. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays Skeet/rifle/pistol plinking.

Wednesday is 22 pistol and falling plates indoors(just started this year).

Summer skeet league would have started in March if we weren't under house arrest.

I'm extremely fortunate to live in a semi-rural county between Detroit and Toledo, I have 9 different clubs to chose from within a 15 mile radius.

They offer: indoor/outdoor Rifle, Pistol, air rifle/pistol. Trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5 stand, archery.

Every club is different in what they offer and how they are run, some are cliquish(sp) some are welcoming to anyone who comes through the door. At the clubs is where I met virtually all my shooting buddies.

Of the two that I didn't meet at a gun club, one I met in second year biology class in 1970 and we are still kicking around together, the other one I met on the ice better than 15 years ago while sailing.

I've been stunningly fortunate in the people I have met on the range. Some of the best people you will find.

And almost forgot to mention the two nephews who shoot with me when ever they can.

Plus my daughter who helps me run the Military Rifle Match when she is not teaching school.

This old guy retired stuff is tough, but somebodies got to do it.

[M-Tecs]

Reading through this, I am almost a freak, I have between 1 and 2 dozen guys I shoot with regularly. Most have been to my house or I to theirs, trade reloading stuff back and forth on a regular basis. We don't reload together, but certainly share tips/tricks/tools and components if someone is short or wants to try something different.


I admit it was shocked when I read so many are one there own. Shooting and shooting competition has been a major part of my life since I was 8 years old. Most of my friends come from shared outdoor actives like hunting, fishing or shooting competitions.

[chuck40219]

Yes I have one. He and I spent our teen years together, we have been throwing lead together for 55 years. His family owned the little mom and pop sporting goods store in the little town. They also had a small farm 5 miles out of town. That is where he and I learned how to hunt and fish, his farther and mine teamed up to teach us. I still hunt there.

The day he passes will be a great day of sorrow for me. I may go before he does. We both have old fart problems, but they are completely different.
Hope we still are throwing lead for 20 more years. Getting close to our expiration dates though.

chuck40219

[Bazoo]

Perhaps I've not met a shooting buddy because I don't shoot competitively. I spose the reason I don't is 1; there isn't anything I know of here, 2; I don't want to subject myself to "you can't have any loaded firearms". I refuse to go without my carry gun if I happen to be shooting something else. And if I'm shooting my carry gun, it remains loaded on my person when not in firing, not on a table with action open.