Combined Reloading Experience... - Page 4

jwrowland77 · August 9, 2012, 07:59 AM

Only been reloading now for about 4 months, and have been loving it.

Been able to get my daughter to love shooting and she helps me with the not dangerous stuff while reloading. She's 7 so she mainly gets to take old primer out and clean primer pocket.

Big thanks to William Watts above too. He's saved me a couple times by being a mentor to me in this great hobby.

Blind Dog Jake · August 9, 2012, 08:55 AM

About one week before the Woodstock music chaos, bought a RCBS Jr. 2, about 43 years
Still use that old press, don’t remember much about Woodstock.

Edward429451 · August 9, 2012, 11:59 AM

Now I'm getting 1621.5 years total. That's a whole lot of stroking a press. I wonder what combined round count would be.

Sevens · August 9, 2012, 02:06 PM

Started in 1988 with a Mec-650 making 20ga skeet loads in Winchester AA and Remington Premier hulls. Added the Lee Challenger "2001" single stage press to that a few weeks after, loaded only .38 Special. In the fall of '90, I moved to college and continued to load .38 Special but the Mec-650 has not been out of the box since that time.

In college, my "bench" was a plank of wood with my press on it -- on the corner of my bed.

By '91 I had added .30 Carbine and .45 Auto. In '92 I added 10mm and .357 Magnum. '94 added .223 Rem. Took a few years off between 2000 and '03, then eased my way back in to shooting and handloading. By 2007, I had gotten the bug in a big way and all my shooting and handloading EXPLODED.

Since 2007, I've gone from 6 metallic calibers at the bench to the 17 that I currently load for. Of those 17, only one is a rifle caliber (.223) and I actually shoot that from a handgun.

I dabble in rifle and don't count those in my list of cals. that I load for -- they include most of the popular ones. (.22-250, .243, .25-06, .308, .30-06, .300 Win Mag, 7mm Mag, 8x57)

I still haven't loaded a shotgun shell since late summer 1990. I keep a log and very detailed notes about what I've bought, prices I've paid and what I've loaded and what I've shot. I keep a round count in all of my firearms. I enjoy looking at these numbers as they grow. From start to the present, that's 23 years at a load bench... you could wipe off 3 years of that where I wasn't active...but I was still reading about handloading and dreaming of a time when I could get back in to the swing of things.

I have never melted a piece of lead in my life and I still can't generate interest in that part of the hobby. Always figured it would be something that I eventually went after, but I'm still not feeling it.

Taking that .5 and throwing it in with mine and the count is 1,645 years.

Clark · August 11, 2012, 12:49 AM

When my wife was 19, she had never worked on a car or seen anyone work on a car. That did not stop her from buying wrenches and replacing her over head cam shaft.

I have been working on cars for 45 years, and never taken a cam shaft out yet.

I think many reloader's experiences are about as valuable as my car repair experiences.... I just keep doing the same simple tasks over and over per the repair manual.

Ike666 · August 11, 2012, 06:58 AM

25 years now, but I've learned more about "handloading" in the three years I've been a subscriber to this list.

Edward429451 · August 11, 2012, 09:53 AM

1670 now...

elkslayer4x5 · August 11, 2012, 11:23 AM

Bought a Lee "Whack-a-mole" in 1966, a RCBS press the next year, and been reloading ever since, so 46 years.

Lost Sheep · August 11, 2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blind Dog Jake

About one week before the Woodstock music chaos, bought a RCBS Jr. 2, about 43 years
Still use that old press, don’t remember much about Woodstock.

Yeah, for a lot of us, the sixties is a bit of a blur.

Me? I was still wettin' my pants back then. (But shouldn't have been).

Can anyone tell me the source of that quote? (Hint: record album from a band current in the '60s-70s and still performing)

Loading since 1975, but took a 10 year break in the middle. Does that count?

Lost Sheep

Steviewonder1 · August 11, 2012, 05:27 PM

Started in 1970 with Lee "Whack a Mole" in 38 Spl, 1973 bought RCBS Jr, 1991 bought Dillon Square Deal B, 1994 bought a second SDB. Powders down to 2 brands and primers down to 2 brands. No Ka-Booms yet and counting past 40,000 pistol only rounds.

zxcvbob · August 11, 2012, 05:36 PM

I started reloading a few months after the Assault Weapon Ban expired; when was that, 2004?

I assume shooting muzzleloaders doesn't count.

Edward429451 · August 11, 2012, 08:55 PM

I'm getting 1813 now. I gave you full credit for your years LostSheep because I assume you at least read about reloading those other 10 years?

I have been counting muzzle loading also because you're measuring powder and priming, just less a brass case. Single stage for sure, lol.

schnarrgj · August 11, 2012, 09:03 PM

Lets see, started in 72 so that puts it at 40 years. Doesn't seem that long at all. Still have a lot to learn.

oldreloader · August 12, 2012, 12:08 AM

put me in for 43 years.

ky hunter · August 12, 2012, 09:07 PM

29 years. reloaded 38 specials to 300 win mag, and almost everything in between.
Best thing about it is all the cool tools you learn to use while relaoding

started with balence beams and now i have electronic scales, powder droppers, even battery powered tricklers. relaoding tech sure has came a long way in the last 29 years. still looking foward to the future.

Edward429451 · August 21, 2012, 11:04 AM

So 1925 years is what we wind up with? Nah, some of you reloaders haven't chimed in yet. I can think of two off the top of my head. Still, that's a lot of experience so far.

ltc444 · August 21, 2012, 11:53 AM

Started in 1972 with the lee Wack system. Got my Rock Chucker in 1975. I won't claim the full 40 years. Lost a year when I was in Korea, Lost 10 years when I shot BP exclusive. Lost another 10 when i was busy with family and stuck a major urban environment.

Moved to the Ranch in AZ 2 years ago. Built a 300 yd range and started shooting regularly.

Most of my activity was 357 mag, 257 Roberts and 338 Win Mag. Due to a shoulder I load the 338 down to light 160 grain loads. I love the rifle but the round is really wasted on me.

So i will claim 19 years.

GWS · August 21, 2012, 03:31 PM

Clark, your post caught my eye!

Quote:

When my wife was 19, she had never worked on a car or seen anyone work on a car. That did not stop her from buying wrenches and replacing her over head cam shaft.

I have been working on cars for 45 years, and never taken a cam shaft out yet.

I think many reloader's experiences are about as valuable as my car repair experiences.... I just keep doing the same simple tasks over and over per the repair manual.

You are right as rain in all but the most diabolically focused cases. That was me until I bought a progressive 30 months ago. THAT was the catalyst that got me interested in these nifty internet forums where learning is continuous. Over the years, I got very good at making good accurate dependable loads on my Rock Chucker for the few guns I shoot the most. Guess that's worth something. But understand that except for the school of hard knocks, before the internet came, learning something new in this hobby was tiny spurts between long droughts.

Waldog · August 21, 2012, 07:50 PM

Started seating primers and bullets with my Dad on a RCBS A-2 press when I was about 8-9. First thing I loaded all by my self was paper 12ga shotshells on the same single stage A-2 press when I was 10-11. I have been reloading ever since. Plus, I taught two daughters and one son to reload. I'm 60 now. So count me in for +/- 50 years.

homesick · August 21, 2012, 08:01 PM

I was 13 when I started loading shot gun and 15 on rifles I'LL be 64 this Sunday guess thats about 51 years.

Edward429451 · August 23, 2012, 11:49 AM

2045 years! Wow.

My wife rebuilt her own carburetor and got it right the first time with minimal supervision...she wont help me reload though. dangit.

temmi · August 23, 2012, 03:02 PM

10 years

cerberus65 · August 23, 2012, 03:41 PM

4 years ago this month I started reloading .357 Magnum. I'm up to 9 calibers that I load with some amount of regularity. I even have a set of dies I haven't used yet since I haven't finished putting the rifle together.

salvadore · August 23, 2012, 04:00 PM

30/30 Leeloader 1968....44yrs

Edward429451 · August 28, 2012, 01:37 AM

Add 59 years and it brings us up to 2104 years.

August 9, 2012, 02:06 PM	#79
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,775	Started in 1988 with a Mec-650 making 20ga skeet loads in Winchester AA and Remington Premier hulls. Added the Lee Challenger "2001" single stage press to that a few weeks after, loaded only .38 Special. In the fall of '90, I moved to college and continued to load .38 Special but the Mec-650 has not been out of the box since that time. In college, my "bench" was a plank of wood with my press on it -- on the corner of my bed. By '91 I had added .30 Carbine and .45 Auto. In '92 I added 10mm and .357 Magnum. '94 added .223 Rem. Took a few years off between 2000 and '03, then eased my way back in to shooting and handloading. By 2007, I had gotten the bug in a big way and all my shooting and handloading EXPLODED. Since 2007, I've gone from 6 metallic calibers at the bench to the 17 that I currently load for. Of those 17, only one is a rifle caliber (.223) and I actually shoot that from a handgun. I dabble in rifle and don't count those in my list of cals. that I load for -- they include most of the popular ones. (.22-250, .243, .25-06, .308, .30-06, .300 Win Mag, 7mm Mag, 8x57) I still haven't loaded a shotgun shell since late summer 1990. I keep a log and very detailed notes about what I've bought, prices I've paid and what I've loaded and what I've shot. I keep a round count in all of my firearms. I enjoy looking at these numbers as they grow. From start to the present, that's 23 years at a load bench... you could wipe off 3 years of that where I wasn't active...but I was still reading about handloading and dreaming of a time when I could get back in to the swing of things. I have never melted a piece of lead in my life and I still can't generate interest in that part of the hobby. Always figured it would be something that I eventually went after, but I'm still not feeling it. Taking that .5 and throwing it in with mine and the count is 1,645 years. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

August 11, 2012, 06:58 AM	#81
Ike666 Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2009 Location: SW VA Posts: 491	25 years now, but I've learned more about "handloading" in the three years I've been a subscriber to this list. __________________ ___________________ "I'm your huckleberry."

August 11, 2012, 05:36 PM	#86
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I started reloading a few months after the Assault Weapon Ban expired; when was that, 2004? I assume shooting muzzleloaders doesn't count. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

August 21, 2012, 07:50 PM	#94
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	Started seating primers and bullets with my Dad on a RCBS A-2 press when I was about 8-9. First thing I loaded all by my self was paper 12ga shotshells on the same single stage A-2 press when I was 10-11. I have been reloading ever since. Plus, I taught two daughters and one son to reload. I'm 60 now. So count me in for +/- 50 years. __________________ I am the Christian Conservative that CNN warned you about!! “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” Winston Churchill Last edited by Waldog; August 22, 2012 at 02:27 AM.

August 9, 2012, 07:59 AM	#76
jwrowland77 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2012 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 1,398	Only been reloading now for about 4 months, and have been loving it. Been able to get my daughter to love shooting and she helps me with the not dangerous stuff while reloading. She's 7 so she mainly gets to take old primer out and clean primer pocket. Big thanks to William Watts above too. He's saved me a couple times by being a mentor to me in this great hobby.

August 9, 2012, 08:55 AM	#77
Blind Dog Jake Member Join Date: November 26, 2011 Location: N.W. Ohio Posts: 41	About one week before the Woodstock music chaos, bought a RCBS Jr. 2, about 43 years Still use that old press, don’t remember much about Woodstock.

August 9, 2012, 11:59 AM	#78
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Now I'm getting 1621.5 years total. That's a whole lot of stroking a press. I wonder what combined round count would be.

August 11, 2012, 12:49 AM	#80
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	When my wife was 19, she had never worked on a car or seen anyone work on a car. That did not stop her from buying wrenches and replacing her over head cam shaft. I have been working on cars for 45 years, and never taken a cam shaft out yet. I think many reloader's experiences are about as valuable as my car repair experiences.... I just keep doing the same simple tasks over and over per the repair manual.

August 11, 2012, 09:53 AM	#82
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	1670 now...

August 11, 2012, 11:23 AM	#83
elkslayer4x5 Member Join Date: June 30, 2006 Location: Lane County, Oregon Posts: 66	Bought a Lee "Whack-a-mole" in 1966, a RCBS press the next year, and been reloading ever since, so 46 years.

August 11, 2012, 05:27 PM	#85
Steviewonder1 Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2009 Location: John's Creek, Georgia Posts: 328	Started in 1970 with Lee "Whack a Mole" in 38 Spl, 1973 bought RCBS Jr, 1991 bought Dillon Square Deal B, 1994 bought a second SDB. Powders down to 2 brands and primers down to 2 brands. No Ka-Booms yet and counting past 40,000 pistol only rounds.

August 11, 2012, 08:55 PM	#87
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	I'm getting 1813 now. I gave you full credit for your years LostSheep because I assume you at least read about reloading those other 10 years? I have been counting muzzle loading also because you're measuring powder and priming, just less a brass case. Single stage for sure, lol.

August 11, 2012, 09:03 PM	#88
schnarrgj Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2001 Location: St Louis, Missouri Posts: 167	Lets see, started in 72 so that puts it at 40 years. Doesn't seem that long at all. Still have a lot to learn.

August 12, 2012, 12:08 AM	#89
oldreloader Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2009 Location: Magnolia, Arkansas Posts: 251	put me in for 43 years.

August 12, 2012, 09:07 PM	#90
ky hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2010 Posts: 132	29 years. reloaded 38 specials to 300 win mag, and almost everything in between. Best thing about it is all the cool tools you learn to use while relaoding started with balence beams and now i have electronic scales, powder droppers, even battery powered tricklers. relaoding tech sure has came a long way in the last 29 years. still looking foward to the future.

August 21, 2012, 11:04 AM	#91
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	So 1925 years is what we wind up with? Nah, some of you reloaders haven't chimed in yet. I can think of two off the top of my head. Still, that's a lot of experience so far.

August 21, 2012, 11:53 AM	#92
ltc444 Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2011 Location: Vernon AZ Posts: 1,195	Started in 1972 with the lee Wack system. Got my Rock Chucker in 1975. I won't claim the full 40 years. Lost a year when I was in Korea, Lost 10 years when I shot BP exclusive. Lost another 10 when i was busy with family and stuck a major urban environment. Moved to the Ranch in AZ 2 years ago. Built a 300 yd range and started shooting regularly. Most of my activity was 357 mag, 257 Roberts and 338 Win Mag. Due to a shoulder I load the 338 down to light 160 grain loads. I love the rifle but the round is really wasted on me. So i will claim 19 years.

August 21, 2012, 08:01 PM	#95
homesick Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 378	I was 13 when I started loading shot gun and 15 on rifles I'LL be 64 this Sunday guess thats about 51 years.

August 23, 2012, 11:49 AM	#96
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	2045 years! Wow. My wife rebuilt her own carburetor and got it right the first time with minimal supervision...she wont help me reload though. dangit.

August 23, 2012, 03:02 PM	#97
temmi Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 531	10 years

August 23, 2012, 03:41 PM	#98
cerberus65 Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Posts: 384	4 years ago this month I started reloading .357 Magnum. I'm up to 9 calibers that I load with some amount of regularity. I even have a set of dies I haven't used yet since I haven't finished putting the rifle together.

August 23, 2012, 04:00 PM	#99
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	30/30 Leeloader 1968....44yrs

August 28, 2012, 01:37 AM	#100
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Add 59 years and it brings us up to 2104 years.