Do the employees at your LGS know anything about reloading?

[g.willikers]

^^^
It seems so, Mississippi.
There used to be a genuine reloading shop not far from our house.
Great.
It had rental presses of every kind set up on benches that ran clear around the shop.
And just about every kind of reloading component imaginable.
Thought I died and went to heaven.
It lasted about a year and was gone.

[Dufus]

There is one LGS in this area that stocks to the hilt. It started in 1947. The place has so much that you have to walk sideways in the aisles.

That said, they have lots of items to choose from, and they have two guys that run the reloading supplies. They are smart older dudes, but I still have some years on them. We can hold conversations and understand each other.

Also, they are not a bargain shop by any means.

There are other places around town that sell components (not many), but it is a waste of time to look for something specific and ask an employee.

When I was young and dumb, there were 2 men that worked for one well known shop. It was some distance for me to ride my bike, but I did. One of them told me (a kid at the time) that he and his buddy was going to open a shop that would cut my travel time in half, plus it was a half mile from a shooting range. What more could a kid ask for?

The guys wanted to start a handloading clinic and were in the process of signing up for the class. I signed up. The class was phenomenal in the eyes of a novice, kid or adult. They are the ones that got it started for me. I am not aware of anyone doing this sort of thing in a very long time.

[BigJimP]

Some in my area do ...and some don't ...it just depends. I have two shops in the area ...that sell a variety of equipment and they have knowledgeable people working there ...not every person in the store is the go to person / but they have expertise for the calibers they deal with.

Today there is so much good info online...manuals, etc....forums...and the equipment mfg's have good service depts ( Dillon especially ) ...that its easy to get questions answered.

I've mentored a few guys locally ...showed them my equipment, my procedures...helped them identify the type of equipment that would meet their needs. Honest input from other reloaders in your area - is often better than what you might get from a local gun store.

[TailGator]

I have encountered two sales people who were knowledgeable about reloading. One, thankfully, works at a LGS less than 10 minutes from my house. (They have a range on site, and I am a regular.) There are another four or five guys there who are nice enough, and reasonably knowledgeable about other stuff, but if you ask anything about reloading, they yell for the reloading guy. Actually, I respect that more than someone who thinks he needs to spout off whether he knows something or not.

The other fellow was an older gent at a Bass Pro about 30 minutes from my house. He was a long-time reloader and spoke from experience.

[Powermwt]

Quote:
Employees know about as much as the average customer knows.

Reloaders are a small minority of overall gun buyers.

Let's suppose that the statistics on American gun ownership is understated and about 50% of households own at least 1 gun.
Then, let's assume (conservatively) that about 50% of them shoot 1 or more times per year..(probably less). Then let's assume that of the 25% of the total population, that 1/2 of of the 25% mainly shoot rimfire and/or shotgun leaving about 12% of the population who shoot metallic, non-rimfire, firearms a few times per year.

Then, of that 12%, at least half or more shoot only during hunting season, (6%) and most of the rest probably buy factory ammo. I am betting less than 1% of gun owners shoot high volume and reload for economic reasons, or are accuracy addicts.

So, unless you live in an area with unusually high shooting participantion, or a really big city... there just isn't enough people to justify a brick and mortar store with a good amount of inventory.
Sure there are plenty nationally to have a good thriving Industry. And since components are consumed, most customers are repeat customers several hundred times over (like me).

Also, I don't want to run anyone down, but an hourly clerk probably doesn't have the know how, or the wherewithal to have built up the requisite experience to be a knowledgeable reloader. Just the components to do a run of 1,000 .308 rounds will cost $400 or so..not counting press, dies, etc. That's a week's pay at $10/hour. Also, most folks on this forum for instance are skilled Craftsman, engineers, pH.d economists (like me), or something like that.

So it shouldn't be surprising that usually, in the average LGS, you will be vastly superior in knowledge of reloading compared to the average gun shop clerk

I wonder if we should start a thread on that? I have 2 engineering degrees, though I ended up a General Contractor. Is this hobby one that can be passed from generation to generation or is some type of analytical gene necessary?

[AL45]

I'm no skilled craftsman or engineer. I'm just a dumb old manager of a hardware store with a teaching degree in industrial arts that I never used. One Daughter is a nurse, another Daughter is a Teacher and my Son works in Avionics in the Military. I guess they got their brains from my Wife. I don't find reloading to be rocket science, I think people are just too lazy or spooked by what they see as a dangerous hobby. I am constantly having guys wanting me to reload for them which I flat out refuse. I try to talk them into reloading, but to know avail. I learned through reading manuals, internet and getting bits and pieces of info from friends who reload. I can't say that I thoroughly enjoy the act of reloading, but I like the end results. Paying $9.00 for 50 rounds of .45 Colt sure beats paying 50.00.

[Stats Shooter]

I'm no skilled craftsman or engineer. I'm just a dumb old manager of a hardware store with a teaching degree in industrial arts that I never used.

It's was an observation of what I see most often. The other reloader,which also includes many of the above individuals, is the do-it-yourself guy.

It seems trivial to most of us on here, but most people I work with would pay someone else to put in a ceiling fan, or sharpen their mower blades, or put in a new wall mount oven. Most of us would just do it ourselves, even if it wasn't something we had done before.

You are correct though, many people are scared to try ....I suppose they lack confidence and just arnt patient enough to learn how

[TruthTellers]

Of the 3 to 4 lgs near me, the one closest to me has an operation in the basement where they make re-manufactured ammo. I've never seen their ammo for sale outside their store, but the guys that work say they mostly sell to other FFL's, but long story short, they do know their reloading, especially the owner.

I've not really discussed reloading stuff with clerks outside of my localest LGS, but I'll say that the big store 40 mins south of me I know no one would know much about reloading.

Seems the smaller the store, the more knowledgeable the employees are on reloading... if they are nice enough to chat with you and not acting like A-holes trying to get you out of their hair ASAP.

All the guns stores I see sell some reloading equipment, not necessarily everything one would need to start reloading, but I know their bread and butter is selling guns and ammo.

P.S. And I think it's also worth noting that the lgs that makes reloads in their basement, well, all I hear is that their reloads aren't that good. I'm guessing that the guys I've seen who do the reloading don't get paid much and don't care about the quality of ammo they're putting together.

[reddog81]

I'd expect a retail clerk at my LGS to know as much about reloading as I'd expect a clerk at Home Depot to know details about wiring a house. You can't expect much of someone making $10 to $12 per hour. Just because someone works at a gun store doesn't mean they are knowledgeable about everything related to guns.

You're much more likely to hear terrible advice rather than something useful.

[mikld]

Perhaps a thread on member's "qualifications" would be interesting. I'm a life long machinist/mechanic with a high mechanical ability (55 years with a 5 year stint in motion picture lighting). Last 25 years as an Auto Electrician/Heavy Equipment Electronics Specialist/Mechanic. I worked on Heavy Construction Equipment mostly on their electronics. The theoretical aspects of reloading seems overly simple at times, but not so simple for me to forget to pay very close attention to what I'm doing...

[Stats Shooter]

I posted some of my observations or thoughts in an earlier post. But here are some other things to keep in mind.

I dare to say that most people on this thread very much enjoy reloading. We have some different reasons for why we do it and enjoy it, but there are three main reasons: Economics, performance, and the persuit of perfection.

The guy who is purely in it for Economic reasons can find most of what they are looking for in a reloading manual and selecting components based upon costs alone.

The guy who is focused on perfomance won't find many of his answers in manuals, selects only quality components, and does extensive testing..... this is where most of us on this forum seem to reside. We do consider economics as well, but not at the expense of accuracy.

The persuit of perfection guy is in his on class. This is the guy who has worn out a barrel trying to find a load. Or has broken graines of H1000 in half to get the powder charge within 1/100 of a grain. It's a level of obsession where the reloader is never satisfied. Its a separate category from the perfomance guy in my opinion because this guy probably doesn't do much shooting outside of testing and won't stop at a 1/8 moa load even though the X- Ring is 1/2 moa and trigger time would be more beneficial than shaving off another "0.05 off his groups.


Anyway, I digress, I suppose you could also say that most car salesman are not dragster mechanics, and the guy at NAPA may not know anything about turbo installation. So probably isn't unique to reloading.

[wiiawiwb]

Several LGS in my area carry no reloading supplies or equipment. They perceive it as competition for the ammo they sell.

Several other LGS carry the most basic reloading equipment and some supplies but no powder or primers. They know squat about the reloading process beyond barely scratching the surface.

Finally, there a two LGS that really know their stuff and carry a full inventory of equipment, powder, primers, cases, and supplies along with firearms. They view reloading as one more way to get you into their store where you may impulse buy a firearm, cleaning, or other shooting supplies. Smart.

[Don P]

Also, as long as you use Federal or CCI primers, I can get all I want

Dam, down here in FLA federal primers are as scarce/rare as rocking horse poop

[SauerGrapes]

I buy my bullets from a small LGS. They cast their own. There's actually two near me. Other 2 shops sell some reloading stuff, but I seldom go to them.

[Chainsaw.]

I must be lucky, I have all different types of shops near me, Pintos is a small Ma' n Pa' type shop, old-school, dear heads on the walls, old ammo boxs, all kindas of odd stuff for anything gun. Plenty of reloading gear and knowledge.

Sportco in fife has a good array of components and the occasional employees who know what they are doing.

Fall city firearms has some components but the fellow who runs it is usually to busy to chat.

There is the tacticool shop on front street is full of great kids and gear but they generally think reloading is for old guys.

Three forks reloading is a good haul but he is a reloading shop. Great stuff.

Then there are bass pro and cabelas which are fine...sometimes.

[5whiskey]

Mostly, no. There are a few good shops around but they are all very high, plus I don't really buy any firearms/gear besides reloading components anymore. Most do not carry any reloading supplies, and have no employees that know anything about reloading. A couple have a limited and VERY pricey selection, and I still don't think anyone there knows anything about reloading. MAYBE the owner, and I doubt he knows much more than what is simply needed to order components for restocking.

Then there is the local Cabela's. That is the least expensive way for me to get powder/primer unless I do a large order to offset hazmat fees. There are actually a few guys that work the counter at Cabela's that know a thing or two. I spent 30 minutes talking to one guy who was actually quite knowledgeable. He even kept a book of his own personal loads that he had and we compared notes. He casts also. He knows much more than I do, was a good bit older, and my impression was that he is retired and works there as a hobby these days. So yeah, that's my one good, actually knowledgeable sales rep story. In a big box store no less.

[BZimm]

No...

[std7mag]

The locals here in central PA know that people reload, but act like it's something only a serious bench rest shooter would do.

The one wholesaler around here (CAC Associates) don't themselves do a lot of metallic reloading. More shotguns.
Strange thing is only wholesaler in the area and are only open 7:30-4:30 M-F.

[armoredman]

Short answer, no.

[Longshot4]

If you are looking for reloading supplies look on line. If you want to purchase locally. Tell us where you are at and I'm sure you can find supplies in the general area.

Now When you want to talk about what you are looking for or You have reloading questions. Don't expect the store to supply you with loading facts. That could cause you to make a mistake and BOOM! First refer to your loading manuals then ask here.

You aren't asking about paint you are asking about how to control the bang.

That's my strategy.

I hope I could help.

[condor bravo]

Well yes, I think they do. I went in yesterday to purchase an RCBS .45 acp carbide die set which they had and the clerk pointed out that carbide sets come in a silver colored plastic box, which it did. I wasn't aware of that and the set came with both round and flat nose seating stems. He also pointed out that I should still lube the cases (which I usually do with another .45 carbide sizer). I was the only one in the shop and the four clerks were anxious for a customer and to give me the best deal.

[Snyper]

Perhaps a thread on member's "qualifications" would be interesting.

There are more than enough threads now where some claim their "qualifications" make all other opinions worthless.

It's better to just stick to actual gun topics and leave out most of the other BS.

[5whiskey]

There are more than enough threads now where some claim their "qualifications" make all other opinions worthless.

I see what you're saying, but I think his intent is to demonstrate us reloaders aren't your average person who goes out and buys a new lawnmower (or any other tool) when the old one breaks down. I would dare say that many reloaders aren't afraid to make their own repair parts in the absence of replacements. His argument is that most reloaders, especially people who enjoy it, are likely DIYers on an above average scale. I believe he's right.

I agree that we don't need to start a pee pee contest thread about who has the highest engineering degree.

[Stats Shooter]

His argument is that most reloaders, especially people who enjoy it, are likely DIYers on an above average scale. I believe he's right.

I agree that we don't need to start a pee pee contest thread about who has the highest engineering degree.

Exactly
His comment stemmed from my comment that most consistent posters on here have a skill set and willingness to dig in and try to DIY....and enjoy doing it. I made the statement that most of us are engineers, ph.d.s (like me), or highly skilled Craftsman (i.e. tool makers, "real" mechanics, metal fabrication, etc etc.

The intent wasn't, like he said, to be some kind of pissing contest. Only to see if his and my hypothesis is true, that we are all a certain type of person. And the relevance to this thread is that most people are not like us.

[kmw1954]

To the Question.

In my area it is mixed with most shops a no with just a few that do carry anything.

The old shop/range that I go to just changed owners after 15 years. The new owner is a joy to talk with and is still very optimistic. He is going to try and stock more reloading supplies to which I told him even if it's just powders and primers I'd buy from him. The small amount I buy every year makes it prohibitive to buy those online.

Otherwise I'm 45min to 1.5hr to Bass Pro Shop or Cabela's or 1.25hr away from Lee Precision or Titan Reloading. So far I've resisted going to the last 2 as that could be dangerous.