My worse timing ever journey to beginner reloading
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2020 1:24 am
Resisted getting into reloading for years since I didn't want to add a new hobby as I tend to go off the deep end quickly and I could afford to buy what I needed to shoot without reloading. Still could even now to some degree if I pass up competitions on occasion. Always have ammo held back for emergency use and had plenty non-emergency to last the year for range and competition use....
AND THEN....
After many years of me asking and essentially having given up, the wife decided that it was time to get real comfortable with 9mm. She has sent the occasional round in 380/9/40/45 but for any real range time she always went back to 22. Guess all the unrest finally scared her enough that she decided to do it on her own. Took a class and now getting her own lanes at the range. Just got her license in hand this week too. Don't get me wrong.... ecstatic about her decision!!!! but couldn't be at a worse time ammo wise. I was already starting to ration a little on the range ammo but now that's not possible with 2 shooters eating away at it. She's run through more than 1000 rounds in the last month between range time and shooting her first steel match... Awesome to see her enthusiasm..... BUT
So we had to sit down and have the talk about how ammo isn't growing on trees at the moment.... Emergency ammo is untouchable and once range inventory is gone that's it.... Still picking up the random ammo brick or box when the price is reasonable and on the shelf... not in dire range inventory yet but trying to stay ahead of it.... Suggestion that maybe I need to start reloading came from her mouth... I'm in an alternative universe apparently now as this isn't something that would have ever been mentioned before....
So now I'm collecting.... Been lucky running across components considering the climate. Have plenty of brass as I've saved it just in case for years and traded some off on occasion. Ran across a 2k of bullets last week and powder is easy enough still.... Mentioned I saw primers to her and she asked if I bought them all... Yes of course.... Literally just pulled the trigger on an in stock Dillon 750 which should be here in a week, now to find 9mm dies which is the only hard to find item left and I should be getting started..... Enough components to get through a few months of moderate/heavy shooting.... But it's never enough is it?
So now I'm the dumb guy having to try and find components to stay ahead in the middle of a shortage... I've always tried to not be that guy, but here I am
Still excited though as this will definitely feed my tinkering brain :-)
Anyone in mid-cities want to do some mentoring or maybe even virtual mentoring? I get the general process already and am mechanically inclined and able to figure stuff out usually. But I know enough to know there are still tricks to the trade.... Have probably seen every video out there it seems like and have been reading manuals from the component vendors already. Plan to start slow considering the machine can do more than I'm ready for. Sure I'll have the random question or seek input though if anyone is game....
Anyone else on a 750 have any accessory recommendations? I see a case and bullet feeder in the future but going to start without to force myself to slow down for now. What else do you recommend on the press itself?
AND THEN....
After many years of me asking and essentially having given up, the wife decided that it was time to get real comfortable with 9mm. She has sent the occasional round in 380/9/40/45 but for any real range time she always went back to 22. Guess all the unrest finally scared her enough that she decided to do it on her own. Took a class and now getting her own lanes at the range. Just got her license in hand this week too. Don't get me wrong.... ecstatic about her decision!!!! but couldn't be at a worse time ammo wise. I was already starting to ration a little on the range ammo but now that's not possible with 2 shooters eating away at it. She's run through more than 1000 rounds in the last month between range time and shooting her first steel match... Awesome to see her enthusiasm..... BUT
So we had to sit down and have the talk about how ammo isn't growing on trees at the moment.... Emergency ammo is untouchable and once range inventory is gone that's it.... Still picking up the random ammo brick or box when the price is reasonable and on the shelf... not in dire range inventory yet but trying to stay ahead of it.... Suggestion that maybe I need to start reloading came from her mouth... I'm in an alternative universe apparently now as this isn't something that would have ever been mentioned before....
So now I'm collecting.... Been lucky running across components considering the climate. Have plenty of brass as I've saved it just in case for years and traded some off on occasion. Ran across a 2k of bullets last week and powder is easy enough still.... Mentioned I saw primers to her and she asked if I bought them all... Yes of course.... Literally just pulled the trigger on an in stock Dillon 750 which should be here in a week, now to find 9mm dies which is the only hard to find item left and I should be getting started..... Enough components to get through a few months of moderate/heavy shooting.... But it's never enough is it?
So now I'm the dumb guy having to try and find components to stay ahead in the middle of a shortage... I've always tried to not be that guy, but here I am
Still excited though as this will definitely feed my tinkering brain :-)
Anyone in mid-cities want to do some mentoring or maybe even virtual mentoring? I get the general process already and am mechanically inclined and able to figure stuff out usually. But I know enough to know there are still tricks to the trade.... Have probably seen every video out there it seems like and have been reading manuals from the component vendors already. Plan to start slow considering the machine can do more than I'm ready for. Sure I'll have the random question or seek input though if anyone is game....
Anyone else on a 750 have any accessory recommendations? I see a case and bullet feeder in the future but going to start without to force myself to slow down for now. What else do you recommend on the press itself?