Teaching them right

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

My boy, doing it old school. I set him up on the kitchen table with my balance beam scale, a cup of powder, funnel and his block of primed cases. I made him weigh each charge by hand using a small spoon. I did let him use my power trickler for the final grains, I'm not completely mean hehe.

I showed him how to zero the scale and how to weigh a couple charges and dump them in the case. After showing him how to charge a couple cases, he did all the rest all by himself. He was really proud at being treated as an adult and getting to reload his own bullets for his own rifle.

I want him to know the basics, and when he has them down pat he can start using my charge thrower and other "items of convienence" when doing larger lots.

It was a pleasant fun sunday afternoon. After that we took the cases down stairs to my reloading room and stuff'd them with 120 Ballistic Tips, .050" off the lands. Cant wait to get his gun out and get it sighted in.

-DallanC

Vince · Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching them right

Well done mate...nothing wrong with teaching kids to do things the long, but precise, way. I wish someone had taught me to reload using this method. By learning this way he will learn the need for care, precision and consistency...not just for the sake of safety, but also for the production of safe consistent loads.

I have only moved forward one more step from this when I reload now...I throw a light load from the powder thrower, then finish it on the scales with a trickler.

gelandangan · Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching them right

Awesome mate!

I also thought my daughters on reloading, but I was using a Dillon progressive to do it..
Girls have shorter attention span.. it seems to me... sorry Suz..

Elvis · Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:18 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching them right

great job.I still prefer to weigh my loads even though I have a powder thrower. any thing less than 20 rounds is just relaxing to throw off the side of the old teaspoon and watch the balance beam.
I put the spoon holding hand on the table top and tap my thumb knuckle with the other hand to "trickle" the last bit it was how I was taught and works a treat.

dhc4ever · Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:29 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching them right

I still reload in that exact manner, wish I had someone to teach me when I started.
Good stuff Dallan,the basics will never go astray.

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:52 am Post subject: Re: Teaching them right

Right on!!! Sounds like a great day Very Happy

Vince · Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:57 am Post subject: Re: Teaching them right

Elvis wrote:

great job.I still prefer to weigh my loads even though I have a powder thrower. any thing less than 20 rounds is just relaxing to throw off the side of the old teaspoon and watch the balance beam.
I put the spoon holding hand on the table top and tap my thumb knuckle with the other hand to "trickle" the last bit it was how I was taught and works a treat.

Try using a plastic teaspoon Elvis. Put a tiny bit of tension on the handle (bend the handle slightly between your fingers) and you will find it really easy to "bounce" or tap a few granules at a time off the spoon.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 6:18 am Post subject: Re: Teaching them right

Good job Dallan.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching them right

Good work Dallan! Its always good to see the youngsters learning the right way.