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Post by hacker54 on Sept 28, 2014 22:37:57 GMT -5
These past couple of months I have been at the bench mainly doing load development for the son-in-law's AR and the single shot 30/30. Soon to load for the 7mm-08 and 38spl-357 mag and 9mm. Since Aug. 2012 to now this has been the most time at the bench since I started reloading. OK I have been to the range more often these past months also and I do load more shot shell than I do the rest and I do have some shot shells to load for this season. So what I'm saying here is my yeas VS my bench time. I started back in 1979 so from that I have 35 years under my belt but my bench time to some is not all that much. I know of one that have half the years but five times the time at the bench than I do.
So I was wandering how to judge experience years or bench time or how well they talk the talk and walk the walk.
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457 
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Sept 28, 2014 23:34:10 GMT -5
I would use 2 ways to judge a persons credability. Count their fingers and eyes should be ten and two with no scars with a number of years of handloading under their belt. Secondly their willingness to ask questions,to listen to others and read too expand their knowledge base just as you have. A person with a progressive press can and may load more ammo in a day or two than I have in my time but I don't think he/she has more experience. There are some in this group who have a relative shorter loading history but have taken the time to study,listen, and comment who I feel are experienced and there are those who have waded in to this hobby with gusto and have years of loading and they too are experienced. I find it relatively easy to seperate those who can and do from those who say they do. P.S. One more sign of experience came to me, "A mans got to know his limitations" .
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2014 3:26:18 GMT -5
I’m with Bob and like to add “personality” to it. I have seen many shooters and reloaders come and go. Young guys that were extremely active and soaked up everything to learn all about it, some did good and stayed. While others took shortcuts with disastrous results, sometimes you could see it coming. But I have seen also highly experienced old-timers doing crazy stuff out off the blue. Some were to stubborn to change their ways (because they did it for ages), while others are simply at a point were they are no longer capable to proper reload or shoot (handle a gun). This is why I “judge” fellow reloaders and shooters how they “currently” act and perform at the bench and range. I think we all have similar experiences........ Due to very strict and “changed” gun laws we Dutch (legal) gun owners we have an obligation to pick out “bad and irresponsible” gun owners. First of all the government is waiting for accidents to happen so that they can add more bans. Secondly we gun owners need to look after our self and protect each other from mistakes, complacency and need to constantly educate each other and improve our skills. How we improve our own skills and experiences all depends what our personal expectations and goals are. Personally I like to keep on learning and improving my skills at a higher level while others are perfectly happy at the point where the are now (for good or bad). I shoot at 3 different ranges and are a member of 4 gun clubs (at those 3 ranges), all these ranges and clubs are completely different from each other. It’s also the general attitude and mind set at each particular range and/or club that forms the individual reloader/shooter. And therefore I find it hard to label experience and/or range time to every individual. It’s my gut feeling whether or not I will be around certain persons. Do I make mistakes.... Yes but I hope that there will be somebody that point that out to me, whether I like it or not. As we speak I’m following a fresh-up course for pistol match 12, 25 and 50 meters target shooting (single hand Olympic style shooting and regulations). It has been over 25 years since I had my last pistol match instruction. This course was set up for experienced gun owners like me. We train with Air and .22LR high end match Hämmerli and Walther pistols. This course is done by Dutch and German Olympic trainers and instructors. New methods and systems are introduced....... I considered my self always good match shooter, but after this course I came to the conclusion that I still could improve my self. Hell...... I’m even thinking about buying my self a match Air or .22LR pistol to enhance my skills. Also I learned new things how to find the correct (best) .22LR “pistol” ammo for each and every single gun without wasting ammo and money or buying expensive measurement equipment and gauges. The darn method works super and I thought I had seen it all.  PJ. |
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dangun
Member
I love the smell of burnt gun powder.
Posts: 517
Location: SW Florida
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Post by dangun on Sept 29, 2014 9:31:41 GMT -5
I have over the last 35+ years of reloading spent an average of 10 to 15 hours per week at the bench. Yes I love reloading but my drive to spend that much time at the bench is because of my love for shooting. Here is were the fruits of your experience are displayed on a target for all to see. Many of those hours I was using a progressive press and cranking out hundreds if not thousands of rounds at each session. Bullseye accuracy was not the goal. No special skill or knowledge needed, just follow the instructions and use some common sense. Most of my time at the bench however has been in case prep, bullet sorting, measuring, annealing, casting, swagging bullets, case forming, testing and on and on and on. Here accuracy was the goal, this is were all those hours will pay off if that time at the bench was spent learning and not just doing. Yet with all the bench time and experience under my belt I cringe when I hear people refer to me as reloading expert. (it doesn't happen often) Nothing could be farther from the truth. I learn something new or re-learn something I've forgotten about on a regular basis in this hobby. I have also learned that unless I know for a fact that ideas or advice that others are giving me is BS, even a beginner to the hobby may have and idea or some insight that could be of value.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, just because someone has been reloading for many years and has spent many hours at the bench doesn't mean that I value the advice they give.
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7mmmountaineer
Member
Time to face it I am a workaholic............
Posts: 521
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Post by 7mmmountaineer on Sept 29, 2014 10:33:37 GMT -5
I don't really think without a personal relationship with some one you should try to gauge their level of qualification at anything. I have been at my current job 5 years and before that I spent almost all of my adult life driving for a living. When I fist started here I was supposed to be PT doing computer work and advertising. I had no clue what the difference between a skidder and a track loader. With all the folks that have walked through the doors here since I started all of them were " MORE EXPERIENCED " than I was and still am. I am still here and they are all gone. Why because I will not lie nor omit facts as I see them weather selling a saw bar for $35 or the chipper I sold last week for $250K. I worked my ass off to get to this point at work and wouldn't change it for all the other jobs I have ever had I truly love my job.
With all of the above said I know a bunch of reloaders that after talking to them and asking and answering their questions I run not walk but run when I see them coming. All of them have way more years and bench time that I do yet they always have a reason for something that didn't work out and it is never ever their fault. I mentioned this at our old home I have a good customer that is a friend and he wanted me to shoot with him and I refused why because his load is dangerous (48.0gr Varget under a 168 Sie GK in a 308). Then their are those that when I see them I am glad to see them because I know that any information we exchange will be an honest give and take.
I also feel the quality of you basic foundation is important in who you are a as a loader. I spent more time learning from those that would help me and teach me than I have spent loading on my own. Why because as I have said before this hobby doesn't afford a fool a second chance just ask my old neighbor Stan. I have learned as much or more by watching, reading and asking question than I have actually sitting at the bench. Do I rely on the wealth of knowledge here as I did at the HUB when I was still very green sure. But I ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING RECOMMENDED. |
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Sept 29, 2014 23:32:37 GMT -5
I'll give you guys the laurels......I'm sure all of you spend more time at the bench than I do. Just because I've been doing it for 40+ years and counting, doesn't mean I know as much about it as those who spend 10 or more hours a week at it.....I don't....never did. That doesn't mean I can't make good accurate ammo. I guess I have too many additional interests that have to share the available time! Big family for one. I feel real giddy if I can spend 4 hours in one week......that's why I got a progressive. That's also why I tinker to get the whole reloading process to speed up. I have to make that time count. Some weeks I get zero time at the bench and at the range. So count your blessings and enjoy all your bench & shooting time......and I'll continue to listen in on the gun forums and learn from you pros....and be a little jealous of your free time!  I've mentioned a time or two that I don't compete...never have....just don't have the time to do it justice. Same reason I never got my pilot's license even though I loved flying. The only exception was a trap team for 3 years. I enjoyed that and did pretty well, but it was too repetitive for me. I much prefer shooting lots of different stuff, leisurely at the range with family and friends. I used to hunt, but now days with tags hard to come by, this old fart doesn't mind letting young people have their turn. I've been thrilled to teach one of my Grandson's with the interest to shoot. He's gotten 2 tags in the last two years, and bagged a bull elk and a buck with my guns. I get plenty of pleasure from that!  Talk the talk and walk the walk? I'm an expert at designing and building homes and commercial buildings .....shooting and reloading is a fun hobby. Big difference.....bet you are pretty expert with that camera, Hacker! |
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hal8337
Member
Posts: 89
Location: Livonia, Louisiana
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Post by hal8337 on Oct 8, 2014 7:41:32 GMT -5
I started reloading about 30 years ago but consider myself a newbee. There were plenty times my equip. was packed away for months. I have learned plenty in the past 6-8 months from you guys starting at the Hub and now 2A. I have visited other web sites and noticed the amount of members but numbers don't always tell the tale. From reading the posts in this thread and previous threads it shows what you as a group have accomplished over the years for anyone to rely on your experience. I view you guys as a diverse group with plenty knowledge for anyone who wishes to begin reloading.
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My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
