Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Hi folks,

Does anybody have any idea of what percentage of shooters in VA also reload?

Also, of the female shooters who read this forum, do any of you reload?

For those folks (male, female, whatever) who shoot and don't yet reload, is the latter something that you would consider? If yes, why? If not, why?

Thanks!

My wife reload?

Nope, she makes me.

gunderwood wrote:My wife reload?

Nope, she makes me.

Same thing here.
Bill

Garrett has been talking to me about it and I am just saving my pennies so I can get my reloading equipment.

Vern

I have done it with a buddy,,,, I have got some reloading things on the way, should be here Thursday. Looking forward to doing most of all what I shoot.

I would love to reload, but don't because I have a kid and my wife is concerned about lead exposure.

shooting - 25 years

reloading - 4 years, should have started long ago.

SgtBill wrote:

gunderwood wrote:My wife reload?

Nope, she makes me.

Same thing here.
Bill

At least she helps me unload it.

That way I have excuses to buy more guns and any reloading equipment I want too. I just claim I need X to reload.

I never have to reload. I always hit 'em with the first double tap!

FatAndy wrote:I would love to reload, but don't because I have a kid and my wife is concerned about lead exposure.

This is a very real concern. The worst part about reloading, for lead poisoning, is case cleaning. The lead on the brass was vaporized and gets into the media which actually turns gray from the lead and carbon. Second worse is casting your own bullets.

You can cut this to a minimum by:

1. Not eating while reloading. Duh.
2. Use a product like Dlead soap. Works great for shooting too. Kinda like GoJo, but for lead.
3. Do casting outside or not at all. I don't do it.
4. Get good case cleaning equipment which seals well and store everything in Tupperware. Clean it regularly and don't do it in the house.
5. Anything you use for reloading is dedicated. I have bucket for annealing brass and that is all it is used for.

Just use common sense and realize that heavy metal poisoning is like hearing damage, it is accumulative. I.e. small doses do nothing to you, but over time they add up and are harmful.

+1, gunderwood. All of my casting is OUTSIDE. All of my tumbling and sifting brass is done OUTSIDE. If you're in a place like Seattle where it constantly rains, get one of those 10x10 four-post, tarp-like "gazebos" and do your tumbling and casting under there. I go farther and ensure my back is to any wind that comes up.

To be more specific about the "vaporized lead", the vast majority of it comes from the primer. Primers typically use a compound called lead styphnate. The residue from the fired primer is what gets all over the inside of the case after you fire your round, and thus your cleaning media. There are now lead-free primers (e. g. Fiocchi) nowadays, but they do cost maybe about 20% more.

If you handload in the house, dedicate an area to that and only that. I go so far as to wear latex gloves when I handload, and I fully wash up afterwards even with that.

These are good ways to keep your lead exposure to a minimum.

FatAndy wrote:I would love to reload, but don't because I have a kid and my wife is concerned about lead exposure.

This is a 0% risk unless you're going to use lead bullets or worse cast your own. Even using lead bullets is a very small risk. Simply dont let anyone else touch the bullets and wash up when you're done or wear surgical gloves...you probably get more contaminants merely by drinking the water and breathing the air than handling lead boolits once or twice a month when reloading...

I'd like to try reloading one day, but right now I just don't have the space for equipment or really the time either.

zephyp wrote:

FatAndy wrote:I would love to reload, but don't because I have a kid and my wife is concerned about lead exposure.

This is a 0% risk unless you're going to use lead bullets or worse cast your own. Even using lead bullets is a very small risk. Simply dont let anyone else touch the bullets and wash up when you're done or wear surgical gloves...you probably get more contaminants merely by drinking the water and breathing the air than handling lead boolits once or twice a month when reloading...

I know this, and you know this, but try explaining it rationally to the irrational mama bear. I do save my brass just in case she comes around...

maybe you can show her how much money you can save, or more honestly how much more you can shoot for the same amount of $ (thats how i got my better half to come around) plus she always knows where i usually am.

Also maybe theres a spot in your house that you can designate that is out of the way(garage, shed, basement, attic etc.)

or maybe a friend or relative that would allow you to reload at they're place.

SgtBill wrote:

gunderwood wrote:My wife reload?

Nope, she makes me.

Same thing here.
Bill

Same here - and my Mom too! (.38's and .357's) Mom's in her 70's and sez she doesn't have time for another hobby - she just wants to keep sending hot lead downrange...

Her yarn is dusty and her knitting needles rusty

Been reloading a year or so now, no savings just shooting a lot more.

Palladin wrote:Same here - and my Mom too! (.38's and .357's) Mom's in her 70's and sez she doesn't have time for another hobby - she just wants to keep sending hot lead downrange...

Her yarn is dusty and her knitting needles rusty

Been reloading a year or so now, no savings just shooting a lot more.

.38 Spl--that's the round I shoot the most. Got the g/f loading it too, now. Terrific cartridge.

Your Mom's got the right idea there with lots of shooting, Palladin. Who knows--maybe she'll take reloading up someday.