With the holidays approaching and this year's shooting and hunting season in the record books, I want to share with you some insight and encouragement on learning the art of reloading.   There are many reasons why some people stay away from it.  For some, it is safety, for others, it is time and for even more, it is the investment with all the high end equipment you must buy to reload efficiently and safely.

Let's start with safety.  This one cannot be down played and if you believe that your attention to detail or your ability to safely reload may be lacking, that is a self evaluation that no one should argue with.   You have to make that decision yourself.  I believe, you have to commit to take the time to reload appropriately and to be a student of safety first throughout your learning process.  Approaching it from that angle, is always the best start to any recipe that is going to lead to success.  This is a personal decision, so self evaluate and know yourself and be honest with yourself. 

The next part is a little more complex, but also so easy to address.  Money and the investment in equipment.  When we teach the class here to new reloaders., we approach it from the one stage at a time process with simple tools that are easy to learn, easy to control and in all cases inexpensive.   Sure, we have some really high end stuff for making quality ammo at scale.  That said, we still use the concept of one stage a time. and with that, simple one-stage type equipment.  

The equipment on our shelves are not a bragging right and not a list of the things you need to buy when you get home.   Sure they are nice to have, but I have made match winning ammo for years with a manual powder thrower, single stage press and balance beam scale.   To this day, we still struggle to match the quality made so simply and easily, even though we are using equipment that is two or ten times the price.   What we get with more expensive equipment is often more speed and at 10-20K rounds a year, we give up a little accuracy to achieve it.  But, I would never say that anything we do here with the super expensive equipment would match or beat what I made by hand all those years ago with what some might deem primitive tools to use today.

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What we teach over two days here at our shop breaks down the process step by step (and by the book) so each can be done safely, repeatably and by a new reloader.   This allows you to master one process at  a time and step by step ending with finished high quality ammo.   Where some shooters get in trouble is getting too many parts in motion at once.  You get too much in process at one time, your attention to each detail may decrease. Keep it simple and you will safely and methodically grow and master the process each on there own and each step by step.   Reloading from moving turret presses where two, thee or even four things are happening each time you pull the level is a disaster waiting to happen to a new reloader.  You just are not skilled enough to keep all those things in check simultaneously.

So, staying simple at first is the key if you want to start reloading.   It will build your confidence up and keep you in absolute control of each process, allowing you time to measure and evaluate through each step.  I think most that take our classes are often amazed at how simple and easy reloading  is when you remove a lot of the unnecessary technology or super high end equipment.   Ammunition has been made this way for centuries with many animals taken and many matches won.   

For me, it's keeping to the core basic principles with simple to use equipment that teaches you each process.  I can remember the first handloads I made in the 80's with my dad on equipment that was my grandfathers.   I remember the thrill of shooting the tacks that where holding my dad and uncles target up, making it fall to the ground.  It was "tack driving" ammunition by definition.  And, although I got some grief and an unscheduled walks to rehanging targets, it was worth the smile you could not wipe off a grinning teenagers face during the  stroll to the 100 yard target board to rehang targets. It was thrilling to make my own ammo and shoot it successfully!

Time, that is another concern when reloading. Reloading does take a considerable amount of time, especially if you work methodically, paying close attention to the details. Some really don't think they can spare the time to learn it or make ammo.  I think you make the time for things you love or are passionate about.  If you really are into shooting "seriously," and if you love it with a passion, than I say you are missing out on your opportunity to fall in love with it even more.  There is price in making one's own ammo.  But, there is a whole new level of joy when you win a match with ammo you made. Knowing that you had a part in making that shot happen on that animal you've been stalking in the woods is just something  magical as well!  Having a hand in making your rifle shoot better, so you can shoot better, is a win- win that also comes along with some bragging rights and pride...just sayin'.

So for me, investing that time will just cement you more in your passion for shooting for several reasons.  For one... you will shoot better, two... you will shoot more often, especially with all the testing and experimenting you will do.  And third, you won't feel as guilty doing all this shooting because you are doing it now for pennies on the dollars and hitting targets more now than ever.

My feelings on reloading are this..you cannot afford not to!   If you want to stay in the sport and grow as a shooter, reloading will not only broaden your horizons with making the ammo, but will also broaden your circle of friends (now including reloaders) and believe me when I say it is one of the most relaxing times for me setting at the bench quietly making ammo for myself.   I have pride in it, I know I am making a difference and I know for sure that I will not feel guilty going out and shooting it all.  Why?  Because I can make more just like it any time I like with just a little time.   Take that next step in immersing yourself in the shooting world.  Learn to reload your own ammunition.  Your future shooting maniac self with thank you.

First, I want to start this conversation by saying that the CNC machine tools used today across a broad spectrum of applications and necessities., each have their place and each have an important role to play.   I also want to be clear that a great machinist can do amazing things with machines that are not supposed to be able to hold exceptional tolerances.   A great car driver could probably give most people the scare of the their lives on a racetrack, even if handed the keys to a mini-van.  That said, it would not be the vehicle of choice at that high level of professionalism. If he tried to hoodwink people at shows and events on his vehicle's quality and capabilities (even though he is a great driver) the truth would come out on race day as the fans fill the bleachers and he pulls his mini van onto the track.

I come from exceptional humble beginnings and praise anyone trying to better themselves and using what they have to grow.  There are a lot of great builders out there using world class manual lathes that produce better rifles than almost any major celebrity brand, TV Show or Influencer out there.  But, on the same token, the local smith isn't being deceitful about his shop, tools, professionalism, abilities or what he is going to provide you as a customer.  This is how I started building rifles and my hat goes out to all of those who can take a raw piece of steel and with nothing but a manual lathe turn it into a shooting work of art.  My wish it nothing but the best for you all as you are my brothers.  ​

I just finished the third part of our podcast series, "The Story of the Ace," and it was about making the ACE at volume and at exceptionally high accuracy.  This was no small feat, to say the least, and was as much about the technology as it was about separating ourselves from the accepted machines and machining practices and looking to the aerospace industry.  We believe that if you want to make world class components, you cannot do it on the same equipment that most big and small manufacturers in the gun industry today are using.  Many in the industry hang a sign on the front door that reads "we build the best," but the sign above the entrance to the shop floor reads "we use equipment of bare minimum quality, just good enough to get by with” and to us we find that contradictory.  To customers, we feel that, is in some ways, deceitful.  These tactics are selling nothing but a brand and are marketing strategies to lure the people in while hiding the fact that you actually plan on using the mini van on race day when it comes to building their custom rifle.

These tactics can be compared to Oprah. Oprah has been boasting for years that she loses weight the hard way..."climb that mountain" she said in an interview.   "Do the work and don't take the easy way out," was her war cry.  Then, the truth came out that she really wasn't putting in the hard work necessary to lose weight.  Instead, she was taking Ozempic, a medication designed for diabetic patients that has weight lose effects.  I am not shaming, but the same holds true for our industry in a strange but parallel world of custom "long range" rifles.  Some say one thing in the public eye, then produce a completely different product behind the scenes taking the easiest and cheapest way out.

I am not throwing stones, but we are committed to not just talking the talk.  We believe that if you truly believe what you are saying or in this case selling, shouldn't your actions be mirroring your words?  Commitment means buying equipment that is 3 to 5 times more expensive than the accepted production brand machine in our industry.  You get what you pay for and if you want 3 to 5 times the accuracy and quality out the rife you are building than a machine that can hold 3 to 5 times tighter tolerances is going to cost you.  You cannot make Ferrari's using equipment from the Kia plant, nor should you be selling your customers a Kia when promising Ferrari quality.  If you are going to commit and make that promise of delivering the highest quality to the customer, you cannot renege on your promise of quality when it comes time to writing the checks and putting the machines on the floor that are needed to deliver on your promise.   

Like the race car driver secretly planning on using his mini van to run the race on your behalf or the great and powerful Oz saying don't look behind that curtain.  Wether intentional or not, most customers wouldn't know the differences in the machines if they just merely looked at them.  They all sort of look the same.  And. I would bet pulling back the curtain on the great and powerful Oz to some still looks amazing.  Again, this is not to knock local, talented gunsmiths that have  magic in their abilities to form metal by hand and skill.   This is about the big boys, the magic show on TV and elsewhere selling the hype while you stand outside of the curtain trembling in fear and in awe at the performance being put on in front of you.  Not knowing it's nothing more than a scripted broadway show.  

I don't mean to sound harsh, but the $3000 custom cowboy hat selling you on their commitment to deliver the very best quality to you is deceitful if they then choose to use throw away machines to make the product after you hand over a lot and in some cases even excessive amounts of hard earned cash.  "The most ***urate hunting rifles in the world" or "1*** yards out of the box" are only disingenuous taglines if you choose to use some of the cheapest brand machines on the market or worn our recycled machines from the 90's or even older to build that customers rifle.   

Let me explain in a little more detail...

When it comes to accuracy and machines, the tolerances are like the bullseye of a target.  Except, that as the tolerances get looser, the target moves around on the operator, making it harder to hit dead center once, let alone in a repeatable fashion.   So, a machine that can hold lets say .001 tolerance sounds great on paper, but that is plus or minus .001.   meaning it's doubling the problem because now you can miss on either side of the target.   As machines and their castings heat up or cool, the target moves!  As the spindles warm up or cool down, the target moves.  As even something so miniscule as the coolant in the machine warms up or cools down, you guessed it, the target moves again.  All this in mind, it is the center of the target you are aiming for.  That is not to say that even with all of this working against you that a world class machinist cannot get that machine to hit that mark.  A great one could.  Now, he may need a couple cracks at it, but I believe a great machinist can do spectacular things. But if pressed and asked, even they would agree that this type of effort is exhausting on lesser quality machines and in no way suitable for extremely high accuracy and in a production environment requiring it.

So, now when you start talking about machines that have tolerances of .0001 or .0002 you can just imagine the level of quality it would have to be.   Can you imagine the level of sophistication it would take to build a machine tool that is 5 to 10 times more accurate than the ones I mentioned above?   How expensive they would be to make and the excessive prices you would have to pay for the advancements in machining technology. These machines can not only hold the bullseye perfectly still, but also allows less skilled shooters (machinist) to hit the mark with ease over and over again.  So, are these companies promising the best while using lesser quality machines using the very best machinists in the world to drive them?   Do you think Richard Petty would waste his talent trying to drive a mini van on the race track regardless of how much he was offered to be paid?  I don't think so, as he would be setting himself up for a task where winning over and over again would be impossible.

We knew building the ACE was going to be hard.   We knew holding the tolerances needed to build a rifle as close to perfect as humanly possible was going to be harder.  We also knew that trying to do all of this at scale meant the machines where going to have to be of aerospace quality.  We also knew that this meant it was going to be expensive.  What gave me some of the greatest pleasure while going through this process of selecting the right machine was not once did any of us waiver on our commitment to the quality of machine we needed and we did not talk ourselves out of it or try to find ways to justify anything less.  "That's the machine everyone else is using" was not going to be a good enough sales pitch to change our minds. Names like Okuma, Mazak and DMG Mori, that are common in the Aerospace and Medical Fields, are rarely if ever seen in our industry.  In some ways, I think it is sad that some in our industry promise "the best" and "cutting edge" and often charge for that promise in great excess.  But, then feel that the customer is not worth the investment or will notice the difference in quality when it comes time in choosing the machine in order to keep and deliver on the promise they made.    

When I first started shooting, I thought the harder I try and the more I concentrated I could will the bullet to go where I wanted it to go.  The concept of "ready, aim and fire" plays this out in words in our head every time.  To new shooters and to more experienced shooters alike, this is a problem.  The concept, although there, is misguided, misunderstood, misused and misapplied.

To start with, this is stuck in peoples head so well that they play it out each and every time they shoot, I think whether they mean to or not.  The bigger problem is that for accurate shooting, the concept is all wrong.  

Talking to one's self (hopefully not out loud) it may sound something like this...

Ready - "ok I am on the rifle"

Aim - "come on you idiot hold still"

Aim - "Come on try harder"

Aim - "What the ****"

Aim - "Hold still damn it"

Aim - "almost there"

"On it -  Fire, fire , fire, quick pull the trigger"

Bang!

W.T.F.  It is not what you think it stands for.  It stands for Weather, Trajectory (DOPE and Weather) and Fundamentals.   The fundamentals part is the key.   Once you are settled in on your rifle, (with everything set up correctly like your bi-pod and rear bag), you will get on target with your reticle looking for a natural point of aim.  This means the crosshairs are floating on the center or close to center of the target without pushing or pulling the rifle to get there. 

This is aiming at its finest.

Now, it's going through a mental checklist to make sure you are not putting pressure or more pressure than needed in any area of the rifle while the firing process gets closer.  Think firm handshake grip, loading the bipod, cheek weld, cheek pressure.  

Still looking good - this is ready.

Now, a natural respiratory pause, you fire by a straight clean pull of the trigger, pulling the trigger in a straight line with the barrel to the shoulder, without any side torque or jerky quick movements.   A smooth and clean break of the trigger should be the most anti-climatic thing you ever see.  It's not supposed to be dramatic.  Just remember to hold the trigger to the rear/back wall  through the shot or until the bullet hits the target.

​This is fire.

Some parting thoughts.  Keep in mind that we are human.  If the only time you are happy is when you are perfect,  you will spend a lifetime in misery.  Be happy with improvements and identifying your flaws should always bring a smile knowing this is the path to improvement.  And, in the end that is all we can strive for. 

If you are one of those that will never be happy until perfection is achieved, then ready, aim and fire will probably be the last words you hear as your own ego becomes the commander of your firing squad.  So leave "ready, aim, fire" for those that wish to die on that hill and think "aim, ready and fire" to reach the enlightenment of a happy and growing shooter.