Over the last week or so I've been stocktaking my workshop, doing a little organisation and tidying up. It's rarely messy per se but I like to keep it squared away and part of that is ensuring that things are where they need to be when I need them and that I have the things, tools and equipment, I need right when I need it. I've had to replace a few tools, purchase some additional bits and pieces and clean up a few items that had become a little rusty through the winter. It's all come together well.
Part of the stocktake includes my ammunition and ammunition making items like gunpowder, primers and projectiles. I was a little dismayed to see my minimum stock levels were not maintained; I blame...well, in truth I have nothing and no one to blame but myself. I've been shooting over the winter but not spending as much time making ammunition to replace that which I've shot because it's bloody cold out there...So I began to build up stock again over last weekend.
I have a lot of guns and do a lot of shooting so am constantly replenishing my stock and whilst I know many who feel it it a tedious and boring job, I tend to enjoy it. I put some music on, have plenty of snacks to hand and take my time. Last weekend I was making rifle rounds for my .243 culling rifle system which are pictured in this post and ended up with an extra three hundred of them in the cabinet.
When I shoot these rounds something dies so I take a lot of care to ensure they are of the very best quality; I like to dispatch the animal as humanely as I can and these precision-made rounds are one element required to do so. I take my culling duties seriously and as I tend to shoot at quite long distances it's important my skill and the ammunition is up to the task. It means a lot of focus because getting hand-reloading wrong can end it disaster later down the track when it's time to shoot the rounds. If you're keen to have a read about a recent shoot you can do so here.
To bring my ammunition stock back up to a minimum level I need to make about 3,000 rounds of mixed calibres from 7mm and .243 rifle rounds to 38 Super and 9mm handgun rounds and it's likely to take me around 2-4 weeks to do it. The hand gun rounds are easy as I use a progressive press which punches out around 600 rounds per hour but the precision rifle rounds are done on a hand press and it takes hours and hours to make a few hundred...and that's after the case preparation is done prior. It's all good though, I just plod along and it gets done.
I rarely allow myself to get into this situation of having to make this many rounds and multiple calibres and every time it happens I vow that it'll never happen again but I've had a few situations to deal with lately and I guess it got away from me. I'm starting with the handgun ammunition as I have some a couple big shoots coming up in the next few weeks and I'll churn through around a thousand rounds so...yep, I better get busy huh?
Do you have a job that you have to get to but have been avoiding? Let me know in the comments if you like, or just leave a comment or question if you have one.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Any images in this post are my own
3,000 rounds, OMG Question: What on earth could one possibly do with that much ammo?
Scroll down....
Make more! lol
Seriously lucky if you have that much components available. We are still struggling to find powder and primers over here. They are both starting to pick up a little bit, but still on the expensive side and scarce to find them takes at least a week or two or even a couple months of searching.
Lol, that's just what I have to make to bring me back to normal levels. And yeah, there's always a use for more.
I buy a lot of components and have mates that own and run gun shops and importers so I tend to buy a little here and there every so often to ensure I have enough. I've had to trade for powder in the past but generally have enough. The powder I use is ADI, which is from here in Australia so it's not really impacted by your issues there although has on occasions been somewhat scarce - mainly through panic buying that begins because of your issues up there.
This winter has been a shit one (cold and wet) and I've been lazy with my reloading which brings me to the point I am now so...must be done.
I have to vacuum the house soon but tend to leave it to Jamie 🙈
Haha, yeah that seems like a great plan. I hate vacuuming to be honest although with the rise of the Dyson vacuums the job has become less onerous I guess. Still, it's a job best delegated.
Yeah thank God Jamie is happy to do it!!! I make the beds...
Lol...I hail bed-makers. I am, most regrettably, not one.
The best of luck with making so many in a short period, I know you'll get it sorted. I actually need to tackle a big clean up of some of my gear that I don't need right now and I've been procrastinating but I'm going to get on with it. There are sometimes things that slip by, it happens, we're human...best part is that with this kind of thing it's easily fixable.
The progressive press makes the job pretty easy as far as the handgun ammunition goes, it's simply a matter of keeping supply of components up to the hopper and pulling a handle. It's a rather pleasing process to be honest. The rifle ammunition is slower as I carefully weigh the load in beam scales, seat the projectile precisely at the right depth and measure everything to strict tolerances. It takes time.
Keeping things organised is important to me and in my workshop I like to keep things on the level. It's easy to let it go, sort of like I have to some degree over this winter, but also rewarding to get it all sorted and that also means that I go through and I'll items I don't need it use - If I'm honest I do little of that though, everything will come in handy...someday. 🤔😊
I hope you get your stuff arranged.
Most people would look at that quantity of ammo and think bad thoughts about you :)
I understand completely. Generally, I bought 3000 shotgun rounds every year because the hulls can only be reloaded a few times. 10,000 registered rounds per year probably meant at least 20,000 or more actual rounds per year. They go away pretty fast when you are shooting competition.
Yeah, people are like, why do you need so much...But in truth I never say how much I actually have, it's no one's business. In fact, most people here in my real life don't know I'm a shooter.
They certainly disappear quickly enough and so I have to replenish and my minimum levels have to be maintained bacause...well, you know why.
Exactly.
You really do know your firearms Galen. :)
I think I remember you post that you used to be in the military? There must be a lot of pretty cool military stories under your belt I assume. I think it may even be in some of your 2900 posts somewhere in there. The thing about your stories is that I like to really take my time to calm down a bit and read it completely focused. I feel that there is something I can learn... ahhh.. Its hard to put a finger on it... There was another person who inspired me just by reading his stuff focused and it reminded me of your blog posts.
Calvin and Hobbes...
although it looks like a comic book... there are some really deep questions asking about how we understand ourselves and others in our very complex world and leaves the question as is for us to think about our own answer. I feel there is some level of similarity in your own way.
You asked an interesting question on your gun ammo post which I am pondering and constantly thinking lately. Very interesting you mention it too... such timing... Crazy~~ hahaha. And It might be the most important question in which I will need to take action soon.
"Do I have a job that I have to get to but have been avoiding?" Actually, yes. Thanks for asking really.
What to do next, after the burnout. :)
I believe, if we are all honest with ourselves, the answer to that question is yes.
We all avoid things that we should be doing like...being more humble and kind, telling those we value that we value them more often, saying thank you and I appreciate you a lot more and taking a stand against evil more often, standing up for those who cannot do so for themselves. Things like taking more ownership, laying less blame, showing more integrity...
Of course, there's many other things as well, that's just a few.
Thanks for your comment as always, it's late here and my comment is probably insufficient to answer yours but I have to get some sleep before a big Thursday with several important appointments.
So I misread the beginning part as "stockading my workshop" and now can't get an image of you in your workshop with a little stockade around it out of my head XD
this also resulted in me reading every "stocktake" as "stockade" and things are getting a tad ridiculous as I'm reading both the word that is there and the word my brain decided was there at the same time XD
Can you have a heater in your workshop or is it too dangerous?
I have plenty of jobs I'm actively avoiding. A couple of them (cleaning windows and sorting out books x_x) got started earlier this week, but not sure when I'll get back to it as sibling dearest is up for a couple of weeks so cleaning the house is lower than it usually is on my list of things to do.
Stocktake, stockade...Same thing at my house apparently. Lol.
Hmm, the heater thing is something I considered but I've never done it. There's a lot of gunpowder in there and I try to be super careful. I've even very cautious about the electrical system in there. If something was to go wrong it'd not go so well.
I think you just listed your weekend festivities huh? Window cleaning, book sorting and house cleaning. Bugger of a way to spend a weekend though. 😁
LoL nope, weekend is roleplaying and whatever other shenanigans will fit in.
Yeh I asked because I was wondeering if it would even be safe to have a heater in there with the gunpowder. I don't know if it's actually as explosive as it is in my head XD
It's a long weekend here this weekend. Yay!
I'm going to do stage two of my latest Lego Technic build and...a whole lot more. I might do a post here and there too.
Gunpowder isn't as explosive as in your head probably, but when it goes up you don't want to be anywhere near it! So, no heaters in my workshop, no scented candles either. Lol
Yay for long weekends! Sounds like you got some good plans for it :)
A comment. Hehe :)
Also, you shoot animals for sport/hunt then? I see.
Lol, I guess I just always assumed you went to the shooting range when you felt like offloading one, or better yet, shot any annoying fuckers that might've given you a bad day :)
Anywho, can't relate much with this as I have no experience nor interest in guns or shooting but uh... Good luck with your rifles and ammunitions I guess!
I, on the other hand, have a supply closet I've gotta clean out this week.
I shoot in various formats including competition and in the field hunting and culling although I don't shoot people who annoy me, that's illegal here in Australia.
All the best with your supply closet.
And anywhere that's not Australia!
And ah I see, sounds like... You.
Also, thanks.
The job of maintaining equipment is as important as doing the job itself.
"If you want to use a knife, then you have to take care of it so it can cut properly."
After all, it's about weapons; you absolutely can't ignore it, right? Your presence in the workshop now is half the success you will have when you are in the field later.
The weapons are in the hands of the right people, even when they are in storage in your workshop. You deserve success because you have treated them well.
Wishing you success on your upcoming hunt.
I agree that preparation is pivotal to moving forward successfully in most things and so I tend to work towards a high level of preparation as much as possible. Thanks for your comment.
I never thought bullets could look that good
It made me smile to read this as it's not something one hears every day. Thanks for the smile, I appreciate it. And yes, ammunition can look good. ✅
oh and by the way, what do you mean by culling anyway ?
I cull feral and pest animals on a cattle far. I'm talking about kangaroos, deer and foxes mainly.
yeah I work in a farm but I had to confirm what I had been thinking. I saw a video just last week about men who does that , do you record that culling session of yours?
They shoot wild pigs, foxes and even rats! they looked like they were on a war game. is it fun to do?
I cull weekly and report to the farmer with what was shot each time so he can report to the authorities as it's all tracked.
When I hunt it's mainly wild pigs which can be a little dangerous and there's no need to record or report anything in that case.
I take no pleasure in killing, I've done enough of it to understand that each time I take a life some of my own goes with it. However, I love the outdoors aspect of it, the camping and off roading and such.
oh I see. thank you for answering my questions anyway
I've killed a lot of vermin over the years and no part of me feels bad about that. Not now, not ever.
Almost all my other kills are meat kills. I venerate the animal I've killed by preparing and eating it.
That said, about 30 years ago I got tired of killing stuff, and quit hunting. I soldiered on with fishing for a few years by being all catch and release. Then I had a physical problem that took fishing out of the game.
I still identify as a hunter and fisherman.