giving a reloading course - ideas?

[MnMike]

I am thinking about doing a realoading course in the rural area I spend part of my time. This would be done as adult education in the local school. It's rural, they don't have gun wierdness.  Have any of you done this? Any tips? How long was your course?

Thanks for any help,

mike

[GameHauler]

Great Idea
Wish someone offered one here.
Mike

[charles p]

I bet you could get lots of support from the reloading industry.  Give some of the manufacturers a call for ideas, videos, and samples or coupons.

[davem270win]

Hands on stuff. Give everyone an opportunity to do the actual operations. If they can get out to a range and shoot the rounds they've reloaded, so much the better.

[mjbgalt]

hit them hard with "follow the manual" and show them some of the pics from wesbites of guns and people who have blown apart from not following the manuals.

i agree with letting them do the reloading. go step by step, have them do case prep and etc...

let them know that there is a situation of diminishing returns. more powder doesn't always mean more power/accuracy/speed.

show them that it is more scientific than voodoo and anyone can do it.

those are just a few things i wish people had shown me when i started.

-Matt

[jsoukup]

Reckon there's any kind of liability that some TV lawyer will try to hit you with?

[jhalcott]

  I've been involved in a few of these at the gun club. I do NOT think scaring the beejeebers out of them is a good idea. Defineately go over the safety issues in the beginning and at the end of the course. Make sure they all get hands on experience with all phases of reloading. Many companies will give you literature to hand out and ask for some info from the NRA. Class size shouldn't be too large or YOU won't be able to follow all the students well enough. 12 to 15 students per instructor is good. The idea of a range to shoot THEIR handiwork is more than valid. DO NOT try to cram handgun ,rifle and shotgun into a single class. A GOOD class can be about 4 hours long. How long does it take YOU to prep and load 5 or 6 rounds for a pistol? If each person can have their own press and scale it would be nice but you would not be able to see EXACTLY what they were doing with each round. At each stage ,go over the safety concerns of THAT stage. That is right/wrong primer, to much/too little powder, bullet seating correct/incorrect.ETC.!
  I took photo's of the students of one class. Nine of 12 actually closed their eyes when they fired that 1st round. BIG hemen and little women all blinked.  Women seem to be more and more interested in reloading and guns lately. Don't turn them away.

[LaOtto222]

I am not sure how involved you want to get with the instruction. IMHO -  The mechanics of reloading is easy to learn. Going through the mechanics of reloading is important, but choosing the components are even more important. I have been reloading for many years and I still have a tough decision where to start with loads at times. Deciding on which primer (standard or magnum), bullet (weight and construction) and most important what powder to use and how much. Reliable reloading books some times give confusing information. I have had situations where the starting load is higher than the ending load in another book with similar components. After deciding where to start; how to "work" up a load is important too. 

[gypsyman]

Keep it simple!! I have a friend that helps me out at the gun shows once in awhile. Biggest problem he has is not knowing when to keep his mouth shut. Customer will ask a question about reloading, or a shooter considering getting into reloading. After one minute, he's talking about neck turning, primer pocket uniformers,anealing necks, etc. Makes it sound like you need a Masters degree to know how to reload. Don't try and overload them with too much info at one time. If a person gets into reloading, they'll figure out the level they want to get to.
I actually try and tell a newbie to start out with a single stage press, and go slow. My opinion is, there is a great percentage of shooters/reloaders that jump in and spend big bucks on a progressive reloader so they can reload 300-400 rounds an hour, and realize that they only shoot 2000 rounds a year, and could do that on a $80 to $100 single stage, instead of a $500-$600 progressive. gypsyman

[stimpylu32]

Mike

I agree with gypsyman as far as keeping it simple . What type time frame are you thinking about for these classes ? that will determine what kind of info you can give them along with what kind of hands on you will be able to present .

Rule #1 - Start with a joke , something that lets them know that this can be a fun hobby , also make sure you let them know that a person does not have to work for NASA to load good , safe ammo .

Stick to the basics the first night ( if more than one night ) , walk them through the steps to load a strait walled case like the 38 spl or even the 45LC .

Give them a run down on the tools that are needed to load and later you can tell them about all the neat stuff that will save time but may cost more $$s .

Good visual aids will help to keep them on the subject at hand , show them the diffrent types of rounds , presses , scales , dies , you get the idea .

Don't get too hung up on one brand or color of equiptment and let them know that it doesn't take a 2nd morgage to start loading .

And the most inportant thing is keep them involved by making the class interactive , ask them ??s and have them ask you ??s , don't make it a class were you do all the talking and they end up with that DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS look . 

stimpy

[MnMike]

Thank you folks. All good info. I had not thought about letting them load a round. I was just going to blab and show them the procedure. Many people learn best for doing- I definitely will do this. I will look into stuff from the industry. Saftey I have thought of. I want to emphasize that critters can't feel 100fps difference and accuracy is usually under the maximums.
The time, content,  and number of nights is not yet set. I am working over your other ideas.

I love this forum!

thank you again,
mike

[PA-Joe]

Mike I emailed you a pdf file.

[torpedoman]

preach the 2 step rule Step 1; read the directions ,step2; follow them

[PaulS]

I am a professional industrial safety instructor.
Teach the basics - by the book- and don't deviate or add your experience unless it supports the basics.
There will be plenty of time for them to learn how to "fudge" the process later - on their own.
Reloading is completely safe IF you follow the written word and double check each step.
Reloading a single cartridge is not the best way to teach. Have them load 3 - 5 cases.
1: clean and inspect
2: size, decap and bell all cases. (inspect for defects)
3: prime all cases. (inspect the primers for depth and deformation)
4: weigh charges and place them in all cases. (visually compare the charges for level)
5: seat bullets on all cases. (inspect the cases for even crimps, dimples and deformed shoulders)
6: Try each round in a firearm for fit. (teach safety of chambering rounds for testing)

This is best done with a revolver - less chance of an accident than if you have to close the chamber to check fit.
If you are holding this class at a public school as a "personal enrichment" class the school assumes liability. If you stress the safety issues they won't have any problem. If you are sloppy and miss some important part then you are negligent and liability shifts to you. If you have a recorder, record your classes to prove that you covered all the safety issues and keep the tape so that you can refine your class in the future. (I find I always want to add examples or new information as it becomes available.