Reloading

This week was kind of a slow week. I didn’t do any trap or skeet shooting and mostly focused on reloading some 20 gauge shotgun shells. I find myself really concentrating and getting into a zone while reloading. Every once in a while I might forget to add a wad (a plastic spacer that keeps the powder and shot separated. See photo below), when that happens it’s easy to see I’d messed up. The load shot drops into the powder and I have to dump the shell and start over. After I get into a rhythm it takes me about 10 minutes to make a box of 25.  

I might save about $1.00 per box I reload. I know that it doesn’t sound like much, but when you shoot as much as I do, every little bit helps. Also with the ammo shortage it’s becoming very hard to find the right load in the stores. What I mean by right loads is; I like to shoot #9 shot (smaller sized lead shot gives you more shot per round) and the right amount of powder. I like to shoot 7/8 oz of powder and that gives me a lighter kick so you can find the second clay pidgin quicker by not having to recover as much from the harder recoil.  

Fallen Fighter Skeet Shoot

      On March 9^th I attended a charity skeet shoot for two fallen firefighters in Salisbury NC. I’m a retired firefighter as well as a member of a motorcycle club made up of past and present firefighters and EMS workers called Fire & Iron MC. So we got a group of members up and joined the charity shoot. We know going into the shoot that we flat out sucked. But we didn’t join the shoot to win, only to show our support. We had a great time shooting and at the end of the day our group shot 41 out of 125. The event was a great success in raising a lot on money for scholarships for the two fallen fighter’s families.  

Quail Hunting

     Over the last weekend I went Quail hunting with a couple of good friends. Our quest took place at Quail Haven in Harmony, NC (North Statesville) on a hunting preserve. Accompanying us was a german shorthaired pointer named Oscar. The neat things about most preserves are they raise their own quails for the hunting season. We did a half day hunt and that included 30 birds. It was a great and successful day with only letting a couple get away. 

(Oscar: If you look close in the bottom right corner you can see the quail)

Reloading Shotgun Shells

     Over the last few weeks I’ve been having difficulties finding shotgun ammo. It seems like everywhere I go they’re out. So I’ve decided to start reloading my own shells. Along with the reducing the cost per box (about $2 per box) I can make custom loads. The neat thing about making custom loads is tailoring my ammo for the sport I'm shooting. For example in Trap I can make a heaver load so the shot can reach out there for long distances and lighter loads with less recoil for Skeet.

     Below is a Mec reloader I've found on a local firearm forum. It comes with 1000 spent hulls (spent shells) and looks like a good deal, wish me luck on getting it.         

 

Fallen Firefighters Skeet Shoot

There’s a big Skeet competition coming up March 9^th so I’ve been practicing my shooting. It’s a benefit for two fallen firefighters and all the proceeds are going to their families. The Skeet shoot looks like it’s going to be a big turnout involving over twenty teams so far. It looks like most of the teams are made up of Fire and EMS personnel along with a couple police departments. Any one is welcome to join. Here is a link for all the info. http://www.salisburypost.com/article/20130127/SP01/130129739