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When to call it a day...

USMAGator

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 21, 2011
92
1
Enterprise, AL
Rough time at the range today!I spent some time last night putting together some handloads to test this afternoon, wanting to figure out what charge my AR likes behind a new batch of bullets. Packed up my range bag and headed out, its about a 20 minute drive to my local range here. I'm just about there when I realize I left my member's badge at home.....turn the car around, drive back, get my badge, back to the range. Kinda annoyed, but no big deal really.

I start setting up my stuff to shoot and go to load my first magazine when I bump my ammo box.....there go 50 rounds of .223 all over the ground. I'd had them sorted by charge in the box, and now have no idea which rounds are which. So much for testing different loads!

At this point I just want to shoot, so I re-box the handloads (planning to sort out that mess some other time) and break out a box of PMC that lives in the bottom of the range bag for just such an occasion. Load 5 in a magazine, square away the rest of my gear, seat the magazine in the rifle, get comfy behind the gun, settle my reticle on the target...breathe....press....click. WTF? Drop the magazine from the gun and lock the bolt to the rear and realize that I had slapped an empty magazine in the gun, and the loaded one was still sitting right where I'd left it.

Now I recognize that my head's just not in it today for whatever reason and it's time to pack it in before I make a real mistake.

I've had off days before but never anything like this. It's frustrating to lose a shooting session like that, but I figured it was best to back off and try again some other time.
Anyone else had something similar?
 
Re: When to call it a day...

I've forgotten guns, ammo, holster...you name it. Took ammo loaded for a bolt gun to a HP match; too long for the magazine. Took L-frame speedloaders to a match I planned to shoot with a K-frame. Field stripped a 1911 at the range and lost the slide stop. Rubbed the contact out of my shooting eye.

I could list more, but my typing finger is tired.
 
Re: When to call it a day...

Yep, you at least did the right thing and stopped why you were still ahead of the game. Days like that can go from annoying to disaster in no time.
 
Re: When to call it a day...

Time to get out the fly rod and head for the river.
 
Re: When to call it a day...

A good cigar, a fine bourbon, a nooner....all can get a day back on track, or if not at least you will care less LOL
 
Re: When to call it a day...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: maggot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Time to get out the fly rod and head for the river.</div></div>

I like the way you think! My approach was to pop the top on a Yuengling and surf the Hide for a while
smile.gif
 
Re: When to call it a day...

Back when I was a one rifle show, had saved up bullets and time off to finally get up to the range and do some good, and when I pulled out my trusty rifle, and looked through the scope, the !$*(&%^&%#$#!&) Damn reticle was broke on my Bushnell. Last Bushnell product I ever bought.
 
Re: When to call it a day...

Just the other weekend I was so excited to go shoot my new rifle that I forgot ammo for one gun and magazine for another. All I accomplished was sighting in the new rifle.
 
Re: When to call it a day...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bradu</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just the other weekend I was so excited to go shoot my new rifle that I forgot ammo for one gun and magazine for another. All I accomplished was sighting in the new rifle.</div></div>

I did almost the exact same thing when I got my first 1911. I bought it and 2 Wilson 47D magazines and headed to the range.....with nothing to shoot!

Another fun one is getting to the range and realizing you forgot targets. I've felt like an idiot more than once digging through my car for scraps of paper, or even better - having to ask someone else if you can mooch some tape after forgetting the stapler!
 
Re: When to call it a day...

Tip for the spilled ammo by charge weight/OAL/etc:

Put each step of the ladder in separate zip-lock bags and write the charge on masking tape which is stuck to the bag.

Much less headache.
 
Re: When to call it a day...

Ha ha. I've had many days like yours and I really feel for you. I'm good for reloading all day, heading to the range at evening, when the winds subside, set up, sit down behind the bench, reach for my rounds box - and nothing. Forgot them at home....
 
Re: When to call it a day...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CS1983</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tip for the spilled ammo by charge weight/OAL/etc:

Put each step of the ladder in separate zip-lock bags and write the charge on masking tape which is stuck to the bag.

Much less headache.

</div></div>

Very wise.
 
Re: When to call it a day...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CS1983</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tip for the spilled ammo by charge weight/OAL/etc:

Put each step of the ladder in separate zip-lock bags and write the charge on masking tape which is stuck to the bag.

Much less headache.

</div></div>

Good call, I hadn't thought of that. I'd been considering marking the cases or primers with different colored markers, but bags would work too.
 
Re: When to call it a day...

Just a tip for shooting different loads during a work up session.

I write down on a sheet each load that I am working up and mark the first set with a single black sharpie line on the rear of the primer.

Second set two lines, third a x and so forth with a blue and red sharpie.

I mark the paper with the same lines to identify them.

Works great in case they get mixed up at or on the way to the range.

I will neither confirm or denie that I mixed them up before........

You can also use the marking to inspect the brass afterwards.
 
Re: When to call it a day...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMAGator</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CS1983</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tip for the spilled ammo by charge weight/OAL/etc:

Put each step of the ladder in separate zip-lock bags and write the charge on masking tape which is stuck to the bag.

Much less headache.

</div></div>

Good call, I hadn't thought of that. I'd been considering marking the cases or primers with different colored markers, but bags would work too. </div></div>


After a similar episode, I started using a sharpie to write the charge on the side of the brass.