Fighting Winter Boredom ...

[rustyinbend]

I've cleaned and reorganized my reloading room. I've loaded sufficient cartridges for working tests and next steps in load development. I've accumulated some needed tools (AMP Press), powder (H1000 and Retumbo), primers, and bullets. I've prepped all of my fired brass. I've even cleaned every rifle and coated the inside barrels with light oil. Short of doing goofy stuff like "sorting bullets", or other semi-meaningless activities ... does anybody have any good ideas about productive and useful reloading activities I could engage in while waiting for the freezing cold temperatures and snow to stop? Maybe I should just learn how to "hibernate".

 

[Fig]

This is your only hobby?

I make bamboo fly rods when it gets cold. I end up having about $200 in each one and they sell for $2k-$3k, but I mostly give them away to friends who would never spend so much money on a rod.

If you enjoy reloading this should be right up your alley in terms of percision and attention to detail.

 

[OREGUN]

Buy 1000 bullets, sort by weight. Re-sort by length. Get that electronic bullet comparator tool that the dude in Albany was making and re-sort again. You’ll be left with something like 50 bullets that meet your needs. Send the culls to me for disposal.

Listen to Hornady podcast.
Load no less than 50 rounds for every test variable in your reloading process.
Drive self into madness chasing statistics.

Find an indoor range and shoot more 22.

Travel to matches in warm locations.

Shoot in the cold and snow. It’s good for you.

Get a type 3 FFL and start collecting really old guns to mess with.

Go full prepper and start canning dry goods in bulk for the coming apacolypse.

 

[cas6969]

First day of winter, he's already bored.

 

[spife7980]

Make dirty brass again. Repeat as necessary.

 

[Hickswr]

Move to AL, deer just starting to rut here.

 

[rustyinbend]

This is your only hobby?

I have a small ranch in Central Oregon. My other hobbies are the ubiquitous tasks of (a) fixing things that horses and goats break, and (b) working off my wife's never ending "To Do" list of shit I couldn't care less about.

I suppose those are both technically classified as "hobbies".

 

[rustyinbend]

Move to AL, deer just starting to rut here.

And leave a wonderful place like Oregon? Surely you jest ...

 

[rustyinbend]

First day of winter, he's already bored.

It was an early winter ... we've had snow on the ground and freezing temps for weeks now.

 

[nn8734]

And leave a wonderful place like Oregon? Surely you jest ...

Have you not been keeping up on what your state’s government is trying to do to you?

Not so wonderful…

 

[rustyinbend]

Buy 1000 bullets, sort by weight. Re-sort by length. Get that electronic bullet comparator tool that the dude in Albany was making and re-sort again. You’ll be left with something like 50 bullets that meet your needs. Send the culls to me for disposal.

Listen to Hornady podcast.
Load no less than 50 rounds for every test variable in your reloading process.
Drive self into madness chasing statistics.

Find an indoor range and shoot more 22.

Travel to matches in warm locations.

Shoot in the cold and snow. It’s good for you.

Get a type 3 FFL and start collecting really old guns to mess with.

Go full prepper and start canning dry goods in bulk for the coming apacolypse.

Mostly crazy suggestions, but it got me thinking. I could totally set up a corner of my property as a short 22 range. That could be an interesting project. And since I shoot subsonic and suppressed, it wouldn't piss off my neighbors. All you hear is a "click". Hummm ... might be the way to go. Need the ground to unfreeze so that I can build a backstop with my tractor, but this is a totally do-able idea for winter shooting when the big range here (COSSA) is closed from snow and ice.

 

[Simonsza1]

I ran a few thousand 5.56 cases through the amp the other day. Didn’t take to much time in the grand scheme of things cause the amp is so awesome. It does however kill some winter time.

 

[Simonsza1]

Mostly crazy suggestions, but it got me thinking. I could totally set up a corner of my property as a short 22 range. That could be an interesting project. And since I shoot subsonic and suppressed, it wouldn't piss off my neighbors. All you hear is a "click". Hummm ... might be the way to go. Need the ground to unfreeze so that I can build a backstop with my tractor, but this is a totally do-able idea for winter shooting when the big range here (COSSA) is closed from snow and ice.

You don’t have this already? What’s wrong with you lol

 

[Skg_Mre_Lght]

Reloading for the match season, lifting at the gym, planning hunts and fishing trips (time consuming and fun geeking out over maps), catching up on reading, build a new gun, tying flies, dry firing, etc.

That gets me through the winters.

 

[Huskydriver]

And leave a wonderful place like Oregon? Surely you jest ...

 

[Cascade Hemi]

COSSA is open.

 

[lariat]

This is your only hobby?


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I make bamboo fly rods when it gets cold. I end up having about $200 in each one and they sell for $2k-$3k, but I mostly give them away to friends who would never spend so much money on a rod.

If you enjoy reloading this should be right up your alley in terms of percision and attention to detail.

Fly tying or making other lures. Relaxing and productive.

 

[Bacarrat]

You stop shooting in the winter?

 

[Fig]

 

[Fig]

I thought Yankees shot out the winder all the time.

 

[M4orturnate]

Here in the oh/pa wi ter is the most challenging time to shoot. Only time of year we have actual wind. Put extra lairs on and dirty up the guns

 

[hafejd30]

I don’t stop shooting in the winter but,

I took up ice fishing as an extra winter hobby which I really enjoy

Other than that I swap to playing with PCP airguns and .22 on my 100 yard range out of my reloading room window

I’m obviously a procrastinator cause you did 4 winters worth of stuff for me to complete

 

[OREGUN]

Try air guns for another way to spend money and time. Shoot out a heated shop window.

 

[rustyinbend]

I hate fishing, and I hate being cold. That hampers many of those suggestions above.

 

[OREGUN]

You should move.

Also, fishing is about as exciting as watching bread rise.

 

[rustyinbend]

You should move.

Also, fishing is about as exciting as watching bread rise.

I actually live in Central Oregon ... on the Republican side of the Cascades. Little that goes on in the Democratic side of the mountains impacted us ... until Prop-114, and we're fighting that in court and it's looking positive. I actually love where I live. Plus ... I have a hobby-ranch with a bunch of old retired animals. Moving (anywhere) is like relocating a small country. No ... I'll stay put and work for positive change.

 

[OREGUN]

I hate being cold.

This is why you should move. Mostly just from central Oregon. I love Oregon. Never intended to move until the job provided the choice to either a) move or b)lose two days a week, every week, with the family. I would happily move anywhere between Lakeview and The Dalles, right now. But I like being cold.

 

[Supersubes]

You stop shooting in the winter?

My first thought. Go shooting, duh.

 

[cas6969]

I used to shoot trap and skeet in Jan-Feb because I figured the shaking from the shivering didn't effect my aim as much.

Other times I would just crank out so much pistol ammo I wouldn't have to load any for the rest of the year. (some calibers for several year)

 

[acudaowner]

If I can't shoot I load and if I can shoot then I shoot so far year round supplies are the only thing that keep me from my appointed rounds at the range oh and car problems .

 

[Mike 556]

This is your only hobby?


View attachment 8026596

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I make bamboo fly rods when it gets cold. I end up having about $200 in each one and they sell for $2k-$3k, but I mostly give them away to friends who would never spend so much money on a rod.

If you enjoy reloading this should be right up your alley in terms of percision and attention to detail.

Fantastic finish work, the wraps are incredible! Really nice work Fig. Love the Wheatleys

 

[Cascade Hemi]

I actually live in Central Oregon ... on the Republican side of the Cascades. Little that goes on in the Democratic side of the mountains impacted us ... until Prop-114, and we're fighting that in court and it's looking positive. I actually love where I live. Plus ... I have a hobby-ranch with a bunch of old retired animals. Moving (anywhere) is like relocating a small country. No ... I'll stay put and work for positive change.

I think you're only saying that because you don't have kids in school. The state's politics have had a tremendous impact on schools and the legal system. You're only one or two election cycles away from Deschutes county going blue.

 

[Near miss]

Get boots and trousers that keep snow outside (rhetoric, you have them already) and some serious weapon light, I use Fenix HT-18.

Then go to the range and go crazy, I use both cardboard and plates, from 300 to 25m with scope and red dot. Do not use the regular cardboard, it wets easily, buy some of that denser "milkcarton" style targets, you can just stick them in snow and they hold up to patching too.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

shooting may be the only activity I DONT like doing in the cold and snow.

Im getting a 3d printer to have a nice indoor activity that I can also support other hobbies.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

Its the 1st day of Winter today.

Fuck that noise its been below freezing since early November here in Idaho. Im actually looking forward to it warming up into the 40s next week.

 

[akmike47]

I haven't loaded in so long now I think I'd have to relearn everything. I used to be out there most days.

 

[cas6969]

And leave a wonderful place like Oregon?

Sounds like New York, it's the few rotten 19 1/2 million people that ruin it for the rest of us.

 

[woodsmoke]

Get married, buy a house, have a bunch of kids. That’s what I did, haven’t been bored since.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

Below freezing going to be -38 here in the am tomorrow -60 with a breeze . I've had 67" of snow so far at my place in Montana hope it keeps going we all need it...
Yup 40's here a couple days next week too... cant wait to hand wash the truck...

Hard pass on that.

 

[culater]

I've cleaned and reorganized my reloading room. I've loaded sufficient cartridges for working tests and next steps in load development. I've accumulated some needed tools (AMP Press), powder (H1000 and Retumbo), primers, and bullets. I've prepped all of my fired brass. I've even cleaned every rifle and coated the inside barrels with light oil. Short of doing goofy stuff like "sorting bullets", or other semi-meaningless activities ... does anybody have any good ideas about productive and useful reloading activities I could engage in while waiting for the freezing cold temperatures and snow to stop? Maybe I should just learn how to "hibernate".

Yes keep looking for more primers and powder and bullets and keep staking it deep. Prices are only going higher.

 

[The D]

I've cleaned and reorganized my reloading room. I've loaded sufficient cartridges for working tests and next steps in load development. I've accumulated some needed tools (AMP Press), powder (H1000 and Retumbo), primers, and bullets. I've prepped all of my fired brass. I've even cleaned every rifle and coated the inside barrels with light oil. Short of doing goofy stuff like "sorting bullets", or other semi-meaningless activities ... does anybody have any good ideas about productive and useful reloading activities I could engage in while waiting for the freezing cold temperatures and snow to stop? Maybe I should just learn how to "hibernate".

I have an awesome idea. You could come do all that shit to my reloading area

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Below freezing going to be -38 here in the am tomorrow -60 with a breeze . I've had 67" of snow so far at my place in Montana hope it keeps going we all need it...
Yup 40's here a couple days next week too... cant wait to hand wash the truck...

I feel your pain… VT in January is equally desolate, and we’re stuck with a state full of commies.

40’s is T-shirt weather too.

Oh and on today’s solstice.. the sun was about an inch over the horizon at its zenith.

At least it’s only 70-some days until March. I could do 70 days in a Turkish prison.

Spring is coming.

Sirhr

 

[supercorndogs]

I thought Yankees shot out the winder all the time.

Yes but usually it's out the pickup's window.

 

[OkieMike]

This is your only hobby?


View attachment 8026596

View attachment 8026597

I make bamboo fly rods when it gets cold. I end up having about $200 in each one and they sell for $2k-$3k, but I mostly give them away to friends who would never spend so much money on a rod.

If you enjoy reloading this should be right up your alley in terms of percision and attention to detail.

Very nice work!

I do leather work as a hobby. It started with making possible bags/shot pouches for my flintlocks and just went from there.

And sometimes when I'm feeling really creative... I make powderhorns.

Mike

 

[lightman]

I got really bored the first Winter that I was retired and I learned to save up stuff to do.

I do most of my brass prep during the Winter.
I load most of the ammo that I plan to shoot during the coming year.
I cast most of the pistol bullets that I plan to shoot during the coming year.
A buddy and I get together and smelt our years accumulation of scrap lead.
I'm an avid hunter. Deer season just closed but Duck and small game season runs through January.
The Wife and I usually take a few Beervacations to warmer places and hang out at different breweries.
I'll straighten up in the loading room and the garage.
And sometimes I'll spend a lazy afternoon sitting in front of the fireplace with a drink!

 

[rustyinbend]

Get married, buy a house, have a bunch of kids. That’s what I did, haven’t been bored since.

Um ... did all that starting about 45 years ago ... I do wish my grandchildren lived closer ... that would help.

 

[spife7980]

Um ... did all that starting about 45 years ago ... I do wish my grandchildren lived closer ... that would help.

Ditch them and start again

 

[culater]

If the roads where better I’d be out shooting in this cold blustery day. The range temp on my phone says -4 with a 20-30 mph wind windchill factor -30. It would be a great day to get some cold temp data and see how my chronograph speeds would be and get a dope card made up. I don’t get opportunity like this often to see how my equipment stands up to this stuff. Plus I can see what clothing gear I can upgrade to.

 

[Jackomason]

Have any kids? Haha

 

[Sniperwannabee]

Get married, buy a house, have a bunch of kids. That’s what I did, haven’t been bored since.

That the truest statement of the day