Applying effort

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.