Alcohol and Reloading

[Wapiti]

I have a drink now and then, but never while reloading.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[farronwolf]

Yes, at times actually.

Before some of you go getting bent out of shape, I will clarify it a bit.

I usually don't when messing with primers or powder. But when I am sorting brass, tumbling or depriming and resizing there really isn't anything that can be screwed up or dangerous to me or others around me.

I use a turret press and when I deprime, I usually do hundreds at a time, then the next night or some other night prime and expand, and some other time charge and seat.

If you don't drink, or don't while reloading, more power to you. There are folks that stone cold sober, I wouldn't shoot what they reload, or want them to shoot around me. I think it boils down to the person behind the press.

[friesepferd]

oh ya, i certainly dont have a problem with ppl drinking while sorting and tumbling brass etc.
I say no way when handling powder and primers is all.

[Sgt Z Squad]

Not a good idea. Understand that when a field sobriety test is administered on the road, they are called "divided attention" tests. So if alcohol is impairing your ability to do two things at once, do you really want to be reloading?

Just food for thought.

[Archie]

Without trying to be overly funny, there are a myriad of things one should not attempt assisted by alcohol. Among them are operating power tools, shopping on line, proposing marriage, brain surgery and threading a needle.

Anything dealing with good judgement and a view of the future is handicapped. I personally think this applies to reloading as well.

[Stevew]

I only have a single stage press, so my hands are busy. Don't really have time to load and sip at the same time.
I get more done if I load for two hours, and then have a beer or two when finished.

[marcclarke]

Never.

[pittypat21]

I'm not sure about the rest of you on here, but one beer doesn't affect me - not in the slightest. You'd have to be quite the lightweight for a single beer to impair your judgement at all.

That being said, I don't reload anyway. I find that enjoying a beer while doing just about anything is not only ok morally, but legal for just about anything, anywhere (except carrying, which is only legal in a few places). Ok, I don't mean drinking while you're driving. Let's not get carried away...

I don't drink in excess anymore, and the most I ever drink in one night is 2 beers. Generally it's only one, though. And after one beer, nothing has changed except that now one bottle is empty.

In all actuality, drinking a single beer really helps me focus. I have (self diagnosed) ADD (I just can't concentrate sometimes) and drinking a beer allows me to focus on what I'm doing. It's a depressant after all, so it keeps my mind from getting distracted. It'd probably be better if I did have one beer before reloading if I ever did it!

[frankmako]

coffee and/or coke. that is it. nothing more when reloading.

[whoppo]

[pfries]

Sorting, cleaning resizing/depriming straight wall crtridges Yes.
The rest absolutly not.

[OldVet]

No, only because I don't want lead or powder ruining my bourbon...

[pgrass101]

I might have a beer, but I never get loaded while I am reloading

[Fausty]

Without trying to be overly funny, there are a myriad of things one should not attempt assisted by alcohol. Among them are operating power tools, shopping on line, proposing marriage, brain surgery and threading a needle.

yeah...i have been guilty of this.

[mprp]

I may have one or two during some of the other processes needed for making ammo but definitely not while running the press. Just too many critical things that require undivided attention, not to mention needing to have the ability to spot a sight, sound or feel of something that didn't go quite right after a pull of the press. My wife and kids shoot my reloads too. Nuff said there. I figured that if I'm going to reload ammo, it's probably just not a good idea and have just made it a rule of practice. I like my beer but that ice-cold one can wait until I cover up the press for the night.