Maybe A Little Foolish? Paying It Forward

[Cdog]

This post includes handloading, but isn't about the subject. I hope it belongs in this section of the forum.

This is about doing something that adds to your quality of life.

This week while visiting an unofficially adopted granddaughter at her Mom & Pop's gun shop I met a young man shopping for handloading tools and supplies. He was looking for several very hard to find items and the young lady there was doing her best to find him what he was looking for. At 21 or so, she's truly an exceptionable young lady. I'm both proud of and for her ability to communicate and relate with each person coming through the door.

Back to the young man. The three of us began discussing just what his goals were. Precision, better ammo is his main goal. I asked about manuals, and he has began with a recent edition of the Lyman. I asked about the press. He has a Lee Hand press now and a single stage bench ordered through the store.

My next series of questions were about case prep, etc. The young man has never loaded a round in his life, but has done well reading! Things that he didn't completely understand, he asked me for more details.

Well, long story shortened. "I have a new friend."

I'm guessing him to be early to mid 40's. He looks you directly in the eye and speaks with both humility and certainty. I'm impressed.

I invited him to follow me home and showed him a few things he had questions about. Among the things we discussed were bullet construction and the speed necessary for proper expansion. I also advised him to never accept powder that had been opened from anyone or any store.(Including Me!) People are human and we can easily return the powder we've been using to the wrong container.

After a good visit I sent him on his way with a half box of 125gr .308 Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets for use in a bottom box fed bolt action 30-30, 1 pound of Universal powder, 1 9mm/38 Super shellholder, a powder funnel, a Hornady deburring/chamfer tool handle, 100 Winchester 115gr .355 FMJ bullets, and 100 Federal small pistol primers.

Many would call me foolish, and maybe I am. I invited a stranger into our home. I tried to give him these extra things I have on hand to help get him started. He insisted on paying, and I understand that. The powder had a price sticker of $25 on it. I told him $30 for it all and a view of his first targets shot with his handloads.

I feel really good about helping somone truly interested in learning proper methods of handloading. Yea, foolish and even a bit selfish for going beyond the norm. I had some good help along my way. It was something I needed and really wanted to do. Call it karma, paying it forward, stupidity or selfishness? It felt right.

Guys and Girls, I believe there are times that doing something abnormal in today's world is ok. I assure you I've benefited more than anyone in this deal.

Thank You For Taking The Time To Read This.

 

[somorris]

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Thank you for giving of your time and expertise to a beginner. I suspect most of us have had a little mentoring along the way.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

My friend, that is what this shooting sport is all about!

 

[smithra_66]

Awesome! Passing on knowledge to others is what it's all about. Well done.

 

[lkabug]

Following your instincts is normally a good thing. You have made a friend. All in this world is not bad.

 

[Krogen]

Great story. Glad you could help the guy. I'd welcome you as my friend anytime. The key is you trusted your gut. Many times you can "just tell" if somebody is genuine and trustworthy. Spidey Sense, 6th Sense whatever you want to call it. If you get a good feeling about somebody, quite likely you're right. Same as if you get a bad feeling about someone.

It's great that you helped out a newbie. That's one of the draws in this culture we have together. I suspect he'll remember this for a long time and pay it forward himself as he gains experience.

 

[Tom Kent]

From the day I started hand loading until the present, I have had help from those around me. That is over 40 years of help and new ideas. I would have to agree with smithra 66.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I believe that Karma, You Reap What You Sow, What Goes Around Comes Around, Do Unto Others, whatever name you want to call it, is a universal law, similar to gravity, that cannot be done away with.

If you put out bad, you will get back bad. If you put out good, you will receive good in return. The world is not absolute - sometimes bad things happen to good people, sometimes good things happen to bad people.

But over the course of a lifetime, a lot more good comes to those who care about others, and a lot more bad comes to those who are hurtful to others.

The best way to make a friend is to be a friend. I have many wonderful friends who were there when I needed them, and vise versa. It's a good way to live life, possibly the best way.

I think this life is about people, not things, money, or possessions. In the end, all we can take with us is the love and memories of those we came in contact with. I hope that I may live up to being the man my dog thought I was.

To Cdog - I would not call you foolish. I would say you're the kind of person I would want for a friend and neighbor. Thanks for paying it forward, it makes the world a better place to live.

 

[Kevin G]

Well done, going out of your way to help someone certainly entitled you to that good feeling.
Making eye contact, smiling, saying hello, extending one’s hand or offering help in our present culture can be viewed as a risk. Sad state of affairs that limits one’s ability to experience joy.
I am trying to be the man that my dog thinks I am.
Kevin G

 

[SAFireman]

You did well sir, not foolish in the least. Kudos!

 

[snowman]

Cdog,

I commend you, sir, for all that you did for the gentleman(and he certainly sounds like one!). Loading for the first time can seem pretty daunting to a lot of folks, I imagine. Learning from a veteran loader who is more than willing to help must be a godsend. You indeed have a new friend -probably a permanent one.

I'm a teacher-type who has taught people to shoot, and would enjoy teaching people to load. I've often thought about this while loading, and have concluded that, the danger(at least in these parts) would not be from some evil person devising harm against me, but with someone who simply doesn't have the personality/temperament required to load safely. I have good friends whom I wouldn't even attempt to teach reloading, because they have such an impatient, get-it-done-now attitude that a serious error(or three) would be almost inevitable.

Well, I'm rambling. I again commend you for this virtuous act. Let us know of any developments with the gentleman in the near future -I would be interested in hearing more.

Regards,
Andy

 

[rwsmith]

That's extremely fine, but in addition.....

... nurturing a new shooter/reloader is a good way to keep our country great. Besides a very kind act, you did your patriotic duty!!!

 

[Cdog]

Thank You All.

I don't know what to say.

I genuinely appreciate the kind words and reassurance that my actions didn't reach the point foolishness.

Some of the most enduring friendships I've had started in a similar way, with me being the one in search of knowledge and tools I'd only read about.

The world is a bit more jaded today. People that haven't hardened up are still much more wary of others than most of us were 40 years ago.

On the other side of the coin is other's suspicion of kindness. "Just what is this person up to?"

I've known people who view kindness as a weakness. I genuinely feel sorry for those folks.

Again, Thank You!

 

[Bastogne71]

A year from now the cost of the powder, bullets, and primers will be forgotten but a friend is forever. I hope that your new friendship will continue to grow and he will learn not only how to reload ammo but how to be a good man from your example.

I too have an unofficial adopted granddaughter that I call my “non-DNA granddaughter” that I love and admire the young woman she is becoming to be.

 

[brucev]

Re: My hat is off to you! There is a joy in giving. This is what the Apostle Paul was addressing when he quoted Jesus ... it is more blessed to give than to receive. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Krogen]

I'm a teacher-type who has taught people to shoot, and would enjoy teaching people to load. I've often thought about this while loading, and have concluded that, the danger(at least in these parts) would not be from some evil person devising harm against me, but with someone who simply doesn't have the personality/temperament required to load safely. I have good friends whom I wouldn't even attempt to teach reloading, because they have such an impatient, get-it-done-now attitude that a serious error(or three) would be almost inevitable.

This is a very good point. I have a number of friends that are rather frenetic in their life pursuits. Some are downright scatterbrained. A few I've taken shooting, only to find they don't comprehend safety issues. I found I needed to watch them like a hawk. I doubt I'd attempt to teach these folks to handload. Too much can go wrong without strict attention to detail. The rounds' defects may go unnoticed until one pulls the trigger. So in my mind, one is wise to consider a potentional student's temperament. These folks are some of my best friends. That's unlikely to change, provided we don't go shoot their handloads.

 

[ddixie884]

You did a good thing.......