Did anyone have to convince their wife that reloading was safe enough to do in the family home? my wife really does not like guns or anything to do with them including reloading. she keeps saying "I don't want you to blow the house up!" i need some good arguments that it is a safe hobby
convincing the wife
- Thread starter LeftyM77
- Start date
My wife hunts and reloads for her own gun so it didn't take any convincing on my part.
As for convincing her I'd show her exactly what reloading is all about. If you break things down for them it seems less scary. Show her some loaded ammo and put it in your pocket, drop it on the floor or whatever and show her it's safe. Then show her some empty brass, just a piece of metal right? Nothing scary about that. Put a primer in that piece of brass and pull the trigger. Sounds like a pop gun huh? Not scary either. Next lay a line of powder and light it on fire. Doesn't explode does it? Burns less scary than lighter fluid.
I don't think it's needed but I'll mention it anyways. Do all that in safe controlled environments and I'm not responsible for anything that might happen. Like don't lay a line to your 25lbs powder kegs lol.
Later
As for convincing her I'd show her exactly what reloading is all about. If you break things down for them it seems less scary. Show her some loaded ammo and put it in your pocket, drop it on the floor or whatever and show her it's safe. Then show her some empty brass, just a piece of metal right? Nothing scary about that. Put a primer in that piece of brass and pull the trigger. Sounds like a pop gun huh? Not scary either. Next lay a line of powder and light it on fire. Doesn't explode does it? Burns less scary than lighter fluid.
I don't think it's needed but I'll mention it anyways. Do all that in safe controlled environments and I'm not responsible for anything that might happen. Like don't lay a line to your 25lbs powder kegs lol.
Later
Tell her...You will only blowup the house once lol.....seriously reloading is only as SAFE as the person doing the reloading,If you follow all the basic reloading rules(which means First get yourself a good reloading manuel read it cover to cover TWICE} ...GOLDEN RULE..THERE ARE NO SHORT CUTS TO RELOADING... seat your primers properly,and don't ever force a primer to seat.Also no smoking while reloading.
Gun powder (For reloading) is not an explosive! You could burn your house down but you could not blow it up. Where are you? I would be happy to show your wife what reloading is all about and how safe it is. I had both of my daughters helping me to reload very young and reloading for themselves by the time they were 10! Reloading is one of the safest hobbies out there with no recorded deaths or injury's in Canada from it. As for GTH's comment, that will get you divorced in a hurry and your relationship will last much longer if you simple involve her in your hobbie. My wife of 25 year won our service rifle match on the 13th of April at Spruce Grove range. And she did not just win, she waxed our collective asses royally! One should never teache ones wife or girlfriend (And most certianly not at the same time) how to drive, shoot or reload!
Scott
Scott
she has an idea of what it is about. I live in calgary but do all my reloading down at my parents farm because my brothers and I split all our relaoding gear when we were younger. but now we are all going seprate ways and it is time to buy my own stuff. I know it is safe. she just needs some convincing...I think she has already accepted the fact it is going to happen wheather she likes it or not. I would just like her to understand that it is safer than she thinks
My wife knows that I'm a big boy capable of making rational and safe decisions. If your wife doesn't like guns, then I really don't know what to suggest, other than a new wife perhaps
If you need a good argument, here goes: I've been reloading for 22 years and owned firearms for much longer. Never blew up the house, burned anyone not shot myself and anyone else. I've been know to take a wine or two when on CGN (not good) but NEVER when reloading.
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Your best recourse is to get your wife to sit and chat with you whilst you are loading....after a wee bit she will be more comfortable with the process.
Do NOT tell her what will be, do NOT badger her, do NOT under any circumstance allow any type of debate where you have to cajole, defend or whinge to get your way, if she gets her back up......you are stuffed.
DO include your wife by chatting to her about mundane things (that are of interest to her) whilst you load, if this has to be at another venue at the start, so be it.
Just remember, familiarity does breed acceptance.....or at the very least, tolerance.
You have to be quietly sneaky in your approach, unless of course, you do not care if you upset her, in which case by all means feel free to blunder in kicking with both boots....then look about for a new wife.
Do NOT tell her what will be, do NOT badger her, do NOT under any circumstance allow any type of debate where you have to cajole, defend or whinge to get your way, if she gets her back up......you are stuffed.
DO include your wife by chatting to her about mundane things (that are of interest to her) whilst you load, if this has to be at another venue at the start, so be it.
Just remember, familiarity does breed acceptance.....or at the very least, tolerance.
You have to be quietly sneaky in your approach, unless of course, you do not care if you upset her, in which case by all means feel free to blunder in kicking with both boots....then look about for a new wife.
A little over 2 years ago I was in the same boat. I told my wife that I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the family's safety. I also worked on the practical side by telling her how much money I'd be saving by reloading. I shoot more but haven't really saved any money but she has never asked.... In hindsight I could've sold her on the saving money idea and I should've told her it was 'dangerous' because she regularly comes down and natters at me while I reload. 
In hindsight I could've sold her on the saving money idea and I should've told her it was 'dangerous' because she regularly comes down and natters at me while I reload. 
- Location
- Southern Alberta
Build a garage?
I'm fortunate to have a Quanset for all my reloading. My "problem" is the opposite of yours, with the wife asking if I would load in the house. She does her thing (quilting) and would like the company.
So if you have the room (not renting etc) suggest that you build a garage if she is too worried about safety. Before my quanset days I loaded at a coffee table in the living room.
Good luck.
I'm fortunate to have a Quanset for all my reloading. My "problem" is the opposite of yours, with the wife asking if I would load in the house. She does her thing (quilting) and would like the company.
So if you have the room (not renting etc) suggest that you build a garage if she is too worried about safety. Before my quanset days I loaded at a coffee table in the living room.
Good luck.
My wife loaded ammo for me once when I was too busy working to get ready for a match. How did the ammo work you ask? I won the match and only dropped 3 points all weekend, all pilot error. Best ammo I ever shot, too bad I can't get her to do all my loading.
you could take a pound of smokeless powder and pour it out on the ground, then stand back and toss a match on it, there will be no explosion, just a flaming torch. This will prove to her that although you might "burn the house down", you will never, "blow it up". Smokeless powder, "burns", it does not, "explode".
