Small children and reloading equipment.

My oldest of tow kids is almost 2 years old. I let her hang out with me all the time when I do things, including reloading.

Is there any chance of small children ruining my single stage press by messing with it? She mostly just jerks the lever up and down.

I don’t know about your two your old, but my two boys that age could wreck it with a sideways glance from the other room, and it’s a pretty beefy Redding Big Boss. I don’t let them touch stuff in my reloading room. They just watch and criticize. She’s probably not the heathen my boys are, though.

My daughter was rough with mine one time. I made her stop, and explained why. But she was 5 at the time. Yours is young enough, I would keep her away.

I don't let my 3 year old touch my press and for the most part, I don't reload when he's in the shop. I let my 7 year old help sometimes, but she's calm and will do exactly what I tell her to. I think I'd keep a 2yo away if it was me.

Same here 7 yo daughter helps but my 2yo son is not allowed anywhere near. Little dude could *^&^% an anvil!

Mine help me all the time. If a press can't handle a 4 year old then it's a POS anyway.

My son is 3 now, but last year I let him help me when loading up ammo for this season. He would push the button on the chargemaster and with much assistance I let him pull the handle to seat a few bullets. A folding chair put him at the perfect height to see what was going on.

But he does pretty much everything with me, lays next to me on the creeper when changing oil, hold lug nuts when rotating tires and has even mowed the yard sitting on my lap on the riding mower a few times. Just keep an eye on them and its all a good learning experience, you would be amazed at what they pick up at such an early age. He does get fussed at for just messing with the press though.

I have seen small child smash a finger in a press..... so Be Careful!

This is the first thing I thought of. Heck, I still smash my fingers in the press. When it's bad is when you are sizing, and you push the decapping pin about 3/8" into your finger nail!

Reloading and distractions can lead to a disaster.

First of all, goijng to ignore the "don't let your kids near" comment. I think not allowing your kids to be near/aroiund when u do things (from cooking to reloading to everything in between) adds to the problems plaguing young poeople today.

She's usually not helping even though she thinks she is. It's just a way for us to spend more time together. So when I do thijngs like brass prep she hangs out with me in the shop and will often play with my hornady press.

This is the info I was looking for. At her age now I was sure it wasn't an issue. More think ng aviht when she gets older along with the younger one. I at least try to stop her from side loading the lever. But along its proper path, I've been letting her jerk it up and down as she wants.

^^^ agree!
Like is said with much assistance he helps!

He has smashed my finger before... doesn't take much force at all on that handle to mush the hell out of a finger on the ram side of the press!

I had my 4 yo granddaughter help me one day with some .308 Win.
She was curious and I explained everything as we performed each operation. I let her pull the handle ...with my help.
When we were through I told her to keep 5 of her rounds and give them to her daddy.
Honestly, once she figured out it was work she avoids the reloading bench.

I use a couple of the ball bungee cords to keep the handles up on my presses because I seem to always knock one down just as I go to step away. Might help in your situation as well.

Good for you for keeping them close. They learn the most that way, especially if they see that not everything always goes to plan, but you handle it anyways.

-ww

I could not agree more!

My daughter has been "helping" me load since she was 4 or 5. She is at the age now that she really can help. The next go-round I may have her load her own 223, with my supervision. She is 10.

Mine started out handing me brass and bullets at 5. that got old quick and she would wonder off. Last year she started loading her own ammo for 6BR. I supervise the first few and she knows if ANYTHING is different or doesn't feel right don't do it. She's 10.