Tom McHale - My Gun Culture

The Ultimate Reloading Series: Part 3 (Time to Clean the Brass)

By Tom McHale|2026-01-20T18:50:11-05:00January 20th, 2026|

In earlier parts of this series, we have discussed the importance of starting with squeaky-clean brass when you begin your reloading process. It’s important to note that “squeaky clean” doesn’t necessarily refer to shiny, sparkling brass color. What I mean by that is that brass should be completely free of all residue and debris, including range dirt, powder residue, oil, and whatever other gunk might get on your cartridge cases. While looks are important, the most important factor is ensuring the brass goes through the reloading process properly and without damaging your dies or other equipment.

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The Ultimate Reloading Series: Part 2 (The Process)

By Tom McHale|2026-01-12T10:57:33-05:00January 19th, 2026|

Back in Part 1 of the Ultimate Reloading Series, we talked about building up a starting stockpile of brass. While you certainly can buy a complete supply of ready-to-load new cases, it’s the scrounger way to accumulate them for “free,” so to speak.So now that you’ve got some brass cases stockpiled, it’s time to talk about the next steps. This time, we’re going to walk through the overall process at a high level. Then, each step detailed in subsequent articles will make a lot more sense.

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The Ultimate Reloading Series: Part 1 (Hoarding Brass)

By Tom McHale|2026-01-12T10:53:58-05:00January 16th, 2026|

We’ve been talking about doing a practical reloading series for 75% of forever.It’s time.Over the coming weeks, we’ll dive into the reloading process in a fun and easy-to-digest way. If you’ve been thinking about taking up the reloading hobby, this is your starting point. If you haven’t, read on anyway.

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It’s Time to Buy Another .22

By Tom McHale|2026-01-12T10:49:46-05:00January 15th, 2026|

I did a spring chore this past week: a gun inventory. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not personally in a position to have to inventory my own guns all the time. I wish that were a problem. The nature of my job means there are loaner guns coming and going constantly. It’s surprisingly easy to lose track and find some sitting around that should have been returned long ago.

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Reload Now, Regret Never: A Practical Guide to Getting Started

By Tom McHale|2026-01-12T10:45:28-05:00January 14th, 2026|

Now is the perfect time to start reloading. If you wait until the next political panic sets in, it’s just not gonna work. Prices will be sky-high, but that won’t really impact you because you won’t be able to find any products that you need, so you won’t spend a dime. At least you won’t be paying through the nose for gear and components. Then again, you won’t have any gear and components.

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Rhino Time: Chiappa’s 10mm 60 DS Beast

By Tom McHale|2026-01-11T19:03:56-05:00January 13th, 2026|

I tested a new Chiappa Rhino. It looks somewhat… OK, a lot, non-traditional, but boy was it comfortable to shoot. Yeah, I know. These aren’t new, but somehow I just hadn’t yet crossed paths with one. Their new 10mm beast was a great excuse to rectify that omission in my catalogue.

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Things You Learn… Reloading Your Own Ammunition

By Tom McHale|2026-01-11T19:01:33-05:00January 12th, 2026|

Every new venture comes with a learning curve… Wouldn’t life be great if you could watch a video, read a book, or talk to a friend and learn everything you need to know about some topic, process, or project? Sure, you can get the basics, and usually enough to get the job done, but there’s always a Mariana Trench-full of details and obscure scenarios you can only learn from experience.

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Confessions of a Gear-Paralyzed Gun Nerd

By Tom McHale|2026-01-11T18:57:31-05:00January 11th, 2026|

A couple of decades ago, when I first started my concealed carry journey, I did some really stupid stuff. Looking back on it now, I might refer to it as gear paralysis. By gear, I meant everything: ammunition, holsters and the corresponding carry method, and, of course, the gun. You name it, I analyzed every possible detail, trying to decide, not which combination of stuff might get the job done, but which was the ultimate, optimal solution. And therein lay the problem. You know the old saying, Perfection is the enemy of good.

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Shooting Competitions Suck

By Tom McHale|2025-11-30T20:18:22-05:00November 30th, 2025|

Some writers like to tackle controversial topics like a rodeo bull gearing up to take out a flock of clowns. Half the time, the pot stirrer may not even care one way or the other about the topic they’re either defending or hyping. I get the strategy, but it’s just not me. And trust me, I’m not trying to do that here, although I will admit the title is somewhat provocative. On purpose …I’m addressing the topic of shooting competitions because I have a genuine love/hate relationship with them.

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This Old Gun: Ruger’s Speed Six

By Tom McHale|2025-11-25T11:53:17-05:00November 25th, 2025|

Back in the day, not long after station wagons roamed free and kids slept on the rear window shelf on long highway trips, a highway patrolman bought this Ruger Speed Six .357 Magnum as a backup and off-duty carry gun. As you can see, it’s still in (not surprisingly) great health and ready for the range. The holster might be overdue for an upgrade, but I consider those consumable parts anyway. Well, after 30 or 40 years in this case.

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Tom

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