Advice/feedback

Denka

Denka

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Hi all, getting into reloading and would like to get good tips/hints from the pros
I am looking to start reloading for 9mm 115gr and .308 in 150gr and 168gr

Please, advise maybe on good a read or where I can get info
1. Which primers to get
For pistol, I assume if 9 mm - small pistol primers
For rifle, if for .308 cal - large rifle primers

2. Regarding powder:
Is there any specific I need to grab for different cal or I can use same one?
From where I can get info on how much powder is required for each load for 9mm 115 gr and .308 in 150gr and 168gr

I tried to go from http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol
For example


I see Starting and Max loads, so by looking at Grs column, for Starting - 4.7grs per load and Max - 5.1grs per load
Is there a recommended amount?
 
I suggest you purchase a couple of manuals first and a guide to reloading before jumping in, You tube has some good videos on setting up different presses as well
 
@silverfoxdj Would you mind letting me which ones? I got Dillon 550 model, read manual, did some youtube videos, but my questions are more specific
 
For the primers question, you will use small pistol for the 9mm. The brand of primers is purely up to you and your gun. Certain guns strike softer and prefer softer primers such as federals.

For the powder question, start at the minimum load for the pistol and do 10-20 rounds, then move up .1 grain and do 10-20 there. Take all the loads to the range and see which ones function best in the gun and give you your desired accuracy. Once you have that, give it.

For the rifle, you will be using a large rifle primer and completely different powder but the principle will be the same as what I mentioned about the pistol.
 
As for powders, there are different powders for different types of ammo ie rifle powders, shotgun powders, pistol powders. Though some shotgun powders double as pistol powders. Now those groups are further broken down into specific groups by calibers.

For 9mm, popular choices would include Unique, Titegroup, Bullseye, CFE-Pistol, 700x, Clays, Universal. For 308, popular choices would include Varget, H4895, Benchmark, IMR 4895. There are more choices of powders out there if you look up other powder manufacturers.

Some powders burn faster than others and some don't have much of a gap from minimum to maximum powder loads and as a result, can affect the accuracy and/or integrity of your firearm though most say that the max published loads are very conservative. I'm not the type of person to try pushing the envelope. Finding the right combination of powder type and powder load to the bullet type and weight you are using is all part of the experimentation process.

I see you've discovered the Hodgdon website. That should give you a clue as to what powder can be used for each caliber you wish to load for.

Always start off on the low side of the powder loads and work your way up.

As Silverfox pointed out, pickup a reloading manual or two and they would list the types of powder and min/max loads for each type of ammo/caliber. Hornady Reloading Handbook 9th Ed is a popular one.
 
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Thanks guys for replies, that's what I was looking to get as some example that you use. As per powder, I tried to check youtube videos, but so far there was no much info on different powders
I got Lyman 48th Reloading Handbook, so will check it out as well
 
Picking up a reloading manual (or two) is always a very good idea. Read it! Don't just flip to the Load Data section, but start at the beginning and read the theory & safety sections of the book. I have found that the Lyman 49th Ed and/or the Hornady (Current edition) are good starting points. Having multiple sources of reference material also gives you the advantage of more options. If you only have one reference, and you can't find any of the powders listed in it, you are out of luck, but if you have a couple sources, then your odds of finding a powder for which you have Load Data have increased. (Always have a "Plan B".) This is especially true for pistol powder which can be hard to find in general, but can be almost impossible if you are looking for a specific type.

As mentioned above, it is generally a good practice to start low and work your way up. Since you have a 550B, and it is not an auto-indexing press, it is probably good to run it as a single stage at first while you are learning. I would also recommend that only after you are more comfortable, should you start to use it as a progressive press. (There are simply too many variables when you are first learning.)

Have fun & stay safe.
 
As others have said and from my own experience, powder can be difficult. Find some and then read all the load data you can find for it before buying it as some powders are more versatile than others.
The nice thing about 9mm is that it doesn't take much per load so you get many rounds per pound.
I've used 5.0gr of HP-38 for my 115gr TMJ loads with a Winchester SP primer and it worked great for me. Snappier than factory American Eagle with no pressure signs or other issues.
A lot of the fun is in researching different brands and types of powder and then finding out what difference they really make. It's open-ended fun, enjoy!
 
Amend your profile to show what city you are in. We can give you better advice.

What rifle pistol are you using? What is the purpose of the rifle - Hunting? Plinking? Formal target shooting?

Pistol bullets. Jacketed, plated or lead? I use DRG brand cast lead bullets. They cost about $32/500

It has been my experience that the 135 gr DRG shoots bette than 115 and 124gr. Less recoil and more accuracy. 115 will give you maximum snap in the recoil.

Pistol primer. Buy whatever you can find. Small pistol primer.

Powder. Buy 231 or Titegroup or N320. I use Titegroup for accuracy and all loads other than full power. 3.5 gr works best in most of my 9mms. or 4.0 gr of 231.

Rifle needs a different powder. Best powders are Varget, N140, RL-15, 4895, BLC2, 748, H380. Good luck finding the powder. If you are going to load 308 with the Dillon, you want a fine grain extruded powder like RL15 or a ball powder like BLC2, 748, H380.

308 uses Large Rifle (not magnum)

For hunting, I would use something between 165 and 180. Use the one bullet for everything.

For both rifle and pistol I start with the START load in the book, and load 10 rounds in 0.3 gr increments up to MAX and go the to range. I shoot carefully off a rest and note the groups. Usually one group will look better than the others, and I go with that.

Each gun is different. If your gun shows pressure signs as you approach MAx, stop and bring the ammo home. In pistol, i usually find the best load is about medium power. In 308, I find the most accurate load is near MAx.
 
I am in Toronto
9 mm is for Glock 17 for mostly IPSC mathes, hopeffuly HK VP9 will come with factory barrel, looking to get that.
For rifle
I thought 150 gr for hunting purposes and for 168gr is for my precision rifle that works well with 168gr
 
Denka said:
I am in Toronto
9 mm is for Glock 17 for mostly IPSC mathes, hopeffuly HK VP9 will come with factory barrel, looking to get that.
For rifle
I thought 150 gr for hunting purposes and for 168gr is for my precision rifle that works well with 168gr
Click to expand...

I suggest you make a trip to Guelph and see frank. He makes the DRG and sells them at an excellent price. Buy lots. I suggest the 135s.

If you shoot them in a Glock, run a bronze brush through the barrel a few strokes after each range session.

Frank often has powder and primers. Call ahead 5109 824-5040

If you have two different 308s, segregate your brass in 50 round plastic boxes and only use the ammo matched to that rifle. This way you can neck size after the first firing.

For your precision rifle, 168 is fine up to 300. Personally, I prefer the Sierra 175, since it handles the wind better and will shoot long range. the 168 Sierra is a short range bullet. The 175 is the 168 with a longer boattail. Or use the Lapua 168.

For hunting, the 150 is rather light. It is devastating on deer. Too much so. I have switched to hunting with 180s. Does not blow up deer and will work well on bigger game, like moose.
 
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Ganderite said:
I suggest you make a trip to Guelph and see frank. He makes the DRG and sells them at an excellent price. Buy lots. I suggest the 135s.

If you shoot them in a Glock, run a bronze brush through the barrel a few strokes after each range session.

Frank often has powder and primers. Call ahead 5109 824-5040

If you have two different 308s, segregate your brass in 50 round plastic boxes and only use the ammo matched to that rifle. This way you can neck size after the first firing.

For your precision rifle, 168 is fine up to 300. Personally, I prefer the Sierra 175, since it handles the wind better and will shoot long range. the 168 Sierra is a short range bullet. The 175 is the 168 with a longer boattail. Or use the Lapua 168.

For hunting, the 150 is rather light. It is devastating on deer. Too much so. I have switched to hunting with 180s. Does not blow up deer and will work well on bigger game, like moose.
Click to expand...

Good points on grs :) Thank you, I am still gathering all items to start and wanted to get feedback from peers which is great and appreciated
 
One thing I found useful when I started, was to keep a list on me of the powders I could use in the different calibres I was loading for. It came in handy when confronted with empty shelves at the stores and ending-up with powders that were not my 1st or second choice.
 
Denka said:
Thanks guys for replies, that's what I was looking to get as some example that you use. As per powder, I tried to check youtube videos, but so far there was no much info on different powders
I got Lyman 48th Reloading Handbook, so will check it out as well
Click to expand...

You answered your own load questions with your screen caps.. I've read the 48th edition of lymans yesterday, and the info on how to read the charts is in the manual. Go to page 32 and read every page there. It will tell you exactly how to load pistol cartridges, then for the rifle rounds go to page 23 look at the diagram its circled for you, the powder is on the left, the bullet weight on the top of the chart, starting weight in grains, and maximum load in grains.

Then to learn about powders, go to page 62 SEction 7 Powders, read it all! I know I am going to!
 
bsand said:
You answered your own load questions with your screen caps.. I've read the 48th edition of lymans yesterday, and the info on how to read the charts is in the manual. Go to page 32 and read every page there. It will tell you exactly how to load pistol cartridges, then for the rifle rounds go to page 23 look at the diagram its circled for you, the powder is on the left, the bullet weight on the top of the chart, starting weight in grains, and maximum load in grains.

Then to learn about powders, go to page 62 SEction 7 Powders, read it all! I know I am going to!
Click to expand...

Will do, that what I wanted to know which material to grab.
Btw, does Canada import all types/brands of powder that is in US?
 
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