Thinking about getting into reloading

I taught myself mainly by reading multiple manuals about 10 years ago. Now I reload for around 15 calibers including a wildcat. The hobby becomes very addictive in many ways.... the obsession over fine details to improve groups, the thrill of finding that hard to find brass. Of course being able to buy guns in obscure calibers because “I can reload for it!”

I tie my own flies for fly fishing and I find taking game with I’ve put together and ammo I’ve loaded to be a similar feeling to taking a big trout on a fly I’ve created. Casting is next on mute list but with 4 kids (2 - 1 year olds!) it’s hard to add that to the hobby drawer right now. That said I’ve got 400 lbs of wheel weight ingots ready to go and moulds for most of my guns!

Bottom line, get loading! I started with a Hornady Lock and load press / kit and received the 500 free Bullets. I have had nothing but great things to say about the Hornady kit other than the cheap electronic scale which I eventually upgraded to the RCBS 1500. I have also added a Lee Turret press to it bench for pistol rounds and 45-70 plinking loads. Great press for the price for putting out volumes of decent pistol ammo.
 
Dozer33 said:
From what I’ve read
Yes I read. I also make jokes
There are many grades and densities of lead all of which affect the weight and performance of a bullet
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I've been reloading for 7 years now, I learned from you tube and asking questions here.
I have a couple of books, but didn't really use them.
I've had a few minor issues,but they're easily fixable.
You have to be able to recognize a squib and you don't want to over charge/ double charge your powder.
An older friend who cast his own bullets just gave me all his casting gear,as he's done with it.

It came with 2 five gallon buckets of wheel weights.
I think there's a hardener that you add with the lead.
Anyway,soon he will be teaching me how to do that
 
Ok I’m gonna clear this all up.
I read and will read. When things require detail I’m all about being detailed. I’ve already done a ton of reasearch about the equipment I bought yesterday on switzers auction ( and if there’s parts missing Or broken I’ll fix that, I understand the risks I took buying used from an auction). I’ve already ordered the abc’s of reloading. I will read it. I’m also a podcast junkie and found a few podcasts on reloading.
Silver I’m sorry I don’t understand your last post. No it’s not a joke? Or.......

Can we drop the criticism that’s been going on for 7 pages now cause this is feeling like American gun nutz on here.
 
45C said:
I've been reloading for 7 years now, I learned from you tube and asking questions here.
I have a couple of books, but didn't really use them.
I've had a few minor issues,but they're easily fixable.
You have to be able to recognize a squib and you don't want to over charge/ double charge your powder.
An older friend who cast his own bullets just gave me all his casting gear,as he's done with it.

It came with 2 five gallon buckets of wheel weights.
I think there's a hardener that you add with the lead.
Anyway,soon he will be teaching me how to do that
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What do u mean the signs of a squib. Is there more than to it than nothing hit my target and theres still a bullet in my barrel. Does the gun act differently. Never had a squib?
 
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Last year we cleaned out my 76 yr old dads hoarder house and I took all his Guns home and got my Licience in a hurry. Until last year I haven’t shot a gun since he took me to the range when I was 13. Then I found out a friend is really into guns and my enthusiasm just reignited his interest even more. He liked my ag42b ljungman and wants to get one now but said we should start reloading cause that guns expensive to shoot. Wants to reload for his 458 socom too.
I said well there’s a ton of stuff coming up on switzers let’s get into it. And that’s where I’m at
 
Dozer33 said:
Last year we cleaned out my 76 yr old dads hoarder house and I took all his Guns home and got my Licience in a hurry. Until last year I haven’t shot a gun since he took me to the range when I was 13. Then I found out a friend is really into guns and my enthusiasm just reignited his interest even more. He liked my ag42b ljungman and wants to get one now but said we should start reloading cause that guns expensive to shoot. Wants to reload for his 458 socom too.
I said well there’s a ton of stuff coming up on switzers let’s get into it. And that’s where I’m at
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Your story is all to familiar in Canada.

Why did you quit shooting??? Because you couldn't afford it??? Not dissing you, just asking. If so, you aren't alone.

I run into people all the time that make the comment "When my Dad/Grandfather/Uncle pass on, I'm going to inherit such and such a firearm and tons of ammo.

The vast majority of those claimants can't afford to purchase even a cheap, low end rifle, let alone afford to shoot it. Most don't even realize they need to have a license to keep those firearms once the probate period is over. Many can't afford to belong to a club or a firearms org either.

For instance, does your shooting friend know that a decent ag42b is going to set him back $700+, or that reloading equipment, if he can't borrow your's is going to set him back $400 just for second hand stuff on the low end of quality. Then at least another $150 for his first bag of brass, box of bullets and box of primers???

If you joined a local club, likely someone would take you under their wing and be willing to teach you the basics of shooting and reloading. Most folks at the clubs are very decent and helpful.

This is a good place to start but there is way more to it all than you will get here or from doing hours of reading.

In your face, on hand mentors, WITH GOOD KNOWLEDGE, are the best and easiest way to learn.
 
Hey bear
Like I said I was 13 ish. My dad would go on obsessive kicks. He’d be into cameras or stereos or guns and spend a ton on it then lose interest and it would sit. I don’t remember if I enjoyed the range trips, I think he let me shoot a bit then spent the rest of the time shooting himself(he was pretty selfish that way.). So once he lost interest in guns They just sat locked up for years.
I have a Weatherby Mark 22 that is in beautiful condition cause it’s just sat, I haven’t even seen One on gun post. It cycles perfectly and is very accurate.
So that’s why I didn’t shoot more. I have a daisy power line 953 with the Walther barrel that I bought when I was 13. I would pull out once in a while And shoot. But my dad stopped going to the range.
As far as finances I do well and can afford fun stuff.
My friend and I decided to combine our buying power and get the reloading stuff together ( he runs a decent sized company and probably won’t have time to do a lot of reloading but we’re gonna figure out the process together. We can avoid a lot of mistakes that way.
I haven’t joined a club cause my friend has a place to shoot. I’m sure I can find someone that reloads. Also found out that one of our suppliers reloads so I’m gonna ask him.
And yes he knows what a ljungman is worth. He likes the idea of a semi auto heavy hitting gun.
 
Can’t find it now but someone said they shoot so they can reload. I think I get that. My dad had several boxes of 6.5x55 lapua and I’m thinking I need to shoot that In the Mauser so I can reload it For the ljungman lol
 
Reloading can be a means to make ammo for shooting.

or it can be the means to make super accurate ammo for competition.

Or it can be a major hobby/interest in itself, with the shooting just a way to free up more brass.

It is interesting and can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.
 
Ganderite said:
Reloading can be a means to make ammo for shooting.

or it can be the means to make super accurate ammo for competition.

Or it can be a major hobby/interest in itself, with the shooting just a way to free up more brass.

It is interesting and can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.
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A little of each please
 
Dozer33 said:
What do u mean the signs of a squib. Is there more than to it than nothing hit my target and theres still a bullet in my barrel. Does the gun act differently. Never had a squib?
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Squibs are usually when you miss a powder charge,more common on progressive presses.
When shooting semi auto pistols or rifles, it's harder catch if you popping them off .

You can tell when you got one as you only here a past,or pop instead of a bang.
If you fire a second round into a squib, you can say goodbye to your barrel.
I've only ever had two,both in a 9 mm semi and both from using a progressive press.
If you just take your time, ask questions on here when your not sure of something, you tube and Google, you'll be fine.
I started in 2013 at 48 years old , I made a few mistakes, needed help and asked on here.
Guys like Ganderite etc helped me more times than I can count.
Oh and one thing, most guys on here don't seem to tolerate much humor..lol
My drinking and Ozzy music was weak stab at Humor, but as you can see, nobody found it funny.. ha ha
 
Ganderite said:
Reloading can be a means to make ammo for shooting.

or it can be the means to make super accurate ammo for competition.

Or it can be a major hobby/interest in itself, with the shooting just a way to free up more brass.

It is interesting and can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.
Click to expand...

And even if you think you have the cart on the right end of the horse and that you reload so you can shoot, you find yourself looking at a new gun and considering whether it can shoot ammo you already reload, whether you're going to have to get into that annoying dance of recalibrating back and forth and keeping two virtually-indistinguishable flavours of reloads separate, or whether this gun means buying more reloading dies and which of the primers, powder, or possibly bullets you already stock or how much more room this is going to take in an already-full reloading room.
 
45C said:
Squibs are usually when you miss a powder charge,more common on progressive presses.
When shooting semi auto pistols or rifles, it's harder catch if you popping them off .

You can tell when you got one as you only here a past,or pop instead of a bang.
If you fire a second round into a squib, you can say goodbye to your barrel.
I've only ever had two,both in a 9 mm semi and both from using a progressive press.
If you just take your time, ask questions on here when your not sure of something, you tube and Google, you'll be fine.
I started in 2013 at 48 years old , I made a few mistakes, needed help and asked on here.
Guys like Ganderite etc helped me more times than I can count.
Oh and one thing, most guys on here don't seem to tolerate much humor..lol
My drinking and Ozzy music was weak stab at Humor, but as you can see, nobody found it funny.. ha ha
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Thanks for the info. I’ve seen enough guns blowing up on YouTube to get the risks. No progressive die for me just a lee single stage
We’ll keep the jokes between us.
I’m 47 so so starting late just like u.

I won a mixed lot of 6.5x55mm ammo on switzers last night. (I hope non of you are Jharry) and a contact in the states identified one of the rounds In the pictures as an experimental danish round from the 70s that blows guns up bad. The Danes sold it to North America. Apparently some poor guy lost his hand cause of it. So some of it will have to be reloaded for sure.
 
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Dozer33 said:
So where do u guys buy brass?
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I started off on commercial ammo and always gathered and kept my brass in anticipation of eventually reloading. Especially with a new gun it's best that any warranty issues have absolutely nothing to do with reloads. And then I bought the reloading equipment after I had my brass supply in hand!

Some folks are inordinately willing to gather other peoples' brass off the range floor but this is often frowned upon.

Various gun stores will sell packages of 50 or 100 pieces of new brass, but price comes down in larger quantities, like the 1000-piece cases of Starline brass that Doubletap sells. They're just west of YYZ so relatively close to you.
 
old303 said:
I started off on commercial ammo and always gathered and kept my brass in anticipation of eventually reloading. Especially with a new gun it's best that any warranty issues have absolutely nothing to do with reloads. And then I bought the reloading equipment after I had my brass supply in hand!

Some folks are inordinately willing to gather other peoples' brass off the range floor but this is often frowned upon.

Various gun stores will sell packages of 50 or 100 pieces of new brass, but price comes down in larger quantities, like the 1000-piece cases of Starline brass that Doubletap sells. They're just west of YYZ so relatively close to you.
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Yeah I know where double tap is I work close to there.

Thanks
 
So I stopped by that supplier of ours that reloads. I think he’s a little advanced for me to learn from. He had 2 Dillon presses set up and between them an evolution mark 7 Reloader. It’s pneumatic powered and looks fully automatic. Guy wasn’t there but I talked to his brother, apparently he and his wife shoot pistols competitively. Looks like he loads 9mm exclusively
 
Dozer33 said:
I rise to the task at hand .
I’m a mechanic, some jobs need tiny pliers and a soldering iron. Some jobs need the biggest hammer you can find.
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As a Mechanic and your attitude you wont have any problems you cant solve. Most Mechanics I know like quality Tools therefore I recommend to invest in a quality single stage, non Aluminum Press and go from there.

Cheers
 
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