Reloading Rookie
- Thread starter Wqt007
- Start date
if i was looking to start reloading i would go to my local gun shop that sells reloading supplies and investigate what they have in stock
i reloading kit 600-1000$ depending
then powder 100$ a pound bullets 60-90 $ per 100
primers 15$-21$ 100
read the section on getting started in the loading manual a few times and your good togo
i reloading kit 600-1000$ depending
then powder 100$ a pound bullets 60-90 $ per 100
primers 15$-21$ 100
read the section on getting started in the loading manual a few times and your good togo
There's a book called the ABC's of reloading. I suggest finding a copy and reading it. There are some electronic versions online if that's your preference. - dan
1. There are a bunch of reloading kits (Lee, RCBS, Hornady, Lyman to name a few). Starter kits run from ~$300 upwards. I started off with one of the 'Lee Challenger Kits', which is the least expensive and I still use today. Great for low volume or to get a taste if reloading is for you.
2. Do a search. Google and Youtube are your friend.
3, Too many places to list. Buy local!
You mentioned in another thread you are in West Kelowna
Kelowna F&G Club is having a Swap Meet in August. Reloading stuff can usually be found for good prices at gun shows/swap meets
Kelowna F&G Club is having a Swap Meet in August. Reloading stuff can usually be found for good prices at gun shows/swap meets
- 24 Aug 2025
-
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (PDT) - Location
Main Hall
I was mentored when I started 60+ years ago and I mentor a couple of newbies even now.
Start small, if you can, and learn the basics on simple tools to start is my advice and see if you can sit in with an experienced reloader for a while.
There are nuances and things that an experienced reloader has encountered and can pass on without you having to go through the same discovery and correction process.
Good luck.
Start small, if you can, and learn the basics on simple tools to start is my advice and see if you can sit in with an experienced reloader for a while.
There are nuances and things that an experienced reloader has encountered and can pass on without you having to go through the same discovery and correction process.
Good luck.
ambishooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southeastern Canuckstan
Distraction is your biggest enemy. Focus in what you are doing. But start with....
1. Equipment. Start with a decent set-up. A reliable single stage press for low volume output is suggested. Brands mentioned above should be a good starting point.
2. Supplies. Casing, bullet, primer, powder, powder dispenser, dies and cleaning equipment.
3. Reloading books. Forums are plenty, you just need to find them. Books are reliable and tested. But forums will have some tweaks to your liking.
4. For your safety, start with the lowest suggested load. Then move up or slightly down to your liking. If you are not sure of what you are doing,
ask, ask and ask. Read and follow suggested load. These are available from most powder manufacturers sites.
5. Load a few varying powder weights. Do not make a bigger batch as you might need to make adjustments to your liking.
6. As mentioned above, find an experienced reloader who can be your mentor. Watch him reload. Ask the do's and dont's.
7. When using your reloaded ammo the first time, fire one round at a time. Do not rush. Observe the target, velocity if you have a chrono and recoil. Then tweak your load. Do not over or under adjust the powder load. For rifle loads, few grains over or under might be a safety issue.
8. Again, FOCUS. Safety is in your hands. If you are not sure, read the books. Ask experienced reloaders. If you are hesitant, do not proceed.
STAY SAFE AND GOODLUCK!
1. Equipment. Start with a decent set-up. A reliable single stage press for low volume output is suggested. Brands mentioned above should be a good starting point.
2. Supplies. Casing, bullet, primer, powder, powder dispenser, dies and cleaning equipment.
3. Reloading books. Forums are plenty, you just need to find them. Books are reliable and tested. But forums will have some tweaks to your liking.
4. For your safety, start with the lowest suggested load. Then move up or slightly down to your liking. If you are not sure of what you are doing,
ask, ask and ask. Read and follow suggested load. These are available from most powder manufacturers sites.
5. Load a few varying powder weights. Do not make a bigger batch as you might need to make adjustments to your liking.
6. As mentioned above, find an experienced reloader who can be your mentor. Watch him reload. Ask the do's and dont's.
7. When using your reloaded ammo the first time, fire one round at a time. Do not rush. Observe the target, velocity if you have a chrono and recoil. Then tweak your load. Do not over or under adjust the powder load. For rifle loads, few grains over or under might be a safety issue.
8. Again, FOCUS. Safety is in your hands. If you are not sure, read the books. Ask experienced reloaders. If you are hesitant, do not proceed.
STAY SAFE AND GOODLUCK!
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
I am one of the rare ones who like reading and actually read the manual for everything I have.
I learned to reload by carefully reading through my first reloading manual, and the instructions that came with the die sets.
Started with a single stage press, a pound of rifle and a pound of handgun powder. A scale, case lube and the other bits were bought at the same time at a gun store. Get a dial caliper too. It is cheap and extremely handy. If you feel you must get a digital caliper, don't get a cheap one with garbage electronics in it. Mitutoyo is worth the extra money if going digital.
I suggest only after you have an excellent understanding of basic reloading with lots of experience, you can decide if you want to move up to a progressive system. Kinda depends on how good your mechanical aptitude is.
I learned to reload by carefully reading through my first reloading manual, and the instructions that came with the die sets.
Started with a single stage press, a pound of rifle and a pound of handgun powder. A scale, case lube and the other bits were bought at the same time at a gun store. Get a dial caliper too. It is cheap and extremely handy. If you feel you must get a digital caliper, don't get a cheap one with garbage electronics in it. Mitutoyo is worth the extra money if going digital.
I suggest only after you have an excellent understanding of basic reloading with lots of experience, you can decide if you want to move up to a progressive system. Kinda depends on how good your mechanical aptitude is.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I disagree with Post #14 - the young fellow that I mentored, I insisted that he learn how to set up his dies - every time - for his chamber - when used to doing that, it takes maybe 15 seconds - then you "know" that you are correct, instead of relying that nothing has ever changed over time.
To OP - is good to hear that you are interested in learning how to reload - what I discovered is many "wanna-be" are set back by how much the various supplies cost - and the quantities they are sold in. Most powder is sold by the pound - one pound, five pound or 8 pound at a time (7,000 grains to a pound) - if you want to try 48.7 grains powder - can not buy that - have to get a pound, for most powders, minimum. Bullets often sold in bags or boxes of 50 or 100 - primers usually were sold in trays of 100 or "bricks" of 1000. Does not matter that you only want to load up 12 or 18 loads - you will have to buy a lot more than you need - usually. Back in the day, I had multiple "friends" want me to load them 20 or 40 rounds - so, who was supposed to pay for the extra powder, bullets, primers? That all came to crashing halt when I asked them to get their own stuff and bring to my place - could use my tooling, under my supervision, to load up however many they wanted. None, that I recall, took me up on that.
To OP - is good to hear that you are interested in learning how to reload - what I discovered is many "wanna-be" are set back by how much the various supplies cost - and the quantities they are sold in. Most powder is sold by the pound - one pound, five pound or 8 pound at a time (7,000 grains to a pound) - if you want to try 48.7 grains powder - can not buy that - have to get a pound, for most powders, minimum. Bullets often sold in bags or boxes of 50 or 100 - primers usually were sold in trays of 100 or "bricks" of 1000. Does not matter that you only want to load up 12 or 18 loads - you will have to buy a lot more than you need - usually. Back in the day, I had multiple "friends" want me to load them 20 or 40 rounds - so, who was supposed to pay for the extra powder, bullets, primers? That all came to crashing halt when I asked them to get their own stuff and bring to my place - could use my tooling, under my supervision, to load up however many they wanted. None, that I recall, took me up on that.
ambishooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southeastern Canuckstan
Lee Precision also has a bushing for their dies. You can get 1 set of dies set up per caliber with a set of bushings. When you switch to a different caliber, you barely need an adjustment.
Using a Turret, same thing with bushings. You get a separate plate to mount the dies per caliber. Less tinkering during caliber change.
Using a Turret, same thing with bushings. You get a separate plate to mount the dies per caliber. Less tinkering during caliber change.
I like the turrets because once the dies are set you can easily switch between cartridges without having to reset everything.
The LAL bushings would work similar but you might as well just buy an extra turret for what the bushings cost
Potash is correct in being able to set up your dies properly each time you reload but in my case I load over 30 different cartridges and it’s too much of a pia to set them up each time it would honestly turn me off of reloading
Sometimes I will only load a few rounds of multiple different cartridges so it’s much faster and easier to just switch turrets and shell plates
A newcomer can still use a turret press to set up his dies each time and load single stage like you would on a rock chucker but as he progresses and loads more and different cartridges he won’t have to buy another press unless he wants a progressive
The LAL bushings would work similar but you might as well just buy an extra turret for what the bushings cost
Potash is correct in being able to set up your dies properly each time you reload but in my case I load over 30 different cartridges and it’s too much of a pia to set them up each time it would honestly turn me off of reloading
Sometimes I will only load a few rounds of multiple different cartridges so it’s much faster and easier to just switch turrets and shell plates
A newcomer can still use a turret press to set up his dies each time and load single stage like you would on a rock chucker but as he progresses and loads more and different cartridges he won’t have to buy another press unless he wants a progressive
