Straight reloading noob questions.

Fluidmachine

Fluidmachine

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I lured you into this thread with the intentions of asking you silly questions about things you guys are probably well aquainted with. Suckers.

I'm completely new to the whole shooting hobby as of 3 months ago. Now, I don't care about .22 ammo because it's dirt cheap. However, my .30-06 is not cheap to shoot at all. Well, at least on my budget. So, I want to get into reloading.

Is there some sort of reliable accurate noob guide that I can find to get into this? Like what equipment and stuff? I have zero idea, and don't really trust google. Let me rephrase that. I don't trust anything on the internet period. And when it comes to things that can very well cause serious serious injury if done incorrectly, I'm a little (lot) nervous. I bummed around the reloading bit for awhile, but the things I saw there scared me. (Mismeasurments, pressure, weights, squibs, misloads, exploding rounds, etc., etc.) I'm hoping someone is kind enough out there to help a fellow CGN to get into this all.

Thanks in advance my peeps,
Mike
 
I'm unaware of any online source that is as comprehensive as a good loading manual. Try Hornady, Lyman or Lee manuals for starters.

Probably not the answer you wanted.
 
Yo. I didn't even know such a thing existed. I could probably get one of those at the evil big box wholesale sporting stores eh?

Also, I'm young, but not crazy. I'll take any answer I can get from someone more knowledgeable than I!
 
A good book to get if your just starting out is The ABC's of Reloading. Reloading manual's as previously suggested are also good.
 
If you didn't know a reloading manual existed you weren't lookin hard enough. Reloading isn't something you just jump into you need to purchase alot of stuff (including loadig manual) and do alot of reading before attempting. Read the manual, it explains alot. Again feel free to ask any specific questions, anyone who reloads should be happy to help. PM me if you like. I personally don't reload for rifles as it is a much more meticulous process than pistol. You really aren't saving alot of money either from what I have looked into. Decent bullets, powder, primers, they all cost money, and the time it takes to reload accurate rifle cartridges is worth alot to me. Unless you are buying supplies in large quantities I didn't think it was worth it to reload for my .308. Not while I'm in school and working 30hrs a week. Maby in the future so I save my brass.
 
Look on the bright side.
Buy 20 rounds of 30-06,pay $20.Gone in 10 minutes.
Spend $400 on a decent startup RCBS/Hornady/Lee reloading setup,some primers,some powder and some bullets. Learn some stuff.
Load 1000 rounds @ 15 cents per.Load them again.And again.
Lesseee....nah,I can't do the math.

You need to find a mentor who can walk you through learning to reload.
Good luck.Sucker.
 
mlehtovaara said:
If you didn't know a reloading manual existed you weren't lookin hard enough. Reloading isn't something you just jump into you need to purchase alot of stuff (including loadig manual) and do alot of reading before attempting. Read the manual, it explains alot. Again feel free to ask any specific questions, anyone who reloads should be happy to help. PM me if you like. I personally don't reload for rifles as it is a much more meticulous process than pistol. You really aren't saving alot of money either from what I have looked into. Decent bullets, powder, primers, they all cost money, and the time it takes to reload accurate rifle cartridges is worth alot to me. Unless you are buying supplies in large quantities I didn't think it was worth it to reload for my .308. Not while I'm in school and working 30hrs a week. Maby in the future so I save my brass.
Click to expand...

I'm stoked to jump into everything I can. And learn as much as possible about the hobby I've chosen. I'll not be a "monthly plinker" as it were. Let me tell you, I purchased my .30-06 a month ago. SINCE THEN (ONE DANGED MONTH), I have bought:
.22lr Savage
.303 Lee Enfield
1944 surplus Mosin Nagant
Norinco 1911 clone
Currently in progress:
a .17HMR savage
a Benelli 12 Gauge

All in one month.

That's a lot of ammo when you hit the hills and range at least three times a week. Reloading is essentially the biggest cost saving measure from the info I've gathered. And anywhere I can save money, is something I'm going to jump at. I just use my .30-06 more than most right now, so I'm going through 30-40$ twice a week every week... I'm going broke faster than I thought possible.

Jimbubba, I'll definately find someone in town who knows all about reloading and try and figure it out from there, along with the ABC's of reloading.

Thanks again everyone.
 
Amazon sells the 'ABC's OF Reloading', your local g-store should be able to get their hands on a Lyman manual.

Those are the 2 I would start with.

Since you hang out at the range a bunch already, start talking to the guys that are out there..... more than a few of them relaod I expect.

Join your local g-clubs smaller groups (ie: pistol club etc.) Almost every body there will be a reloader.

I see you are in s-toon, if you ever get down to Regina I can give you a run down on what you need and show you my set-up if you are interested.

Cheers!
 
"...scared me..." Nothing to be frightened about. Reloading isn't rocket science. Read the ABC's book and look into an RCBS Beginner's Kit. Gives you everything you need less dies and shell holder and their legendary customer service. Comes with a Speer manual, but buy a Lyman book too. Nothing wrong with the Speer book. Has data for Speer bullets only. The Lyman book is just more versatile. It has more loads using more powders and bullet weights than any manufacturer's book.
Then follow the manual religiously.
 
zimbu said:
You'll spend the same amount of money, but you'll shoot twice as much.;)
Click to expand...

+1

I'ts not going to save you money at all, what it will do is allow you to tailor you loads to the firearm, be able to have a good supply on hand even when the store shelfs are empty, Plus the added most important factor shoot more!
 
get a few reloading manuals and study them good, when you start reloading take your time and follow the book and you cannot go wrong.
 
i would personally pick 1 calibre to start your reloading hobby. get yourself a good, informative reloading guide at a local gun shop, and while your there strike up a conversation with the older gentleman behind the counter about how you are getting into reloading and if he can give you any tips on your new hobby. and my other tip would be to start off with a simple lee hand loader, if you absolutely love reloading, or feel the need to upgrade then get yourself a press. i use a lee loader, always will always have. anyway just keep it simple get good at 1 calibre dont invest all your money, and try and learn as much as you can along the way.
 
woo! Thanks a whole bunch y'all.

Hopefully someone gets back to me on my next bit of info still pertaining to this question. If not, I'll make a new post.

And I'm typing my thoughts out loud...

Well, I am going to go to the store tomorrow and grab some stuff, and I came across this. I don't know if we can link to outside stores or not, but I'm gonna do it anywho and hopefully no one yells at me. Actually, I'll psuedo-link to it.

h t t p://www.wholesalesports.com/storefront/hunting/reloading/presses/breech-lock-challenger-reloading-kit/prod247145.html

Remove the spaces at the start obviously. Is this something that would be a good beginners reloading kit? It seems to have everything I need except for the dies? I'm not really sure what all I need at this point, there seems to be so much =)

Just trying to get a feel if this is a step in the right direction. Compared to the other presses on the site, this looks like a good newbie kit with easily replaceable parts and the such. Once again, any help or input is greatly appreciated.
 
like i said i personally wouldnt start with a press.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1259281677.65=/html/catalog/cleeloader.html

this is lee handloader. more of a beginners reloading kit aimed more to the joe average, and you just buy the calibre you need and boom ready to go. and my guess is the shop you go to will carry them, they are very very common.
and if your curious on how this little gem can even produce ammunition, heres a good instructional on youtube which will give you an idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKmMw4aCH3o
 
If you want to shoot a rifle alot and save alot of money and your shoulder you need to buy a .223. Reloading for .223 is half the price of 30-06, and when you get an AR(and you will eventually want one) you have 2 guns to shoot the same ammo from.
 
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