bullet just falls into the case?

Oh, this was worse than that ... with a fired case & spent primer, or a neck sized case & spent primer, or a FL sized case & spent primer, it would cycle perfectly. Pull the trigger on the spent primer on any of those 3 cases however, and you'd need a rod down the barrel to remove the case - just a light tap, but enough of a jam to defeat the extractor. Sadly, all my books except two showed the "wrong" case size. Only the two oldest from the 60's & 70's had what I believe to be the correct dimension for this gun, but I had stopped using them since I had "newer and better" books now.

Live & Learn.

I have had a couple occasions as you described though back when I was still learning and didn't realize the importance of case length (my mentor was more critical of OAL and didn't stress Case Length to me) ... cycled fine until the live round was fired, then it would hang up in some way ... those I figured out quick enough once I broke out the calipers. Luckily didn't have as catastophic results you did though, just some sticky cases, a sticky bolt and a couple badly cratered primers.
 
Please read Lymann's 49th edition reloading manual. It has the best step by step for the beginner. By far the easiest to understand!
 
You guys are going to scare the guy into never reloading. Yes, reloading can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing but he said he's getting a manual and he is asking questions.

Uchi, not every step in reloading can lead to catastrophe. Here are the ones that can lead to potential injury:

-Wrong quantity of powder (none, less, more or the wrong powder)

-Seating the bullet at the wrong depth. (not sitting the bullet at the recommended depths can vary your chamber pressure drastically and thus destroy you gun and/or injure you)

-Priming your cases can be somewhat dangerous if you do it wrong. Make sure you use the proper tool, in the proper configuration (i.e. don't use small primer components to prime large primers, make sure the piston is oriented with the flat side up if you use such a tool, etc.). If you make a mistake (such as an inverted primer in the primer pocket) know how to deal with it.

These are about the only things you could screw royally. You can make mistakes at other steps but they will mostly affect your accuracy, not your health.

And if you don't want to wreck your dies, make sure you lube the cases properly before you start decapping and resizing.

As far as case prepping, not everyone follows the same routines. You can establish your own but as a general rule, the more things you do to your cases to bring them to uniformity (make them as identical as possible) the better accuracy you will get.

I know people who reload in four steps:

1. Decap and resize

2. Prime

3. Throw powder

4. Seat bullet

They don't bother with anything else and have never had a problem, ever. They've been reloading for decades.

I do a lot more between 1. and 2.

I start by tumbling my cases for 2-3 hours. Then I decap and resize, I clean my primer pockets, I uniform the flash whole and maybe the primer pockets (only the first time I reload a lot of brass), I tumble my cases again for 6 hours or so to get rid of dirt, sooth and lube, I clean out media from the flash hole and inspect each case, I check case length and adjust (if you are using brass that was fired in the same gun you'll be using, you're fine; cases will not stretch past the size of the chamber of a gun so, if you are using it in the same gun, you don't really need to do this step), I quickly chamfer and debur (one or two turns with each).

That's my case prep. Missing any of those step will only affect accuracy...maybe.

So, in conclusion, don't get overwhelmed. Reloading is not as hard as some like to make it sound but it can be dangerous if you are careless or lack basic understanding of it.

Do read as much as you can, have someone show it if you can and maybe even observe you reload, watch others do it and treat the activity with respect. But don't be scared of it.

Here is a good video that will solidify the understanding of the steps:

[youtube]Wn7S3lHHdfo[/youtube]
 
thanks for the info and video xman, very helpful. for the most part everything seems fairly straightforward if you use a bit of common sense. the steps you mentioned are basically the same method i was planning on using once i was ready to start on my own loads. what are you using in your tumbler? my buddy is using some sort of corn something or other, the exact name eludes me right now.

as for brass im only keeping brass that ive shot, i dont like picking up randoms from the range. ive got a couple hundred here, more than enough to keep me happy and stocked up.

priming the cases, ive got the hand held case primer that came with my breach lock kit. ill just use that as it seems to work fairly easily and it looks like i could knock out a high quantity pretty quick.
 
Xman said:
You guys are going to scare the guy into never reloading. Yes, reloading can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing but he said he's getting a manual and he is asking questions.
Click to expand...

If the answers to his questions, and our little side stories of things we've learned first hand (and he will probably experince in a similar way) scare a person off of reloading, then i would say that reloading was never for them to begin with.

Reloading is a very safe hobby, so long as one has the temperment to pay very close attention to detail. Our stories of "mis adventure" should serve to re-inforce the need for attention to detail, rather than scaring a person away from a wonderful sideline to the shooting sports.
 
oh im far from scared off by it, i have been overwhelmed in the past when i first wanted to get into reloading by all the information and steps but the more i read and learn the easier it seems to be. i enjoy reading stories of misfortune like this and how it was corrected, itll help me load a little safer and be more aware of what can go wrong if im not careful
 
made some purchases today, digital hornady scale, beats the hell out of the balance beam thing my kit came with and a hornady loading book. has recipes, detailed step by step info to load as well. thought id share and put some of you guys at ease :)
 
After readng the "Instructions" in the manual, do yourself a favor and sacrifice a few brass and use them to practice the various things they describe - without powder or primers. Try Full Length sizing as well as only neck sizing. Play around with seating bullets in them, and how to adjust the crimp if you think you'll need it.

If you've got a bullet puller, you can "re-use" the bullets for your practicing - just toss them once you are ready to start making fully charged loads.
 
thebuckhunter said:
before you get too involved, please read more books on the subject. The 2nd edition of the lee reloading manual is a great place for beginners to start. ( about $30, your life is certainly worth more than that.) then, find someone who can show you the ropes. there are too many things that you can do wrong and either damage a good firearm or seriously injure yourself. safety first!!!!!



-jason
Click to expand...

Yes!
 
IMagius said:
After readng the "Instructions" in the manual, do yourself a favor and sacrifice a few brass and use them to practice the various things they describe - without powder or primers. Try Full Length sizing as well as only neck sizing. Play around with seating bullets in them, and how to adjust the crimp if you think you'll need it.

If you've got a bullet puller, you can "re-use" the bullets for your practicing - just toss them once you are ready to start making fully charged loads.
Click to expand...

thanks bud, thats what i was thinking too, sacrifice some, ive got a ton of brass and dont mind wasting a few bucks on item ive bought for reloading just to make sure everything fits. so far the book is pretty good, tons of good information in it, and pictures, thats the big one, pictures, lol
 
You don't have to "waste" all the brass. Once you find a load that matches your criteria, then use one of these "waste" pieces to make yourself up a dummy round for future reference. That way, when it comes time to duplicate that round, your rifle's particular preferences are already known and you can set your dies up much more quickly to reproduce a proven combination.

While I applaud your finally getting a manual, I, myself, was not impressed by the Hornady book, but then I like Lee stuff so who am I to comment...

Continue to add various manuals to your collection. Pretty soon you will be like the old guys here and have a dozen or more. Good info in all of them and each author/editor has their own pet processes which, when taken all together, makes you a more rounded reloader.

Oh yeah, OP, if in 3 weeks you are on here giving noobs detailed advice about sorting out reloading and its associated troubles, expect to get razzed again. Please, take my advice, read what is found here, take things in a common-sense view, and just listen to what is said. Unless you have a question again, but first consult the books or online sources so that you don't get members saying, "Dude, don't you know what the search function is?"

Enjoy your new-found addiction.
 
Some people learn visually much better than form reading books.
Go to YouTube and search for iraqveteran8888.
He has a whole series of videos on the Lee 50th anniversary kit.
It shows everything from setting up the press and each die to properly reading the powder measure etc.

Before you go purchasing a vibratory tumbler do a search on wet tumbling with stainless steel media.
It is a little more expensive but the stainless pins will never wear out.
 
Another vote for Lee's 2nd edition manual. Read that thing front to back, and you will still have many unanswered questions. The CGN community is very helpful for issues. Check out your local range for mentoring and possibly even seminars. Then go to town, reloading is really rewarding and an awesome hobby!
 
uchi, I gotta say, I love your enthusiasm! I hope it will be appropriately tempered and guided by good advice from knowledgeable friends, fellow CGN'ers, and as repeatedly mentioned, all the great information available in reloading manuals. Be safe. Have fun. ... in that order.
 
rookie wildcat said:
You don't have to "waste" all the brass. Once you find a load that matches your criteria, then use one of these "waste" pieces to make yourself up a dummy round for future reference. That way, when it comes time to duplicate that round, your rifle's particular preferences are already known and you can set your dies up much more quickly to reproduce a proven combination.

While I applaud your finally getting a manual, I, myself, was not impressed by the Hornady book, but then I like Lee stuff so who am I to comment...

Continue to add various manuals to your collection. Pretty soon you will be like the old guys here and have a dozen or more. Good info in all of them and each author/editor has their own pet processes which, when taken all together, makes you a more rounded reloader.

Oh yeah, OP, if in 3 weeks you are on here giving noobs detailed advice about sorting out reloading and its associated troubles, expect to get razzed again. Please, take my advice, read what is found here, take things in a common-sense view, and just listen to what is said. Unless you have a question again, but first consult the books or online sources so that you don't get members saying, "Dude, don't you know what the search function is?"

Enjoy your new-found addiction.
Click to expand...


im using a lee kit, this was the book my local range had and after looking through their copy i was sold on it. im about 40 pages in, learning about all sort of fun stuff and starting to get into the actual reloading part of it now. the book is fairly thorough and like with anything a bit of common sense needs to be applied.

for the record the search function sucks, lol.

thump_rrr said:
Some people learn visually much better than form reading books.
Go to YouTube and search for iraqveteran8888.
He has a whole series of videos on the Lee 50th anniversary kit.
It shows everything from setting up the press and each die to properly reading the powder measure etc.

Before you go purchasing a vibratory tumbler do a search on wet tumbling with stainless steel media.
It is a little more expensive but the stainless pins will never wear out.
Click to expand...

i saw some info on one, if i can get a good price on one ill buy it. ive thought about going with an ultrasonic cleaner instead of a tumbler, that way i can toss other things in there like my brake and get it cleaned as well. guess it all comes down to how much i end up finding one for. thanks for the link ill have to check him out and watch his videos.

plong, my local range offers a reloading seminar, im not sure if ill bite and spend the money to attend it. with what ive learned and how simple its starting to become i dont think i need to. but i think if this were a month or so back id be all over it.

thanks icedog, ive got no problem learning new things and trying things out, and anything i can do to get me some cheap ammo and get me into another hobby im all for. especially if its something i can do during the cold months. another reason ill ask on here is because everyone has their own little tips and tricks on how to do thing, and if a handful of guys are doing something the same way chances are theyre doing it right, hopefully, lol.

thanks again for all the help guys, much appreciated.
 
Uchi, you are right, the search function is pretty much useless UNLESS you know exactly what to search for, and then you probably don't need to search for it.


have you looked into getting a LeeLoader handloader? they work well, and you really get an understanding of what is going on during the reloading process.

also, they use dippers/scoops to measure powder and are ALWAYS on the light side so you don't get yourself in hot water with a "BUMP" on your scale.... or a breeze from a window on your new digital scale!
Dippers NEVER go out of tolerance.
 
no i havent but i may look in to one in the future. speaking of powder loads. how often are you guys checking the weight to make sure youre still accurate? i know technically the dispenser should spit out the same amount each time, but i was thinking every 5th load to weigh the powder just to make sure its still on par with what im loading.

whats a dipper generally worth? i dont have a problem spending a little more money for piece of mind, my wife doesnt understand why i keep buying stuff when she already bought me what should have been a complete kit, lol, but its not her face thats likely to get blown off lol.
 
uchi said:
no i havent but i may look in to one in the future. speaking of powder loads. how often are you guys checking the weight to make sure youre still accurate? i know technically the dispenser should spit out the same amount each time, but i was thinking every 5th load to weigh the powder just to make sure its still on par with what im loading.
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I weigh every load. But then I'm anal and as you put it it's my face :)




uchi said:
whats a dipper generally worth? i dont have a problem spending a little more money for piece of mind, my wife doesnt understand why i keep buying stuff when she already bought me what should have been a complete kit, lol, but its not her face thats likely to get blown off lol.
Click to expand...

you can get a set of Lee Dippers for $10- $15
 
I use a Lyman 1200 DPS3. It does everything for you. You just dump a load of powder in the powder holder, dial your load in grains or grams and it dispenses it for you, in precise measure. It dispenses it onto a tray, on a scale thus it double-checks its accuracy. They are about $400 but worth every penny.

The guy in this video uses a second scale to double check the scale on the powder dispenser but, that's overkill. The scale on the dispenser IS double checking the measure that the dispenser puts out.

[youtube]Dj_1hMC-L7I[/youtube]
 
MRFixIT said:
I weigh every load. But then I'm anal and as you put it it's my face :)






you can get a set of Lee Dippers for $10- $15
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i kknow that im not as pretty as i once was but if my wife ever leaves me its all i have going for me, lol.

just watched a video of someone using the dippers and showing their consistency, not too bad, im gonna consider getting some next time im over the river. theyll come in handy for when i start loading bullets that i dont need that much accuracy with and i just just pour and go kind of thing
 
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