Before I start reloading

[fiddler]

Or find someone who reloads to show you the ropes

Best advice. Have a few sit down hands-on sessions with a buddy. Go from A to Z, its not hard nor dangerous if you follow the guidelines

 

[G-Man_Quagmire]

Read the abcs of reloading and go from there.

 

[mgimp]

One suggestion would be to consider using Trail Boss powder. It is bulky enough to lessen the chance of too heavy a charge.

 

[Suputin]

Thank you for the inputs.

I did buy a reloading manual, there is also tons of loading data available online on the powder manufacturers websites.
I'll fore go the half-load/assed idea and stick to the Lyman manual data.
Had no one put in their input, I would've loaded 5 rounds with the special loading data in the magnum cases (read before that lots of CAS shooters did it already) and loaded/fire em 1 at a time doing a full case/weapon inspection between each shot. Then only shooting the next one if everything looked good. I will do this regardless.

Thanks everyone.

Reloading is not THAT dangerous. Follow the recipe in your manual and you'll be fine.

 

[gwesson]

- Oh and - every powder container I've ever read, says "Don't mix powders!"

 

[curseyou]

Read the lyman manual 3 times and giver.

Be patient.

 

[Sqr]

Patience and attention to detail is your first two items on a series list.

 

[Grawfr]

I couldn't see if you were reloading for handguns or for rifles. I shoot .357mag out of a lever action rifle (20" barrel) and I've been using Hodgdon H110 powder and 158gr bullets with good effect. Slow burning powder + long barrel = higher velocity.

Don't be too scared of the reloading process: read your manuals carefully, take each step one at a time, measure twice, follow the recipes and you'll be fine.

 

[ATOM]

All good advice above. Suggestion to read ABCs is a good one, even though reloading manuals cover much the same ground.

I remember being at the range with my first reloads - .357 Mag - and really worrying about losing body parts. It's normal.

Some hints from my POV:

- Follow the loads in the manuals religiously until you get a feel for it.

- Approach high loads with caution. Every firearm has its own quirks and what one will fire with ease will push pressure up dangerously high in another.

- Use a flashlight to check powder levels in cases before going on to insert bullets.

- Be bloody fanatical about double-checking everything. I keep the powder container on the table in front of me, check the load in the manual ever so often and recheck the scale setting, too. Yep, it's overkill. Well, I would have called it such until I caught myself making a mistake once.

- Fully agreed with the comment above on drinking, music and so forth. Focus whenever handling the explosive bits. Case cleaning, etc is different, of course.