Guide a Noob

Rivalen

Rivalen

CGN frequent flyer
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Location
St-Hubert, Qc
Hey there,

I've been dabling with the idea of reloading. Well, right now I live in a condominium and space lacks, but I'm planning to buy a house, so I'll have a nice garage to install a reloading press and the required gear.

I gotta admit, I get lost pretty fast when I read reloading threads. Case feeder, tumblers, bullet feeder, indexer, progressive press, ush... etc.. Is there a website or thread somewhere that explains how to get started, what is needed, etc.. in noob terms. Or is there a shop, like a dillon retailer (or other brand) in the grand montreal area who could gladly teach someone what he needs to know?

I don't plan on buying anything right away, the house is due in less than a year, but I'd like to know where I'm heading :)

BTW I currently only shoot 9mm but plan to add a .45 to the roster in a near future.

Another stupid question: Does storing powder and components has to be declared to your house insurance (or it does one need additional coverage?)

Thanks a bunch! :D
 
I was in the same boat a while back.

Here are my thoughts:

I knew nothing, assumed nothing and had no real help at the time.

I needed a press, many recommended to start with a single-stage, a few recommended Dillon 550. I figured 650 is a better machine and I could justify it but kept looking for what else is out there with same features and may be a better price - came across Hornady LNL AP. Crunched the numbers and it turned out it wasn't only cheaper to buy the press but also to get it setup for multiple calibers. So, I bought one, set it up myself and asked a friend to show me the process with his Dillon 550. He invited me over and showed how it works, I had no surprizes by then.

Did some more reading on the Net, Youtube, bought ABC's Of Reloading 8th Ed, Speer #13 manual and Lyman Pistol and Revolver Handbook 3rd Ed. More reading (2 evenings).

Researched components, decided on Frontier 124gr plated bullets and Hodgdon Universal powder to start with, got Winchester and Federal primers.

Tumbler, bullet puller, Hornady and RCBS dies, scale, caliper AND Hornady PISTOL powder measure insert to accurately measure powder charges -- extremely recommended!!!

Made a few dummies, made sure they cycle in the gun, made a few rounds with .1gr diff in powder within recommended ##. Took them to the range and started with medium load, down, and as far up as I felt safe, while watching for pressure signs.

Then it came to 'polishing' crimping and OAL and the load that I ran thru chrono to make sure I make 125PF for USPSA Minor.

Then I already could teach :D and even helped one of the CGNers to setup his dies that he bought from me.

That's the short story if you will :D
 
www.rcbs.com has a basic intro. Any store selling reloading components will also sell reloading manuals, which will lead you through step-by-step. You'd need one of those anyway.

WRT insurance - my present company never asked and it was not in the questionnaire or the contract, so I never told them. I checked rates with another company and asked about special coverage for the firearms. They asked me if I reloaded and, when I said yes, turned me down flat. Check the fine print in your insurance policy.
 
This is the Fist thing you NEED to buy. ABC's Of Reloading

Check out Amazon.ca best price , and less then 3 for delivery

I started reloading last summer and didnt know S#$^. ABC's Of Reloading is the Noob Bible
 
Yep the guys are right about the books alos if you shoot at a range ask around most guys are willing to help. As far as insuance that is up to each company, as well as limits on how much powder you can store in a resident.
 
Rivalen said:
Another stupid question: Does storing powder and components has to be declared to your house insurance (or it does one need additional coverage?)

Thanks a bunch! :D
Click to expand...

When in doubt, ask. If you're purchasing a house and hence new insurance, this would be a good point to bring up when you're shopping for coverage.

Get "clear" answers to your questions. Remember that the smarmy little agent who sells you a policy won't be who you deal with after your house burns down. He'll be replaced by a 3 rd party total ####### of an adjuster whose sole purpose in life will be to minimize or deny your claim.

Know where you stand.
 
Rivalen said:
Hey there,

I've been dabling with the idea of reloading. Well, right now I live in a condominium and space lacks, but I'm planning to buy a house, so I'll have a nice garage to install a reloading press and the required gear.

I gotta admit, I get lost pretty fast when I read reloading threads. Case feeder, tumblers, bullet feeder, indexer, progressive press, ush... etc.. Is there a website or thread somewhere that explains how to get started, what is needed, etc.. in noob terms. Or is there a shop, like a dillon retailer (or other brand) in the grand montreal area who could gladly teach someone what he needs to know?

I don't plan on buying anything right away, the house is due in less than a year, but I'd like to know where I'm heading :)

BTW I currently only shoot 9mm but plan to add a .45 to the roster in a near future.

Another stupid question: Does storing powder and components has to be declared to your house insurance (or it does one need additional coverage?)

Thanks a bunch! :D
Click to expand...
----------------------------------------------
Regarding storing powder & components ; a bud of mine was recently told by his Insurance co. that if he was doing such a thing , his policy would be "null & void":( --- He now stores it at "his friends" home !!
Do your homework on this one !
 
Insurance companies provide a detailed booklet saying what is and what is not covered and under what conditions. Dig out the magnifying glass and read carefully. As to asking, it's your call. I would prefer to check for myself rather than depend on the judgement of some goo-chewing clerk on the other end of the phone who doesn't know a 22LR from a hand grenade. If handloading is not prohibited in the booklet, you would win any court case, especially if your storage complied with the federal standards and it did not contribute to any loss.
 
ATOM said:
Insurance companies provide a detailed booklet saying what is and what is not covered and under what conditions.
Click to expand...


My bet is they'd squirm right out of that one with the ,,"Nothing otherwise stated or implied" clause. You may notice how your application is often stated as constituting part of the policy whereas their sales bull#### is deemed, by them, not to be part of the policy.

You don't have to be a lawyer, (I'm certainly not), to know these things aren't a matter of casual semantics. What constitutes the "Policy" is all important.
 
Rivalen said:
Hey there,

I've been dabling with the idea of reloading. Well, right now I live in a condominium and space lacks, but I'm planning to buy a house, so I'll have a nice garage to install a reloading press and the required gear.
Click to expand...

You don't need much space. I'd loaded tens of thousands of rounds while living in various apartments about 500 square feet. My Dillon 550, Lyman single stage press, and my RCBS luber-sizer were all fixed to chunks of 2x6 then C-clamped to my Black & Decker Workmate. I also cast my pistol bullets on the Workmate as well with a bottom pour pot. I found there was ample room on the deck for everything needed. As it stands, the Dillon 550 has since been mounted to it's own bench - a Mastercraft from CanTire - and everything else (I now have an RCBS single stage) still gets clamped to the Workmate. The bench also houses everything that previously was stored in boxes. I suppose a guy could make a proper deck for the Workmate, but I've always been mindful of the holes.
 
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