The pamphlet that came with my Lee Loader, and common sense. That's all I needed.
(well, and some good feedback from a few of the knowledgeable folks here, of course)http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/RE1422.pdf
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I need a 'reloading 101'
- Thread starter Sporting Lad
- Start date
The pamphlet that came with my Lee Loader, and common sense. That's all I needed.
(well, and some good feedback from a few of the knowledgeable folks here, of course)http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/RE1422.pdf
I dunno... the first three replies all suggested The ABCs of Reloading, arguably THE "101" reference for noobs. Non noobs to for that matter. You can speak for yourself, but I think I understood the question just fine.
But hey, if fifty year old pamphlets do it for ya, good for you. Others may wish to have access to slightly more modern and comprehensive information. At one point the maps of the world showed it was flat and where the dragons were too... Not necessarily the most accurate or useful, but they did have the advantage of simplicity I guess.
And who thinks reading shooting and reloading books is a drag? I'd worry about the guy who wanted to start manufacturing precision items generating 50+ k PSI inches from their head, but thought a comprehensive understanding of what was involved was too big a hassle to devote time to.
Point taken.I'm just jaded by the "hunting industry" and the associated gear lust, and I see a lot of similarities in the realm of reloading. It wouldn't surprise me at all to find powder measures in "Mossy Oak Uber 3D" camo (at a price premium, of course).
I started with and still use a single stage. Now, after 500 rnds of 9mm , I could cry
Even though I'm glad I started with a Single stage , a progressive is soon coming . I have 600 ,9 mm ,200 .45 LC , 200 38 special and 100 ,357 mag , to get ready for next weekend .
Search on You Tube for "hicock45 reloading". He has a nice set of videos that cover single and progressive press reloading. Best of all he talks about why each is better for given situations so you can figure out what will work for your situation instead of just saying "Buy This".
I'm just jaded by the "hunting industry" and the associated gear lust, and I see a lot of similarities in the realm of reloading. It wouldn't surprise me at all to find powder measures in "Mossy Oak Uber 3D" camo (at a price premium, of course).
HA!
Funny that there isn't, now that you bring it up.
That depends entirely on your intended aim in reloading. Ammo loaded on a progressive would be worthless, or at best ill suited for my purposes (LR precision shooting and low volume hunting ammo production), yet for someone who reloaded high volumes of AR or pistol ammo it would be insane to use chamber seating dies and an arbor press.
Horses for courses.
Before you start get a reloading manual.
Speers, Hodgdon , Lyman dosen't matter.
Use that as your Bible. They all have section on reloading basics as well as the tables of load data.
Information on the net should be viewed as just someones opinion. Not something to rely on where your safety is concerned.
Speers, Hodgdon , Lyman dosen't matter.
Use that as your Bible. They all have section on reloading basics as well as the tables of load data.
Information on the net should be viewed as just someones opinion. Not something to rely on where your safety is concerned.
I forgot to recommend a book or two as well. Learning to actually USE the equipment from You Tube is fine. And to some extent watching how various things are used and selecting the one you think will work best for you is also valid.
But for load data you want to rely on books or the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center website. It's an online reloading data manual that lists all the Hodgdon and Hodgdon owned powders.
But for load data you want to rely on books or the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center website. It's an online reloading data manual that lists all the Hodgdon and Hodgdon owned powders.
I use my 2 manuals every time I load up some cartridges( Hornady and Speer manual). I also like hodgdonreloading data. No matter how many times I do a certain caliber , I always check my manuals for the listed data for each caliber.
Sporting Lad
Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island
My answers to the Four Questions:
4. Approximately what quantities will you be shooting in a month/year?
Hello again, all you 'Nutters! It's me, the OP. Wow, I did not expect so much so soon, but thank you so much for the benefit of your experience.
Like most new undertakings these days, handloading seems to have a "steep learning curve". Or maybe it's just another sign telling me I'm getting older... I do have a friend who's an avid reloader, and I do plan on asking him if he'd mind getting me going. He lives on the other side of our island, though, and it means ~three hours' driving over the mountain. Ach, I go over there to shoot at their 300 yard range twice a month, so it's no great hardship.
So here are my answers to those Four Great Queastions of Handloading:
1.) Budget--Well, I want to get some proper equipment that I'll not 'grow out of' after my first year, but I don't need to shoot the moon on the best quality stuff money can buy. I don't want to have to upgrade too soon, but neither do I want more than I'll ever need. I've heard from others that I can 'get into it' for ~350-500 dollars; I'm thinking maybe (?) 750-1000 TOPS. i'm hoping, but then WTF do I know? :0 ]
2.) Type of ammo-- Nothing unusual. .308; 9mm; .223; .45ACP; .38 Spl...
3.) Use?-- For now it's mainly informal competitions and plinking/paper punching with our weekly 'irregulars' gang, plus some 'Duty Pistol', and
monthly "Cowboy Action".
4.) Quantities?-- OK, I realize there's an 'economy of scale' to be factored in here, ie, 'the more rounds you reload, the cheaper it becomes.'
Ja, well, it's the expense of the factory ammo that's preventing me from shooting more, and that's the primary thing that is actracting me in the first place. The structured programmes gobble up a lot of money. 90 rounds of .45 in under an hour, or 120 rounds of .38 on a rainy Saturday? That's not something I can do more than a few times a month. I'd like to, but it's just not in the budget when I'm buying it in the store.
Thanks for those YouTube reminders! I'm an avid viewer, being weekly re-amazed be the variety of content that's availabe there. YT and Wiki are two of my best forms of evening entertainment. See, I thought I'd watched all(!) of Hickok 45, but I never thought to search for his reloading tips!
I expect there are reasons for doing this other than simply saving money, but those may not become evident until one progresses.
Sometimes it seems a bit like the kids who liked chemistry because of its inherent scientific elegance. No, I'm the guy who latched onto the brainy lab partner just so I could pass the course. i was more interested in finding the sulphur, carbon and potassium nitrate kept locked in the back room.
Cheers,
SL
BTW-- Is it "reloading", or "handloading"??
(and from IRONSIGHTER)...
4. Approximately what quantities will you be shooting in a month/year?
Hello again, all you 'Nutters! It's me, the OP. Wow, I did not expect so much so soon, but thank you so much for the benefit of your experience.
Like most new undertakings these days, handloading seems to have a "steep learning curve". Or maybe it's just another sign telling me I'm getting older... I do have a friend who's an avid reloader, and I do plan on asking him if he'd mind getting me going. He lives on the other side of our island, though, and it means ~three hours' driving over the mountain. Ach, I go over there to shoot at their 300 yard range twice a month, so it's no great hardship.
So here are my answers to those Four Great Queastions of Handloading:
1.) Budget--Well, I want to get some proper equipment that I'll not 'grow out of' after my first year, but I don't need to shoot the moon on the best quality stuff money can buy. I don't want to have to upgrade too soon, but neither do I want more than I'll ever need. I've heard from others that I can 'get into it' for ~350-500 dollars; I'm thinking maybe (?) 750-1000 TOPS. i'm hoping, but then WTF do I know? :0 ]
2.) Type of ammo-- Nothing unusual. .308; 9mm; .223; .45ACP; .38 Spl...
3.) Use?-- For now it's mainly informal competitions and plinking/paper punching with our weekly 'irregulars' gang, plus some 'Duty Pistol', and
monthly "Cowboy Action".
4.) Quantities?-- OK, I realize there's an 'economy of scale' to be factored in here, ie, 'the more rounds you reload, the cheaper it becomes.'
Ja, well, it's the expense of the factory ammo that's preventing me from shooting more, and that's the primary thing that is actracting me in the first place. The structured programmes gobble up a lot of money. 90 rounds of .45 in under an hour, or 120 rounds of .38 on a rainy Saturday? That's not something I can do more than a few times a month. I'd like to, but it's just not in the budget when I'm buying it in the store.
Thanks for those YouTube reminders! I'm an avid viewer, being weekly re-amazed be the variety of content that's availabe there. YT and Wiki are two of my best forms of evening entertainment. See, I thought I'd watched all(!) of Hickok 45, but I never thought to search for his reloading tips!
I expect there are reasons for doing this other than simply saving money, but those may not become evident until one progresses.
Sometimes it seems a bit like the kids who liked chemistry because of its inherent scientific elegance. No, I'm the guy who latched onto the brainy lab partner just so I could pass the course. i was more interested in finding the sulphur, carbon and potassium nitrate kept locked in the back room.
Cheers,
SL
BTW-- Is it "reloading", or "handloading"??
It takes me an hour to do each 100 rnds of 9MM, using a single stage and that's pumping like a mofo. Wife , now calls me pumper . The only thing I need now is a progressive and maybe that's what I should have started with. I know that after today I'm going to have 3 to 4 hundred 9MM, 200 .45LC, 150 38 special, 100 .357 mag , to load for next wk. and soon add in a few hundred .223. So you need some spare time if using a single stage . For now I put up with it , but soon I'll need a progressive.
. The only thing I need now is a progressive and maybe that's what I should have started with. I know that after today I'm going to have 3 to 4 hundred 9MM, 200 .45LC, 150 38 special, 100 .357 mag , to load for next wk. and soon add in a few hundred .223. So you need some spare time if using a single stage . For now I put up with it , but soon I'll need a progressive.
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Reloading is not difficult. Buy a book, it will explain the basics. While the book may be 300 pages most of it will be load data. The actual how to reload part is much shorter.
You will never outgrow a good single stage press. This will mainly be used for your rifle loading and possibly small volume pistol. Progressives can be very nice but expensive. Excellent for high volume pistol, providing they work well.
You will never outgrow a good single stage press. This will mainly be used for your rifle loading and possibly small volume pistol. Progressives can be very nice but expensive. Excellent for high volume pistol, providing they work well.
I suggest you buy a kit.
RCBS offers up a nice package.
Keep the powder can you are using by your powder drop or what ever method you are doing.
Put the rest out of the way or sight. No room for mix ups.
Multi-tasking should be ........blinking..........breathing...........swallowing.........thinking.........
and doing task at hand.
No phone, television, kids, hunnie-dew or the sort.
You need to be 100% focused on this load yer own.
I always take a good long glance at the cases mouth with the powder in them before
seating the bullets.
Make sure they all have powder in them and at the level the rest appear to be.
I had a buddy guide me through the first time. He came over and showed me how to set up
the dies and such.
Help the brain a whole bunch.
If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by the info, give the nogg'n a rest.
We're here fer ya ..........
RCBS offers up a nice package.
Keep the powder can you are using by your powder drop or what ever method you are doing.
Put the rest out of the way or sight. No room for mix ups.
Multi-tasking should be ........blinking..........breathing...........swallowing.........thinking.........
and doing task at hand.
No phone, television, kids, hunnie-dew or the sort.
You need to be 100% focused on this load yer own.
I always take a good long glance at the cases mouth with the powder in them before
seating the bullets.
Make sure they all have powder in them and at the level the rest appear to be.
I had a buddy guide me through the first time. He came over and showed me how to set up
the dies and such.
Help the brain a whole bunch.
If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by the info, give the nogg'n a rest.
We're here fer ya ..........
And you would be pretty much 100% wrong on that assumption.
My Lyman's 49th Edition manual does showcase a good number of Lyman products in the pictures. But the picture descriptions and text do not push any one line of equipment. Instead it's just good solid instructional information that details the theories, practices and valid considerations related to reloading and shooting those reloads. And then the second half of the book has the reloading data.
