New to Reloading advice/guidance

spl01t77

spl01t77

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
12   0   0
Location
Ontario - surrounded by reds
G'morning all, I've decided to take up reloading and am currently working through the purchase of equipment through Murray Gardner. I primarily shoot 9mm/.45 and 223. My family and job don't allow for much time but the time I do have I always try to maximize on as such I'm taking the plunge with a xl650 with case feeder and bullet feeder to get under way with 9mm & .45. Now I'm at a point where I'm looking to our community for any assistance guidance to help make this experience a bit less intimidating knowing that I should have started with a single stage press. The goal here is to work up to .223 understanding that rifle is a bit trickier to load. I've asked around at my club for some guidance but haven't really gotten any form of support. (Ottawa). I have two reloading manuals Hornady and Nosler (latest editions) and am soaking in as much as I can but also wanted to seek out any local resource or folks here to bounce my introductory questions off of.
on a different note is is just me or is finding primers harder to find?

thanks in advance and safe shooting/loading.
 
sorry just to post up what I'm looking to purchase

XL650 w/.45 conversion
Case feeder, large pistol <---- no longer part of original purchase
.45 dies
2 large, 2 sml. pistol primer tubes/4
Mr. Bullet Feeder .45
.45 chamber gauge
powder check system
Deluxe quick change; powder measure, tool head
Calibre conversion 9mm
strong mount
9mm ammo gauge
roller handle
Mr. BF 9mm conversion
 
Last edited:
Primers are hard to find, but they can be found if you keep looking. That seems like it'll be a good setup for you. I just started reloading a few months back and I jumped into the deep-end by picking up a progressive (Hornady L-N-L). I figured there was no point in getting a single stage since my primary loads were going to be for 9mm and 45Auto and I knew I'd purchase a progressive eventually. If I can offer a bit of advice, learn to use the press first without case and bullet feeders. That way you'll be able to learn each station of your press at a very intimate level. The worst thing you want to do is assume you know what's happening at each automated stage. I've loaded just over 1000 rounds and I take my time at every session. Reloading is definitely not something you want to rush at.

And, if it's not on your list, pick up an RCBS Lock Out die. It goes in the station after the powder drop and checks for 'no charge/double charge' cases. If either scenario is discovered, the die locks up and won't allow you to to perform a full upstroke. Another alternative is the Hornady Powder Cop. It does the same checks, but you must keep an eye on the indicator rod to see if it's too high or too low as it will not prevent you from progressing to the next station.

Have fun!!
 
I saw you mentioned rifle cases are trickier. Is that some quality of the progressive press or are you talking about something else?

My understanding is the other way around, rifle cases have quite a bit more forgiveness than pistol cases. With a pistol case you might have 5 grains of powder. An extra half grain is a significant increase. With a rifle case you might have 40 grains of powder, so that half grain increase is less significant.

In any case that sounds quite a bit more complicated than my basic setup with a Lee single stage press, but you should be able to work a lot faster.
 
Another thing you might do is watch all the great videos on Youtube. The is a lot of good info the guys put out. This is what convinced me to go with the Dillon RL 550B press. I liked the fact that it could be interrupted at any station to check something. It is also manually indexing!

Your choice in the 650 is a good one, lots of folks have them. I'm glad I upgraded to a good quality progressive press,.....finally! You will be happy, I'm sure....
 
@ ccain;8812470]
you read my mind, I wanted to get the bells and whistles and add them to the mix as I establish a very clear understanding of the process/steps performed each step of the way.

@Stevebot-7
just the rumblings I've heard from a few folks at the range haven't substantiated but figured I needed a starting point for reloading and I do shoot .9mm and .45 alot more often than .223.

I've been able to carve out some space in the basement for my reloading and wanted to fill the space before the wife relegates it. I've been collecting my spent brass for the 3 calibres mentioned for the past 3 years so I have the brass, but wanted to source primers and bullets and am still undecided/unsure of powders.
 
Stevebot-7 said:
I saw you mentioned rifle cases are trickier. Is that some quality of the progressive press or are you talking about something else?

My understanding is the other way around, rifle cases have quite a bit more forgiveness than pistol cases. With a pistol case you might have 5 grains of powder. An extra half grain is a significant increase. With a rifle case you might have 40 grains of powder, so that half grain increase is less significant.

In any case that sounds quite a bit more complicated than my basic setup with a Lee single stage press, but you should be able to work a lot faster.
Click to expand...

You are correct as far as powder levels and pressures are concerned, but he was (i assume) talking about brass prep. Necked brass requires trimming, annealing, etc. Neck sizing vs full length and so on.

Straight wall is just a matter of cleaning.
 
spl01t77

The first thing we learned in aircraft inspection classes was 97% of all errors are human errors and only 3% were actual mechanical failures.

Read the front parts of your reloading manuals and then read them again.

Start at the suggested starting load and with a magnifying glass learn to "read" your primers for signs of pressure as the load increases.

Reloading is like playing Black Jack, stay light and beat the dealer.

Check then double check everything you do at the reloading bench.

Your cartridge cases will last much longer by NOT using maximum loads.

And even more important your head will stay on your shoulders much longer when not using maximum loads and reloading safely.







Think about the photos above when you reload and remember safety comes first and foremost.
 
bigedp51 said:




Click to expand...

Wow!! Just, WOW!!!

Are those photos you found online, or did that happen to you ro someone you know?. If it happened to you or an acquaintance of your, I'm glad that you're ok. And, thank you for sharing with us. It's unfortunate that accidents happen. But, it's even more unfortunate when you don't allow others to learn from your mistakes.
 
Last edited:
@ bigedp51 that was sobering, *I like my thumbs*

safety is always primary as such will be progressing slowly through the reloading steps but it sure helps having someone along the way over your shoulder ready to call out faults or offer up advice. in lieu of that the CGN community and youtube will be my go-to. appreciate all the feedback, keep it coming I'll be monitoring the forums to learn from those that have.
 
After I got out of the military in 1973 I started reloading with vengeance to make up for four lost years. It wasn't six months later at the range I heard a strange "BOOM" and looked over to my left and nearly #### myself. A rifle had come unglued and the shooter was just sitting there in shock with blood poring from his face. I was beside myself on what to do, the man was bleeding badly and need help and the only phone was back at the clubhouse. I gave him the shirt of my back to help stop the bleeding and ran to the club house to get to a phone and call an ambulance.

It left a lasting impression, I'm 62 now and in over 45 years of reloading I have never even had a case head separation or any type case failure or firearms accident. So "NO" the photos are not mine and I got them off the internet to make a point that I hope sticks with all who read this post.

Be safe and never reload when you can't give 100% of your concentration on what your doing.

Every year I reread one of my reloading manuals and I'm always surprised at how much information has leaked out of my ears and needed reabsorbed.
 
"...should have started with..." Not if you read the manual. Which kit you start with really doesn't matter.
The most basic of rules are no loading when tired, sleepy, rushed, distracted by kids/pets/anything else, wet, cold, hot, worried about anything. No loading while boozing either.
"...wanted to fill the space before..." Stack up some empty boxes for camouflage. Wouldn't use boxes from the LCBO though. snicker.
 
I can't tell you how many times I've read the .pdf files off of Dillons site in regards to the xl650 and I'm confident that the two doors, sound proofing and along with personal stickler I am for safety will make this move easier however diligence is key so all of the input from the group is great.

@sunray I built another section out in the basement for the dragons shoes and other niceties she hoards however after leaving the newly constructed reloading room unlocked she wandered in, it's been a daily conversation on room use now. The "no skirts allowed" sign didn't help much either. Mater of fact she didn't even know the room was there as I built it off the laundry/furnace room. so if the door wasn't ajar I would have moved a bit more slowly into my purchase.
 
spl01t77

Be very careful with what you read in gun forums and the advice given and always double check it with known printed material.

EXAMPLE: At castboolits website there is a person named Mutigunner handing out information, the problem is Mutigunner doesn't cast bullets or even have a reloading press. This person simply reads postings all over the internet and repeats them in another forum. This nut has even gone as far as calling the British armourer and author Peter Laidler a liar when corrected by him in a forum. In short this person is a few bricks short of a full load and is best ignored.

Take your time learning who you can trust 100% in forums and separate them from the people who could fly a hot air balloon without a gas bottle and burner. And most importantly READ proven written published material because there are MANY internet myths and garbage repeated in forums.

SECOND EXAMPLE: Read what someone said about British .303 ammunition, BLC2 powder, magnum primers and didn't even know what he was talking about.

Using magnum primers for light 303 loads
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?933301-Using-magnum-primers-for-light-303-loads
 
Last edited:
"EXAMPLE: At castboolits website there is a person named Mutigunner handing out information, the problem is Mutigunner doesn't cast bullets or even have a reloading press. This person simply reads postings all over the internet and repeats them in another forum."

Unfortunately, he is just one of a great many on any of these forums.
I have often asked a question on here and seemed to get a good reply. Then the writer will, in an apparent attempt to prove I don't know much about things, say, "just Google it and you will learn lots."
This is not what I wanted. I wanted to hear from an individual who has personally experienced the problem I wrote about.
What it boils down to is a gizilian of unproven theories out there, especially to do with shooting, and in particular, reloading. People read something, haven't got a clue whether or not it is correct, but go on to tell the world about it.
Many years ago I was taking the training to have an instructors certificate endorsed on my Commercial pilots licence. I was taught to never tell a student anything about flying, that I couldn't prove to him, right there in the cockpit! In other words, anything we told a student about what the aircraft would do, we had to be able to take over the controls and prove the aircraft would indeed do, just what we said it would do.
I have adapted that principal to all phases of life. When I write something on here about shooting or reloading, it is something I have personally performed and saw the results. I have often taken a lot of flack, when people haven't agreed to what I wrote. Regardless, this was the results of what I experienced and if other people got different results, or thought differently, so be it. I tell it like I see it.
 
Sounds like you are going to do just fine. I also learned how to reload on a progressive press from books. The ABC's or reloading is very good for background information. Go slow and check your powder measure against a scale often. I toss anything that I am not 100% sure of in a bin to be pulled/dissasembled. A lot of people will tell you to start single stage, but there is nothing wrong with learning on a progressive.

I think you were wondering what a good powder would be? I and many others find that tightgroup meters extremely well and gives good results for 9 and 45.
 
RCBS makes a great introduction dvd i received fro xmas a few years back. biggest advice is take your time and measure, measure, measure, and eyeball every stage of the load, especially the powder fill. If something doesn't look right take a closer look... for example last night i was loading 7x57 Mauser (100gn hollow points on 43gn of IMR 4895) and my cases looked awfully full of powder for that weight, so i re-calibrated my scale and discovered there was ~50.1gn of powder in each one, way more than the max load. could have been really bad if i wasn't paying close enough attention. but with diligence and some patience it's incredibly rewarding. best of luck to you.
 
To the OP, I'm a curious as to why you aren't including the case feeder now in your list of components. I also see that you want a Mr. Bullet Feeder and Powder Check System. Couple things to keep in mind. On a XL650 when using separate seat and crimp dies there is only one spare station on the head between the powder feed and bullet seat stations. That is the station the powder check goes into and that also where the bullet feeder would need to go. If you want to run both the powder check and the bullet feeder then you need to use a combination seat/crimp die (Lee, Hornady both make them) in the last station and put the bullet feeder into the where the seating die would normally go.

As far as learning the ropes of reloading, bigedp51 and H4831 make very very good points...

Good luck and have fun!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom