- Location
- Port Edward BC
Why is it I feel like I’ve been trolled?
Last edited:
Reloading for Dummies true beginners books , which to choose ?
- Thread starter FatCatsDad
- Start date
No, it really isnt. I had a friend who I also a chef, now gone sadly, liken to to following a cooking recipe. Once you have the basics down, you can modify the recipes a little to work better for you. Enjoy. I find reloading a relaxing pastime, kind of a Zen thing. - dan
- Location
- Delta B.C.
Modern reloading cartridge by Richard Lee is a very good foundation book. Followed by Lymans manuals then Nosler and any other paper reloading manuals. IMHO. Unless you will be using your computer at your reloading station. I just prefer the actual paper copies. But that's just my opinion. For U toobe Ultimate reloader is the standard that all others want to be.
In reference to equipment, go Lee for shotgun stuff. For rifle, I find that most reloaders mix and match presses parts and dies, including myself. If your only ever going to load 308 rifle Lee will suit your needs just fine. Lee dies are simple and good and the factory crimp die is the GOAT. However if your possibly going to get into precision shooting or bigger cartridges, I would recommend a RCBS or Hornady press. Cheers
In reference to equipment, go Lee for shotgun stuff. For rifle, I find that most reloaders mix and match presses parts and dies, including myself. If your only ever going to load 308 rifle Lee will suit your needs just fine. Lee dies are simple and good and the factory crimp die is the GOAT. However if your possibly going to get into precision shooting or bigger cartridges, I would recommend a RCBS or Hornady press. Cheers
Last edited:
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The die selection seems complex.
I see single dies for 308 and I see sets of dies.
Still much reading to do.
It's not too complicated, most companies will sell a set (usually 2) of dies for a caliber.
One will be a sizing die (you're using it to reform brass to its original shape and size) and one will be a seating die (using it to press the bullet into your brass). You'll also need a shell holder for your specific case size (most companies you purchase that separately, LEE includes them)
That's all you typically need to get started. There are different type of sizing and seating dies that can accomplish different things. Depending on the brand/caliber; a set may include a crimping die (applies a crimp to your loaded round). Purchasing a simple die set is all you need to get started.
start with .308. Shotshell loading is harder
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Yes, I've taken everyone's advice and will be doing 308.
I've been looking online but so far have not seen an "All in One" kit.
Is there a preferred vendor I can get everything I need in a single order ?
wolf300H&H
CGN Regular
- Location
- Cabin in central Alberta
I wouldnt and haven’t bothered with shotgun / 12 gauge.
Rcbs kit in 2007/2008 still have it ….. 308 is great to learn on …… easy peazy and i learnt off the speer reloading manual that came with it back then , plus a handloader that worked at the gunstore would pick his brain. I went old school and didnt have internet back in the day. 270 and then 204 i learnt on.
Here / one on one / any of us will help with a phone call plus the net and utube will make it a breeze.
Write every step down on paper is my suggestion till its second nature. Bolt gun is the easiest to learn. Once the basics are covered you can go to eeny meany 2 nd stage of accuracy nodes with your dies and custom COL for THAT rifle. It never ends. I stopped shortly after starting weighing my brass and bullets - 3rd stage of handcrafted target rounds. Too much lol.
Rcbs kit in 2007/2008 still have it ….. 308 is great to learn on …… easy peazy and i learnt off the speer reloading manual that came with it back then , plus a handloader that worked at the gunstore would pick his brain. I went old school and didnt have internet back in the day. 270 and then 204 i learnt on.
Here / one on one / any of us will help with a phone call plus the net and utube will make it a breeze.
Write every step down on paper is my suggestion till its second nature. Bolt gun is the easiest to learn. Once the basics are covered you can go to eeny meany 2 nd stage of accuracy nodes with your dies and custom COL for THAT rifle. It never ends. I stopped shortly after starting weighing my brass and bullets - 3rd stage of handcrafted target rounds. Too much lol.
Not really, single dies are usually sold for a specific purpose, and eventually you will likely purchase some, depending on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go. For a rifle cartridge, a 3 die set gives you anything you'll need to make quality, safe ammo. Don't over complicate it to begin with. A 3 or 4 die set will work fine, manufacturer doesn't really matter, I have good die sets from all of them. Lee is a good set to learn with, and relatively inexpensive. If you have specific questions, just ask. Myself and others on here are more than willing to offer advice. Of course, being cgn, there will be arguments about the best way to get things done, and someone will politicize the thread, but even with that there is a wealth of information here. Another good site to learn from is accuratereloading. - dan
do you have a local gun store? A good store will have everything to get going
I like Hornady over RC bs, Lee is good too
not sure how long you plan to do this for, so buying new might not be the econo route to go, paying taxes and all hurts in the short term
Maybe check out a local gun show/sale, usually there are old guys selling off no-longer-used stuff
You do really have to weigh the economics of reloading vs buying factory loads though, accuracy expectations and shooting volume weigh in.
Good loads can be had without going all 'match grade' ammo, so for a hunter o t shelf can be best
What's wrong with that? Lots of times the bullet is too long so you need to slide it up into the seater die and can't just rest it on the cast mouth not partially in the die
Seems like in the pic he didn't slide the case into the shell holder properly. It needs to be all the way in to be centered
Seems like in the pic he didn't slide the case into the shell holder properly. It needs to be all the way in to be centered
Last edited:
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Many questions....let's see, I'm retired, reloading doesn't seem to physical, seems like a good rainy afternoon activity, learning keeps the brain working, I have multiple 308 rifles that are always hungry, reloading may tame their grocery bill.
However the nearest gun shop is a 7 hour return drive, so online is the way most of my purchases go...guns, hardware, clothing, most everything.
Hopefully I'll be doing it for the longterm unless I get frustrated and give up.
Lastly it will give me a big smile at the range knowing what I accomplished, and if your not smiling at the range then there's no point going
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Once you read more it will not seem so confusing, basically a 2 die set will be a decaping/resizing die and a seating/crimp die. A 3 die set will have the decaping/sizing die and a separate seating and crimping die instead of the seating/crimping combo die, the 4 die set will be the same as the 3 die set but with an added neck sizing die as the 4th.
Newer pistol die sets will have a carbide sizing ring so you don’t have to lube cases, rifle dies don’t have the carbide insert and you have to lube cases prior to sizing.
I started reloading in 2003 with a complete Lyman T-Mag II kit plus dies and shell holders for .270W and .223 Rem - I'm still using almost all of it. Only the Case Trimmer eventually wore out. It came with a good reloading manual too.
Disagree. Shotshell is all I really reload, although I'm currently trying to learn how to use the classic lee loaders for 45acp and 30-30 win black powder. I find shotshell stupid easy, but I just do black powder loads. Stuff the case with black, put whatever cotton I've got kicking around as a wad, dump the same volume shot, then candle wax to seal. Easy peasy. In comparison to pistol and rifle calibers you have to trim cases, open up the end to stuff the bullet into, and other more complicated crap.
I'm selling two new classic lee loaders in 223 and 308 in the EE right now cuz I decided I'm never going to bother reloading them. I don't have the space for all the primers and brass and projectiles I'll need.
Shot shell has more components plus you have to be very concerned with volumes. With brass cartridges there's only three components and volume is seldom an issue.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
First kit I bought was the Hornady LnL classic single stage kit, while there was other individual bits and pieces I’ve bought since. There isn’t anything in the press kit I don’t still use.
Look at Budget Shooting Supply, you will find most things there and they are great to deal with.
