Reloading for hunters?
- Thread starter huntingfish
- Start date
huntingfish
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Quebec City
Ha, found the pic
Ah yes, the .30 cal "Giraffe"
huntingfish
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Quebec City
Now that I'm reading a bit more...I do have a question concerning repeatability.
So, once I setup all my dies correctly, test a recipe that works, etc. If I get those quick disconnect things for Lee presses, I would just need to pop a die in and I wouldn't have to do any setup, right? Is that day dreaming when thinking about a budget press (that all settings will stay the same) or do I need to setup everything everytime I setup to reload?
Cabela's often puts the RCBS Partner Press kits on sale for $100. Back in the day of the bounce back coupons, i think i paid $80 before tax. I bought the digital scale version. Big mistake. Get a beam, or toss it in the drawer and get a good digital scale. If you stop around, $200 should get you up and running, minus components. Warning, it's additive... i started out with one caliber and 2 powders and projectiles little over a year ago.... now i need a new wing on the house....
This. In fact, I would check all your cases before you even load the powder and bullet (but after sizing). With my main Hunting rifle I need to bottom out the die on the shell holder otherwise the bolt is stiff to close. That would be a crappy thing to realize AFTER you loaded 50 rounds. (check them again once they're loaded as seating the bullet could change things)
The Lee breach lock bushings are supposed to make things very repeatable. That said, I don't have them and I have no issues just screwing my die in and going to town after the initial setup. As long as you pay attention while screwing it in and out and make sure the lock ring is turning with the die body its not a big deal.
Also, if you're reloading for hunting you won't need the same level of precision as the guys who shoot competitions. A tiny bit of variation won't make a big difference and will still end up more consistent than factory ammo.
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Once you settle on a bullet that works, and you’ve set up for that, it’s pretty repeatable....it does pay tho to double check your overall length with a vernier. Oh and forgot to mention you need to keep your cases trimmed to the correct length. Also don’t forget to lube your cases before depriming. (You don’t want a stuck case in the die)
Set it and forget it...
I reload multiple bullets with a set of dies: plinking, target shooting and hunting.. Even if they're about the same weight, the bullets have different shapes and the die position is different. I often use a finished round to roughly adjust the seating die then I adjust while measuring with a caliper. Only takes a minute to get the perfect length.
Other thing, I reload in batches. I'll wait until I have enough spent cases to reload at least a full box of bullets (usually 50 or 100). This way if anything happened and the result is slightly different from the previous rounds at least they're all the same.
Some reload to shoot, I think I shoot to reload
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
The amount of info out there can be intimidating at first, but if you pick up a reloading manual or two, you should find that BASIC reloading doesn't require all the fancy bells and whistles. I started out with a Lee Loader. The kind where you use a hammer and punch to seat primers, and yes, a Lee scoop for a powder measure. It was pretty simple but it worked. Slow as hell though.
huntingfish
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Quebec City
Oh my god. I saw a video on youtube of this one guy doing it that way. It seems to include a lot of hitting stuff with a mallet lol. Seemed more like neandertal-reloading than fine reloading.
Not to put an end to this great thread, but I would hate to waste anyone's time: I've decided to put off reloading for the time being. Going back to university to finish a Bachelor's, 2 kids, full time work...my spare time is already non-existant.
I might pick up a reloading manual and start reading slowly so that I can start reloading the in the not so distant future though!
Cheers for everyone that's been answering my many questions.
Great bunch of people in the #reloading section ;-)
David
... I started out with a RCBS Rock Chucker IV Supreme Master reloading kit and RCBS dies ... and I was good to go. It has everything you need to get you started and it is quality that you can keep or sell.
A few years passed ... and a few more dollars ... then Redding dies, Hornady measuring gear, reloading component inventory, ... and then I realized I was hopelessly hooked on that hobby
https://www.rcbs.com/kits/rock-chucker-supreme-master-reloading-kit/16-9354.html
A few years passed ... and a few more dollars ... then Redding dies, Hornady measuring gear, reloading component inventory, ... and then I realized I was hopelessly hooked on that hobby
https://www.rcbs.com/kits/rock-chucker-supreme-master-reloading-kit/16-9354.html
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