Suggestions for different Powders and Primers for a new reloader

blueflash

blueflash

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I am getting ready to start reloading on a Lee Classic Turret Press (cast one), and I am going to be reloading for my 9mm CZ75 SP-01 Shadow, and also I want to try some different hunting loads out for my 30/06 Tikka T3 Lite. I am looking for some suggestions for what types of powders and primers to use in them, and really have no idea of what is good, great, and poor stuff to stay away from.

I called in to a supplier, and they recommended to me some IMR Bullseye powder, and winchester primers, to use with some 124 gr copper plated fmj bullets for my 9mm. Does that sound like a okay set up to try out ? I'm really new to this, and I have no idea what I should try and what I should stay away from .......Help please Help.

I don't even know what size of primers I need for 9mm and for 30/06 ? Is it small pistol and small rifle ? is there a # size that I need to know when ordering the primer size ?

Any idea of what powder I should use for loading 30/06 for hunting loads ? Is there a certain type of primers that I should stay away from ?

Sorry for all of the dumb questions, but I have no idea of what I should order, and I don't want to spend a couple hundred dollars on components, only to find out later that I should of stayed away from a specific brand ?
 
blueflash said:
I am getting ready to start reloading on a Lee Classic Turret Press (cast one), and I am going to be reloading for my 9mm CZ75 SP-01 Shadow, and also I want to try some different hunting loads out for my 30/06 Tikka T3 Lite. I am looking for some suggestions for what types of powders and primers to use in them, and really have no idea of what is good, great, and poor stuff to stay away from.

I called in to a supplier, and they recommended to me some IMR Bullseye powder, and winchester primers, to use with some 124 gr copper plated fmj bullets for my 9mm. Does that sound like a okay set up to try out ? I'm really new to this, and I have no idea what I should try and what I should stay away from .......Help please Help.

I don't even know what size of primers I need for 9mm and for 30/06 ? Is it small pistol and small rifle ? is there a # size that I need to know when ordering the primer size ?

Any idea of what powder I should use for loading 30/06 for hunting loads ? Is there a certain type of primers that I should stay away from ?

Sorry for all of the dumb questions, but I have no idea of what I should order, and I don't want to spend a couple hundred dollars on components, only to find out later that I should of stayed away from a specific brand ?
Click to expand...

You need to buy some manuals, and read, read , read...........etc.........
 
There will be a million different recommendations, all of them right.

Mine would be Win 231 for the 9mm and IMR 4895 for the .30-06. These will work well, and also can work well in many other calibres to start.

Any small pistol primer for your 9mm and any Large Rifle for your .30-06. I might shy away from Federal for your turret loading due to Lees warnings in most of their priming systems about Federal primers being softer. Lots of people use them fine, but anytime you see a blown up priming system it's almost always Federal, contrary to the manufacturers warning. I have been using Winchester through my Lee and RCBS primers and have been happy with them.

and to second Rooster22 you should get a manual.
 
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rooster22 said:
You need to buy some manuals, and read, read , read...........etc.........
Click to expand...

Browse reloading manuals and websites - the information is a bit overwhelming at first but eventually you will start to see some common denominators.

I like Unique in pistols because it is so versatile you can make it work well with almost anything.

For 30-06 I like IMR4064 for 150 gr bullets and H4895 (or IMR4895) with 165 and 180 gr bullets. Both versatile powders that will work across a broad spectrum of different loads in different cartridges.
 
I have ordered a Lee reloading manual, but it has'nt arrived yet. I was trying to get a idea of what to buy, so that when all of my stuff gets here, I can start to reload the same day that my press, manual, and all of the assesories that I need, arrive at my doorstep. I have already went out and bought a bullet puller (hammer type), and I brought home my Mititoyo caliper that I had at work, since I'm a machinist, I had a couple extra ones that I did'nt use much. I am probably going to pick up a tumbler this week, so when my press and all the goodies I need, will arrive in a couple weeks or so, I want to be 100% ready to reload. This is why, I asked for some suggestions for primer, and powder ideas.

So, it sounds like I should stay away from the federal primers...nice to know. I will buy some small pistol, and large rifle primers in either Winchester, or CCI . And I geuss I will buy some IMR 4895 for reloading 30/06. Not quite sure about the pistol powder still though?

I will read my manual when it arrives, but in the meantime, I'm just trying to get a good idea of what to buy, so I can reload the first day that I open my box and set up my press. I will just buy a small amount of whatever primers, powder, and bullets so I don't end up buying too much of something that i may not like, once I start to shoot my new reloads.
 
Winchester 231 and Hodgdon HP38 are the same powder and great for 9mm. Many other powders will work too.
 
New To Reloading

Hey Blueflash, I was of the same opinion, get the press, kit and stuff and start to reload. This may be a recipe for disaster, or at the very lease disappointment. I have the Lyman manual and have now read it at least 3 times front to back. There are parts in there that I didn't quite understand, until I'm actually in front of the press, other parts like head-spacing, I didn't understand at all, but after some posting on Nutz and searching the net, a couple of diagrams of what the head-spacing issues are, and the lights went on.

I wouldn't plan on loading a bunch of bullets your first day out. You'll find much "sage" advice from experienced re-loaders on this site. My 1st load was 5 bullets. My 2nd attempt was to load 50 bullets which I have done, only to discover, I still might have reloaded them to light, I still my have a head-space issue, etc.

When I set up my Lyman powder dispenser, I had the feeder for small casing in instead of large casings - loading .270 and when I went to take it off the stand and change, I had powder spilling all over the place. Joy, it took me a couple of hours to work thru that issue and finally figure it out.

I'm having fun, it's very interesting and definitely a challenge, but I would take my time. I think once you've worked thru one pistol and one rifle cartridge and have the results you want, you are now in a much better position to move faster on your next calibers.

My 2 cents.
 
waynewjw said:
Hey Blueflash, I was of the same opinion, get the press, kit and stuff and start to reload. This may be a recipe for disaster, or at the very lease disappointment. I have the Lyman manual and have now read it at least 3 times front to back. There are parts in there that I didn't quite understand, until I'm actually in front of the press, other parts like head-spacing, I didn't understand at all, but after some posting on Nutz and searching the net, a couple of diagrams of what the head-spacing issues are, and the lights went on.

I wouldn't plan on loading a bunch of bullets your first day out. You'll find much "sage" advice from experienced re-loaders on this site. My 1st load was 5 bullets. My 2nd attempt was to load 50 bullets which I have done, only to discover, I still might have reloaded them to light, I still my have a head-space issue, etc.

When I set up my Lyman powder dispenser, I had the feeder for small casing in instead of large casings - loading .270 and when I went to take it off the stand and change, I had powder spilling all over the place. Joy, it took me a couple of hours to work thru that issue and finally figure it out.

I'm having fun, it's very interesting and definitely a challenge, but I would take my time. I think once you've worked thru one pistol and one rifle cartridge and have the results you want, you are now in a much better position to move faster on your next calibers.

My 2 cents.
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I totally understand what you are saying, and I am expecting to experience much of the same. I just want to have the stuff on hand, so I can atleast throw out a few finished bullets on my new equipment. I have scene it done before on the same set-up, so I know a little bit to expect. I will probably get a few different recipes from some other reloaders at my range also.

I know it takes alot of trial an error before a perfect load is achieved, but I still want the components on hand, so I can start to mess around the very first day thats possible. I plan on going back and fourth to the range every other day, until I find the best thing that works for myself. Once I have a goal, I work relentlessly until I achieve my goal.
 
I use Unique powder for my 9mm, .38 spec. and .357 mag reloading. I use IMR 4350 for my 30.06. I used to use IMR 4320 but found it too temp sensitive.
 
I can`t say much for the 30-06, but for 9mm I use Titegroup and CCI small pistol primers. There are lots if sites on the net as well as lots of info on here. After you spend a lot of time reading and researching the caliber you are going to load for you will have to make several different loads to fine tune what your most accurate load will be. After I figured out OAL, acceptable safe loads and set up my press and dies, I proceeded to make 10 of each load to test fire. The reason I did 10 was 5 for the chrony and 5 for accuracy. For example; 10 of 4.0gr, 4.1gr, 4.2gr, 4.3gr, and 4.4gr of powder.
As most will tell you, READ and ASK QUESTIONS. Most of all, be SAFE!
 
Maybe I'm lazy and not too interested in testing new powders, but I find the IMR 4350 to be extremely versatile. I use it in a half dozen rifle loads with good/acceptable results. I also like the idea that stocking one powder type fits much of my requirements. Maybe I don't want to fix something that works well and is easy?
 
I wouldn't limit myself to one powder, I have 4 diff. .30 Cal. bench guns in 4 different calibers, that i use for testing cast bullets for accuracy. Each gun/cal. favors a diff. bullet and a different powder, even though all are pushing bullets at nearly the same speeds.
 
UNIQUE is the one, burn cleaner with the new formula, and works in both pistol, shotguns etc. safer to work up a load with it as well :D:D

I use 115gr Berry copper plater RN, 4.7gr of Unique (Lee Autodisk 0.61), CCI 500 small pistol primer and on my Lee 1000 it just sings :). Shoots smooth and feels like American Eagle 115rn factory (just a notch softer :) )
 
get some manuals. you can often get several in a package (used) on ebay for cheap. also look at powder/bullet manufacturers' websites. My approach to a new calibre is to look at several manuals and pick a powder/bullet wt common to all and in the middle of the list for that particular load
 
Ditto on the manuals. I think you need at least 2 - and read all the info section in the books. they are packed with lots of good info. The Sierra, Hormady and Speer books are excellent.

I suggest either Winchester or CCI primers. Buy the one your supplier usually has in stock. Buy a box of 5,000 of each.

Powder. Rifle. 4895, RL15 or varget. Again, buy what he usually has in stock. Buy a 8 lb jug.

Pistol. Unique is great, but it won't meter in some powder throwers. Bullseye is very fast. A real good mid -speed powder (similar in speed to unique) is IMR 7625. Flows like water and burns faily clean. Or Win 231. A bit faster. Buy a 3 or 5 pound jug.

Lots of good videos on re-loading on You Tube, if you have to start solo.
 
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