Well I have most of the gear now and just need a few more supplies to get going. Just when I was wondering how to begin (besides listening to you good folks and reading books on it) Our gun club advertised a local reloading course for beginners!! Fantastic, 2 courses this week and possibly more plus a possible advanced course. They filled up pretty quick. This is something that was really needed in this area! It seems there are a lot more folks getting into reloading!
Taking a beginner reloading course!
- Thread starter bobdbldr
- Start date
One member at our club (BRRC) offers them about once a month, one for pistol, one for rifle, about $100 a pop. 5 people maximum, no minimums, good theoretical prep, printed materials and lots of hands-on, your toys or his. For pistol it was all his and for rifle, he helped me set up my own toys, so I knew exactly what, where, when, how and why. Now I got components on the way 
It was a good course, I would like another with hands on, but I will be starting reloading soon and will be able to pick the instructors brain if ( when) required! Glad I went, also now have a local supplier for soft lead bullets and other goodies!
An entire day (10hrs on average), plenty of hands-on (all of us had separate, fully-equipped reloading benches), grub, drinks, components... Costs a lot more to operate than the firearm safety course (especially considering the student:teacher ratio) and it's still cheaper. I'd say we got good value for our $$$
Yep, that's the one I'm talking about. Peet's a top-notch guy
Yeah, because people should work for free
- Location
- Red Deer AB
I wanted to sign up for the Saturday session, but wasn't able to get time away from work. It sounds like I really missed out, but at least I know it will be worth it next time it comes up.
I think a basic reloading seminar is a great idea and wished there was such a thing around here. It would have eased my mind on how to begin. However, once I got the equipment and got started it all made perfect sense within the first five minutes anyway.
Just remember...it's no substitute for reading and studying all the written material you can find, and keep doing so to remain current.
Just remember...it's no substitute for reading and studying all the written material you can find, and keep doing so to remain current.
Reloading basics
Step #1
Read the front of the reloading manual
Step #2
Pick your bullet and powder and START at the recommended starting load and work up.
Inspect each case as it is fired and examine the primer (read the primer) for pressures signs.
At the starting load the primers will be protruding from the rear of the case and as you work up in charge weight and chamber pressure you will see the primers gradually become even with the base of the case. From this point on you watch the primers more carefully for signs of excess pressure meaning the primers getting flatter.
Below exaggerated sign of excess pressure when the base of the case expands more than a few thousandths.
Below, the red and yellow areas are high stress areas that can stretch depending on how much pressure and clearance you have between the rear of the case and the bolt face (head clearance).
Also watch the primer back out of the primer pocket below and then watch the case stretch to meet the bolt face.
Learn how to adjust your full length dies for proper "shoulder bump", .001 to .002 for bolt action rifles and .003 to .004 for semi-autos (M1, M1A, AR15)
Get a set of vernier calipers and the Hornady cartridge case headspace gauges and and your set.
Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gauge Tool - Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspacetool Set W/Bushings
http://www.amazon.com/Hornady-Lock-N-Load-Headspace-Gauge-Tool/dp/B004GB9P2S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1364592943&sr=8-3&keywords=hornady+headspace+gauge
Hornady Headspace Gauge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-UrMTyJ1_E
Step #1
Read the front of the reloading manual
Step #2
Pick your bullet and powder and START at the recommended starting load and work up.
Inspect each case as it is fired and examine the primer (read the primer) for pressures signs.
At the starting load the primers will be protruding from the rear of the case and as you work up in charge weight and chamber pressure you will see the primers gradually become even with the base of the case. From this point on you watch the primers more carefully for signs of excess pressure meaning the primers getting flatter.
Below exaggerated sign of excess pressure when the base of the case expands more than a few thousandths.
Below, the red and yellow areas are high stress areas that can stretch depending on how much pressure and clearance you have between the rear of the case and the bolt face (head clearance).
Also watch the primer back out of the primer pocket below and then watch the case stretch to meet the bolt face.
Learn how to adjust your full length dies for proper "shoulder bump", .001 to .002 for bolt action rifles and .003 to .004 for semi-autos (M1, M1A, AR15)
Get a set of vernier calipers and the Hornady cartridge case headspace gauges and and your set.
Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gauge Tool - Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspacetool Set W/Bushings
http://www.amazon.com/Hornady-Lock-N-Load-Headspace-Gauge-Tool/dp/B004GB9P2S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1364592943&sr=8-3&keywords=hornady+headspace+gauge
Hornady Headspace Gauge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-UrMTyJ1_E
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