What lesssons would you pass on to a new reloader?

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huntingfish

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What lessons, tips and tricks have you learned that you wish someone had told you when you started reloading?

Any particular pieces of equipment that comes in kits that is basically useless?
Any steps in case handling that you wish you'd been stricter about and which impacts results downrange?
Any steps that in the beginning are not that important?

Please share!

David
 
I wish someone would had told me how much time that I would spend in front of a reloading press.
1. Precision ammo takes a lot of time to produce.
2. If you buy a reloading kit, eventually you will replace every piece of it over the years for something better.
3. Cleaning primer pockets is a waste of time unless they are full of crap.
4. It is faster for me to pinch kernals of powder in or out of he pan with my fingers than it is to use a trickler.
5. Shooting it is much more fun than loading it.
 
Loading manuals whether paper or online are guides, the velocities may not represent the velocity a load produces in your firearm, and every load listed in a manual, may not be safe in every firearm.
 
Take a break often.
Too long of a session can result in dangerous mistakes.
Only keep the type of powder, primers and bullets you are using on your bench at one time.
Empty powder measure and primer trays when done and put them back in the proper container.
That eliminates the guessing game when you start the next session.
Enjoy...It is addicting...
 
1. (#1 by a long lead). Never ask for or use load data from forums. Would you go up to a stranger on street and seek advise for something that could damage your gun or worst case injure you or someone else? (No, that is not from pers experience but I read it too often). Use load data from powder sites or published books. Start low, work up.
2. Without getting into a debate about which is best blue, red, green or the cheaper red - research each, seek advise, perhaps reload with someone who has one or more colors, then buy. Buy once, cry once for price. This one is from experience - green RCBS, red Hornady, blue Dillon 650. Should have bought blue earlier (my opinion).
3. Start single stage, even if you buy a progressive press. Understand each step, what happens at each die, what can go wrong.
4. Read ABCs of Reloading before buy or do anything.

#? Have fun, it can be a whole other hobby. I especially enjoy playing with magnum loads 41 and 44.
 
1) No distractions. No SO,kids,dog,cat,etc while reloading. Some guys re-prime cases while watching tv. I don't.
2) One container of powder and primers on the bench at any given time.
3) Sharpie markers and a notebook are your friends.
4) The accuracy/precision requirements of your ammo will dictate how much you need to obssess over minutiae.
 
Document EVERYTHING!
Once can open at a time, and when done a session, empty the powder measure .
Don't mix primers.
Work up loads slowly.
There is no short cut to accuracy success .
Cat
 
One can of powder on the bench at a time.

Check the new reload fits in the firearm before you make hundreds. Pulling bullets is no fun.

Keep it simple when you start out. Make safe consistent ammo that goes bang, you can work on the fine points later.
 
Don't smoke, drink alcohol or be distracted while reloading. Never be in a hurry, take your time. The actually reloading is the easiest, for me that is, it's the brass prep which is most time consuming, however most important.
 
Sit down with an experienced reloader for a few sessions , so many things may seem easy and routine when you read or watch them but actually having your hands on the process with someone there that can explain the why's and what's is very beneficial.It's all these little things that can first seem over whelming really just become part of the process with experience and time , having someone there to say you are doing it right is very beneficial.

If you are just starting out keep it simple , do things in stages or compartmentalized, prepping brass , priming, charging, seating, get a feel.

But most important of all, when starting out treat each firearm and prospective load like it is unique, because, it will be for that load/rifle combo. DO NOT be that guy just starting out asking for "pet loads".

Always buy good quality , virgin brass!
 
I starting reloading as a university student in the 70's to save money.

My biggest advice is to make it fun right from the gitgo. Regard reloading as a challenge and a hobby in it's own right and keep it pleasurable. I reload a lot and am always finding new and interesting aspects to it. Whether it's is my 100,000th 45 ACP out of the Dillon or a new mono-metal bullet in 375 H+H it never ceases to teach me things and leave me wondering.... "How can I make the next round more accurate?"

It's sad to hear from people how much they hate reloading or that they view it as a necessary evil or drudgery.
 
Big bore dinosaur said:
Oh.. start hording your powder , and primers..
FYI they dont go bad..
Click to expand...
X2 When you get the opportunity and the price is right, grab what you can. Especially now as when I started reloading there just seemed to be more and varied supplies around.

Bullet seating depth can be perplexing. And learn what ogive is.
 
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