|
|
I’d like to get into reloading, but I know NOTHING about reloading center-fire ammunition. I have watched someone reload shotgun shells before, but that’s about it. Could you kindly ask your members for a good “where to start” link, or just point me in the right direction? I am not sure if such a web ‘crash-course’ exists or not, but even if someone wanted to take some time to draft some basic information, instructions, or warnings, I’d greatly appreciate it. Thank you and your membership very much, Ron V., S.D. Reply #1 My advise for anyone looking to get started is to visit a local shooting club, or gun store perhaps, and see if you can find someone that is a reloader to show you the basics before you do anything on your own. Frankly, I just bought a book and learned on my own and it really isn't that hard, you just have to follow a few basic safety rules. A good handbook on reloading will include such basics. But I think it is best to talk to someone that is experienced and it should not be hard to find someone. One reason for talking to someone else first, and hopefully loading a few rounds with the other persons equipment, it to find out if its really for you. I enjoyed it right from the start. But I've know people that have bought a lot of dies and press equipment that ended up just not enjoying it and the investment went to waste. In the realm of equipment, assuming you find that you enjoy it enough to spend the money, I highly suggest a reasonably priced progressive reloader right from the start. They are not difficult to use, and with a little schooling in the basics/safety procedures you'll enjoy making hundreds of rounds in a few hours of relaxing and enjoyable work. I consider my time at the reloader almost a zen-like experience. Also, when you are getting started I think its best to reload larger round revolver ammo like .44 or .357 or .38 at first. Larger bullets and cases and slower powders are easier and more forgiving of tolerance issues than the smaller stuff like 9mm or .380. - David H. Reply #2 The instructions are available in several places, and are not difficult to follow if a person is at all mechanically inclined. If you change your oil filter, or brakes, yourself, you can learn reloading. About 20 years ago I learned from a book, The ABC's of Reloading by Dean Grennell It was a good enough book that I would recommend it to anybody. And his commentary similarly will leave you smiling. Another place to find instructions would likely be in the front section of most any reloading manual. Speers, Hornady, Lee, among others would all be good to refer to. As a helpful hints: Check on the various caliber's powders recommended before buying a powder to use. Until you become an experimenter, (which I am not, I load strictly by the book), It can save you purchasing a lot of separate powders if you check to see if any of the calibers you plan to reload can be loaded with the same powder. For instance, .45, .44, and 9mm can all be loaded with HS9. I started with the simplest press, and open face Lee press. Lee presses can frequently be purchased with a slight ding in the paint for half the normal price. So check on used or factory mishaps. I can live with a ding in the paint. Many people worry about setting the bullet seater/crimper. My cure was to put in a factory round, and set to it. Later I found that if you start with a: 1) Shell and bullet in place in the press, (and I set up with no powder in my sample) 2) Slightly screw Die body into press. 3) Completely screw bullet seater stem down to lowest position in die. 4) Lower handle, (raise round) 5) Screw the main body of the die in a bit until you seater stem contact the top of the bullet, 6) Raise handle/lower round and 7) Inspect the bullet depth. (It shouldn't be in far enough yet.) 8) Screw main body in a bit more, and a bit more, cranking up and down each time, until you see that the bullet is in the exact perfect depth. 9) Now Un-screw seating stem to almost out, 10) Crank round up. 11) Screw die body in further until it contacts brass. (This is the crimping stage.) 12) Lower round, and screw in die body a skosh, (1/16th turn). 13) Raise and lower round, inspect crimp, screw in another skosh, repeat, until crimp holds bullet. - Dean suggests removing round from shell holder, and griping brass, push bullet against edge of bench. If bullet holds position, it is crimped enough. 14) Holding body of die to prevent movement, Screw lock ring down against top of press. 15) Then holding lock ring to position on die, rotate both out together a bit and tighten lock ring to die with little allen wrench provide. 16) Then screw locked assembly back down into press till lock ring stops die. (If you tighten lock ring screw against press, you can't unscrew the die later.) 17) Crank finished round up. 18) Screw seater stem down to touching finished sample. DONE. NOTE: If you save this sample, You can quickly adjust the die anytime again in the future should un-adjustments happen. Just keep it in the die storage box. In Your Service: Glenn Willis Reply #3 The first place to start is get a good reloading manual like Lyman's or one from one of the ammunition manufacturers. Next, ask yourself how much you want to reload? Just a little, less than 50 rounds at a time, get a single stage press like an RCBS kit (www.cabelas.com). If you want to load a couple of hundred rounds with minimal variation, look at the Dillon Precision Square Deal B (www.dillonprecision.com) or another progressive loading press. I have a Square Deal B and it is easy to operate and reliable. Dillon's customer service is also top notch. I broke a part of the press, called them and they sent me a replacement part for free, no questions asked, THAT DAY! Their customer service sold me on their products. Also, the ammunition I turn out is consistently good quality. Aaron Smyth Reply #4 Hi Tim, I would suggest to Ron to look at these sites to start: http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/presses-and-kits/pdf/IntroToReloading.pdf http://www.rcbs.com/guide/default.aspx Also, you can't go wrong buying one of the many excellent reloading guides (which will be necessary when you begin reloading anyway) from Lyman, Lee, Hornady, Speer, etc. Best of luck. John Reply #5 I am a new re-loader as I got tired of shelling out money like crazy for ammunition. Go to Cabelas and check out the Lee Breech Lock Loader. They have a kit that has everything you need to get started and 7 months ago, it was around $100. It came with a single stage press, powder measure, weigh scale, auto primer, lube etc. All you need are the dies for whatever caliber you are wanting to re-load. The Breech locks are great as once you set the die lengths, that's it. No more adjustments, push a button, remove the die. The kit comes with a re-loading manual so it has the numbers for you already. Make sure to read the instructions and if you have any kind of mechanical ability, you can put it all together and re-load. The Breech locks are readily available, I have purchased several sets to accommodate my various dies. Lee dies are inexpensive (compared to others) and great quality. RCBS Dies work in the Lee set up as well. Go to Wikipedia.com and look up "hand loading". It has some great general information and you will see that re-loading is actually a very simple process. As you get more into it, then you can get more technical, get into case trimming (necessary and easy), head spaces, custom loads and all that. The sky is the limit. But with that kit, the dies, powder, primers, cases and bullets, you can literally be producing ammo in under 90 minutes after you open the box. I went through a pound and a half of powder in less than four months, reloaded hundreds of rounds and produced a load for my son's 22-250 that shoots 1/4" groups at 100 yards, 1/2" at 200. And that's out of a $300 (after tax) Stevens Model 200 (a great rifle). You can do it, it's fun, relaxing and satisfying, costs pennies on the dollar compared to factory ammo and is more reliable and more accurate. You control everything which means everything is the same and that means better accuracy. Reply #6 My suggestions as to how to get started is to buy yourself a couple of good manuals as you can never have to many reloading manuals anyway. I think for a non reloader the Lyman manuals are the best, they have good sections on tools, components and practices. Plan on starting on 1 caliber, a straight walled pistol case will be easiest. You'll need a press, a set of dies {carbide dies make life easier} a powder measure and above all a powder scale. Read the manual, set up your press and start in. Start by sizing and depriming your brass. If you have carbide dies you won't have to clean your brass the first couple of times you reload them. Then prime your brass and pick a load using the table for your caliber. Pick a load out of the middle of the table and load up 10 to 12 rounds. Take them out to a range and try them for function and accuracy. If your chosen load works good then you can reload a whole box, if not you'll have to repeat the process till you get a load that works for you. It's a learning process the more you do the better you'll get and the more gadgets you'll think you have to have. ALWAYS CHECK the weight of powder your powder measure throws, you can never be to careful with powder. Best of luck Reply #7 I use a Lee Breech Lock Challenger kit. About $100 and I've loaded many calibers from .380 to 45-70. Also, the powder measure they supply with the kit is awesome. It looks like a cheap piece of junk compared to RCBS and Lyman, but I've thrown over 25,000 charges through it and it still works great. It holds its' set point very well. A luxury item you might want is a digital powder scale for checking the powder measure. It's a lot quicker and more accurate than the old beam balances. In my opinion, RCBS, Lyman, Dillon and Hornady are overpriced and more than what is needed to do the job. I've been reloading for 35 years, and the Lee setup is as good as any I've had. Also, stay away from progressive reloaders. I've known a few people that have blown up their guns because of overcharges or undercharges. There is no shortcut to doing it right. Learn to enjoy the reloading. Don't just do it to save money. Reply #8 I started reloading when I was about 13 years old. I had never done it, nor did I know anyone who had. An uncle helped me with buying equipment, mainly so I could reload for him for free. I was an avid gun mag reader, and so had a basic understanding of reloading, but by far the bulk of 'how to' info came from my loading manual, and the instructions that came with the equipment. My first manual was a Speer, and I later bought a Sierra. This was over 35 years ago, and I honestly don't know if either is still available. I did recently buy Richard Lee's book/manual "Precision Reloading", and it is an excellent book. It has lots of basic information, as well as a lot of pretty technical stuff. The load data is a little limited, but covers a LOT of different calibers. I don't know of a good video or website that will answer your questions, but I'm sure they're out there. My best advice is to start out simple, with a single-stage press and the basic accessories, and just go to work. Study the instructions, don't try to load super hot loads, don't smoke while you load, and don't load while you're drinking/drunk. It's a load of fun, and can be anything from an occasional pastime and money saver to a total obsession. The choice is yours. Good luck. John Reply #9 All the reloading manuals I have reviewed include instructions. A manual from the manufacturer of the bullets you intend to use will have recommended loads for that specific bullet in most cartridges. If you are too new to the sport to have opinions, Google is a great resource to locate forums where discussions of your particular caliber have occurred. Beware of what you read and look for a consensus from the info you find. Chuckhawks.com is a good resource for general articles on many firearm subjects, including reloading. The investment in reloading equipment can be modest or quite expensive depending on your preferences, but will return a lifetime of service. Right now the most difficult task is finding primers, I have an order in that I've been waiting on for months . Murray Reply #10 My recommendation is to shoot the largest caliber handgun you can be accurate with, in the smallest frame you can possibly manage. I carry a Sig 220 in .45 but I am a very large man and it is not easily printed on me. I think a Taurus P111 or P140 would work great for both of you. I have a P111 in 9mm and my kids can shoot it with ease and accuracy. Go to your local range and shoot lots of guns and calibers. But what you can afford and what you shoot best. Good Luck! Reply #11 Tim, I have several suggestions, no particular order: 1. There are several reloading manuals out there along with 'let's get started' books from folk like Lyman, Gun Digest Books, and, of course, the NRA! 2. Any shooting club/range will likely have reloaders who would give a novice some help. 3. Check with a local gun store and see if they can recommend some one. 4. Be very careful about blog/chat on-line advice. 5. The loading component and equipment companies have DVDs and even some on-line support. 6. NRA has certified instructors in reloading, check with them. 7. When I started I read the front articles in a few reloading manual and I continue to do so. I also trade techniques with friends, whom I trust, but only recipes that agree with some published data. 8. Hand loader and Rifle magazines are excellent sources of information along with the American Rifleman. I hope this helps. -- David Reply #12 There are several good websites with an introduction to reloading (including mine at www.30-30.org). But most of all, I strongly urge all who want to get started right to seek out an NRA instructor who is certified to teach reloading. Lacking a local NRA instructor, find an experienced reloader who still has all his fingers and both his eyes. Any good gun dealer should have some names -- maybe even some business cards on the counter. Blaine Reply #13 http://www.leeprecision.com/html/HelpVideos/video.html I would suggest looking at this page by Lee Precision, Inc. for help videos on using a reloader. If a person belongs to a gun club I am sure there are others who do reload and would be happy to help. I hope this helps, Lou. Reply #14 Go to rcbs.com and view the videos. |
| © 2003-2008 U.S. Concealed Carry Association. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited. |