Reloading 101

[Peter in CA]

All,
I still use my first RCBS press, bought new in 1974. I loaded some .30-40 Gov't. on it this morning. I am slow, but I get there. I now have a RCBS Rockchucker press for my large black powder cartridges. I bought that one used and it works perfectly. Just my 2 cents.

Peter in CA

[Beelzy]

Yeah!

Let's hear it for the RCBS "O" Press!

I still use mine to this day. Just like Barbeque, Low and Slow.

[cleanguy46]

Thanks to the OP for this resource. I have been shooting for years however I am new to metallic cartridge reloading. I am getting my equipment together little at a time and doing alot of reading and research so I come into this with a level of knowledge to safely reload and enjoy the benifits of custom loads for specific shooting needs. Thanks for the 411!

[USN CHIEF]

Great link for Case Prep that I found.

Part 1.

http://carteach0.blogspot.com/2008/0...reloading.html

Part 2.

http://carteach0.blogspot.com/2008/0...oading_12.html

Part 3.

http://carteach0.blogspot.com/2008/0...oading_14.html

Part 4.

http://carteach0.blogspot.com/2008/0...e-priming.html

Part 5.

http://carteach0.blogspot.com/2008/0...uring-and.html

Part 6.

http://carteach0.blogspot.com/2008/0...nal-event.html

Part 7.

http://carteach0.blogspot.com/2008/0...-find-six.html

[depmac983ret]

Nice addition Chief! Thanks for the input .
"MAC"

[Tony Sopranno]

Those links put up by Chief is some really good stuff. When I was learning to reload initially I had some old military friends helping, and then when reentering the reloading game I did lots of "googling around" to put all the old memory pieces back together again and add newer info and better ideas.

The links Chief gave us are pretty darned good stuff, all in one place more or less.

Also for some really good load data use: Steve's Reloading Pages (which is an excellent source for tried and true load data on various powders and shell cases, etc.)

[Tillers_Rule]

This is a very informative thread, thanks!

[gigante]

This is a total noob question, but are all dies proprietary to their mfgs presses or will dies from one complany work in another company's press?

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by gigante

This is a total noob question, but are all dies proprietary to their mfgs presses or will dies from one complany work in another company's press?

Mst dies are standardized with 7/8"-14 threads so they can interchange with any brand of press.

[MR.R]

thanks for the info i have learned a lot. goin with the dillon was thinking about goin the horniday way but not now. now gotta pick the model...

[offshores]

Great post with great info. I'm getting pretty excited about reloading and was thinking about getting a Lee Precision's Breech Lock Challenger System. After doing more searches on the components for reloading and where to buy, I've come to the conclusion that I would not get much use out of it only because nobody seems to have anything in stock (SOLD OUT). Any thoughts on whether I should even buy a reloading kit or is this just a real bad time to try and get into this? I don't need something else collecting dust!!! Thanks

[gemoose23]

Originally Posted by offshores

Great post with great info. I'm getting pretty excited about reloading and was thinking about getting a Lee Precision's Breech Lock Challenger System. After doing more searches on the components for reloading and where to buy, I've come to the conclusion that I would not get much use out of it only because nobody seems to have anything in stock (SOLD OUT). Any thoughts on whether I should even buy a reloading kit or is this just a real bad time to try and get into this? I don't need something else collecting dust!!! Thanks

Supply's are hard, but finding ammo is even harder. Less people reload than those that just buy their ammo from a store or gun show.

Reloading is a great hobby that adds lots of value to your shooting hobby.

No matter what anyone says, Reloading will not SAVE you any money; Reloading will let you shoot more for the same amount of $$$. Before I was a reloader, shooting 50 - 100 rounds at the range was all I did. I Now shoot 300+ rounds at a range outing and I do not even blink an eye, since the cost is still the same in the end as before I was a reloader.

[PAT FINN]

DEPMAC, Thank you for the info, this is all new to me.

Just purchased dillon 650 and waiting for delivery.

seems as though the componets are hard to find. ( primers )

thank you again for the info.

[tallic68]

Hello everyone, my name is mike.

And i joined this forum specifically to ask the question, Can anyone help me make a list of equipment needed to start reloading .45 acp for my glock 21 since i cannot find any within 30 miles of my home under 50 bucks for 50rounds.

i read the posts for newbies about doing a search and found this thread( it took a while but i found it).

I was looking at getting a Lee pro 1000 set up. But as i compare and read i keep seeing coments about crimping and i dont think the pro crimps. Is that somthing i would have to do in addition to the steps of the pro 1000.

Do you have to trim the casing every time you reload it?

Again i am new and i might, no i will ask a some stupid questions now and in the future. So please bare with me.

I have ordered a reloading manual it just hasen't come yet.

thanks in advance
Mike

[tallic68]

Never mind, i received my lyman loading manual today, and got the answers to the questions i had so far.

No, you don't have to trim brass every time you reload, just check for the need to trim it every time.

thanks to all that responded.
mike

[bombadillo]

So being that i'm cheap, what would be the best bang for the buck setup that would grow with me and allow me to be safe. I don't need the fanciest but something that is a do-all type of setup would be ideal as I need it for .308, .223, .45acp, 9mm, .44mag, and some more in the future hopefully. I am just jumping into the ring here and this thread and reading up a lot about it is helping quite a bit. I think it both makes you a better shooter as you're doing the homework and having to think before you make shots of which ammo and what grain bullet/powder, which primer, etc that you're paying more attention to details such as wind, conditions and not just doing the "ammo dump". Thanks for the thread guys

[danny03cobra]

hows it going my name is steve and i need your help i just ordered a lee pro 1000 to start learning how to reload but im not sure what else i need a scale or what else. the press is coming preset to 45 acp but i dont know what kind of primers powder or projectiles i need if u could help me out a little i would really appreciate it. thanks

[IrishPirate]

sweet info. i'm adding this page to my favorites bar so i can reference it more. thanks

[stphnman20]

Originally Posted by IrishPirate

sweet info. i'm adding this page to my favorites bar so i can reference it more. thanks

You can also go on Youtube for tutorials..

[voere22]

Great Post inspired me to buy dies (7x57)today will have friend show me the ropes on his equipment an then decide what type of press. excellent resource thanks

[30-338]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Better than a lee, not as good as a dillon.
Priced accordingly.

The vast majority of competetive shooters use dillon and have for a LONG time,
well before the internet was the source of information that it is today.

There are 4 kinds of Dillon users:
those that started with a lee,
those that started with an RCBS,
those that started with a Hornady
and those that started with a Dillon.

I noticed you didn't include Redding and Forster. Is this a purposeful omission ???

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by 30-338

I noticed you didn't include Redding and Forster. Is this a purposeful omission ???

Those companies don't make progressive presses.
Redding's turret and single stage presses are built like a tank.
Forester makes the most powerful single stage press you can buy. Most excellent for full length sizing.

[PaperPuncher]

Does one achieve better accuracy by using a single stage press vs. progressive?

Would this question relate more to powder measure/scale for consistency of load or are there other important factors of accuracy that may be better served by a single stage?

I am going to start loading now that I am building a 6.8SPC for hoggs and target shooting. I want the best accuracy possible but I also want to be able to load as quickly and safely as possible given the amount of free time I have.

I will also be loading for my other firearms which will not demand the accuracy I am looking for from the 6.8. Should I be looking at going with both progressive and a single stage set-up?

Thanks for the info and great post.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by PaperPuncher

Does one achieve better accuracy by using a single stage press vs. progressive?

Would this question relate more to powder measure/scale for consistency of load or are there other important factors of accuracy that may be better served by a single stage?

The two things that matter most are consistency of powder charge and alignment of the bullet with the case.
In those respects, it does not matter if the press is progressive or single stage.
You can use a progressive press as a single stage and weigh individual charges and the ammo will be just as accurate as if you used a single stage.

[JDKazee]

Great information, thank you!!! Getting back into reloading after 25yrs of not doing it. Any good information is a help. Thanks, again
Jerry Kazee

[GetBulletsandBrass]

If anybody who is in the S.F. Bay area is interested, my company Bullets and Brass, LLC is going to be putting together another "Introduction to Reloading" course.

We just held our first course this past week on the 18th. We covered just the basics and provided an overview of many of the presses that are available on the market, advantages and disadvantages and cost of making your own ammo versus factory ammo.

We are working on forming hands-on classes where participants can load some of their own ammo and shoot them at the range the same day. The little details of this class are still in the works and should be announced soon under the ammo and reloading section of the Calguns forum.

Previous postings:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=258340

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by GetBulletsandBrass

If anybody who is in the S.F. Bay area is interested,

This thread is statewide and the reloading clinics are well advertised already.
Please don't muddy it up even more...

[bothenook]

Originally Posted by liketoshoot

So from what I've read so far, no one is using the RCBS or you think it is not a good one.
I just bought one and feel that it is a good set-up or am I just miss informed?
If you are using this set-up ( I haven't got it up and working yet) how many rounds do you get an hour? and what problems do you have or not have?

some of us have. i reload .38, .357, 9mm, 45acp, 45 Colt, 30-30, and .243 with this press. the longest part is getting the new die plate on (i already have each caliber installed on a separate plate) and installing the shell plate. once i do that, i check one "empty" round for overall length and throw a couple of powder charges to measure and make adjustments. loading primers into the tube and throwing 100 rounds takes about 20 minutes or so. longer if loading rifle or really huge powder charges (because i check the thrown charge more often), or when i get in a hurry. being in a hurry always makes loading take longer.
I've also discovered Lee's Factory crimp dies since this picture was taken. now i just seat the boolits with the progressive, and crimp using an old Lee single stage i had laying around from when i started this madness. it takes a little more time to handle each round again to run through the crimp die, but my groups have gotten smaller, and the chrono times more consistent since changing to a dedicated crimp die. midway sells them pretty cheap, and i have one for each caliber i load for.

one more thing: i noticed that go-no go gauges aren't really talked about for the new reloaders here. in a nutshell, reloading without a go no go for pistol calibers is asking for a lot of jammed guns. midway sells them too, and they are really cheap insurance. but i must say that since i started using Lee's factory crimp dies, i haven't had to worry about case bulges caused by the press. they smooth out any bumps and bulges, and every round i've checked since using them have passed the go no go test. that was not the case before using the crimp dies.

[uracan]

great info

[gorblimey]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Those companies don't make progressive presses.
Redding's turret and single stage presses are built like a tank.
Forester makes the most powerful single stage press you can buy. Most excellent for full length sizing.

This one goes to 11!

http://rceco.com/MN.asp?pg=products&grp=36
http://www.corbins.com/pr-csp2.htm

[1Fastrider]

Good post. Much appreciated. I'm ordering components to reload with this week.

[Preacher]

Awesome thread just a noobie needs Thank You!!!

[happy trigger]

For loadind 308 win match loads for a beginner, what do you think about the Hornady Lock-n-load classic set up?

Is there an advantage to your lower priced set up?
Eventually I will also load 9mm and 223 practic rounds.

[GABEL1500]

I have purchased my equipment and now I need to look at getting some die's. I want to start reloading .223 and 45 caliber. I have purchased a horandy lock and load basic kit. Would I need to get a die to remove the primer and a die to press in the bullet? I am starting to read books and coming here and asking questions. Any help would be appreciated. I found some die's on horandy's website. http://www.hornady.com/store/223-Rem...ze-Die-1-Each/

Would this be right?

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by GABEL1500

I have purchased my equipment and now I need to look at getting some die's. I want to start reloading .223 and 45 caliber. I have purchased a horandy lock and load basic kit. Would I need to get a die to remove the primer and a die to press in the bullet? I am starting to read books and coming here and asking questions. Any help would be appreciated. I found some die's on horandy's website. http://www.hornady.com/store/223-Rem...ze-Die-1-Each/

Would this be right?

Keep reading the books and THEN ask questions later.
The answers to your current questions are in the books.

[GABEL1500]

Will do. Thanks

[Mr.RoDiN]

I recently ordered the dvd from DILLON for the 650. Just to see the setup and how easily it can be used. I previously had watched a dvd where the person was reloading with a RCB rock chucker. I believe its called how to learn to reload under 41 minutes. It was an ok dvd, I realized he didn't cover crimping hand gun loads (tapered crimping). After watching the Dillon 650 dvd, I was a bit overwhelmed to say the least! Once the machine was setup, I fell in love. Now I know there is no comparison between a dillon 650 and a single stage, but the part that really made me think about buying a single stage was the amount of work that need to be dont on the dillon in order to switch from rifle loads to handgun loads. I dont plan on cranking out a 100 or 200 rounds a day. I was thinking using the press more like a hobby. And go at my own pace. I can afford a dillon. It just seems like a headach to switch from calibers. Anyone have any input on this. I plan on reloading 9mm,.45acp,.40, .223 anf .308. Would I be better off with a single stage, taking my time, but easily switching to dies? Also two other questions. One being, if I don't purchase a dillon, can I still buy a trimmer similair to dillon's? Second, in the first dvd, the man was calibrating his hopper to just below the amount of grain needed, then putting it on the scale and using a trickler to get it right on the money. This seems very time consuming. Is there another brand of a powder hopper that is accurate enough to adjust and forget about it?

[Firearms Multimedia Guide]

I am to scared to reload. I'll rather sick with factory ammo.

[Esteve]

Any reload classes in north San Diego?

[Esteve]

Are there any reloading classes or meetings in n San Diego? Or just a person w equipment that will give a lesson? Please let me know