getting into reloading????

[Tacobandit]

So I am thinking about getting into reloading but I don't have a clue what's involved. Is there a beginners class anyone offers in so cal that can get me started and show me what I need.

[BJames]

Angeles Shooting Range has a course at their reloading store. I just asked. It's $125. Has anyone taken the class? I am thinking of starting reloading as well. I hear the Lee Anniversary Kit is a good starter. Do you (re-loaders) recommend a course?

[cudakidd]

NRA has a self study course available! Check it out.

To start with, decide what you want to reload, pistol is easier then rifle, shotgun easier then pistol, etc...just generalities of course.

I started with a the usual Lee small presses, very simple and cheap to decide if you want to go on from there.

[Shooter88]

I learned to re-load from my father-in-law. But since I know you probably dont have someone that can teach you in person, I would buy a re-loading manual and read it all, and keep reading it until you understand everything. If the book doesn't explain a certain part/step well enough, then Google is your friend.

There are kits that you can buy (I have the RCBS Rock Chucker kit) that have mostly everything you need to get started.

Oh, and prepare to spend hours in the garage once you start. Its pretty addicting.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

buy this read it then read it again http://www.amazon.com/ABCs-Reloading.../dp/0873491904 that's all i did and i have been going strong for years now

[BigBronco]

http://www.rcbs.com/guide/step_by_step_reloading.aspx#

[HKMadness]

I got the book mentioned above, and modern reloading, by lee when I started back in 2006 ish. Got a lct, used that for a few years. This year got 2 pro 1000's - one for .45 and one for 9mm. The reloading section here is a great resource too. If u can afford $1,000 for it, get a dillon. Might be best to get a cheap lee (or other) single stage to start with though and gain experience and learn the process. I actually have more fun cranking out rounds than I do shooting them, haha. I just love looking at a pile of ammo I reloaded and knowing it cost me about half of what I used to pay.

[HKMadness]

1,000 rounds each of 9mm and .45 for total material cost of $300. Ran out of bullets for 9mm, ran out of .45 cases. Tempted to shoot some of my factory stockpile just to have more brass to reload.

I have no use for these (currently I have about double what's in this older pic). I was tempted to give em away to a good cause, but couldn't find one


All reloading books will emphasize that you are supposed to double check your reloading data, not make substitutions, inspect everything at every stage, and be CERTAIN of your charges and OAL. Don't wanna turn this into the off topic reloading section, but suffice it to say you have many resources at your fingertips.

WARNING: you may lose some of the fun and excitement of shooting, but if you do, you will regain the lost fun in reloading - at some point. For me it was getting progressive presses.

You know you're a Reloader when:
You spend more time picking up brass than you do actually shooting.
You watch your target as you're shooting, but can't help but look right after at where your brass is landing
You hate your semi auto gun for making you chase your brass
You leave the range with more brass than you arrived with
You consider Walmart prices to be really high for ammo

[jonzer77]

1,000 rounds each of 9mm and .45 for total material cost of $300. Ran out of bullets for 9mm, ran out of .45 cases. Tempted to shoot some of my factory stockpile just to have more brass to reload.

I have no use for these (currently I have about double what's in this older pic). I was tempted to give em away to a good cause, but couldn't find one


All reloading books will emphasize that you are supposed to double check your reloading data, not make substitutions, inspect everything at every stage, and be CERTAIN of your charges and OAL. Don't wanna turn this into the off topic reloading section, but suffice it to say you have many resources at your fingertips.

WARNING: you may lose some of the fun and excitement of shooting, but if you do, you will regain the lost fun in reloading - at some point. For me it was getting progressive presses.

You know you're a Reloader when:
You spend more time picking up brass than you do actually shooting.
You watch your target as you're shooting, but can't help but look right after at where your brass is landing
You hate your semi auto gun for making you chase your brass
You leave the range with more brass than you arrived with
You consider Walmart prices to be really high for ammo

I always laugh inside when I see threads about a sale for ammo at Wal Mart and people go crazy. I just think it's expensive ****ty ammo lol.

[Nessal]

Pick up a book and start reading. That's how I started. Start cheap with a Lee kit. I have used it for many many years and even have had my progressive for a while now and I still find myself going back to the simple Lee press for certain tasks. Well worth the money!

[meaty-btz]

You know you're a Reloader when:
You spend more time picking up brass than you do actually shooting.
You watch your target as you're shooting, but can't help but look right after at where your brass is landing
You hate your semi auto gun for making you chase your brass
You leave the range with more brass than you arrived with
You consider Walmart prices to be really high for ammo

Damn, I know, with every semi, I am always eyes off target to track my brass

Add to your list:
You hate your semi for dinging your brass
You get pissed at people who steal your brass
You nearly lose it when some idiot at the range steps on your brass or their brass and you proceed to school them in the value of their brass and how to properly treat brass.

[dousan]

Fowler gun room in Tustin has free seminar
My wife and I went and it gave us a good idea of costs, options and the whole deal
Bring a chair though. We stayed for 3 hours but it went much longer
100% free too

[BJames]

What is the difference between the RCBS Rock Chucker kit and the Lee Anniversary kit? There's quite a price difference.

[stand125]

What is the difference between the RCBS Rock Chucker kit and the Lee Anniversary kit? There's quite a price difference.

Both kits will load ammo of the exact same quality and the only difference that amounts to anything is that one is a whole lot more expensive. I use LEE Anniversary kit and have a RCBS cast iron single stage, The RCBS is 30 years older and feels more solid. The LEE has a great priming system and loads ammo just as well as the RCBS. You best bett if you where going to spend a few hundred dollars on a RCBS kit is to get the LEE CLASSIC TURRET PRESS kit. You will load much faster than on a single stage, but won't have the expense and a lot of issues that a progressive can cause, expecially for a new reloader. People will bash the LEE scale, but it is just extremely sensitive.

[sargenv]

I see all of that as a good start...

You may get to the point where those little boxes are too much trouble..