picked up some reloading gear - need help

[Divernhunter]

I wish someone would have told me I could only do 50 per hour with batch processing as stated and that I had to worry about shoulder bumping ,having 2 sets of calibers, case guage etc. I guess I have been doing it all wrong for over 45 years(actually since 1962). It must just be "luck" that I have never had a problem producing trouble free as well as some super accurate ammo and just in Dec got my first progressive press.

You can make it as simple or complicated as you wish and still produce safe and accurate ammo. With just a small amount of common sence it is not unsafe and you do not have to have a PHD to to it. If you are not match shooting full lengh resizing is just fine and will avoid all the stuff you need to concern yourself with when neck sizing.
Reloading is simple and straight forward.....Or you can turn it into something more complex than sending a man to the moon. It is all up to you. Also some of the things people think they must do to get accurate ammo really does little to make it more accurate. It does make them think so and give them more convidence. This in turn leads to better shooting as most of it is mind-set anyway once an accurate load is found.

I would suggest a hand primer and use spray lube. If the pistol dies are not carbide type the buy some so you do not need to lube the brass for the pistol rounds.

[FatalKitty]

Thanks Divernhunter!

I have been reading a lot about it and watching videos and talking to reloaders a lot - LONG before I ever found this press at a yardsale.
As I said, I don't think i could load as much as I shoot - but maybe loading will take up some of my shooting time and it might even out - I really just want to learn this skill as a hobby, not match shooting, not really going to get into specialized rounds.

as for the hand primer, couldn't I just use the primer on the press? I got a really great deal on this stuff, so if I could use it - that would be awesome!

[pdq_wizzard]

Thanks Divernhunter!

I have been reading a lot about it and watching videos and talking to reloaders a lot - LONG before I ever found this press at a yardsale.
As I said, I don't think i could load as much as I shoot - but maybe loading will take up some of my shooting time and it might even out - I really just want to learn this skill as a hobby, not match shooting, not really going to get into specialized rounds.

as for the hand primer, couldn't I just use the primer on the press? I got a really great deal on this stuff, so if I could use it - that would be awesome!

yes, you can use the priming system on the press, but you will start to hate it . I have the LEE hand primer but bought the RCBS (better made) I have worn out 2 of the LEE's in the last 4 years.

[ivanimal]

Where are you located? I may be able to help with an apt sized bench.

[FatalKitty]

I'm in NorCal (and by norcal, I mean closer to the oregon border than the bay)

not a lot out my way, which is great for going out and shooting a few times a week, but not so great for meeting up with people

[problemchild]

Always one in the crowd I guess... How was your loading on day one 45 years ago?

Take someone who has never loaded and tell them rifle loading is simple, I call BS. It takes a heck of a lot more than common sense a screwdriver and a hammer. The two gauges are for COAL and Headspace. Its much easier than removing the tool every time you want to measure COAL.
Yep and I guess my 40 years of loading has been all wrong too. I could have just got a rock and a crescent wrench and pounded ammo out the other end without measuring a god-darned-thing. What was I thinking.
Any mechanic can say rebuilding an engine is "simple and straight forward" too. Tell a newbie want they want to hear and they soak it up.
Also if she is weighing each charge on a beam scale, charging each case and then seating the bullet 50 per hour is probably right.

Like I said one in each crowd.
But hey maybe you can out pace me on my dillon 650 huh? I mean with the 45 years and all. Im done here. Do what you want and see what happens. Get that headspace wrong and we will read your next post which wont be good at all.

I wish someone would have told me I could only do 50 per hour with batch processing as stated and that I had to worry about shoulder bumping ,having 2 sets of calibers, case guage etc. I guess I have been doing it all wrong for over 45 years(actually since 1962). It must just be "luck" that I have never had a problem producing trouble free as well as some super accurate ammo and just in Dec got my first progressive press.

You can make it as simple or complicated as you wish and still produce safe and accurate ammo. With just a small amount of common sence it is not unsafe and you do not have to have a PHD to to it. If you are not match shooting full lengh resizing is just fine and will avoid all the stuff you need to concern yourself with when neck sizing.
Reloading is simple and straight forward.....Or you can turn it into something more complex than sending a man to the moon. It is all up to you. Also some of the things people think they must do to get accurate ammo really does little to make it more accurate. It does make them think so and give them more convidence. This in turn leads to better shooting as most of it is mind-set anyway once an accurate load is found.

I would suggest a hand primer and use spray lube. If the pistol dies are not carbide type the buy some so you do not need to lube the brass for the pistol rounds.

[ivanimal]

OK then look at the free section in Craigslist for a table to use. No need to recreate the wheel if you don't have too. The next best thing is metal shelving units cut down to your height requirements. Then you also have a shelf for supplies. You can screw a wood top to it with an overhang as well.

[ivanimal]

Always one in the crowd I guess...

Take someone who has never loaded and tell them rifle loading is simple. I call BS. It takes a heck of a lot more than common sense. The two gauges are for COAL and Headspace. Its much easier than removing the tool every time you want to measure COAL.

Yep and I guess my 40 years of loading has been all wrong too. I could have just got a rock and a crescent wrench and pounded ammo out the other end without measuring a god-darned-thing. What was I thinking.

Any mechanic can say rebuilding an engine is "simple and straight forward" too. Tell a newbie want they want to hear and they soak it up.

I always equate it to electricity. You wouldn't just start pulling wires out of you wall without knowing and respecting the dangers within. Do your reading and research before you load a round. ask questions and respect the process. Never load distracted and never hurry. Always finish a task and write down where in the proccess you left off if doing it in stages. ALWAYS mark the loads with powder, primer, bullet weight, and col at a mimimum.

[gunboat]

To Divernhunter I give a general Amen bro, right on.

To problemchild -- to much drama, it not ice road trucking.

To Fk - sounds to me like you are on the correct path.
Your first batch or two will be on the slow side, but experience and familiarity with the process will speed things up a mite.

my tuppence

[FatalKitty]

Always one in the crowd I guess... How was your loading on day one 45 years ago?

Take someone who has never loaded and tell them rifle loading is simple, I call BS. It takes a heck of a lot more than common sense a screwdriver and a hammer. The two gauges are for COAL and Headspace. Its much easier than removing the tool every time you want to measure COAL.
Yep and I guess my 40 years of loading has been all wrong too. I could have just got a rock and a crescent wrench and pounded ammo out the other end without measuring a god-darned-thing. What was I thinking.
Any mechanic can say rebuilding an engine is "simple and straight forward" too. Tell a newbie want they want to hear and they soak it up.
Also if she is weighing each charge on a beam scale, charging each case and then seating the bullet 50 per hour is probably right.

Like I said one in each crowd.
But hey maybe you can out pace me on my dillon 650 huh? I mean with the 45 years and all. Im done here. Do what you want and see what happens. Get that headspace wrong and we will read your next post which wont be good at all.

I appretiate your attention to detail and wanting people to stay safe, and get good results which = good fun. BUT
1. I am not a girl - I am a 30 year old former marine secure in my masculinity enough to have hipster ariel as my avatar! (plus a fellow calgunner made it for me) haha I won't even go into the nickname... i've been called "kitty" way too long to abandon it now - oh... maybe it was the my little pony reference?
2. I have no doubt it's not as simple as a hammer... however there are bench reloading methods that involve a hammer, are there not? I plan to be safe and careful about what I do - which is why I came here. Nothing wrong with a few different opinions and someone providing some good pointers and encouragement.
3. I won't be weighing each charge but I have no doubt it will be slow going at first, i am pretty meticulous about stuff - all i wanted was an idea about what my progress should look like

Thanks again for the pointers and suggestions. I really appreciate it guys - had a look at Javi's thread on small benches, PERFECT

[Divernhunter]

I tried to be as nice as possible in my post over someone who is crying the sky is falling. The fact is my very first reloader was used with a hammer and they still make them. I was in grammer school at the time and quickly moved on to a RCBS kit and a Mec 12ga set-up as money would allow. Call it BS if you want. I call your cry wolf, the sky is falling and belittling my reasonable post pure BS and then some. I do agree on one thing: What were(are) you thinking?? If you want to continue please PM me as I try not to start a war on the forums. I was in grammer school at the time. IF you can read, follow directions, think and have common sense that you use you will not have a problem reloading. You do not need to measure each charge and the fact is with a couple of tricks you can,as I can, throw 100+ charges with the uniflow measure at a time and not be more than .1gr off. As long as you are not over-max you will have no trouble. My electronic auto measure get .1gr off as does others. IF you would like a few pointers I have learned over the years feel free to contact me.
The big deal about head-spacing??? If you adjust your FL resizing dies correctly you will have no trouble. Brit 303 in a Enfield is the only real touchy one and that is because the rifles have way oversize chambers to make them war reliable since the mil did not reload ammo.
I have built engines(gas and diesel), built race engines,stock engines, and heavy equipment engines. Maybe that is why I can reload without troubles you precieve??????
About outpacing you on the dillon. The only reason I got one is I hate to deal with the 9mmLuger and 9mmMak brass and to a lesser extent the 45ACP brass. Still do my 357mag/44mag/454casull/500S&W/7.62X25/38S&W on one of my single stage presses.

Gunboat----Thank you as well as any other non-alarmist posters.

ivanimal---You are correct and that was what I was saying all along. Think,use common sense, follow directions and such for a safe good shooting product.

My first handloads were just fine and killed what I was aiming at 45+ years ago just as they do now. I am glad your loads have all been perfect in your 40 years. MAYBE we just used slightly different routes to achieve the same end result. Good safe ammo that does the job asked of it. Ever think of that??

To others posting on the forum I am sorry but I get tired of some holier than thou people who think the only way is their way and anything else will destroy the world. Myself, I am always open to sensible ideas to make good ammo. I am willing to learn and accept others ways(at least for them) as long as they respect others for their ways especially when it is someone who has a track record of success.

One last barb since I am ticked off. You forum name is "Problemchild" maybe for a good reason.

[joelogic]

After reading this thread I had to go back and reread the OP. All he wanted to know was where to get a shell holder.
Talk about...

[kmullins]

To the OP,

As you will learn, and have probably already learned, this can be as simple or complex as you want.

Determining how much you want to shoot and what quality of ammo you want to shoot will help with how much equipment you need.

[Dark Mod]

Lol, this thread is epic

[Shoot-it]

With a rifle round you need to understand:
Headspacing
How to measure headspace
You need tools for meaasuring headspacing
If you have an auto you need small base dies and they need to be adjusted properly
You need two sets of calipers
Measure for shoulder bump
Understand shoulder bump
You need a trimmer
You need to know where your lands and grooves are and how much jump or jam you have. (may not be so important in an auto because of mag limit length limit)
You need JP minimum sammi spec headspace gauges (for autos this is a life saver)
If you are running an auto its wise to use military primers so you dont have a primer strike on bcg close.

I could go on and on and on. Do you see why I suggested sitting with someone?

You lost me on all that.I started reloading because of my 223 and just full length re sized all my brass and they worked fine in my Ar with no problems and now in my bolt action with no problems.I just used the col from the reloading Manuel to.It's not rocket science .I reload pretty accurate rounds to.

jump i got it
jam you lost me