Now I am a reLoader

[M27]

I usually just ask if they are saving their brass and if not can I take it. no one who wasn't saving brass has said no.

yep

Unless people want to keep there brass I have never had any one protest to me picking up there brass after asking.

I have even had people pick up there brass and toss it into my ammo can, something I am always thankful for.

[Fjold]

Best tip:

Read the reloading manual.

Next best tip:

Read the reloading manual again.

Not skim, not glance through it, read it.

In 31 years of reloading for bolt action, pump action, semi-automatic, single shot and double barrel rifles, I've never owned a set of small based dies.

Read the reloading manual and set your sizing dies correctly.

[Divernhunter]

I started buying small base dies when I got my first pres(Rockchucker) because no matter what I did they would not work well in my old Rem 740 in 30-06. Small base dies cured that problem. The 740 had a weak extraction system. I have used reg dies in other calibers but required SB dies for an AR15 (223) and a Browning BAR 7mm Rem mag but not my Ruger M77 in 7mm Rem mag.. So I have SB and regular dies in several cartridges. I just suggest a new person getting them so that it does away with one potential trouble and they are not forced to get another die since many think reloading will save money. I use SB dies in rifles not requiring them also often. I know they may shorten brass life but I do not try to get 47 loads out of my brass. It works for me. I also have several neck sizing dies but rarely use them.

[Colt562]

I might suggest that you start with 45 since 9mm is a high pressure round and the 45 is not. Just a little safety factor for the newb.

Read manuals, start slow, start at minimum loadings and work up from there.

You may wish to write yourself a protocol so that you do not leave out any steps and all is in order.

Good lighting is your friend. Wear safety glasses when handling primers and powder and while loading.

Don't go out of bounds with any recipes until you are more experienced.

So should I start with the minimum load for a couple cartiridges and then move up and up and take them to the range and see which one works best for me?

[TKM]

Load 10 rounds at the lowest level in the book. Write down the load on a piece of paper and put it and the bullets in a baggie. Do this until you have as many different loads as seem appropriate labelled and separated.

Go to the range and line up the baggies from minimum to close to maximum.

Load your first magazine and fire away, make note of your results on the back of the piece of paper. Did they function well? Feed and eject? Accuracy?

When you are done you will have notes on each load and won't have to try to remember what did what later.

There will be some loads that just suck, it is as important to know what doesn't work as well as what does.

There will be a couple of loads that just work better than others. Take them and load fifty of each. After testing this time you will find the load that seems most accurate.

Write it down on a piece of tape and stick it to your loading bench, also put it on a 3x5 card and start keeping a file of your favorite loads. Don't try to do it by memory.

[Colt562]

Thanks for the advice I'll have to do that