Help Me Start Handloading

Whitecat · April 17, 2007, 12:19 AM

I've decided to start handloading my own ammo having recently fallen in love with the .454 Casull cartridge. Unfortunately, I don't know where to begin

Can someone point me in the direction of a useful beginner's kit or a few books/manuals about handloading. Thanks All.

T. O'Heir · April 17, 2007, 01:56 AM

Buy a copy of The ABC's of Reloading. Your local gun shop or Amazon. The principals are the same no matter what you're loading. Although handgun ammo is a bit more involved than rifle. Then have a look at an RCBS Beginner's Kit. It'll give you everything you need less dies and shellholder. It comes with a manual, but look into the Lyman book too. It gives you more loads with more bullet weights than the included manual does. There's nothing wrong with the included manual, but it comes from a bullet maker and only gives loads for that maker's bullets. Speer, I think.
Lyman also puts out their Pistol and Revolver Manual. Mine is kind of elderly so it doesn't have the .454 in it. Load data isn't hard to come by though. You can always load .45 Colt for a Casull revolver too.

CrustyFN · April 17, 2007, 05:43 AM

I agree with T. O'Heir, get some books and read. My experience has been the opposit where I find pistol less involved than rifle because of the case trimming, lubing and recleaning that you have with rifle and not pistol. My advice would be to look into the Lee Classic Turret press. It will cost quite a bit less than other brands single stage and will load a lot faster. You can buy the complete kit for around $150. I have been seeing posts lately where people bought SS presses and are upgrading to the classic turret after only having their SS for around a month.
Rusty

qajaq59 · April 17, 2007, 06:33 AM

I agree with T. O'Heir also. Start with the books. And if you check on the NRA page you might find an NRA reloading instructor near you that can help you get going. But either way, you're definitely going to need the books.

VaFisher · April 17, 2007, 06:43 AM

Welcome to the world of reloading. All the above post have exellent points. Take your time and read all you can then decide where you would like to start like which press you feel would do what you want. I like to see newby's start with a single stage press so they can learn all the ends and outs and later if you need more speed work up to a prgressive press.

sundog · April 17, 2007, 08:05 AM

Whitecat, before you spend any money, take a look at this site:

http://www.reload-nrma.com/

Then, if you're still interested, buy ABCs of Reloading or the NRA Guide to Reloading, both 'How to' manuals, and both very good. You'll also need a load data manual or seven or thirteen. Use the load data on the powder web sites, Alliant, Hodgdon, Western and Accurate Arms - any of them. The interent is one of the best things to ever happen for the shooting community, use it.

Most shooters are gabbers and like to share knowledge and experience - and sometimes argue -- oops, discuss -- over little things like primers or firing pins or crimping or, or, or.... The people here on this board and a few other have a wealth of information to share, use it.

If you do some reading up front, you will save money later by not getting stuff you don't need. You will also get stuff that you do need and know better which models of stuff will fit your situation.

Whitecat · April 17, 2007, 01:29 PM

Good site, thanks everyone!

Art Eatman · April 17, 2007, 02:28 PM

While it's probably more useful for rifle folks, I like the Sierra reloading manual due to the best appendices of all of them. Beaucoup information on external ballistics.

Art

benedict1 · April 17, 2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

My advice would be to look into the Lee Classic Turret press. It will cost quite a bit less than other brands single stage and will load a lot faster. You can buy the complete kit for around $150. I have been seeing posts lately where people bought SS presses and are upgrading to the classic turret after only having their SS for around a month.

The best kit and price are here, IMHO--this is the way to go. You can start out loading single stage to learn; then kick in auto-indexing and go at 200+ per hour if you want to.

http://www.kempfgunshop.com/products.../KempfKit.html

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2...ress/index.asp

The second link is the best set of directions I've seen anywhere to set up this press--many, many photos. Take a look at it before you order and get the feel of what it is, if this press looks right to you.

kingudaroad · April 17, 2007, 03:58 PM

I started reloading a couple of years ago with the help of this forum. My motivation was my new 44 mag revolver. After a couple of trips to the range where I spent in excess of $100 per trip on factory ammo, I realized I needed to reload, go broke, or quit shooting.

454 casull falls into that same "expensive factory ammo" category. I started with ABC's of reloading and then bought the RCBS supreme master reloading kit. http://www.cabelas.com/spodw-1/0018937.shtml

It had almost everything I needed except dies, and a set of calipers. Be sure to get a carbide sizing die so you won't have to lube.

IMO straight walled pistol reloading is as simple and basic as it comes. I spend a lot more time effort and money developing rifle loads but I tend to get a little obsessive about my rifle cartridges.

You will certainly have some questions along the way, but I encourage you to jump right on in!

Be safe, start slow, and be sure and let us know when you squeeze off that first handload.

mrawesome22 · April 17, 2007, 04:53 PM

That is a great cartridge to load. I'd look at getting into loading .45Colt also. They can be shot out of the .454 and they are much more mild, and cheaper to boot!

mattgreennra · April 23, 2007, 05:13 AM

When I got into reloading I went to the biggest gun/reloading store I could find (cabelas for me) and asked around. I did a great deal of looking too. I became an RCBS for life customer when I noticed their stuff seemed to be way-overbuilt, which I liked. It also seemed to have less "play" than some others. I would look in person and check the presses out first hand. I can't stand "slack" in a press, but that's my person pref.
W/o trying to be biased, I would also recommend a kit to save money. For tumblers the Lyman's have a model called the auto-flo that drains out the media and leaves (mostly) cases, it's nice. With my experience if you see some equip and think you'll need it or will use it later, but it then. I placed 4 orders within 2 weeks when I got my .308 last month, shipping gets a little pricey.
Also .454 Casull makes me happy, good choice.

April 17, 2007, 12:19 AM	#1
Whitecat Junior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 6	Help Me Start Handloading I've decided to start handloading my own ammo having recently fallen in love with the .454 Casull cartridge. Unfortunately, I don't know where to begin Can someone point me in the direction of a useful beginner's kit or a few books/manuals about handloading. Thanks All.

April 17, 2007, 05:43 AM	#3
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	I agree with T. O'Heir, get some books and read. My experience has been the opposit where I find pistol less involved than rifle because of the case trimming, lubing and recleaning that you have with rifle and not pistol. My advice would be to look into the Lee Classic Turret press. It will cost quite a bit less than other brands single stage and will load a lot faster. You can buy the complete kit for around $150. I have been seeing posts lately where people bought SS presses and are upgrading to the classic turret after only having their SS for around a month. Rusty __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

April 17, 2007, 08:05 AM	#6
sundog Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 1999 Location: Green Country, OK Posts: 782	Whitecat, before you spend any money, take a look at this site: http://www.reload-nrma.com/ Then, if you're still interested, buy ABCs of Reloading or the NRA Guide to Reloading, both 'How to' manuals, and both very good. You'll also need a load data manual or seven or thirteen. Use the load data on the powder web sites, Alliant, Hodgdon, Western and Accurate Arms - any of them. The interent is one of the best things to ever happen for the shooting community, use it. Most shooters are gabbers and like to share knowledge and experience - and sometimes argue -- oops, discuss -- over little things like primers or firing pins or crimping or, or, or.... The people here on this board and a few other have a wealth of information to share, use it. If you do some reading up front, you will save money later by not getting stuff you don't need. You will also get stuff that you do need and know better which models of stuff will fit your situation. __________________ safety first

April 23, 2007, 05:13 AM	#12
mattgreennra Member Join Date: April 15, 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 93	When I got into reloading I went to the biggest gun/reloading store I could find (cabelas for me) and asked around. I did a great deal of looking too. I became an RCBS for life customer when I noticed their stuff seemed to be way-overbuilt, which I liked. It also seemed to have less "play" than some others. I would look in person and check the presses out first hand. I can't stand "slack" in a press, but that's my person pref. W/o trying to be biased, I would also recommend a kit to save money. For tumblers the Lyman's have a model called the auto-flo that drains out the media and leaves (mostly) cases, it's nice. With my experience if you see some equip and think you'll need it or will use it later, but it then. I placed 4 orders within 2 weeks when I got my .308 last month, shipping gets a little pricey. Also .454 Casull makes me happy, good choice. __________________ -I use an RCBS Rock chucker supreme w/ a piggyback 4 kit to make it progressive. -I highly recommend midsouthshooterssupply.com -XDs , glocks :barf: : SA > Kimber -.45 > 9mm : .308 > .223

April 17, 2007, 01:56 AM	#2
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Buy a copy of The ABC's of Reloading. Your local gun shop or Amazon. The principals are the same no matter what you're loading. Although handgun ammo is a bit more involved than rifle. Then have a look at an RCBS Beginner's Kit. It'll give you everything you need less dies and shellholder. It comes with a manual, but look into the Lyman book too. It gives you more loads with more bullet weights than the included manual does. There's nothing wrong with the included manual, but it comes from a bullet maker and only gives loads for that maker's bullets. Speer, I think. Lyman also puts out their Pistol and Revolver Manual. Mine is kind of elderly so it doesn't have the .454 in it. Load data isn't hard to come by though. You can always load .45 Colt for a Casull revolver too.

April 17, 2007, 06:33 AM	#4
qajaq59 Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2005 Posts: 139	I agree with T. O'Heir also. Start with the books. And if you check on the NRA page you might find an NRA reloading instructor near you that can help you get going. But either way, you're definitely going to need the books.

April 17, 2007, 06:43 AM	#5
VaFisher Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2006 Posts: 596	Welcome to the world of reloading. All the above post have exellent points. Take your time and read all you can then decide where you would like to start like which press you feel would do what you want. I like to see newby's start with a single stage press so they can learn all the ends and outs and later if you need more speed work up to a prgressive press.

April 17, 2007, 01:29 PM	#7
Whitecat Junior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 6	Good site, thanks everyone!

April 17, 2007, 02:28 PM	#8
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	While it's probably more useful for rifle folks, I like the Sierra reloading manual due to the best appendices of all of them. Beaucoup information on external ballistics. Art

April 17, 2007, 03:58 PM	#10
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	I started reloading a couple of years ago with the help of this forum. My motivation was my new 44 mag revolver. After a couple of trips to the range where I spent in excess of $100 per trip on factory ammo, I realized I needed to reload, go broke, or quit shooting. 454 casull falls into that same "expensive factory ammo" category. I started with ABC's of reloading and then bought the RCBS supreme master reloading kit. http://www.cabelas.com/spodw-1/0018937.shtml It had almost everything I needed except dies, and a set of calipers. Be sure to get a carbide sizing die so you won't have to lube. IMO straight walled pistol reloading is as simple and basic as it comes. I spend a lot more time effort and money developing rifle loads but I tend to get a little obsessive about my rifle cartridges. You will certainly have some questions along the way, but I encourage you to jump right on in! Be safe, start slow, and be sure and let us know when you squeeze off that first handload.

April 17, 2007, 04:53 PM	#11
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	That is a great cartridge to load. I'd look at getting into loading .45Colt also. They can be shot out of the .454 and they are much more mild, and cheaper to boot!