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k9cougar · February 22, 2010, 09:30 PM

Do NOT start with a progressive press. I am about 6 months ahead of you and followed mcuh of the advice already mentioned. Read some books, talked to folks, and went and actually watched it done. I might move to a progressive one day but if I would of started on a progressive die I would be toast. Folks seemed to disagree on this book or that book, this press or that press, this die or that die, this technique or that technique. The only thing i didn't get disagreement on was the advice to start with a single stage press.

One lesson I was told but ignored was to take the time to double check your powder loads. Visually check each and every load to see that powder is your load and that the powder level seems right. I've had two squids. Fortunately the second came right after the first. I was extremely surprised to grab a metal rod, shove it down the barrel to unlodge a jammed bullet, only to have two bullets come out. I could of easily injured my gun, myself, and others around me; and just because I didn't take the time to visually inspect my loads before pressing the bullet into the case. I still have those two bullets and have mounted them over my reloading bench as a reminder that I both dumb and very lucky.

February 22, 2010, 09:30 PM	#34
k9cougar Member Join Date: February 21, 2010 Posts: 74	from another relative newbie Do NOT start with a progressive press. I am about 6 months ahead of you and followed mcuh of the advice already mentioned. Read some books, talked to folks, and went and actually watched it done. I might move to a progressive one day but if I would of started on a progressive die I would be toast. Folks seemed to disagree on this book or that book, this press or that press, this die or that die, this technique or that technique. The only thing i didn't get disagreement on was the advice to start with a single stage press. One lesson I was told but ignored was to take the time to double check your powder loads. Visually check each and every load to see that powder is your load and that the powder level seems right. I've had two squids. Fortunately the second came right after the first. I was extremely surprised to grab a metal rod, shove it down the barrel to unlodge a jammed bullet, only to have two bullets come out. I could of easily injured my gun, myself, and others around me; and just because I didn't take the time to visually inspect my loads before pressing the bullet into the case. I still have those two bullets and have mounted them over my reloading bench as a reminder that I both dumb and very lucky.