Learning to Reload....

[Sphawley]

I want to learn how to reload my own ammo, what is the best way to go about this?

Are there classes? I couldnt find anything local. So Im a little lost on how I might pursue doing this.

Suggestions, ideas, any input or help would definetly be greatly appreciated!

[trublu]

If you are posting here then you already found an excellent resource. However, the first step is to buy then study a reloading manual. Then buy another one...

[shredder4286]

there are many videos you can purchase via internet, gun stores etc. i second the notion of starting out with a reloading manual. As I'm sure they all do, Hornady's manual walks you through the basic components of reloading, as well as how it all works i.e.- headspacing, resizing, prime/deprime etc. get a book, read up and ask questions! good luck

[dmazur]

This guy has put together a whole series of free videos (based on the Dillon 550B, which is a common progressive, but certainly not necessary.) Here's the first one -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRZrbv_8kx4

And here's the recommended equipment list from this forum -

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171

I get asked about reloading at our range about once a month. (I think it's the blue plastic ammo boxes...which don't say "factory". )

I reply that it isn't necessarily expensive or difficult, but that enthusiasts can make it seem that way. (Kind of like bicycles. There are bicycles, and then there are $6000 bicycles...)

However, it does require study and the ability to pay attention to details, or it can be a dangerous pursuit.

The biggest problem many newcomers have, when posting questions on these forums, is that it seems they don't know enough to ask a question. This results in a lot of "thrashing" as the experienced folks try to help. To minimize this, it is strongly suggested you read the first few chapters of a reloading manual, then watch the videos (about an hour or so of your time for each of these.) At that point, you should have the terminology down and should be able to ask questions. (IMO, of course...)

[Doodlebugger45]

I have found that the majority of experienced reloaders welcome and encourage newcomers to their hobby in an almost missionary-like manner. Go to your local shooting range and ask a few folks there if they know of experienced reloaders who shoot there. There's bound to be some and they will give you all the advice you can stand. Some of them might invite you back to their shop to show you first hand some of the trickier aspects that are more difficult to grasp in a book such as seating and crimping. There might be a couple who have bad advice on the details, but for the most part they all give good advice on the basics.

[Kevin Rohrer]

Get yourself a book called the ABCs of Reloading. It doesn't have to be the newest edition.

[Brian Pfleuger]

Originally Posted by trublu

If you are posting here then you already found an excellent resource. However, the first step is to buy then study a reloading manual. Then buy another one...

This advice just kills me. You don't to read a half dozen manuals. The load data may, or more likely may not, be helpful from one to another, but the basic information regarding the actual process is practically copy/paste from one to another.

Read "The ABCs of Reloading", particularly if you don't have a basic understanding of the process.

Read this thread: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171

Do a search here on TFL for things like "Beginner press", and other phrases (use your imagination).

Read down through the first couple pages of active threads.

Start your own threads asking questions that you don't see them answered here recently.

In the end, you really need to buy the equipment and get started. There's only so much you can learn without having your hands on the stuff.

[DocAitch]

There are indeed classes sponsored by the NRA. The course is not free ($75-$145 for both days) and you commit1- 2 days of time to it, but for some learners, it may be the best course.
Here is a course syllabus: http://www.savedbyagun.com/files/NRA...ng%20Class.pdf
Some us learn by reading (I like the ABCs of Reloading) and doing but it also helps to have a mentor.
Pick the path that suits you best.
DocAitch

[rtpzwms]

Watch this it's very funny just don't do what he does!

http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=98I1i8Toj8E

[gospelsinger]

My advice to you would be get a good reloading manual and READ THE WHOLE THING! And then find someone thats been reloading a while and watch the process carefully.I've been at this game for over 40 years and
this old man still boo-boo's every once and a while.Nothing catastrophic mind you but still mistakes.So start out very cautious and load from the bottom up on charges untill you get what shoots best in your particuler firearm.By the way bottom up means the lowest powder charge first and then shoot them and come back and reload the next with same powder one or two grains heavyer and try them and so on and so fourth untill you get to the maximum for that particuler load.Never go over recommended sami pressure limits for any cal.

[Jim243]

rtp

ha ha ha, your warped (i like that), but it was funny. I did enjoy watching it. But for the newbee it might just be better to go to u-tube and do a search on ammosmith, he has a lot (169) of good reloading stuff on it.

Jim

[dmazur]

By the way bottom up means the lowest powder charge first and then shoot them and come back and reload the next with same powder one or two grains heavyer and try them and so on and so fourth untill you get to the maximum for that particuler load.

Not trying to nit-pick, but not all guns will handle published maximum loads. I believe the idea is to work up from minimum, watching for pressure signs and then quit at that point if you see any.

1. You may or may not find a "sweet spot" before that occurs.
2. There are no reliable signs of overpressure.

You are correct in advising that SAAMI pressure limits shouldn't be exceeded, but that can occur before published maximums are reached.

[rtpzwms]

Jim Glad you enjoyed the video. but really next time you go to the range look for the guys that are walking around picking up the brass they likely reload. and ask them any questions you have. I've been doing it for a while and have helped a few guys start reloading. I've developed friendships with some of them and now they give me some good ideas we both won. one of the guys I met lives just a few blocks away and reloads shotgun shells he had some trouble with his press it was nothing to stop over and help him adjust it to fix his problem. I got a beer out of it when it was done. it will also allow you to get an idea of the equipment you may want to get at some point.

[wncchester]

"I have found that the majority of experienced reloaders welcome and encourage newcomers to their hobby in an almost missionary-like manner."

Ain't THAT the truth! Most of us fall all over ourselves to help noobs.

But, be forewarned, many of us will "preach" our choices of tools just as firmly as our religious beliefs. And, like a religion, much of it is based on the idea that all others should use what we use and work as we work. That's fine only so long as the new guy needs, or will need, the same things but that's often not the way to go. Fact is, religious beliefs aside, no maker produces bad tools (nor is any brand automatically "the best") so no matter what the noob gets he can be assured of being able to do good work and no brand of tools will assure precision reloads if used incorrectly.

I suggest starting slow with just the basic tools, a single stage press and a single reloading manual. (The Lee, Lyman, Hornady manuals have good beginner instructions and lots of loading data too.) And that does NOT include a case tumbler/polisher, concentricity gage, competition dies, neck turner, expensive case trimmer, a costly press or a turret/progressive press, expensive gadgets for measuring OAL, etc. It will take most beginners a long time to "out grow" basic tools and many of us never need anything else. Start slow and add what you really need if and when you perceive it as a real need. (And price is NOT a good measure of the value of anything, it's easy to way over spend on this stuff!)

Fortunately, reloading itself isn't rocket surgery! Many of us learned all by ourselves while reading a basic loading manual. BUT, by far the better way would be to visit some reloader and have him walk you through the fundamentals first. And the net is a fairly new thing for help, IF you can sift the wheat from the chaff. (We need an industrial strength B.S. filter on these web boards! )

[BigJimP]

It is too bad there are not more "intro" classes or seminars out there ...

Many of us learned at the hands of a mentor ( me from my grandfather ) ...and most of us pass it on to someone that asks. There is a lot of different equipment out there / and most of it is good stuff. You can learn a lot from the topics on this forum ...and the discussion at the top of this forum section.

Beyond that - ask around at your local range / see if you can get some input, maybe even a lesson, from someone that has a Hornady press, someone else a Dillon press, etc ... and get a feel for what is involved in this part of the hobby. Personally, I like and use Dillon equipment / and they have a good website where you can check out the loaders, print the manuals or review them online. I like the Dillon 650 / primarily because it has a "powder check" option which I think is important / but other companies offer similar systems too.

For shotshells - I prefer the MEC machines / but Dillon does make a 12, 20 and 28ga loader ( they do not have a .410 machine ).

Good luck in your search / have some fun with the process .

[Jim243]

I really don't understand why they just don't go to the sticky that explains it all:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171


Here's a picture that might help:




Jim

[oneounceload]

May major gun forums have those "stickies" mentioned above at the top of their reloading sections - read them ALL.........on every forum...........then the manuals..most questions regarding the basics will be answered.

I started about 30 years ago before the net, and all of this opinion and data floating around and no mentor either...I bought the books, read the current gun mags (which at the time had WAY more data) and started following the published recipes, NEVER exceeding what was printed and found most of the accurate loads for MY guns somewhere in the middle of the data.....

The process itself is not hard, nor rocket science.....perfecting it for your gun and loads is where the tweaking and serious questions start.

Proceed slowly, follow the recipes, read, read, read, THEN ask away

[BarbreJ]

I have just started reloading myself in the last couple of months. Best advice I got about buying things was buy the Kit packages instead of piece by piece. Of course, I didnt listen and wasted a decent amount of money.

Once I had an understanding of what I needed it made it much easier for me to read the manual and it make sense. It all became much clearer when I had the items setup on my bench, and then read the manual again as I was tinkering with it.

I felt safe until I read a thread about reloading using the "batch method". I realized that with my personality and distractability that this method was a must for me. I suggest doing a search for the batch method.

Cabela's and Brass Pro has reloading items that I can go get my hands on. That also helped me understand what the manual was talking about.

Of all the questions I had, the manual had answers for everyone of them. It just took a couple readings for me to know the manual well enough to be able to find it.