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Thank you...I just found the Modern Reloading by Richard Lee, Lyman 50th Edition as a PDF and downloaded it onto my computer for free. Thanks...
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Help on getting started on reloading
- Thread starter Newhunter1
- Start date
Thank you...I just found the Modern Reloading by Richard Lee, Lyman 50th Edition as a PDF and downloaded it onto my computer for free. Thanks...
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2019
- Messages
- 6,270
Thanks, now I don't feel bad about not recognizing them!
You've already gotten a lot of good advice. Just to add a few things that may have already been covered:
I started with Lee equipment but my only remaining Lee stuff are dies. Have a Dillon 550 and a Hornady single-stage. Had a Lee progressive but that thing was very finicky. For cranking out high volumes Dillon is pretty well respected. I got lucky and found a guy getting out of reloading and bought the whole 550 setup used.
Out of the calibers you list I suggest starting with the straight-wall pistol cartridges. Bottle-neck rifle rounds are a little more complicated, especially if using once-fired brass. I'd actually suggest you purchase new or processed brass for the rifle rounds, at least to get started.
There is a lot of reloading content on Youtube. Reading books is recommended of course (I started with "ABCs of Reloading") but seeing it adds another perspective. Also reloading data is available online from places like
Hodgdon
Western
These data sources are useful for determining what combinations of cartridge, powder, powder quantity, and projectile go together.
I love to reload for my custom 6.5x55 Swede. Nothing better than building a accurate CONSISTENT load for a rifle. 
R700 donor action with a 26” light varmint criterion barrel custom throated to 135 Berger’s at max seating length. Originally was a 30-06 so I have plenty of mag to seat them looong. Richards micro fit stock in curly maple and rosewood topped witha Meopta Meostar R2 2.5-15x15. I stopped load development at .3’s at 200. 15 thousands off the lands at 2910fps is just shy of pressure and consistently accurate. The main thing I’ll say is to a degree the price of your equipment is nowhere near as important as your attention to detail. Do every step exactly the same every time and you can produce ammo that will outshoot your capabilities with every pull of the lever.
R700 donor action with a 26” light varmint criterion barrel custom throated to 135 Berger’s at max seating length. Originally was a 30-06 so I have plenty of mag to seat them looong. Richards micro fit stock in curly maple and rosewood topped witha Meopta Meostar R2 2.5-15x15. I stopped load development at .3’s at 200. 15 thousands off the lands at 2910fps is just shy of pressure and consistently accurate. The main thing I’ll say is to a degree the price of your equipment is nowhere near as important as your attention to detail. Do every step exactly the same every time and you can produce ammo that will outshoot your capabilities with every pull of the lever.
FishBlood&RiverMud
New Member
Organization is very important in reloading. You will have casings in various stages of preparation. Label every container with what stage it is in.
I bought a painters book (hard cover notebook without lines) and every load i made, i put all the load data on a page, and then when the load was shot, i put a cut out of the target in the book. No sense forgetting what has been tried and didn't work, or tried and did work. Targets of course have the info like, gun, yardage, group qty, and group size. Production loads highlighted in the book which helps for quick digging (Bookmarks).
Load Workup Stickers are worth it when starting. They will have: Bullet, Powder, Grains, Trim Length, Overall length, primer, load data origin.
I bought a bunch of cheap ammo boxes and label them with the same sticker that goes into the load book. You may have 20-40 loads to shoot and that's a lot of ammo boxes, or ammo to keep separated.
Heed all the safety warnings. Reloading is an at you own risk game.
I'll give you an example of a quick learn i had. I purchased some Small rifle primers in august. One of them was Remington 6-1/2. I wanted 7-1/2 but they didn't have any, so i got the 6-1/2. Figured i'd look into them later...I didn't have any load data calling for the 6-1/2 but i figured it was a small rifle primer - so why not! Well, i did some digging, and learned these were not suitable for the round i was shooting, despite being labeled as a small rifle primer. Was it a safety risk if i used them, not so much, but would and can cause wear on your firing pin and bolt face. So the moral is that you are responsible for your own homework and it is truly an at your own risk activity.
When i first selected a powder, i compared every load data source available for my primary bullet, and each load source usually highlights a "best". I found a powder that was listed as best on at least one load data source, but also found on other sources too. Look at the range of powders to see where it sits in burn rate. Look at the close relatives, and compare load data of the other powders and your select bullet also. Some cases you cannot find load data for the powder, bullet, and primer you want, but by looking at the close relatives of the powder, you can get a starting point and work the load up from there.
Having just started during this scarce time, i have components to build 2,500 cartridges, but that is using 4 different primers. Not ideal, but finding primers was the absolute hardest. At the end of the day however, i'll have worked up loads using various primers, powders, and bullets. Basically, when supplies become available i should have enough info to select the absolute best performers and then supply up for upcoming years! Oh when is the drought going to be over!!!!
Be organized and be safe!
Enjoy!
I bought a painters book (hard cover notebook without lines) and every load i made, i put all the load data on a page, and then when the load was shot, i put a cut out of the target in the book. No sense forgetting what has been tried and didn't work, or tried and did work. Targets of course have the info like, gun, yardage, group qty, and group size. Production loads highlighted in the book which helps for quick digging (Bookmarks).
Load Workup Stickers are worth it when starting. They will have: Bullet, Powder, Grains, Trim Length, Overall length, primer, load data origin.
I bought a bunch of cheap ammo boxes and label them with the same sticker that goes into the load book. You may have 20-40 loads to shoot and that's a lot of ammo boxes, or ammo to keep separated.
Heed all the safety warnings. Reloading is an at you own risk game.
I'll give you an example of a quick learn i had. I purchased some Small rifle primers in august. One of them was Remington 6-1/2. I wanted 7-1/2 but they didn't have any, so i got the 6-1/2. Figured i'd look into them later...I didn't have any load data calling for the 6-1/2 but i figured it was a small rifle primer - so why not! Well, i did some digging, and learned these were not suitable for the round i was shooting, despite being labeled as a small rifle primer. Was it a safety risk if i used them, not so much, but would and can cause wear on your firing pin and bolt face. So the moral is that you are responsible for your own homework and it is truly an at your own risk activity.
When i first selected a powder, i compared every load data source available for my primary bullet, and each load source usually highlights a "best". I found a powder that was listed as best on at least one load data source, but also found on other sources too. Look at the range of powders to see where it sits in burn rate. Look at the close relatives, and compare load data of the other powders and your select bullet also. Some cases you cannot find load data for the powder, bullet, and primer you want, but by looking at the close relatives of the powder, you can get a starting point and work the load up from there.
Having just started during this scarce time, i have components to build 2,500 cartridges, but that is using 4 different primers. Not ideal, but finding primers was the absolute hardest. At the end of the day however, i'll have worked up loads using various primers, powders, and bullets. Basically, when supplies become available i should have enough info to select the absolute best performers and then supply up for upcoming years! Oh when is the drought going to be over!!!!
Be organized and be safe!
Enjoy!
Barking Mad
Member
One more thing:
Keep a meticulous logbook on your recipes , from the very first cartridge you load.
This is invaluable data to build your experience on and to resort to further down the line.
*edit* late in the draw, I see, lol. *edit*
Have fun and keep it safe.
Keep a meticulous logbook on your recipes , from the very first cartridge you load.
This is invaluable data to build your experience on and to resort to further down the line.
*edit* late in the draw, I see, lol. *edit*
Have fun and keep it safe.
MathewsMan7
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2019
- Messages
- 479
Very well said...sound advice, sir!