[Moparmike]

If you were wanting to get started in reloading, and had an aquaintence who offered to show you the ropes, what would you recommend keeping in mind? What questions should I ask? Other handy stuff?

Thanks,

[Jim Watson]

Question #1
"May I please borrow your latest loading manual and machine instructions."

He can show you a lot, but unless he is a professional instructor, there will be stuff unsaid and unshown. Read the book.

[keano44]

I agree with Jim Watson. Read everything you can get your hands on, and read it over, often.

[P95Carry]

Mike

Like it or not .... reading is IMO mandatory.

I taught myself reloading ... started with shotshells and worked on up ... was VERY cautious and .. read as many ref books as possible. I learned a lot from some DBI books .. ''Digest'' softbacks ... one was by Dean Grennell - no idea if these are still around.

Get Lyman #48 I think it is now ... get the Speer book, the Hornady book .. the Hodgdon book . the new Lee book . etc.

Having someone to ''show the ropes'' is great, once you have a grounding in theory and safety ...... then you get ''hands-on'' help which is a bonus.

[Mal H]

Well, I can only agree with the wisdom stated above. The reloading manuals have the answers to practically any question you can come up with and a whole lot more you didn't know you should be asking. Your acquaintance might be the foremost reloader in the state - or he may not be. The authors of the manuals have seen it all and fortunately have written it down for us all to read and learn. They literally have a millenium of collective experience to draw from.

[Thirties]

See if you can get your friend to load some ammo of the caliber you will be wanting to load.

If he/she doesn't own any dies in that caliber, then offer to buy a set and get the demo on live ammo that you can shhot in your own gun later.

Get or borrow at least one manual to read before you start: Speer#13 or Lyman#48

[caz223]

I wish that I had tools available to me like this forum or a friend that could have started me toward reloading when I first started.
Everything the hard way, all of my life.
I bet it wouldn't have taken me as long to get from there to here, if I had help.
I'm just glad for resources that are available now, like this forum, and people that are willing to help.
If you shoot a caliber that he already loads, and he seems like a safety first kinda dude, watch him load for a while, read some books, and use him as a answer your questions kinda guy, not a do it this way and this way only kinda guy.
After all, you may progress past his technique in a few short months, or decide that reloading isn't for you before you buy any equipment.

[JackM]

Good advise above. As far as the mechanics go, learn how to properly seat a primer, neither too high or crushed. This is a matter of feel on most presses. The other tricky part is adjusting the crimp, especially if you're seating the bullet and crimping in one operation, something I no longer do. Note that some bullets aren't crimped.

Bye
Jack