Learning the basics of the process

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1942bull

1942bull

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I know nothing about reloading other than it is in common practice and many members here do it. I have been interested in pistol ammo ballistics for the last 8 years. I am not going to start reloading because at 79 I do not want to make an investment in time and money to do t, and I do not shoot that often for it to an economic consideration.

I see that the hand loading and reloading forum is very active. I have visited it at time only to find myself at a loss due to my ignorance of the subject. Even though I will be engaging in the process i would like to learn the basics of it so I will not be clueless about what is being discussed. I think that might also further my learning about ballistics.

So I am seeking a source of basics info about hand-loading/reloading. If anyone can refer me to a website, publication, or book that addresses the basics of the process, I would appreciate the referral. Thank in advance for replies.
 
I would suggest read all the books you can , if you retain things in your memory well . If you are a "visual" hands on type I would watch videos . Of course a combo of the two is ideal . Some stuff will come natural and make sense , much of it is learned by experience . The more you learn before you start the quicker things will click . Many books are free on line , I like hard copies so I buy every book I can . Good luck on your venture .
 
1942bull said:
hand loading and reloading ... i would like to learn the basics of it ... So I am seeking a source of basics info about hand-loading/reloading.
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You can start with these definitions:
  • Reloading - To me "reloading" is reusing the brass to produce ammunition that will function in firearms where utmost accuracy is not the goal (although desired) rather reliable function of firearms. With mixed range brass and unknown reload history, many will choose to load mid-to-high range load data that produce accuracy that is good enough.
  • Handloading - To me, "handloading" is process of reloading where efforts are made to minimize reloading variables (To include using new brass) in order to optimize accuracy, even for specific firearm/barrel. Often particular headstamp brass is used for greater consistency with near max/max load data to produce smallest size groups.
There are plenty of basics of reloading information at the beginning of many reloading manuals and from various online sources that address safe principles/reloading basics and that's where I would recommend you start.

Here's a list of reloading variables for pistol/pistol caliber carbine loads - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-and-discussions.778197/page-10#post-10966692

Here's a step-by-step process I use for my pistol load development - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-and-discussions.778197/page-10#post-11419509
 
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BTW, you will see "handloading" and "reloading" used interchangeably. Yes there technically is a difference, which is only whether you use newly purchased brass or you use previously fired brass. This makes a couple minor differences in how you prep the brass, otherwise everything else in the process is the same.
 
The origional Lee Modern reloading manual is usually less expensive than the newer manuals and MrLee does a great job of teaching you, along with a sales pitch for his stuff.
You could try at your local library and see if they have any reloading manuals you could check out and read. That'll save you some money. The basic process is cave man simple but all those pesky details require some learning to do it safely for sure. As mentioned stay alert or you will get dragged into the rabbit hole with the rest of us. Happy reading.:)
 
Looked to see if I had a duplicate of anything that might be useful to you OP but came up empty. Was hoping I could help you out. Maybe someone else here has a spare.
 
LiveLife said:
Handloading - To me, "handloading" is process of reloading where efforts are made to minimize reloading variables (To include using new brass) in order to optimize accuracy, even for specific firearm/barrel. Often particular headstamp brass is used for greater consistency with near max/max load data to produce smallest size groups.
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I agree with that, and I'll add that I have guns (including my .45-110 Sharps and my .308 Norma) that have never seen a round of factory ammo because factory ammo for them is either: hard to find, expensive, and/or obsolete. So I still call loading for those guns "handloading," even though technically it's "reloading" when I use the brass more than once.
I like building ammunition - whether it's called "reloading" or "handloading," I like it. The truth is, I have guns that I'd rather load for than shoot, and I've bought guns just because I thought I'd enjoy building ammunition for them. I've been wrong about that a few times too.:oops: A Colt SAA .44-40 I owned for a few months comes to mind.
Mk-211 said:
Go on Amazon, ebay... whichever site and look for a book called "the ABC's of reloading".
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I agree with that too. I still like enjoy paging through my "The ABC's of Reloading" once in a while, and I've had it for over 40 years.:thumbup:
 
Pistol and rifle all loaded in the same manor. The difference is that bottle neck brass requires a lot more brass prep than a straight wall pistol round. Then there is a big difference from general plinking ammo to 600+ yrd match ammo. But the procedure is basicly the same, as it's all in the details.

Most all Reloading manuals have the procedures in the front of the manual, before you get to suggested load parameters. aka... What they did in the test and their results that day with the components used. What you use will not match theirs but will get you close sometimes.

Hand Loading is a rabbit hole that some of use jumped into trying to get the most accurate ammo we can for our guns. We don't always win, the reason we keep trying different stuff. It's a viscus circle but most of us enjoy the journey. There is always something new to try.
 
Lots of bad information on the net, lots of good, but if you don't know at least the basics, it's hard to sort through the trash.

Something like a Speer reloading manual covers reloading in the front, with data in the back.

The ABCs of Reloading is often recommended, I have never seen one. Focus on basic reloading.
 
Mark_Mark said:
Youtube, basics of reloading

it’s better than reading books
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I totally agree with note above. You Tube has 100s of reloading videos. I watch some almost every day. Some folks know what they are talking about. Some are a lot of junk with a few quotes thrown in. Johnny’s Reloading Bench and Bolt Action Reloaders are on my watch list. Elvis Ammo and Erik Cortina and very good, but are for more advanced shooters.
You do not have to go into debt to get started in reloading. There are lots of folks who are willing to show you how and may even help you set up to load on their equipment. I have several mentees that keep in touch with questions.
Good luck. I hope you find someone close to help you learn.
 
I taught myself to reload,,and this is how I did it.
Got a Lee book and all Lee equipment, so the pics in the book matched what I had on my bench.
I still use that single stage press on occasion.
 
Any of the Lyman, Speer, Hornady books will give a good foundation. If you are an avid reader then also look for the book, Handloading For Handgunners!
 
BTW, OP is NOT going to reload ... just interested in pistol ammo ballistics and basics of reloading
1942bull said:
I know nothing about reloading ... pistol ammo ballistics ... at 79 I do not want to make an investment in time and money to do it, and I do not shoot that often for it to an economic consideration.

i would like to learn the basics of it ... If anyone can refer me to a website, publication, or book that addresses the basics of the process, I would appreciate the referral.
Click to expand...
FYI, in addition to print resources, here's an online listing/pdf of reloading manuals and load data from manufacturers - https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...-collection-of-reloading-data-old-and-current
 
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