Trying to get into reloading, want your input.

Well, it's just grease. The only difference is that it's not petroleum based.
Have you read any of @Driftwood Johnson 's posts on the Revolvers forum? He probably has more experience with BPC revolvers DA & SA than anyone else here. I don't go for his pre-treatment regimen myself but that's for two reasons: A) I'm lazy; 2) I have my own methods that work for me using Ballistol and light machine oil; and Third) I find foolish consistencies annoying. :D
However, I do recommend at least finding out what the people who shoot mostly BP like Driftwood have to say. The voice of experience and all that. Could be Crisco in a SA is good but Crisco in a DA is bad. Beats me but i'm sure he'll know, for sure.
Good luck.
 
Don Chuy retired when I was in highschool , and the exchange hasn't had any in a while. I hardly go there, they had $1k mosins before the pandemic. Very expensive place, but I'll admit that I completely forgot about it.
I thought Chuy’s was a restaurant chain out of Austin? Have couple up here. No reloading supplies at all but some of their spices will set you off like LRPs.

And as for Crisco, here’s the product warning label just so we handle it appropriately. Doesn’t say you can’t use it in guns:

“Product Disclaimers”

“Not intended for use as a spread.”

“Warning: Shortening will catch fire if overheated. Damage or serious burns may result. Do heat shortening carefully. Do reduce heat if smoking occurs. Do not leave unattended while heating. Do not refill can with hot shortening. If shortening catches fire: Do turn off heat. Do cover pot until cooled to room temperature to avoid reignition. Do not carry pot until cool. Do not put water on hot or flaming shortening.Not intended for use as a spread.”

So sometime in the past someone used it as a spread! UFB!
 
I thought Chuy’s was a restaurant chain out of Austin? Have couple up here. No reloading supplies at all but some of their spices will set you off like LRPs.

And as for Crisco, here’s the product warning label just so we handle it appropriately. Doesn’t say you can’t use it in guns:

“Product Disclaimers”

“Not intended for use as a spread.”

“Warning: Shortening will catch fire if overheated. Damage or serious burns may result. Do heat shortening carefully. Do reduce heat if smoking occurs. Do not leave unattended while heating. Do not refill can with hot shortening. If shortening catches fire: Do turn off heat. Do cover pot until cooled to room temperature to avoid reignition. Do not carry pot until cool. Do not put water on hot or flaming shortening.Not intended for use as a spread.”

So sometime in the past someone used it as a spread! UFB!
The label on Geisha canned smoked oysters says, "ALLERGY WARNING! Contains shellfish." I guess that's for the folks who are allergic to shellfish but didn't know that might include oysters. 'Cause, you know, they aren't in a shell anymore, they're in a can. Label on Goya canned tuna says, "Contains fish/Contiene piscado" A little Gringo-Spanish lingo letting folks know tuna is a fish. In case y'all was wonderin'. I know it had me scratchin' my head. I never noticed if primers come with a warning label that they might go boom-boom. I do know smokeless powder comes with an SDS warning that it contains ingredients thought by the State of California to cause cancer.

They used to use whale oil and bear grease back in the day.
 
I thought Chuy’s was a restaurant chain out of Austin? Have couple up here. No reloading supplies at all but some of their spices will set you off like LRPs.

And as for Crisco, here’s the product warning label just so we handle it appropriately. Doesn’t say you can’t use it in guns:

“Product Disclaimers”

“Not intended for use as a spread.”

“Warning: Shortening will catch fire if overheated. Damage or serious burns may result. Do heat shortening carefully. Do reduce heat if smoking occurs. Do not leave unattended while heating. Do not refill can with hot shortening. If shortening catches fire: Do turn off heat. Do cover pot until cooled to room temperature to avoid reignition. Do not carry pot until cool. Do not put water on hot or flaming shortening.Not intended for use as a spread.”

So sometime in the past someone used it as a spread! UFB!
Chuy, was a very very, incredibly accomplished gunsmith. I lived about two miles away, passed his shop every day on the bus to and from school.

Anyways, when he announced that he was retiring, the local paper, El Paso Times had it on the front page. (yes, I read the newspaper). The shop is still there, but it's a facade of another time.
 
The label on Geisha canned smoked oysters says, "ALLERGY WARNING! Contains shellfish." I guess that's for the folks who are allergic to shellfish but didn't know that might include oysters. 'Cause, you know, they aren't in a shell anymore, they're in a can. Label on Goya canned tuna says, "Contains fish/Contiene piscado" A little Gringo-Spanish lingo letting folks know tuna is a fish. In case y'all was wonderin'. I know it had me scratchin' my head. I never noticed if primers come with a warning label that they might go boom-boom. I do know smokeless powder comes with an SDS warning that it contains ingredients thought by the State of California to cause cancer.

They used to use whale oil and bear grease back in the day.
On the opposite end of the spectrum western Pennsylvanians want you believe their crude oil is so pure it doesn’t need refining and can be used in/on food products right outta the ground. Nothing to warn you about except it’s habit forming.

And seems like there are more shooters and reloaders per square mile than most any place. My wife is from north of the ‘Burg, we’d go to auctions and estate sales all of which had some firearms or equipment for sale. Wish I knew then what I know now and had the money.
 
Chuy, was a very very, incredibly accomplished gunsmith. I lived about two miles away, passed his shop every day on the bus to and from school.

Anyways, when he announced that he was retiring, the local paper, El Paso Times had it on the front page. (yes, I read the newspaper). The shop is still there, but it's a facade of another time.
That’s quite a tribute. His family must’ve been proud.
 
youtube is great once you got your press + gear! I’m a visual person!

Once you weed thru all the crap,n cranks, drunks and idiots. Shouldn't take too long to sort the junk from the actual helpful.
When I started long ago there was no internet and no forums, just books and periodicals and hopefully a mentor.

Don't be afraid to seek answers or those that reply "that's been asked 1k times already ".
 
Once you weed thru all the crap,n cranks, drunks and idiots. Shouldn't take too long to sort the junk from the actual helpful.
When I started long ago there was no internet and no forums, just books and periodicals and hopefully a mentor.

Don't be afraid to seek answers or those that reply "that's been asked 1k times already ".
“Come on Man” YT is pretty good for reloading. Everything from beginners to Advanced 20mm reloading
 
Everyone check out this! Guy puts 500gn of smokeless and 40g of BP in tea bags!

anybody know why??

 
So he can shoot his mouth off after making tea LOL. Yes, not something I would want to be a part of for sure!!
any idea why he put 40gn of BP (tea bag) in a 20mm shell. He looks like he’s done this before. maybe to make sure all the powder fires up?

500 gn charge gives you 14 rounds a pound of pound! CRAZY! MERICA!
 
I find YouTube is a good supplement to find answers to specific questions. I wouldn't use it to learn the basics of reloading, but for questions about specific issues I find it very helpful to watch someone walk through a process. You have to be knowledgeable enough to know when what you are watching is running contradictory to what your reloading manual says.
 
One of the issues is that i cant find smokeless locally anywhere. I can find black and Pyrodex. I don't mind ordering bullets or shells, but powder and primers come with the Hazmat fee. Cabela's is the only place (that i know of) that carries reloading supplies. I'd love to reload smokeless, but i just can't find it anywhere.
You are not alone. This is not the first draught and I am guessing it won't be the last. Eventually we will see more powders showing up in retail stores. Going to take time. Following Sandy Hook this happened and back in the 90s it happened. Granted ordering powder or primers online carries the hazmat charge but when one can afford it buy as much as one can afford. That does not mean skipping the mortgage or utility payments.

Ron
 
Alright well, Today I went to the Former Barnett's Gunshow. And I bought a press, and a set of dies. There was an older fellow, who's business goes by "Hillbilly Engineering" who was selling reloading kits, minus powder. For $34 ,I got a 100 shells, 100 primers and 100 bullets. Not amazing, but I loved the idea.

The press seems to be a bit of an enigma. It's called "The Precision Reloader".

Got a pound of smokeless. Hogdgon HP-38. That's it, really.

Didn't see any reloading manuals. I'll buy one.
 
Alright, so I found a copy of the ABC's of reloading, 9th edition. Does the edition matter?
 
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Different subjects but to an extent yes. ABCs of Reloading is a classic been around for years and most good reloading manuals, Hornady, Speer, Sierra and others usually have good information sections before they even start with load data. Takes time to digest but the learning curve is not too steep. When you have questions just ask. Everyone here is more than happy to help you along.

Ron
 
Hey Sauce, go to the RCBS site ( https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-how-to-reload/rcbs-videos.html) and (https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-how-to-reload/rcbs-step-by-step-reloading.html) watch the video's on reloading. Presses a mostly the same, Single stage presses are mostly the same and there is a lot of great information with these videos. Watch the first one and each one after that. It explains all you need to know, video included. It is from the start, equipment and how to use it, explanation of terms used in reloading, You should like it because it is very informative.
 
Hey Sauce, go to the RCBS site ( https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-how-to-reload/rcbs-videos.html) and (https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-how-to-reload/rcbs-step-by-step-reloading.html) watch the video's on reloading. Presses a mostly the same, Single stage presses are mostly the same and there is a lot of great information with these videos. Watch the first one and each one after that. It explains all you need to know, video included. It is from the start, equipment and how to use it, explanation of terms used in reloading, You should like it because it is very informative.
Do those shows explain seating depth and COL?
 
Do those shows explain seating depth and COL?
I understand the idea of COL, i basically want to make sure the round'll chamber. Too long, and it won't. Too short, and i can run into pressure issues.

Seating depth, i believe it's also a matter of pressure. Might compress the powder, which might be a bad thing depending on the powder.
 
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