Trying to get into reloading, want your input.

One pound of HP-38 will get you well over 1000 rounds. It also stands for Handgun Propellant for 38. Should serve very well.
 
I’m a little late to the game here. When you need more powder, primers, and bullets call Dave’s Guns up in Alamogordo NM. About a 90 mile drive. He has been fairly consistent at keeping some stock throughout this shortage. Good luck, and welcome to the reloading world.
 
NMachine said:
I’m a little late to the game here. When you need more powder, primers, and bullets call Dave’s Guns up in Alamogordo NM. About a 90 mile drive. He has been fairly consistent at keeping some stock throughout this shortage. Good luck, and welcome to the reloading world.
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Alamo.. of course. Alamogordo is where I got my first professional soldering iron. Y'know what? Thank you. I've been meaning to go visit the zoo, and see my ex step father in law.
 
gobsauce said:
Alamo.. of course. Alamogordo is where I got my first professional soldering iron. Y'know what? Thank you. I've been meaning to go visit the zoo, and see my ex step father in law.
Click to expand...
Say hello to Edgar the raven for me. I think he is still alive. He has to be over 30 years old now. He used to drop an “F” bomb from time to time.

Sorry....for those following along Edgar is a raven at the zoo. Not a fella at the gun store.
 
NMachine said:
Say hello to Edgar the raven for me. I think he is still alive. He has to be over 30 years old now. He used to drop an “F” bomb from time to time.

Sorry....for those following along Edgar is a raven at the zoo. Not a fella at the gun store.
Click to expand...

He isn't sadly. But the zoo has been completely redone, courtesy of the base nearby.

Anyways, now back to the scheduled programming.

I realized that the die set I bought didn't have a dipper, which is fine. I think I'll buy the Lee Dipper set and buy a digital scale. Not gonna buy a funnel, I'll just 3d print one.

I also think might just buy brand new dies. Unless anyone has any they're willing to part ways with.
 
tightgroup tiger said:
https://www.midwayusa.com/
I think I read you already bought a press but this would have been of some interest to you.
RCBS press kit with 1000 primers included. I don't know if you want to drop 4 bills on the kit but if that wasn't an issue then this would get you started.
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If I had the dosh, i would've bought a kit. I still might, later.
 
Paul R Zartman said:
@gobsauce , if you get going reloading and its something you want to keep doing, I probably have a couple hundred 38 spl nickel cases, once or twice used, clean and ready to load. They are yours if this reloading thing works out for you.
Paul
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I have about 150 nickel and about 100 brass. I just might take you up on that.

Anyway, so I'm messing around with the press. I figured out how to deprime, size and flare the cases. Already got that marked and ready for work.

However, I'm having trouble with the seating die. I have the seating depth to what the Wadcutters mark (if that makes sense), however I'm having a tiny bit of trouble with the crimp.

Something I clearly didn't quite understand, am I supposed to crimp and seat at the same time? Or should I seat, then crimp?

Working with RCBS dies, if that matters anything.
 
Paul R Zartman said:
Others will chime in on the process, I'm a "wack a mole reloader" kind of looked down upon in these circles :uhoh: but, my process is seat and then crimp, but I don't have all that fancy stuff...but I use Dawn and Nu Finish to clean my cases:thumbup:
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I use WD-40 to lube most of my guns, maybe that's why we get along. I'm assuming you're taking about the Lee Loaders? Those are insanely fun!
 
gobsauce said:
I use WD-40 to lube most of my guns, maybe that's why we get along. I'm assuming you're taking about the Lee Loaders? Those are insanely fun!
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Yes they are, loading primers is like " Forest Gump and his box of chocolates" never know what your gonna get next :what:... but seriously I've only popped about a dozen off over the years, mostly due to a bad die, little grinding and that went away:cool:
 
gobsauce said:
Something I clearly didn't quite understand, am I supposed to crimp and seat at the same time? Or should I seat, then crimp?

Working with RCBS dies, if that matters anything.
Click to expand...
Yes, this gets just a little tricky. They cover this in the reloading die instructions. I load a lot of 45 ACP and 38 Special with assorted bullets. Basically what you are doing is run the seater die down in the press ...
1. Place a primed, sized and powder charged case in the shell holder and run it up to the top of the stroke.
2. Screw the seater die down till you feel it touch the top of the case. This gets into a game of "feel" which you just develop. Now back the die out one full turn and temporarily set the lock ring. We just don't want the die moving.
3. Unscrew the seater plug several turns. This is not critical, just back it out a bunch but not out of the die. :)
4. Lower the case and insert a bullet. Pretty much align a bullet on the case mouth.
5. Run the case and bullet back up into the die. Run the seater plug down and step by step measure the O.A.L. each cycle of the press measure O.A.L. little by little the bullet will seat till you get the correct seating depth for your load.
6. Once you get the right O.A.L. back the seater plug out again.
7. Now with the press at full stroke run the seater die down again till it touches the case mouth. Bring the case down. Now add about another 1/8th turn. Check the case for crimp. Add another 1/8th turn and check the case again. You feel resistance and see the crimp when you are there.
8. Now with the case run up. Run the seater plug down till it hits your already seated bullet.

When starting out you may crunch a few cases. The use of the word "feel" is popular like seating a primer till you feel it bottom out. Just skills you develop. My list above should pretty much follow your RCBS die instructions give or take a little. :)


Ron
 
Reloadron said:
Yes, this gets just a little tricky. They cover this in the reloading die instructions. I load a lot of 45 ACP and 38 Special with assorted bullets. Basically what you are doing is run the seater die down in the press ...
1. Place a primed, sized and powder charged case in the shell holder and run it up to the top of the stroke.
2. Screw the seater die down till you feel it touch the top of the case. This gets into a game of "feel" which you just develop. Now back the die out one full turn and temporarily set the lock ring. We just don't want the die moving.
3. Unscrew the seater plug several turns. This is not critical, just back it out a bunch but not out of the die. :)
4. Lower the case and insert a bullet. Pretty much align a bullet on the case mouth.
5. Run the case and bullet back up into the die. Run the seater plug down and step by step measure the O.A.L. each cycle of the press measure O.A.L. little by little the bullet will seat till you get the correct seating depth for your load.
6. Once you get the right O.A.L. back the seater plug out again.
7. Now with the press at full stroke run the seater die down again till it touches the case mouth. Bring the case down. Now add about another 1/8th turn. Check the case for crimp. Add another 1/8th turn and check the case again. You feel resistance and see the crimp when you are there.
8. Now with the case run up. Run the seater plug down till it hits your already seated bullet.

When starting out you may crunch a few cases. The use of the word "feel" is popular like seating a primer till you feel it bottom out. Just skills you develop. My list above should pretty much follow your RCBS die instructions give or take a little. :)


Ron
Click to expand...
I'm.. I'm gonna try that. I think i understood. Worst case, i can seat then crimp right?

Dammit i shoulda bought more bullets..

@Paul R Zartman that's rad. I was so close to buying a lee loaded for 7.62 Rimmed yesterday.
 
Sure, if you are more comfortable seating and then crimping have at it. The only matter of importance is you being comfortable with how you go about it. Once I have the die setup I just seat and crimp in a single stroke but absolutely you can do it in a two step process. You use what works for you and what you are comfortable with. Not what works for me or anyone else. :)

Ron
 
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