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WheelGunMan
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I ordered a new Hornady Lock-N-Load Balance Beam Scale Reloading Model # 050109 on eBay for $61.19...delivered!
Made The Plunge Into Reloading
- Thread starter WheelGunMan
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WheelGunMan
Member
Wow...you need to take back what is yours! Tell him if he wants to use it he is going to need to share or else you're going to move it to a safe place! LOL!
Officers'Wife
Member
The Dillon and my dies are still there and I could go in and pick up where I left off. Still, he enjoys the activity and it gives him his quiet time so who am I to get in the way? Plus there is the bit of advice my grandfather gave me years ago... If you want him to treat you like a thoroughbred, don't act like an old nag.
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WheelGunMan
Member
I like reading! I'm awaiting the delivery of the press from Midway and to see what info comes with it. I can see my journey has begun!
kmw1954
Member
My wife shoots we me and I enjoy our time at the range. She understands the reloading process and knows what the components are and how they all go together. Though she has no interest in joining me at the bench. She will pitch in and buy supplies or tools. I would warmly welcome her company at the bench.
Obturation
Member
Everyone has their own speed, style and goals for handloading. You'll find your groove. I keep my operation simple. I follow the same order of operations and don't assume anything is ever as it was when i left it last. This has worked well for me, but i've only been handloading for a few years and i remain cautious and i will. Mainly started loading to produce cartridges that i would have to pay $1 or more each retail, but i do produce my plinking loads too now. My point is i didn't gear up for volume but i may eventually, i usually make 100 cartridges in a session and i'm happy with that. Everyones is different.
Just take your time. You can always prep brass while you continue reading - that'll be a big job. Seperate by chambering, deprime, clean, examine for failures or ancient cases and seperate by headstamp (interior volume may vary by manufacturer), size the cases. By that point i'm sure you'll have figured out a load to try. I too recommend lymans 50th and suggest that load data obtained anywhere except specifically from a reasonably recent load manual or powder manufacturer should be checked against published data from a trusted source. You will be able to get good data from the internet but verify it. One other thing that maybe you have or have not considered, a large number handloaders don't make ammo for anyone but themselves. It isn't cause they're selfish but because of the risk of someone getting injured due to a mistake. Looks like you picked out a nice press and 357 mag is a good place to start. Have fun with it and don't make it a chore.
Just take your time. You can always prep brass while you continue reading - that'll be a big job. Seperate by chambering, deprime, clean, examine for failures or ancient cases and seperate by headstamp (interior volume may vary by manufacturer), size the cases. By that point i'm sure you'll have figured out a load to try. I too recommend lymans 50th and suggest that load data obtained anywhere except specifically from a reasonably recent load manual or powder manufacturer should be checked against published data from a trusted source. You will be able to get good data from the internet but verify it. One other thing that maybe you have or have not considered, a large number handloaders don't make ammo for anyone but themselves. It isn't cause they're selfish but because of the risk of someone getting injured due to a mistake. Looks like you picked out a nice press and 357 mag is a good place to start. Have fun with it and don't make it a chore.
Eddy19
Member
A suggestion I have is to learn to read well, a micrometer, both caliper and anvil type. May not be totally necessary but it'll sure come in handy.
fotheringill
Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2014
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Welcome.
For the manuals, you can ignore the folksy stuff from the get go. You can ignore the powder and bullet information until before you are ready to load, but DO fully understand the steps to be taken in reloading. Go slow and ask here.
For the manuals, you can ignore the folksy stuff from the get go. You can ignore the powder and bullet information until before you are ready to load, but DO fully understand the steps to be taken in reloading. Go slow and ask here.
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WheelGunMan
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That’s Awesome WheelGunMan. I recently have as well. Years ago my wife got me an RCBS setup and finally got around to setting it up and putting a nice bench together now that I have the space. Beware of the other necessities that go along with it and the roadblock of stopping until another item that you didn’t know you needed shows up from MidWay USA or Amazon. . But it is very rewarding seeing a batch of ammo being produced from the work of your own hands.
Highland Lofts
Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2019
- Messages
- 3,035
I got back into reloading two years ago after a forty year break. I take my eight year old geandson shooting for the whole day some times two days every weekend. He has been shooting centerfire handguns for the last two years so I load up a couple hundred rounds for him every week from mid spring until snow comes up in the Cascade mountains. Last summer a friend gave him a 223 AR15 so i load a hundred of them up every week as well.
Before I bought my equipment this time around I bought several used reloading books on E Bay and read them cover to cover except the loading data. Once I figured out what cslibers I wanted to load then I looked at the loading data for that caliber.
I started out with 38spl as well. Very straight forward and easy round to get started on.
Shooting 38spl out of your 357 magnum revolver make sure you clean your cylinder good.
The 38spl case is a little shorter then the 357 magnum case and you will get a little build up of burnt powder & carbon in your cylinder.
Some times the build up will get so bad your 357 cartridges will not fit in the cylinder.
Also switching from 38spl to 357 magnum ammo you will have a different point of inpact.
I bought a stainless Ruger model 77 in 357 magnum, I put a scope on it and sighted it in at seventy-five yards with 358 magnum ammo.
I then shot some full strenght 38spl ammo at the same distance and the 38spl hit five inches low and a little to the right.
Swithed back to the 357 magnum ammo and was right on target.
I put a light crimp on all of my handgun ammunition. When I started back in to reliading I have had ammunition not fit in the cylinder. Took it home & crimped it and it would fit.
I also bought a cheap MTM pistol rest to shoot new loads so my groups are a lot tighter then shooting offhand. Once I get my ammo loaded for the best accuracy I will shoot offhand, any variation of shot paterns would be me rather then the load.
It's a fun hobby and very relaxing to me. I spend several hours every week up in my gun room.
Enjoy yourself, make sure you know what you are doing and be safe.
If in doubt ask questions. We are here to help.
Before I bought my equipment this time around I bought several used reloading books on E Bay and read them cover to cover except the loading data. Once I figured out what cslibers I wanted to load then I looked at the loading data for that caliber.
I started out with 38spl as well. Very straight forward and easy round to get started on.
Shooting 38spl out of your 357 magnum revolver make sure you clean your cylinder good.
The 38spl case is a little shorter then the 357 magnum case and you will get a little build up of burnt powder & carbon in your cylinder.
Some times the build up will get so bad your 357 cartridges will not fit in the cylinder.
Also switching from 38spl to 357 magnum ammo you will have a different point of inpact.
I bought a stainless Ruger model 77 in 357 magnum, I put a scope on it and sighted it in at seventy-five yards with 358 magnum ammo.
I then shot some full strenght 38spl ammo at the same distance and the 38spl hit five inches low and a little to the right.
Swithed back to the 357 magnum ammo and was right on target.
I put a light crimp on all of my handgun ammunition. When I started back in to reliading I have had ammunition not fit in the cylinder. Took it home & crimped it and it would fit.
I also bought a cheap MTM pistol rest to shoot new loads so my groups are a lot tighter then shooting offhand. Once I get my ammo loaded for the best accuracy I will shoot offhand, any variation of shot paterns would be me rather then the load.
It's a fun hobby and very relaxing to me. I spend several hours every week up in my gun room.
Enjoy yourself, make sure you know what you are doing and be safe.
If in doubt ask questions. We are here to help.
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WheelGunMan
Member
That's exactly what I'm looking to get out of it! Nothing pleasures me more than to open my gun cleaning case and smell the Hoppes 9 wafting out of it.
Highland Lofts
Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2019
- Messages
- 3,035
There is a guy out here that sells used reloading equipment, I can PM you his contact information if you want to buy used stuff. I have bought a bunch of stuff from him.
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WheelGunMan
Member
Thanks for the offer...but...I already have picked up most of what I need to get started.
I did my first hand loads this week. Just some .38 Special out of once fired brass. It is a unique experience to say the least to hand load and shoot your own ammo. I have a beam scale and a digital scale - I use them to check one another, but end up using the digital scale to actually measure. The digital scale is not immediate - there is a slight lag, if the little tray is not perfectly centered can be off 1/10 grain, and also if you are measuring each charge, a pile in the center will way 1/10th different than if the powder is distributed across the little pan. Not unlike the beam scale, you have to sort of get to know it and after a while, learn how it is not a perfect tool, and you have to work with it.
Best thing I read and did, was get at least a couple cartridge specific loading trays of 50. Put primed and ready to charge all in one tray - an only put charged cases into the other tray. It is easy to second guess and end up with a double charge unless you have a fully defined process of how you're going to add the charges and keep track of which cases are charged with powder. It is also, pretty easy to take a small flashlight, and then at an angle where you can just see the powder level in the cases, scan for any that seem too high. I didn't find any, but a double charge should jump right out at you.
Best thing I read and did, was get at least a couple cartridge specific loading trays of 50. Put primed and ready to charge all in one tray - an only put charged cases into the other tray. It is easy to second guess and end up with a double charge unless you have a fully defined process of how you're going to add the charges and keep track of which cases are charged with powder. It is also, pretty easy to take a small flashlight, and then at an angle where you can just see the powder level in the cases, scan for any that seem too high. I didn't find any, but a double charge should jump right out at you.
Catpop
Member
Welcome! You’re on a new journey to the wonderful satisfaction of making your own custom made ammunition. I started in 1971 and Its given me a lifetime of pleasure. I hope it does the same for you!
Good luck.
Good luck.
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