lee n. field
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2002
- Messages
- 4,319
Bought a Lyman manual and a bunch of stuff off ebay. RTFMed, and went from there.
How did you learn to handload?
- Thread starter Charshooter
- Start date
- Status
cheygriz
member
Two old timers who were veterans of NRA competition for many, many years taught me. That's the best way to learn, IMHO.
snuffy
Member
I went to the school of hard knocks!
Ha!
Actually my first experience was watching my brother load 8X57 mauser with a lee hammer loader. On his kitchen table. Next year my folks bought me a M-98 mauser just like my brother's. So I loaded some shells with his set-up. That was 1963!
Upon returning from a stint in the USAF, in '72 I bought a used rockchucker, dies and a few other items from a co-worker that was getting a divorce. A former school teacher of mine was also selling reloading components. He helped in the early stages with info. Of course there were loading manuals and gun mags, handloader/rifle magazines were very valuable in those days.
You youngsters that have the internet to get quick answers and cautions don't know how good you've got it! I have to say that since my '98 introduction into the net, I too have learned a lot!
Ha!Actually my first experience was watching my brother load 8X57 mauser with a lee hammer loader. On his kitchen table. Next year my folks bought me a M-98 mauser just like my brother's. So I loaded some shells with his set-up. That was 1963!
Upon returning from a stint in the USAF, in '72 I bought a used rockchucker, dies and a few other items from a co-worker that was getting a divorce. A former school teacher of mine was also selling reloading components. He helped in the early stages with info. Of course there were loading manuals and gun mags, handloader/rifle magazines were very valuable in those days.
You youngsters that have the internet to get quick answers and cautions don't know how good you've got it! I have to say that since my '98 introduction into the net, I too have learned a lot!
Cosmoline
Member
I had zero experience with it, and as far as I know I'm the first person in either maternal or paternal lines to do it, or to shoot seriously. I read Lee's classic manual and have just learned more as I loaded more cartridges.
waterhouse
Member
Like some others, I read a book and got to work. When I had a question I came here and asked.
ARGarrison
Member
I started reloading shothells first. Ordered a Lee Load-All from Cabela's with my high school graduation money. Never read a book, just the dierctions that came with the press and the load data. Red Dot, 7 1/2 shot, whinchester AA white wads, and CCI primers. Ruined a lot of hulls along the way but did make shootable ammo.
I started reloading .38 specials for my .357 magnum when I got it. I went with a Lee press kit then, but got three or four reloading books and read them.
I started reloading .38 specials for my .357 magnum when I got it. I went with a Lee press kit then, but got three or four reloading books and read them.
dodgestdshift
Member
Reading everything I could get my hands on. This was 30 years ago.
tbtrout
Member
I read a few books and tried it.
sargenv
Member
I was pretty much self taught. I started loading shotshells reading books on the subject. For Metallic I was introduced by a friend and then eventually when I got smart I picked upo a Dillon 650 about 10 years ago and have only used my Rockchucker for small batch loads since. I still load ammo on my original Sizemaster and picked up a 20 gauge unit some time back. I have also a progressive 8567 grabber in 12 for target and hunting loads still.
Vince
Vince
Learned from my Dad,
30+ years ago. Moved away, hunted some, but with factory ammo. Borrowed a friend's stuff, loaded a few rifle rounds, re-mothballed the equipment. Finally dug it all out a year or so ago and dusted off the cobwebs of my memory. Have now loaded and shot 38s, 40s, 45s. Have loaded some 357s, but haven't fired them yet. Haven't got back around to rifle rounds yet.
30+ years ago. Moved away, hunted some, but with factory ammo. Borrowed a friend's stuff, loaded a few rifle rounds, re-mothballed the equipment. Finally dug it all out a year or so ago and dusted off the cobwebs of my memory. Have now loaded and shot 38s, 40s, 45s. Have loaded some 357s, but haven't fired them yet. Haven't got back around to rifle rounds yet.
Oohrah
Member
Bought a DCM 1903 A3 for the sum of $14.50. Read a lot of
books and bought a Lyman 310 tool and dies, 30 Cal.Hornaday
100 gr Half Jackets and components. This was the start of the
fever after using these rounds to eliminate a bunch of jack rabbits.
I did have a couple of glitches when I later on got into wildcat
calibers where no information was available. I now know how to
fire form .30 Gibbs from 30-06 without losing cases. Before the
25-06 was adopted, it was a wildcat. I found out it was good
to start out with minimum loads, as necking down military brass
and using it in a tight chamber = high pressure to where you need
find out why before proceeding! I built a 25-08 that I took a chamber
cast and will neck down commercial brass 7mm-08. to avoid inside
neck reaming of thicker military brass and the not good experience
of the 25-06. Guess once ya start, it's a continous learning experience.
Welcome!!!
books and bought a Lyman 310 tool and dies, 30 Cal.Hornaday
100 gr Half Jackets and components. This was the start of the
fever after using these rounds to eliminate a bunch of jack rabbits.
I did have a couple of glitches when I later on got into wildcat
calibers where no information was available. I now know how to
fire form .30 Gibbs from 30-06 without losing cases. Before the
25-06 was adopted, it was a wildcat. I found out it was good
to start out with minimum loads, as necking down military brass
and using it in a tight chamber = high pressure to where you need
find out why before proceeding! I built a 25-08 that I took a chamber
cast and will neck down commercial brass 7mm-08. to avoid inside
neck reaming of thicker military brass and the not good experience
of the 25-06. Guess once ya start, it's a continous learning experience.
Welcome!!!
Guy B. Meredith
Member
Spent a lot of time on a CompuServe shooters' forum, read the Spears and Lyman manuals, got a press and experimented beginning at the point that all authorities and experienced people agreed was safe. Chrono'd, shot targets, noted difference between my experiences and what I'd read/heard and made appropriate modifications.
Mr. Beretta
Member
mek42
Member
While I'm definitely still learning, I got started by one of the guys at the local rifle club (they do pistol and trap too) kind of taking me under his wing and teaching me the basics. He also parted with some used equipment that he wasn't using regularly anymore for a very reasonable price.
I feel very lucky to have found the club I did - almost everyone is a really great person willing to teach as much as they know.
I feel very lucky to have found the club I did - almost everyone is a really great person willing to teach as much as they know.
Poper
Member
My brother and I bought twin single shot H&R 10 gauges back in '77. We were hunting waterfowl from opening shot 'til the last goose left SD for the winter. The 3-1/2" 10 ga. w/ 2-1/4 oz. #2 shot was deadly on anything within 60 yards. With that much shot in the air not much got through.
The heck of it was the cost of shells. $24+ per box of 25. Dad gave us a Versa Mec 700 for Christmas that year and we discovered we could re-load our fired hulls for less than $8 per 25.
One thing leads to another. Now I load 20 ga., 16 ga., 12 ga., and 10 ga., as well as a dozen rifle calibers and a half dozen pistol calibers. Though cost was the original impetus, improved ammo and measurable results is the warm fuzzy keeping me at it.
Never stop reading. Keep on learning from the guys on this board and you will truly enjoy a life-long obsession...
Poper
The heck of it was the cost of shells. $24+ per box of 25. Dad gave us a Versa Mec 700 for Christmas that year and we discovered we could re-load our fired hulls for less than $8 per 25.
One thing leads to another. Now I load 20 ga., 16 ga., 12 ga., and 10 ga., as well as a dozen rifle calibers and a half dozen pistol calibers. Though cost was the original impetus, improved ammo and measurable results is the warm fuzzy keeping me at it.
Never stop reading. Keep on learning from the guys on this board and you will truly enjoy a life-long obsession...
Poper
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