How to start reloading.

[nekwah]

I know nothing at all of reloading. Since i shoot a lot of a fairly rare caliber ,
.222, and the prices of ammo i decided i need to start reloadind. I also would like to reload .243. Im looking for a little advice on how to start. And i really mean i know nothing about it. Please. And thank you

 

[Doug b]

The sticky at the top of this page by DaveinflowerybranchGa is a good start.

 

[redintex]

The response above is great advice. Read, read, read. The reloading manuals are solid ways to learn - Lyman, Lee, Speer. The ABC's of Reloading is another excellent book to start.

My .02,
redintex

 

[ranger335v]

If you want to learn to drive, you start by reading a driver's instuction manual. If you want to learn to reload, ditto. Most of us, even those who had help getting started, still had to read a LOT before we really understood what to do, how and why to do it. Before we loaded our first cartridge.

 

[Steven Youngblood]

I am not new to reloading, but am not a biginner, I reload 8mm, 7.62x54r,45 lc, 45 acp,7.62x25,38 spcl,7.62x38 nagant,30-06, 308. and am working on 45-70-500 loads, with help from the guys here. I also shoot the uberti colt walker and a 50 cal smoke pole.
I recomend getting the book "modern reloading second edition by Richard Lee.
Mine came with a Lee anaveriry single stage reloading press.
It covers everything about reloading.
It isn't very hard.
The basic steps are, cleaning the cases, lubing the cases, running them through a sizing and decapping die, checking length and deburing the edges, installing the primer, putting in the correct amout of powder(the most important part) and seating the bullet to the right depth and getting the a good crimp, and measure for correct length, put in box, go to range.
Once you learn how to set up the dies and how to use the scales, it is a pice of cake.

 

[HANDLOADER]

Ok what you will need
1. 2-3 TOP QUALITY LOAD BOOKS 1 WILL DO BUT 2 IS BETTET
2. A GOOD RELOADING PRESS
3. A VERY GOOD SCALE I RECOMEND LEE
4. A GOOD PRIMING TOOL LEE AGAIN
5. GOOD DIES
6. THE CORRECT POWDER, BULLETS, PRIMERS, CASES
7.CASE TRIMMING EQUITMENT I RECOMEND LEE
8. YOU WILL NEED A BENCH AND MAKE IT STRONG REAMBER IF A 350 POUND MAN CAN NOT JUMP UP AND DOWN AND DANCE ALL DAY ON THE BENCH IT IS NOT WORTH HAVING.
9. ALOT OF TIME FOR PROPER RELOADING
10. A LITTLE KNOW HOW
11. AND A EXPERIENCED RELOADER TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE DOING EVERY THing RIGHT.
12. A GOOD POWDER MEASURE

 

[Shoney]

ranger335v wrote:
If you want to learn to drive, you start by reading a driver's instuction manual. If you want to learn to reload, ditto.

I didn't know the driver's instuction manual had relaoding advice??????

 

[ljnowell]

Ok what you will need
1. 2-3 TOP QUALITY LOAD BOOKS 1 WILL DO BUT 2 IS BETTET
2. A GOOD RELOADING PRESS
3. A VERY GOOD SCALE I RECOMEND LEE
4. A GOOD PRIMING TOOL LEE AGAIN
5. GOOD DIES
6. THE CORRECT POWDER, BULLETS, PRIMERS, CASES
7.CASE TRIMMING EQUITMENT I RECOMEND LEE
8. YOU WILL NEED A BENCH AND MAKE IT STRONG REAMBER IF A 350 POUND MAN CAN NOT JUMP UP AND DOWN AND DANCE ALL DAY ON THE BENCH IT IS NOT WORTH HAVING.
9. ALOT OF TIME FOR PROPER RELOADING
10. A LITTLE KNOW HOW
11. AND A EXPERIENCED RELOADER TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE DOING EVERY THing RIGHT.
12. A GOOD POWDER MEASURE

You like your lee equipment huh? I just got into the game, but so far every lee item I have purchased has been quality. Definately got a lot of bang for my buck.

 

[Sunray]

Go buy a copy of The ABC's of Reloading. Your local gun shop or Amazon. It's a basic how-to. Then look into an RCBS Beginner's Kit. Gives you everything you need less dies and shell holder, plus their legendary customer service. Have any problems, even if you caused it or buy used kit(that's nothing to worry about. Takes a great deal of abuse to damage good reloading kit.), they'll fix it with a phone call. Usually for free. The only question will be about your mailing address.
You'll need a set of dies and a shell holder for both cartridges.
The kit comes with a Speer manual, but buy a Lyman book too. Nothing wrong with the Speer book, the Lyman book is far more versatile. It has more loads using more powders and bullets than any powder or bullet maker's book.
Lee kits are less exprensive, but the warrantee isn't as good. Not bad kit though.
Your .222 has been eclipsed by the .223(it's actually a .222 Mag), but it'll whack varmints with no fuss. You know that though. It uses .224" diameter bullets, not .222" or .223" too. That's good. Works best with 50ish grain bullets. There are lots of really good 50ish grain .224" bullets available. Including match grade bullets. They're not cheap though.
The .243 can be used for both varmints and deer sized game and black bear with the right bullet. However, the bullets used in factory ammo are either varmint bullets or deer bullets. Under 85 grains for most .243 bullets are for varmints. Varmint bullets are made to expand rapidly upon impact and aren't suitable for deer sized game. (There are some that are though, but they're premium bullets with premium prices.) The rifling twist matters, but commercial hunting rifles are rifled for heavy bullets. That's ok. A varmint doesn't know or care what the bullet weight was. Hunting varmints with your deer load is fabulous practice too. A Speer 105 grain SP does amazing things to a ground hog. You can get FMJ's for hide hunting coyotes and fox too. A 90 grain FMJ makes a puncture hole.
When you get that far, remember that you're not alone. Ask any questions you may have here. The only stupid question is the one not asked. Reloading isn't rocket science, but it can get confusing by times.
HANDLOADER. Shut off your caps lock.

 

[rfwobbly]

+1 on the Read, Read, Read.

Check you local library system. A lot of times you can check these books out, if not locally, then from a library system they share with.

 

[ranger335v]

"I didn't know the driver's instuction manual had relaoding advice??????"

Arrrggh! That's what's called an "analog", dummy!