New to Reloading - Few Questions

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mjsdwash said:
I've been using the lee scale for 15 years. I'm on the second, the first bot bumped and broke the beam. Its only to 100 grains, but its fine if you don't go over. You won't need that for powder, but may for bullets if you loose track, or want to group them.

I've never cleaned a case in 15 years, and 50,000 rounds loaded, but if you feel you need to, go for it.

My best loads are crimped, but thats just me.

I pulled cartridge box inserts out of the trash at ranges. 45ACP will fit your rounds, and hold 50. Free and works well. I line 20 up and charge them in groups on the Lee perfect powder measure, which I assume your kit came with. That Lee has about 22,000 rounds loaded, and still never throws more than 1/20th of 1 grain off (H335)

https://www.amazon.com/Lyman-7832215-E-Zee-Case-Gauge/dp/B000N8N344 Get one of these, I also wore out some good calipers, on those 22,000 rounds mentioned above. I use a homemade no-go gauge now.

If you shoot in quantity, get a "worlds finest trimmer" or "Giraud tri-way"

Lanolin based case spray has worked extremely well.
Motor oil works as well.

Get a spent .22lr case, a pipe cutter and keep it nearby. When you stick a case, with lee dies, you take the nut off the top, and the decapper floats in the die. Put the .22 case on that, put the lock nut over the vice jaws, and you can hammer the stuck case out. This has never failed me, and its come up a lot (rifle case prep on a progressive). You can free the stuck decapper from the case with the pipe cutter. -Get a reeeeaaaallllyyy stuck case free from a Lee die in about 2 minutes. If you do peen the decapper pin, put it pin-in in a drill, and round it back with sand paper.

A vice, and a drill will help a lot.

Get a spare decapper rod. The can break, and they're cheap. i would recommend a universal decapping die rod as well.
You can still size with a broken decapper pin, and decap with the universal -it fits the die fine. It will be a decent backup
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You got me there, how do you use the pipe cutter ( assume it's a tubing cutter) to get the rod out of the neck.
 
deadeye dick said:
You got me there, how do you use the pipe cutter ( assume it's a tubing cutter) to get the rod out of the neck.
Click to expand...
You put the head in a vice, or vicegrip, drill, or anything that can hold it, use the pipe cutter to cut the case somewhere, takes about 5 seconds with a .308, and pull the two pieces apart. The rod's not stuck in anything, it just won't fit back out the case mouth without a lot of force. Since the case is already ruined from the shell holder, its easier to just cut.
I use a harbor freight cutter that cost around $8.
 
I went to my nearest Cabelas today in Lubbock (2 hrs away) and I got the last Hodgesons BL-C(2) and a box of Hornady Interlock 150g. I did a quick google search whilst in the store and saw that some people loved the powder whilst others hated it, It will be my first ever powder so I have nothing to compare it too except factory ammo. On the way back to the house which we were staying at I noticed an old table in the garage and was told I can have it as a reloading table so it has been a pretty decent day so far.

Getting closer to reloading my own ammo.
 
ReedTX said:
I went to my nearest Cabelas today in Lubbock (2 hrs away) and I got the last Hodgesons BL-C(2) and a box of Hornady Interlock 150g. I did a quick google search whilst in the store and saw that some people loved the powder whilst others hated it, It will be my first ever powder so I have nothing to compare it too except factory ammo. On the way back to the house which we were staying at I noticed an old table in the garage and was told I can have it as a reloading table so it has been a pretty decent day so far.

Getting closer to reloading my own ammo.
Click to expand...
i bought 8 bottles of the bl-c2, still have not used it yet
 
mjsdwash said:
You put the head in a vice, or vicegrip, drill, or anything that can hold it, use the pipe cutter to cut the case somewhere, takes about 5 seconds with a .308, and pull the two pieces apart. The rod's not stuck in anything, it just won't fit back out the case mouth without a lot of force. Since the case is already ruined from the shell holder, its easier to just cut.
I use a harbor freight cutter that cost around $8.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. So simple even i get it.
 
I have noticed that 7.62 Military Primers (CCI 41) have been available at Midway occasionally (although OOS today)

Are they a good primer for beginners? What makes them a 'military' designation?

Thanks

Reed
 
ReedTX said:
I have noticed that 7.62 Military Primers (CCI 41) have been available at Midway occasionally (although OOS today)

Are they a good primer for beginners? What makes them a 'military' designation?

Thanks

Reed
Click to expand...
they are hard like a rock!
 
ReedTX said:
I have noticed that 7.62 Military Primers (CCI 41) have been available at Midway occasionally (although OOS today)

Are they a good primer for beginners? What makes them a 'military' designation?

Thanks

Reed
Click to expand...
They're fine in an AR. But not for much of anything else. As Mark says, they are very hard.
 
I now have a bench and have been decaping and resizing my 308 with my Lee full length sizing die, I followed the instructions and ran the die to the case holder and then another 1/4 turn. I have checked with calipers and tried empty casings in the chamber of my bolt action and all seemed to go well. I don't have any primers yet so I am just on the decapping stage only and it felt like I knew what I was doing!

I did the same with my Hornady dies for my 6.5mm creedmoor. I immediately noticed that on the down stroke it was much firmer and required quite a bit of force, so much so I broke the neck of the case inside my die (idiot). I dissembled the die and managed to get the case neck off. I watched this video () and noticed that these dies did not require another 1/4 inch turn, but the comments on the video say you do, I should add at this point that I did not read the instructions before setting my Hornady die up (idiot!)

So what was I doing wrong? Was my die too far down, or was my decapping pin too far out?

Lesson learnt the hard way. I am just keen not to make the same mistake again!
 
Add a permanent ink felt marker to your reloading set with a damaged case if possible so you can make a dummy round with the COAL for your .308 and 6.5 using whatever bullet you're using.. Crimp the case really good so the bullet doesn't slip. You can guess the length of your pet load by the number of turns of your die, buy a bullet comparator (eg Sinclair), or make one by drilling the right size hole into a large metal nut or small block of aluminum. I personally like Hornady One Shot resizing lube because it's fast. I use Imperial Wax to neck size.
 
Possibly your decapping pin too far out. But if it decapped the round that should not happen. You just might have had a bad piece of brass and it came apart. These things happen. If it was a one off, yep things happen. If it happens more than once and especially after reading and readjustment something is wrong. Make sure the brass body is lubed well and stuck cases will not happen. I add a bit of lube on the inside neck of every third brass with a Qtip too.
When I buy a new die set I polish the expander ball to ease it sliding out of the brass before first use. You will be reloading soon and enjoying this new hobby/obsession.
 
ReedTX said:
As for primers and powders, at the moment I do not have any. I do live close to an Academy and drop in a few times a week but not seen anything yet. Luckily I have a fair amount of factory loads and I need to make a bench for my press so I have plenty of time. Realistically with hunting and the holidays I will probably start reloading in January all being well.

Thanks all,

Reed.
Click to expand...

Academy here in Midland gets shipments on Mondays and Thursdays. The have been getting primers lately, but you have to get there early. I work till 6pm and I have been able to get primers a couple times in the past two weeks.
 
ReedTX said:
Hello all. I am new to reloading and before I start I have a few questions, I have done a fair amount of research but before I start if you guys could help me out that would be great!

I plan (so far) to only reload .308 and 6.5 creedmoor. I have picked up dies for both along with a Lee reloading single stage anniversary kit. From what I have read I also need to buy a tumbler/sonic cleaner, reloading trays, calipers, trimming dies for each caliber a reloading manual and I have seen people recommend a better powder scale. Is there anything else that I am missing?

My .308 dies are a Lee Pacesetter 3 die set with a crimp. I have read conflicting statements on whether to crimp or not, and if it is needed in bolt guns. My 6.5 dies are Hornady and are a 2 die set with no crimp.

I am getting into reloading purely to shoot more and be better. I am relatively new to shooting having only picked it up 3 years ago, I am not a consistent 1.moa shooter and I am confident that this is my fault, not my rifles. Previously I have only shot perhaps 100 rounds a year out to 300y with any hunting I have done only out to 150y. I have joined a local rifle club so I am hoping to be out most weekends.

My .308 is a Ruger M77 mk ii heavy barrel with a Sig Whisky 3x9x40
The 6.5 is a Thompson Center with a Vortex 3x9x40

edited for clarity - I am in the process of joining a shooting range. Not joined yet.
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Reed, contact me, I can set you up with 308 and 6.5CM brass if you need any. I also may be willing to help you a bit with components.

I also have three 357mags and plenty of ammo if you want to shoot them.
 
dartor said:
Reed, contact me, I can set you up with 308 and 6.5CM brass if you need any. I also may be willing to help you a bit with components.

I also have three 357mags and plenty of ammo if you want to shoot them.
Click to expand...

Sending you a message now. Thank you
 
FROGO207 said:
Possibly your decapping pin too far out. But if it decapped the round that should not happen. You just might have had a bad piece of brass and it came apart. These things happen. If it was a one off, yep things happen. If it happens more than once and especially after reading and readjustment something is wrong. Make sure the brass body is lubed well and stuck cases will not happen. I add a bit of lube on the inside neck of every third brass with a Qtip too.
When I buy a new die set I polish the expander ball to ease it sliding out of the brass before first use. You will be reloading soon and enjoying this new hobby/obsession.
Click to expand...

This worked great. My decapper was too far out. Thanks
 
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