New to reloading(like a baby duck.) looking for advice .

[JFrank]

I have not once read a reloading manual, I do have the Nosler hardback that has tons of recipes with qualified powders but that’s the extent of my library.

 

[Varminterror]

Aside from the components you listed, do you have any of the reloading tools you'll need?

• Press
• Dies
• Case trimmer
• Reloading trays
• Powder measure or dippers
• Powder scale
• Priming tool
• Primer pocket tool

Varminterror is kind of getting ahead of you here. Don't listen to him yet unless you want to pull out your hair. ;-)

Hair grows back. Money doesn’t. You asked if he has any of the equipment yet, I’ve only recommended to not buy the wrong equipment just based on manuals rather than evaluating his actual needs.

I have not once read a reloading manual, I do have the Nosler hardback that has tons of recipes with qualified powders but that’s the extent of my library.

And in case the OP isn’t familiar, with only one manual, Jim is performing at high level in long range benchrest competition, living a standard of precision most new shooters don’t even realize is possible, and will never, ever, achieve.

 

[Smaug]

Hair grows back. Money doesn’t. You asked if he has any of the equipment yet, I’ve only recommended to not buy the wrong equipment just based on manuals rather than evaluating his actual needs.

Yes, and you made some good points. But for a new reloader, starting in isolation, it is safer to start with a structured process. He can fine-tune later. Meanwhile, we don't want him to blow himself up.

I didn't mean it disrespectfully, you're just suggesting a lot of vague things that mean nothing from a newbie's perspective except that you think you have better processes than the books do.

 

[Varminterror]

you're just suggesting a lot of vague things that mean nothing from a newbie's perspective except that you think you have better processes than the books do.

I didn’t come up with these other processes. They’re simply the processes that almost all other reloaders use for their respective objectives - which don’t align with the instructions found in generic reloading manuals.

Absolutely nothing to do with my opinion of my own knowledge - other than sharing my experience that very, very few reloaders I have ever met actually follow any manual for their personal reloading processes - because very, very few reloaders have the same objective as the reloading manual.

And it’s strictly dumb to suggest this or any other newbie is at increased risk of “blowing themselves up” simply by buying a powered case trimmer or a different priming tool than found in one or another reloading manual. Lazy.

 

[JFrank]

Nobody I know buys manuals any more they google stuff or ask a buddy.

 

[AJC1]

This is a poor analogy for your argument, actually for a lot of reasons. Guys say this all of the time in this particular discussion, and it’s become a recurring thorn in my side. It sounds good, so guys say it, but it’s really bad justification and misleads new reloaders to spend money they shouldn’t.

1) When a child takes the training wheels off of their bike - a zero cost modification - they have a bike to ride, and it’s the right equipment. For the majority of children, a bike is the right equipment for riding a bike… However, for the majority of reloaders, the equipment found in reloading manuals is not the right equipment for their respective objectives. So for example, buying a single stage press when learning to reload - because that’s what the manual recommends - when your objective is high volume shooting is like buying a bike with training wheels when you’re rather wanting to learn to roller skate… that single stage press isn’t a bike with training wheels, it’s just the wrong equipment to the wrong objective, but unlike removign literal training wheels from a bike, replacing the single stage press or hand trimmer with the right gear incurs unnecessary expense.

2) Children grow physically, so any given bike doesn’t have much duration of life - equipment changes are forced by physical growth, so incremental reinvestment in equipment is inevitable. I know the 24” bike I just bought for my son won’t fit him forever, so he’s not expecting to buy ONE bike and have use for it forever. This is not the case with reloading - I’ve never physically grown too big for any of my reloading presses, and I expect nobody else in the world has either. It’s reasonable to think our first press will always be useful for the task - as long as we don’t first buy the wrong press for the task…

3) For good reason, nobody teaches adults to ride a bike with training wheels, and frankly, training wheels are not the best means of teaching children. “Balance bikes” and “Striders” and simply removing the pedals from kid’s bikes have proven to be the better method for teaching kids to ride bikes. Nobody teaches adults to ride motorcycles with training wheels. Why? Because they don’t teach kids bad habits like leaning on the training wheel when riding straight and turning the bike like a car rather than leaning, and have consequences which limit learning, like creating a fulcrum which lifts the rear wheel and causes crashes if kids excel and lean intentionally into turns - so even within learning to ride a bike, literally, no metaphor, a bike with training wheels isn’t the best tool for the task.

So if the objective is BMX then start the kid off on a 5000 bike with training wheels so they can accomplish their goal... your position is sound it just never works that way. This will include the reloader even owning the correct gun to meet whatever goal they have. Not no mention changing or evolving goals because they don't even have a clue what they don't know.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

So if the objective is BMX then start the kid off on a 5000 bike with training wheels so they can accomplish their goal... your position is sound it just never works that way. This will include the reloader even owning the correct gun to meet whatever goal they have. Not no mention changing or evolving goals because they don't even have a clue what they don't know.

From his latest post I think the OP got his answer.

Some arguments just aren’t worth having. Mr. Jones got his loading data and will now (hopefully) be shooting his Swede Mauser safely and happily. Leave be the folks who were born in the log cabin they built with their own hands.

 

[Varminterror]

they don't even have a clue what they don't know.

Hence how easily they are lead to waste money buying the wrong gear, because the manual says so, and some guy online said “buy a few manuals and read them twice.”

 

[stillquietvoice]

Hi guys and gals like the title says I'm very new to reloading . I am looking for advice on reloding my 6.5x55se . The components I have achieved to get are n165 lupus brass and federal 210 primers and hornady 129 grain sst bullets. Can hardly find any load data . Can you help?
Thanks in advance

Shooters refrence has data from manufacturer for 130 gr Barnes with n165, but nothing for a 129 gr. As well as 140 gr Sierra hpbt.

 

[50of4064]

Ronald, it would be best if you could have someone show you, and assist you with meeting your needs with regards to reloading...reading only will get you so far..it is just a start, an important one, but not all inclusive, hands on is the best way...there are so many presses, and systems availible today that were not around 10-15 years ago...but the basics of reloading has not changed...and that is what I hope you learn, it is not difficult, but it can hurt you if you get it wrong. Get it right, and you can go from crawling to sprinting or anything in-between, at your own pace, the sky's the limit. That is my hope for you...and if you have any questions do not be afraid to ask them here on THR, or message me and I will do my best to help you, I may not have the answer, but there are folks here I know do...

 

[Ronald Jones]

Ronald, it would be best if you could have someone show you, and assist you with meeting your needs with regards to reloading...reading only will get you so far..it is just a start, an important one, but not all inclusive, hands on is the best way...there are so many presses, and systems availible today that were not around 10-15 years ago...but the basics of reloading has not changed...and that is what I hope you learn, it is not difficult, but it can hurt you if you get it wrong. Get it right, and you can go from crawling to sprinting or anything in-between, at your own pace, the sky's the limit. That is my hope for you...and if you have any questions do not be afraid to ask them here on THR, or message me and I will do my best to help you, I may not have the answer, but there are folks here I know do...

Thank you

 

[50of4064]

Varminterror suggested earlier..."And it’s strictly dumb to suggest this or any other newbie is at increased risk of “blowing themselves up” simply by buying a powered case trimmer or a different priming tool than found in one or another reloading manual. Lazy."

Ronald, if this is why you believe I suggested you read a reloading manual several times, then you misunderstood my meanings. I do not know what you know. So when you said you were very new to reloading, I should have asked "how new" and what gear do you own and what experience do you have...instead of get a manual ×3 read it ...ect. ect.
I own that one, apologies mate.

 

[50of4064]

Have you had your original question answered yet?
If not, given what you have told us:
Caliber: 6.5x55se
Brass: Lupus
Primers: Federal 210
Projectiles: Horniday 129 sst
You say you can find hardly any data, what have you found?
What powder are you wanting to use?

 

[Varminterror]

What powder are you wanting to use?

He stated in the opening post - he has N165.

 

[Smaug]

Hence how easily they are lead to waste money buying the wrong gear, because the manual says so, and some guy online said “buy a few manuals and read them twice.”

Why don't you give some specific newbie-friendly advice, instead of just putting down everyone else's from your lofty tower of knowledge?

"And it’s strictly dumb to suggest this or any other newbie is at increased risk of “blowing themselves up” simply by buying a powered case trimmer or a different priming tool than found in one or another reloading manual. Lazy."

Ronald, if this is why you believe I suggested you read a reloading manual several times, then you misunderstood my meanings. I do not know what you know. So when you said you were very new to reloading, I should have asked "how new" and what gear do you own and what experience do you have...instead of get a manual ×3 read it ...ect. ect.
I own that one, apologies mate.

You quoted the wrong guy. Ronald (the OP) didn't say that, Varminterror did.

 

[Varminterror]

@Ronald Jones - have you called VV to ask if they have data available for 129’s with N165? Or if they have any cautions against using it for this bullet weight?

Quite often, there’s a massive depth of data available which simply isn’t published, but can be delivered if a reloader simply calls the powder companies.

 

[Smaug]

Ronald, it would be best if you could have someone show you, and assist you with meeting your needs with regards to reloading...reading only will get you so far..it is just a start, an important one, but not all inclusive, hands on is the best way...there are so many presses, and systems availible today that were not around 10-15 years ago...but the basics of reloading has not changed...and that is what I hope you learn, it is not difficult, but it can hurt you if you get it wrong. Get it right, and you can go from crawling to sprinting or anything in-between, at your own pace, the sky's the limit. That is my hope for you...and if you have any questions do not be afraid to ask them here on THR, or message me and I will do my best to help you, I may not have the answer, but there are folks here I know do...

Although it WOULD be preferable to have a mentor, it is quite reasonable to read a manual and follow the directions, step-by-step. Even just one manual. It's often impractical to have an in-person mentor. Gather up all the needed gear and take it slow; that's all. I'm self-taught; I bet a LOT of us are. It's just that we can imagine how much shorter the learning curve would've been with a mentor there next to us. Any questions, just ask here. This is an awesome resource that was not available 25 years ago.

I recommend the Lyman manual as a starting place. It has a good variety of data and clear, concise, non-advertisy instructions. The Speer one I had was also good, and has load data that supplements the Lyman manual. Lee was good as well, but Ol' Richard Lee couldn't resist the urge to write the instructions as if Lee products were the only reasonable choice.

 

[Ronald Jones]

Have you had your original question answered yet?
If not, given what you have told us:
Caliber: 6.5x55se
Brass: Lupus
Primers: Federal 210
Projectiles: Horniday 129 sst
You say you can find hardly any data, what have you found?
What powder are you wanting to use?

I have n165

 

[Ronald Jones]

Although it WOULD be preferable to have a mentor, it is quite reasonable to read a manual and follow the directions, step-by-step. Even just one manual. It's often impractical to have an in-person mentor. Gather up all the needed gear and take it slow; that's all. I'm self-taught; I bet a LOT of us are. It's just that we can imagine how much shorter the learning curve would've been with a mentor there next to us. Any questions, just ask here. This is an awesome resource that was not available 25 years ago.

I recommend the Lyman manual as a starting place. It has a good variety of data and clear, concise, non-advertisy instructions. The Speer one I had was also good, and has load data that supplements the Lyman manual. Lee was good as well, but Ol' Richard Lee couldn't resist the urge to write the instructions as if Lee products were the only reasonable choice.

I have the lyman 50th addition Hornaday 10th and 11th and the viti app. As far as the data I was referring to the weight of the bullets. With the n165 .

 

[Ronald Jones]

You kind of put yourself in a bind by purchasing the components without finding the data first.
I looked in my manuals and at Vihtavuori's online data. There is no data for N165 using that weight cup and core bullet.
You have two options. Call or email Hornady& Vihtavuori for data. Or substitute the 136 grain data on Vihtavuori's website.
I would suggest getting one of the 4350s or 4831s. There is a lot more data available. Or get a bullet that has data using your n165.

I had planed on the 143gr eldx but since the price gouging holders like to stay on the old internet so the can put it on gunbroke the 129 was all that was avaliable at the time

 

[Bfh_auto]

I had planed on the 143gr eldx but since the price gouging holders like to stay on the old internet so the can put it on gunbroke the 129 was all that was avaliable at the time

The 129 is an excellent bullet. The 143 is as well. I am sure the combo can be made to work if you be careful.

 

[Ronald Jones]

Although it WOULD be preferable to have a mentor, it is quite reasonable to read a manual and follow the directions, step-by-step. Even just one manual. It's often impractical to have an in-person mentor. Gather up all the needed gear and take it slow; that's all. I'm self-taught; I bet a LOT of us are. It's just that we can imagine how much shorter the learning curve would've been with a mentor there next to us. Any questions, just ask here. This is an awesome resource that was not available 25 years ago.

I recommend the Lyman manual as a starting place. It has a good variety of data and clear, concise, non-advertisy instructions. The Speer one I had was also good, and has load data that supplements the Lyman manual. Lee was good as well, but Ol' Richard Lee couldn't resist the urge to write the instructions as if Lee products were the only reasonable choice.

I have a friend who will help me . Was just trying to get a little more info .

 

[50of4064]

I will do some digging and P.M. you...
Good luck...

 

[AJC1]

I have a friend who will help me . Was just trying to get a little more info .

Embrace the technology of the day. A video call is easy and free, and is the next best thing to being there in person. A phone, a tablet or laptop all work just dandy.

 

[Ronald Jones]

I will do some digging and P.M. you...
Good luck...

Thanks