New to reloading

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Queen_of_Thunder

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I'm very new to reloading and right now all I'm doing is cleaning, sorting and depriming brass.

What I have :

Reloading Press: Rock Chucker and a Dillion 550B.
Scales both electronic and beam.
Lyman reloading manual.
Winchester, CCI and Federal Primers
I have Montana Gold Bullets, Zero Bullets, some Hornady bullets and bullets from Missouri bullet company.

In powder I have on hand vihtavuori N320,N340,N32C,Winchester 231,Clays and Unique.

I want to reload for USPSA the following calibers:9mm,10mm,.40 and 45ACP

My fun calibers are 44mag,41 mag, 45LC,.357and 44-40.

I have rifles in .303 British, 300Winmag, 5.56, 7.35 Carcano and 7.5 swiss.

I plan to start reloading 9mm and 45acp first as these are the two rounds I shoot most often and they are the only two I have dies for.


It's taken a few years to assemble these components to start reloading. Do you folks see anything else I need to add before I get started. Any tips.
 
I load 9mm, 45 ACP in pistols as well as 45 Colt for SAA revolvers and lever rifle. My last loads are for a 45-70 as well as 12 ga shot shells.

I like HP-38, Unique, Universal, Titegroup and Bullseye for standard target loads in all of the pistols and even the 45-70. For cowboy action in 45 Colt and 45-70 I also use Trailboss and black powder which I also load in my 12 ga shot shells.

For hunting with my 45 Colt rifle I use Lil'gun behind a Ranch Dog 290 gr bullet or a 300 gr Lee bullet both gas checked. Now my 45-70 I use 3 powders and bullet combinations using IMR 4198, IMR 3031 and Reloader 7. I still like the Trailboss though with a 405 gr RNFP cast bullet for target and small game if needed.
 
you'll need a case trimmer and the appropriate pilots/shell holders for trimming your rifle brass and a deburring tool to clean them up once they are trimmed. If the 5.56 brass is military brass you may need a swageing tool to remove the crimp from the primer pockets
after resizing. That only need to be done once BTW.
 
Any caliper will work. I use vernier style because I was a Tool and Die Maker in my first life and that was what I was trained to read. Dial calipers came into use because they were easier to read than the vernier style but the electronic are even easier (and probably more accurate) than the dial type. If you are going to reload a lot I would recommend a Lee Autoprime http://www.midwayusa.com/product/413473/lee-auto-prime-xr-hand-priming-tool as it makes priming much easier than using the press. The only negative to the Autoprime (in my opinion) is that you have to buy a separate set of shell holders for it, the RCBS model uses the same shell holder as the die.
 
I'd suggest more loading manuals. Loading block, powder funnel, powder measure, powder trickler all come to mind off the top of my head.
 
Searcher4851 said:
I'd suggest more loading manuals. Loading block, powder funnel, powder measure, powder trickler all come to mind off the top of my head.
Click to expand...
What's the reasoning behind more reloading manuals? I do have loading, blocks, trickler, funnel and powder measure. Finding room for all of the stuff you need for reloading is a challenge. Oh I have a fire extinguisher next to the reloading bench too.
 
Not every manual will have every bullet and powder you might be using. I have several current loading books and even more that are no longer current though still useful. My main books are Lee's, Lyman (3 different books), Hornady and Spear. I also use data downloaded for the powder maker sites also as they are usually more up to date in some cases. However they usually only cover powders they make with not all bullets listed in some cases.
 
A thick notebook and plenty of sharp pencils. Keep records on your loads. It helps when you are old and feeble like me.
 
Like Joecil said, there are so many premutations of powders and bullets, no one manual lists them all. The bullet manufacturers list their own bullets, but still not all the powders that can be used with their bullets.The more manuals you have the more information you have available, and the more informed your "guesses" will be when dealing with other bullets. Powder manufacturer's web sites also contain load data only for their powders, and usually with limited bullet choices.
 
A bullet puller is good to have. Maybe some good background music. A nice bright light source for your bench. Eye and ear protection. Maybe later get a chronograph.

But it sounds like you're ready to start with 9mm and 45 ACP. I would just dive into it and then you'll figure out everything else from there.
 
Hello,
I am also new to reloading and would like to know what do you think about rainier bullets.
I want to shoot them out of my High Standard 1911.
 
Bullet pullers such as the press mounted one made by RCBS are great as long as using jacketed or plated bullets however useless with lead cast for that you need the kinetic type hammer system.
 
Calipers, few reloading manuals(I use 5 but still there are powders I got that are not in the books), plenty of pistol brass for the semi's(those little buggers like to fly), chamfer tool, fash hole reamer, tumbler(go to petsmart and get Kay Dee brand walnut litter)(cut up dryer sheets, it collects the dirt and keeps media clearer longer)
 
Multiple manuals also allows you to cross check loads against each other.

You will see some manuals 'hotter' than others (higher maximum loads) but tread carefully.

If you work up to a satisfactory level, pushing it higher is just burning powder.
 
How about a 1 yr subscription to LoadData.com? So far it has been a GREAT asset while trying to find load recipes for specific powder/bullets without having to buy a bunch of large books that I don't care about 99% of the data in them?
 
Hello
Don't know if I am doing this rite. I'm new to this forum thing and reloading.
I just wanted to know what you think about rainier bullets and are there any tricks to reloading them. THANKS
 
Welcome to the forum poppaj78 its good to hear from someone from God's country. I live in B.R. but born and raised in Opelousas. I have no experience with Rainier bullets, but probably if you go to their website they can answer your questions. Lots of good folks on here willing to help,you'll do fine.
 
Poppaj78: I have never used Rainier bullets but I am sure someone here has. You need to go back to the reloading section and then click on the "New Thread" button (I think that is what it is labeled). Title it "Rainier Bullet Information" and I am sure you will get a book of information. If you are new to reloading you might want to just work on the process of sizing, powder charges, and seating before trying anything that is out of the norm. Just my $.02 worth.
 
Last edited:
Hello
Don't know if I am doing this rite. I'm new to this forum thing and reloading.
I just wanted to know what you think about rainier bullets and are there any tricks to reloading them. THANKS
Click to expand...

I love Rainier bullets. I've loaded 1000's of them in .45 acp, .357 Mag. and .38 Spl.

In .45acp and 38 Spl, I load them right up to maximum loads for jacketed bullets with no problems at all. In .357 mag, I keep them below 1200 fps.
 
Thank you everyone for the input. I have reloaded some 30-06 rounds already and they came out fine. Just haven't loaded any pistol ammo yet. Again thanks.
 
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