qajaq59
Member
Now that's an intelligent way to use the forums.
Prediction - Please read new reloaders
- Thread starter kestak
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EMC45
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- Jul 20, 2008
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Reloading IS NOT dangerous!! It is if you're impatient, reckless, and don't take necessary precautions. If you can read and have common sense this hobby is perfectly safe. I have never had a blow-up or squib and I pulled the handle on a press for the first time in 1998. I too have seen a large influx of new reloaders recently. They will do reckless things that are dangerous too. Not all of them, but some will. When ammo prices start coming back down and new reckless reloaders start blowing up guns I think we will see a good bit of used gear on the market. I can't wait!
Redneck with a 40
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- Jul 26, 2006
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- 2,273
I taught myself how to reload, back in 2005. I read Richard Lee's "Modern Reloading 2nd Edition", awesome book. I learned what the process was and studied the load data carefully. I paid particular attention to my charge weights and bullet seating depth's. After I loaded my first 100 rounds, I had it down pat and was churning out rounds. I've now loaded about 7500 rounds of 40 S&W, 1000 rounds of 357 mag, 500 rounds of 38 special, I've had no problems whatsoever. You just have to pay attention to what you're doing, no distactions, such as a T.V.
Now the guys who look at a max charge in the book and say, 'If 8 grains behind a 150 grain .40 bullet is good, then 8.5 must be better". These guys are the true idiots.
Now the guys who look at a max charge in the book and say, 'If 8 grains behind a 150 grain .40 bullet is good, then 8.5 must be better". These guys are the true idiots.
evan price
Member
AN ABJECT LESSON which is apt to this post:
Yesterday I just bought a Sig P6 pistol from a guy at the range. He said he bought it and started reloading 9mm. It shot fine for several months. Then he had a jam (FTE). Now it won't cycle and jams after every shot- you have to bang the back of the slide to get it back in battery.
He sold it to me for no more than what the magazines are going for on Gunbroker calling it a POS of the worst degree. Seems he read the INternet where they don't like to feed certain kinds of ammo and thought that was the problem.
Turns out what he'd done is rapid-fired a squib followed by a good round and bulged the barrel to the point the bulge hangs up inside the slide on the feed ramp.
To put it mildly, I strongly advised him to check his reloading practices- to which he told me huffily, he's been reloading for TWO YEARS NOW and doesn't make mistakes, his Glock has had no problem with his reloads.
I paid the man and bid him good day.
Yesterday I just bought a Sig P6 pistol from a guy at the range. He said he bought it and started reloading 9mm. It shot fine for several months. Then he had a jam (FTE). Now it won't cycle and jams after every shot- you have to bang the back of the slide to get it back in battery.
He sold it to me for no more than what the magazines are going for on Gunbroker calling it a POS of the worst degree. Seems he read the INternet where they don't like to feed certain kinds of ammo and thought that was the problem.
Turns out what he'd done is rapid-fired a squib followed by a good round and bulged the barrel to the point the bulge hangs up inside the slide on the feed ramp.
To put it mildly, I strongly advised him to check his reloading practices- to which he told me huffily, he's been reloading for TWO YEARS NOW and doesn't make mistakes, his Glock has had no problem with his reloads.
I paid the man and bid him good day.
qajaq59
Member
I learned how to load from a friend in the sixties and I've never had a problem. Someone already has worked everything out for us, so simply follow the 
rules.
It is sooooo easy that I can't figure out why people can't handle it? :banghead:
Maybe the comedian is right, "There ain't no cure for stupid."
rules. It is sooooo easy that I can't figure out why people can't handle it? :banghead:
Maybe the comedian is right, "There ain't no cure for stupid."
Hungry Seagull
member
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- Feb 19, 2009
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- 2,167
After careful consideration, I thought about reloading.
I determined to stick with factory loads because no amount of books, data and learning plus all the equiptment will compenstate for how well my weapons are shooting factory loads.
I dont have a problem with Colonial Flintlocks or Percussions of the Civil War era.
My position is I will leave the reloading to those who know better and know how to do it right.
Maybe one day I will learn. Just a little for the modern stuff. But only just enough if there is no more factory availible.
I determined to stick with factory loads because no amount of books, data and learning plus all the equiptment will compenstate for how well my weapons are shooting factory loads.
I dont have a problem with Colonial Flintlocks or Percussions of the Civil War era.
My position is I will leave the reloading to those who know better and know how to do it right.
Maybe one day I will learn. Just a little for the modern stuff. But only just enough if there is no more factory availible.
ADKWOODSMAN
Member
Having just read ALL the posts in this thread I can only add, check, check, and check again.
I like the Lyman Manual because it lists different bullets for the same calibre.
The powders are also from different manufactures, another plus.
I've been loading rifle, pistol and shotgun since he 60's and still learning.
RDH
I like the Lyman Manual because it lists different bullets for the same calibre.
The powders are also from different manufactures, another plus.
I've been loading rifle, pistol and shotgun since he 60's and still learning.
RDH
CSA 357
Member
When i started reloading i had a buddy that had been loading for years, he helped me get started, showed me all i needed to know, you have to know what you are doing, you have to have a reloading book, read all you can, take your time, i now enjoy reloading as much as shooting, and i cast my own bullets, i try to help anyone who wants to learn, i once thought it was about saving $ but now i know its a past time of its own, if someone hadnt taken the time to help me i would have never got started on my own, its not rocket science, but you have to do it right, i cant wait to get my grandson started, csa
Greetings,
Remember this thread I started a little while ago? Am I alone to have noticed in the last 2-3 months our "newbies" sound better and more informed wih their few first posts? In fact, I am VERY surprised not to have seen "I just blew up my gun (or face)" messages... hehehehe
Thank you
Remember this thread I started a little while ago? Am I alone to have noticed in the last 2-3 months our "newbies" sound better and more informed wih their few first posts? In fact, I am VERY surprised not to have seen "I just blew up my gun (or face)" messages... hehehehe
Thank you
mongoose33
Member
I know it's a jest, but there's truth in the old adage, "Dead men tell no tales."
I suspect there are a lot of kabooms that never are chronicled here out of embarrassment.
I believe the only people likely to post about mistakes are those interested in helping others learn from them. There's a...sincerity, I suppose, in those who would expose themselves to potential ridicule solely to hopefully help someone else avoid the mistake.
I *always* read those threads.
Greetings,I exposed myself to ridicule with my blunder of lubing my rifle cases only just under the shoulder...
I still can't believe I decaped/resized more than 8000 cases like that. I had 3 decapping dies running because I was getting "scratches" after 150-200 cases. One week later, 500 cases: no scratches at all!! :banghead:
If I ever blow a gun, I'll post the pictures, how I did it, I'll try to make it a sticky and I'll try to change my ID from Kestak to Kestak_who_blew_a_gun so everyone knows and will avoid to make my mistake.
Thank you
mongoose33
Member
The internet has greatly accelerated my learning about reloading. I've only been doing it for about 19 months. One thing's for sure: I'll never know enough that I can't learn more about it.
I believe I am far along in that learning process, and I credit the internet for that. However, I also believe there is a way to use the internet effectively for learning, and many newbies (as evidenced by some of the horror stories of arrogant, self-confident rookies) don't have a clue how to do that.
I'm a scientist by training; everything I read I take as a hypothesis to be either supported or refuted by further information. If someone posts a load, I check it against other sources (including those in print) to confirm that it's reasonable before I start working up my own loads. If someone posts a fix, I'll try to confirm it against other sources and/or experimentally evaluate it myself.
It amazes me (though perhaps it shouldn't) that some people don't operate the same way. Especially newbies, for whom mistakes are sometimes not clearly mistakes (until kaboom).
[Post interlude: I learned as is generally suggested: ABCs of reloading, read reloading manuals, and so on. Some of the willingness to read books is, I think, generational; older people who didn't grow up on the internet do that as a matter of course. Younger reloaders, not so much (yes, there are exceptions).}
So the internet is taken by some as gospel, but as others pointed out in this thread, it's the internet, and nothing prevents anyone from posting anything they like, right or wrong. (An example: Pi = 3.41)
The internet *has* accelerated my learning greatly; youtube videos can be excellent at times. And the ability for us to have knowledgeable others post potential answers to problems and questions we post online is priceless.
But it is just the internet, not the infallible-net.
Since I began my learning w/o anyone to show me how, I was doubly blessed--not only by the ability of the internet to show me things I otherwise wouldn't have been able to see, but also in providing a source of help.
But in the end, I believe many newbie reloaders miss the fundamental goal in their haste: It's not about what they can do today or tomorrow that matters; it's what they'll know--and can do--six months from now that matters.
And if they focus on a longer time horizon, they'll double- and triple-check everything; when something doesn't feel right they'll find out why and won't proceed until they do; and their focus will be just as much on the process as it is the outcome.
I believe I am far along in that learning process, and I credit the internet for that. However, I also believe there is a way to use the internet effectively for learning, and many newbies (as evidenced by some of the horror stories of arrogant, self-confident rookies) don't have a clue how to do that.
I'm a scientist by training; everything I read I take as a hypothesis to be either supported or refuted by further information. If someone posts a load, I check it against other sources (including those in print) to confirm that it's reasonable before I start working up my own loads. If someone posts a fix, I'll try to confirm it against other sources and/or experimentally evaluate it myself.
It amazes me (though perhaps it shouldn't) that some people don't operate the same way. Especially newbies, for whom mistakes are sometimes not clearly mistakes (until kaboom).
[Post interlude: I learned as is generally suggested: ABCs of reloading, read reloading manuals, and so on. Some of the willingness to read books is, I think, generational; older people who didn't grow up on the internet do that as a matter of course. Younger reloaders, not so much (yes, there are exceptions).}
So the internet is taken by some as gospel, but as others pointed out in this thread, it's the internet, and nothing prevents anyone from posting anything they like, right or wrong. (An example: Pi = 3.41)
The internet *has* accelerated my learning greatly; youtube videos can be excellent at times. And the ability for us to have knowledgeable others post potential answers to problems and questions we post online is priceless.
But it is just the internet, not the infallible-net.
Since I began my learning w/o anyone to show me how, I was doubly blessed--not only by the ability of the internet to show me things I otherwise wouldn't have been able to see, but also in providing a source of help.
But in the end, I believe many newbie reloaders miss the fundamental goal in their haste: It's not about what they can do today or tomorrow that matters; it's what they'll know--and can do--six months from now that matters.
And if they focus on a longer time horizon, they'll double- and triple-check everything; when something doesn't feel right they'll find out why and won't proceed until they do; and their focus will be just as much on the process as it is the outcome.
ranger335v
Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2006
- Messages
- 3,797
"Did you notice how many new reloaders reload without a reloading handbook? ... There is one who answered to me saying he does not need to read anything or to have a log book because he just have to check on Internet. Doh!"
What you are seeing is a logtical effect of "modern education"; every one is brilliant, everyone makes his own "truth." Many of them will eventually be Darwin Award contenders, one way or another when they remove themselves from the gene pool.
It's not wise to discount or accord respect to any poster based on his post count. I've seen some really intelligent suggestions from web newbies and some really dumb suggestions from several with thousands of posts. Better to appraise each suggestion by the rational content of what's said, not how often the poster may have said it; some of the most vocally confident amoung us are also the most wrong.
What you are seeing is a logtical effect of "modern education"; every one is brilliant, everyone makes his own "truth." Many of them will eventually be Darwin Award contenders, one way or another when they remove themselves from the gene pool.
It's not wise to discount or accord respect to any poster based on his post count. I've seen some really intelligent suggestions from web newbies and some really dumb suggestions from several with thousands of posts. Better to appraise each suggestion by the rational content of what's said, not how often the poster may have said it; some of the most vocally confident amoung us are also the most wrong.
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Thank you for posting this. I receive multiple calls every day asking for load data from new reloaders. We plainly show on our website that we do not provide that information. However, that doesn't stop them from calling and asking. When I do receive one of those calls, I direct them to their powder manufacturer's data and to this forum.
Thank you to the THR forum members for generously sharing what you have learned over the years.
Thank you to the THR forum members for generously sharing what you have learned over the years.
speedreed
Member
Reloading CAN be a dangerous hobby. Just yesterday I was repairing my reloading station, casually brushed off the sawdust, and got a deep splinter in my thumb. It is now infected.
Seriously, Ranger335v just beat me to a post about modern education. My wife is a teacher, and she said there is a push to use "discovery" instead of traditional pedagogy. Hence the "everyone makes his own truth". The really sharp students can benefit from this, but not-so-sharps don't learn a thing.
They wait for someone else to do the work, and then they copy the answer. It's the quickest and easiest means to an end. She is working on a doctorate, so hopefully she can get in a position to turn some this around.
Now to see if my resident Doctor can remove a splinter!
Seriously, Ranger335v just beat me to a post about modern education. My wife is a teacher, and she said there is a push to use "discovery" instead of traditional pedagogy. Hence the "everyone makes his own truth". The really sharp students can benefit from this, but not-so-sharps don't learn a thing.
They wait for someone else to do the work, and then they copy the answer. It's the quickest and easiest means to an end. She is working on a doctorate, so hopefully she can get in a position to turn some this around.
Now to see if my resident Doctor can remove a splinter!
I would like to see links to support the statement. At the forum it is easy to refer exact posts. 4 pages at this thread do not show any of these yet.
What data in a book is not available online, on bullet/powder manufacturer web site? Error in a book is uncorrectable, that is why you have to collect many editions. At the other side, typos in online data, once detected, can be easily corrected.
LiveLife
Member
Thanks for the great thread and yes I have noticed too ...
USSR
Member
For the most part, it is pretty tough to blow up a gun. There is a pretty large margin from SAAMI maximum pressure spec's to metallurgical destruction pressures. Of course, there is the occasional "perfect idiot" that keeps us all in amazement.
Don
Greetings,
USSR, I disagree...
We have an idiot at the club who is at his 5th gun blow. I am aware of 3 1911, 1 7mm and 1 HK. When he goes behind the glass to shoot, we all get out.
Thank you
P.S.: For those of you who doubt me, I swear on the grave of my ancestors this it true.
USSR, I disagree...
We have an idiot at the club who is at his 5th gun blow. I am aware of 3 1911, 1 7mm and 1 HK. When he goes behind the glass to shoot, we all get out.
Thank you
P.S.: For those of you who doubt me, I swear on the grave of my ancestors this it true.
mcdonl
Member
As a new reloader I find this thread a little offense, although I am easily offended.
I come here for advice, and I take the advice. Problem is people have various opinions. Even the experienced re-loaders.
So, when I load 9mm loads with magnum primers some of you (Who I respect a lot) tell me it is dangerous and do not do it, and others of you (Who I also respect a lot) tell me that starting with the minimum loads and work my way up is completely safe. It was, by the way.
So, even though some new loader does not follow **YOUR** advice to the letter, does not mean they are not well informed and safe.
I come here for advice, and I take the advice. Problem is people have various opinions. Even the experienced re-loaders.
So, when I load 9mm loads with magnum primers some of you (Who I respect a lot) tell me it is dangerous and do not do it, and others of you (Who I also respect a lot) tell me that starting with the minimum loads and work my way up is completely safe. It was, by the way.
So, even though some new loader does not follow **YOUR** advice to the letter, does not mean they are not well informed and safe.
LiveLife
Member
I have seen several guns blow up the past 15 years, but not necessarily by idiots. On two occasions, it was by experienced reloaders who accidentally double-charged their loads.
This is the reason why the guy who taught me to reload recommended I start out on a progressive for match shooting. The auto index feature on the progressive press helps with this because to double charge, you have to intentionally turn back the shell plate and re-charge the case.
I still have all of my fingers and have not had to change my underwear.
This is the reason why the guy who taught me to reload recommended I start out on a progressive for match shooting. The auto index feature on the progressive press helps with this because to double charge, you have to intentionally turn back the shell plate and re-charge the case.
I still have all of my fingers and have not had to change my underwear.
mcdonl
Member
Ranger Said:
I have three books, and have NEVER found a load that applies to the supplies and materials I am using. I am not saying that it is wrong to buy books, the ABC's and Lyman 49th are the BEST reloading things I own, but they have been a vauge guide at best when it comes to finding loads to match my own materials. (And I am not just referring to Magnum primers in non magnum loads... I load 9mm, 38/357, 7.63x39, 7.62x54r and have not found a single load that uses my powder, projectile combo in any of them.
I have three books, and have NEVER found a load that applies to the supplies and materials I am using. I am not saying that it is wrong to buy books, the ABC's and Lyman 49th are the BEST reloading things I own, but they have been a vauge guide at best when it comes to finding loads to match my own materials. (And I am not just referring to Magnum primers in non magnum loads... I load 9mm, 38/357, 7.63x39, 7.62x54r and have not found a single load that uses my powder, projectile combo in any of them.
Greetings,
I have 4 books and EVERY one of them was useful for my reloading recipee. Of course, some components may change, but the recipees in the books are to be used as a "guide". It is why they have a range of powder load.
On the 22 calibers I load, I have about 200 different loads, I can say near 30are exactly what is in the books. For the remaining, near 100 have a different primer brand. Foer the remaining, it is just that I use hard cast bullets and 230 grains RN from stonewall is about the same than 230 grains from missouri pressure wise if I am NOT loading max powder.
And BTW, in the reloader magazine there was a test a few years ago about magnum primers vs normal primers and they showed pressure variances up to dangerous levels. Conclusion: they said use what the manufacturer says. It is your gun and your fingers...
Thank you
I have 4 books and EVERY one of them was useful for my reloading recipee. Of course, some components may change, but the recipees in the books are to be used as a "guide". It is why they have a range of powder load.
On the 22 calibers I load, I have about 200 different loads, I can say near 30are exactly what is in the books. For the remaining, near 100 have a different primer brand. Foer the remaining, it is just that I use hard cast bullets and 230 grains RN from stonewall is about the same than 230 grains from missouri pressure wise if I am NOT loading max powder.
And BTW, in the reloader magazine there was a test a few years ago about magnum primers vs normal primers and they showed pressure variances up to dangerous levels. Conclusion: they said use what the manufacturer says. It is your gun and your fingers...
Thank you
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