Reloading Advice

[igotta40]

I’m just getting started as well. I’ve taken the approach of researching and practicing each step of the process separately until I’m familiar. I found a good deal on a Hornady Lock N Load single stage kit last year. I found a gent locally on social media that was selling off his gear so I got some items, supplies, gear and advice, money well spent. The folks here on this forum helped me out yet again this evening with a beam scale I bought from the gent I mentioned. It’s really cool, I was grinning when I got it set up.

At the rate I’m going I’ll have my first cartridge done by Christmas but that’s just me.... Best wishes!

 

[Slow Joe Crow]

I just started up myself and after reading here and elsewhere opted for a single stage press kit to start. I bought an RCBS kit from Natchez that included rifle caliber dies so almost everything except the .300 Blackout dies and the primer arm on the press is getting used. I did have to get some case prep tools and pistol caliber dies but otherwise I was ready to go and loaded my first rounds of .308 Winchester yesterday.

 

[avan47]

For powder in 223, I highly recommend CFE 223. I have also had good results with Varget and Win 748. Hodgdon's website has loading data for these. Varget will also work in the 7.62x51. For the 9mm, I like CFE Pistol, or Power Pistol. I also use 700x for light loads with cast bullets.

Get and read 2 or 3 reloading manuals. excellent information there. I also agree that a single stage press is best for a beginner.

I like the customer service from RCBS - it can't be beat. But I like Hornady dies because of the bullet alignment sleeve in their bullet seating dies.

 

[mjsdwash]

starting out on a progressive is a bad idea. You will almost certainly need another press to fix the minor problem you get on the progressive, may as well start on one. Simple presses allow much cheaper caliber conversion as well. The Lee Turrets are popular because they have the advantages of a single stage, but without requiring taking dies in or out.

 

[TTv2]

The primary reason is I live in a state that limits everything except the air I breath. Although, I hear that in the Dems agenda in the coming years. The fact I am no longer allowed to purchase ammo online to be delivered to my home is ridiculous and as a law abiding citizen I refuse to be dependent on the government to defend me or my family is time of crisis. I understand I’m late in the game but I feel I don’t believe this is beyond my learning curve.

The other reason is I enjoy doing things for myself and I enjoy taking my boys out to shoot. My dad wasn’t a shooter or a hunter. As a result I’m self taught with exception of what I’ve learned from friends. I enjoy teaching my boys and this is knowledge they could use the rest of their lives if they choose to.

There are also the obvious benefits like saving a few cents per round and making rounds specific to my needs.

These are good reasons to have to get into reloading. I'm a huge proponent of people reloading their handgun ammo because it's so darn simple, but rifle/bottleneck cases are a different animal. You need a lot more equipment to get set up properly for rifle, it takes more time and effort... reloading for rifles is craftsmanship in no uncertain words. It can be done on a progressive, but I don't advocate you do it progressive.

9mm? Get the progressive if you plan to shoot A LOT. If it's 150 rounds a week then a progressive is overkill.

 

[Jammersix]

Overkill is good.

 

[lordpaxman]

You need a lot more equipment to get set up properly for rifle, it takes more time and effort... reloading for rifles is craftsmanship in no uncertain words.

I respectfully disagree. The basic process for reloading a metallic cartridge is the same for any brass case cartridge. You have to be mindful and respectful the entire way since you’re dealing with highly flammable solids. You want to make sure you stay within the lines. Decide what caliber you want to reload for and go for it. If all you have is rifles, that’s ok.
When I first started reloading I had an RCBS jr, .22-250 dies, 505 scale and a trickler. I didn’t have a set of a calipers which would have been nice but weren’t essential. A lot of woodchucks were harvested before and after school back then. If you want to shoot PR, some will go to extreme measures but I wouldn’t put a blanket characterization of rifle is more time and effort. When I finally got my 686, it was just a set of dies to start reloading .38 and .357. The same tools, the same process. For me it was not easier to reload .38’s. When I graduated to a progressive for pistol, then it was faster but again the process was the same. I’m not trying to start an argument but just wanted to point out you don’t need to buy a pistol to have a caliber to start reloading for.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I wouldn’t put a blanket characterization of rifle is more time and effort.

I would consider that the additional steps of reloading rifle ammo, over handgun ammo, of lubing before resizing and trimming after could easily be characterized as requiring more time and effort

 

[lordpaxman]

I would consider that the additional steps of reloading rifle ammo, over handgun ammo, of lubing before resizing and trimming after could easily be characterized as requiring more time and effort

Way back when... I had steel dies and lubed both, trimmed neither. I’ll admit when I could afford it I purchased carbide dies but still spray lube on. Trimming is not essential unless you’re over the chamber limit or have varied lengths that affect crimp. But we’re splitting hairs. I think single stage vs progressive is where time and effort really begin to make a difference.

 

[Jammersix]

I reload both rifle and pistol on the 650, and I reload both rifle and pistol on the T-7.