Teaching yourself how to reload

[Vern Humphrey]

I suspect most of us taught ourselves to reload. Let me repeat the advice everyone has given -- start with a good manual and read it before you buy anything else. The manual will explain the process step by step, will tell you exactly what you need, and explain the use of every item.

I will differ with some other's advice on one point -- Lee dies come with loading instructions, a charge sheet and a dipper. If you follow the charge sheet and use the dipper, you can produce quite satisfactory ammunition -- but not max charges. You can put off buying a scale for later, when you feel more confident.

 

[rdhood]

I bought my first gun (a .40 S&W), shot 150 rounds of retail carts through it, and then got a kemphs lee classic turret kit and started reloading, and have shot ONLY reloads since. I haven't read a loading manual, but have read everything available on the internet. If you have common sense, you can teach yourself to reload.

 

[Kevin108]

Order a Lee Classic loader for whatever caliber you want to work with first. I don't remember where I got mine, but it was at my door for less than $20. it will have a chart inside that will tell you what powder to use with the different bullet weights. I can scan mine for you if you want to order the kit along with everything else.

Aside from the kit, you'll need bullets, powder, primers, case lube, a small hammer, gloves, and eye protection. Depending on what kind of bullets you use, a Lee Chamfer Tool (about $3) might also be useful. I also use a short section of 2x8 as my workbench. This is the cheapest way I found to get into reloading. It's also completely portable and takes up minimal space.



In the future I plan to get a Lee Anniversary Loader, which is the next step up from what I have now.

 

[dmazur]

I had the Lee Classic loader in a few calibers back in the '70s. I read some books about reloading, and I didn't do much of it, though I was quite the do-it-yourself type. Why? Because it takes forever to turn out a few rounds!

I got back into reloading with a Dillon 550 in 1992. I read some more. Now I'm "comfortable" with reloading. I don't think I'll ever feel I'm an expert.

The difference between the two methods is very hard to describe. Both will create accurate, safe ammunition. I guess I have other things to do than reload, so I find the Dillon to be better. Accurate, safe and FAST.

 

[jhansman]

FWIW, I got the Lee Anniversary Kit, but I first sat with a 30 yr. veteran for several hours who let me make all the mistakes I could with his setup and my components. I still screw up, but less and less, while learning more and more. See if you can find a mentor. Then, once you feel ready, become one.

 

[Kevin108]

I'm a carpenter by trade. Reloading ammo to me isn't much different than using a nail set. I do things in stages but I'd say each round takes under one minute.

 

[jeepmor]

Safety first, I am glad I took the plunge. Current ammo prices make it a money saving hobby. But you'll shoot more, you may not save. You will however, recoup your equipment cost in savings faster than ever before.

It's like any hobby. You can dabble and go purely for cost savings and make yourself ammunition tuned to your particular rifle which will shoot better and that's that.

Or you can go beyond the basics and get the neck turners, trimmers, neck sizing dies, micrometer seating dies and so on. You can also get into progressive reloading, which offers significant time savings. I think of a progressive more for pistol ammo where I want a lot of it. For rifle, I still prefer the single stage.

 

[FieroCDSP]

I taught myself late last year. You learn a lot in the first few sessions, then you learn a little each time after. Take it slow, triple-check your work, and learn a rhythm. It's not necessary to have expensive gear to make accurate loads, just patience. I recently had the experience of loading my first compressed charge. That was kinda hair raising. You'll continuously be learning something new.

 

[SDC]

Both Lee's manual and Dillon's video are very good for showing you what to do, when, and why, and once you have that down, it's basically a matter of following the proper recipe.

 

[ohwell]

I taught myself but I asked for a lot of advice from some long time reloaders at work first. I weigh every powder charge . Lee Classic Cast - RCBS digital Scale, Digital Caliper the cheap lee trimmers work great in a cordless drill. you'll want a good chamfer and beburring tool such as the RCBS. and Loadbooks usa loading data books are pretty good they are caliber specific and contain loading data from several of the bullet and powder makers handbooks.

 

[Noxx]

I started reloading at the beginning of this year.

I learned from several of the recommended texts in this thread, and the THR archives.

I still have all my fingers, and my ammo is cheap.

 

[woodfiler]

you can do it

I recently learned and i'm still learning to reload. The Lyman manual is a good
place to start. I would start out with a simple press, whatever that means.
Get the basics down and for now start out the the minimum loads.

Once you got it, think about a press that will increase the volume.

wood

 

[Hikingman]

"Go slow and PAY ATTENTION TO EVERYTHING and you will do just fine."

Read what Presspuller said, and go for it!

 

[Snapping Twig]

Count me in, self taught.

ABC's of reloading and Lyman, those were my guides.

I am partial to Lyman for this reason, well that and the fact that they're big on casting and lead loadings.

Learn to cast while you're at it. In for a penny, in for a pound.

You get an extra 100fps from a lead bullet for the same powder charge over a copper jacketed bullet. That righ there ought to wet your whisltle a mite.
Done corectly, it won't lead your barrel and with a gas check, faggettaboutit - no lead and push the bullet to the max.

 

[snuffy]

I loaded the first time back in 1963, using a kit similar to Kevin108's lee basic loader. It was for my then "new" old German Mauser in 8 X 57. It was my brother's kit, he had a Mauser also.

After a stint in the AF, I got a slightly used RCBS rockchucker, with 30-06 dies. That was 1971. Back then, there wasn't a useful source of info like this forum, only a cantankerous old coot who sold components out of his basement under a liquor store! I did have several manuals, which was all I needed for the basics.

I made usable ammo for my dad's 03-a3, then I bought a new rem-700 in 243. My arsenal has grown, I don't buy anything that can't be reloaded,(other than rimfire of course).

Yes you can be self taught. It would be better if you had a mentor. I bet if you found a local shooting range, then asked around, you could find someone willing to spend some time with you. As has been said, sometimes you might be learning someone else's bad habits. I suppose I do some things that COULD be considered wrong, but all my appendages are still intact!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I started with a Lee Loader (actually from Herter's), graduated to a Lyman 310 Tong Tool, and finally to a Lyman Spar-T turret press, which I still have.

 

[caz223]

Order a Lee Classic loader for whatever caliber you want to work with first. I don't remember where I got mine, but it was at my door for less than $20. it will have a chart inside that will tell you what powder to use with the different bullet weights. I can scan mine for you if you want to order the kit along with everything else.

Aside from the kit, you'll need bullets, powder, primers, case lube, a small hammer, gloves, and eye protection. Depending on what kind of bullets you use, a Lee Chamfer Tool (about $3) might also be useful. I also use a short section of 2x8 as my workbench. This is the cheapest way I found to get into reloading. It's also completely portable and takes up minimal space.

That's the way I learned, and it was an education.
Went from there to a RCBS pardner, a special-5, a dillon 550b, then another, now I have more different kinds of presses, as I'm trying to determine what works best for me. I deprime/resize on a loadmaster, clean in an ultrasonic cleaner, and load an a pair of 550s so far. It's all a work in progress.
I still got 20/20 vision in both eyes, and all my fingers and toes. My hearing isn't so good anymore, but that had nothing to do with reloading.