Trying to get into reloading, want your input.

@gobsauce , if you get going reloading and its something you want to keep doing, I probably have a couple hundred 38 spl nickel cases, once or twice used, clean and ready to load. They are yours if this reloading thing works out for you.
Paul

 

Others will chime in on the process, I'm a "wack a mole reloader" kind of looked down upon in these circles but, my process is seat and then crimp, but I don't have all that fancy stuff...but I use Dawn and Nu Finish to clean my cases

 

Yes they are, loading primers is like " Forest Gump and his box of chocolates" never know what your gonna get next ... but seriously I've only popped about a dozen off over the years, mostly due to a bad die, little grinding and that went away

 

Lee Loader, the way it all started out...

 

WD40 is cool, just dont let them set for a couple years in the shed...

 

I will admit, I started using my 5 inch sears vise (instead of the hammer)to squeeze my stuff together the last many years, except of course when I'm away from the man cave, but I do miss the hammer at times

 

Yes, this gets just a little tricky. They cover this in the reloading die instructions. I load a lot of 45 ACP and 38 Special with assorted bullets. Basically what you are doing is run the seater die down in the press ...
1. Place a primed, sized and powder charged case in the shell holder and run it up to the top of the stroke.
2. Screw the seater die down till you feel it touch the top of the case. This gets into a game of "feel" which you just develop. Now back the die out one full turn and temporarily set the lock ring. We just don't want the die moving.
3. Unscrew the seater plug several turns. This is not critical, just back it out a bunch but not out of the die.
4. Lower the case and insert a bullet. Pretty much align a bullet on the case mouth.
5. Run the case and bullet back up into the die. Run the seater plug down and step by step measure the O.A.L. each cycle of the press measure O.A.L. little by little the bullet will seat till you get the correct seating depth for your load.
6. Once you get the right O.A.L. back the seater plug out again.
7. Now with the press at full stroke run the seater die down again till it touches the case mouth. Bring the case down. Now add about another 1/8th turn. Check the case for crimp. Add another 1/8th turn and check the case again. You feel resistance and see the crimp when you are there.
8. Now with the case run up. Run the seater plug down till it hits your already seated bullet.

When starting out you may crunch a few cases. The use of the word "feel" is popular like seating a primer till you feel it bottom out. Just skills you develop. My list above should pretty much follow your RCBS die instructions give or take a little.


Ron

 

My reloading equipment...

Ok, enough hi jacking...

 

Sure, if you are more comfortable seating and then crimping have at it. The only matter of importance is you being comfortable with how you go about it. Once I have the die setup I just seat and crimp in a single stroke but absolutely you can do it in a two step process. You use what works for you and what you are comfortable with. Not what works for me or anyone else.

Ron

 

You can never have too many bullets. or cases, or primers or pieces of brass or ....

Ron