Who had a reloading mentor and I’m looking for one local

[Kaldor]

This forum has been the best place on the internet that I can remember. You don’t get smart ass comments when you ask questions. I’ve seen some motorcycle forums where folks get ugly but not here. I really appreciate that here’s the 624 that’s coming home at the end of the week! I’m stoked

Well you might get a few smart ass comments from time to time! But its all in good fun.
Glad you found some help!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Awesome thank you.

@AJC1 is one of the forum’s goto guys.
You’re in good hands.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Well I took the plunge and won an auction on a lightly used Lee breech lock ( with lock pin!) hand press for 50 bucks! Whoo hoo!

 

[CoalTrain49]

It's best with a mentor. I had one when I started re-loading shot shells. Eventually I progressed into metal cartridges on my own but the fact that I was already reloading paved the way. It's intimidating at first but worth the effort. My private club has classes which are popular.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Yes I would feel better about it on my first batch ether watching a full set done or doing it myself

 

[Bazoo]

It can be overwhelming, but it's not too bad. You can make a critical error, but if you are careful with powder selection and charging, making sure you have the correct powder and are using an appropriate amount (not accidentally using too much), there isn't much that can go wrong.

When I load, I only use a loading block for 1 operation, that is when I charge cases with powder. I use tupperware or coffee cans for all the other operations. I move the case from the container and charge it with powder (to the powder measure or in front of me on bench when I use dipper), then into the loading block. When I get a block full (or when I have the number of cartridges I want to load), I visually check the powder level in all the cases to see that they all have powder, and none have a double amount. Then I pick up a case and put a bullet on top as I move it to the seating die.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Yes I would feel better about it on my first batch ether watching a full set done or doing it myself

That is a very intelligent attitude. You would be surprised how many new handloaders think they can learn everything from UTube and discussion boards.

 

[Howland937]

There are a lot of smarter people than me around here, so take this with a grain of salt. Some folks reload so they can shoot more or shoot better ammo. Goes with the territory and isn't a source of enjoyment. Some folks enjoy reloading; problem solving, sense of accomplishment, self reliance. Some folks look at it not unlike meditation...soul cleansing stress relief.
Whatever your reasoning, don't plan on it saving you money. It may not. And be certain your life allows you the time to be free of distractions when you're at the bench.

 

[AJC1]

There are a lot of smarter people than me around here, so take this with a grain of salt. Some folks reload so they can shoot more or shoot better ammo. Goes with the territory and isn't a source of enjoyment. Some folks enjoy reloading; problem solving, sense of accomplishment, self reliance. Some folks look at it not unlike meditation...soul cleansing stress relief.
Whatever your reasoning, don't plan on it saving you money. It may not. And be certain your life allows you the time to be free of distractions when you're at the bench.

Cathartic

 

[conan32120]

And as your first piece of advice from this online mentor.... mind you don't crush your finger with the ram when seating bullets.

 

[shoebox1.1]

There are a lot of smarter people than me around here, so take this with a grain of salt. Some folks reload so they can shoot more or shoot better ammo. Goes with the territory and isn't a source of enjoyment. Some folks enjoy reloading; problem solving, sense of accomplishment, self reliance. Some folks look at it not unlike meditation...soul cleansing stress relief.
Whatever your reasoning, don't plan on it saving you money. It may not. And be certain your life allows you the time to be free of distractions when you're at the bench.

I really don’t need another hobby and time is precious to me BUT I think I’ll really enjoy it. Also I think that in this crazy world we’re in a fellow that can roll his own has a leg up on other folks. Tell ya what I’m having a lot of fun researching all this. Got press, rcbs dies coming and really looking forward to de priming my 38 brass in my ez chair!!

 

[Bazoo]

Aside from reloading being fun, and offering you a supply of ammo when the store shelves are bare, it also saves you a ton of money if you shoot anything other than the common calibers.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I’d really like to get another k31 Swiss carbine but factory ammo is waaaay too pricey.

 

[Bazoo]

I’d really like to get another k31 Swiss carbine but factory ammo is waaaay too pricey.

Where reloading doesn't save you money, is now you don't have to pass up guns that have expensive ammo.

 

[Pottimus]

I started with a buddy, he had a Thompson Contender with lots of different barrels.
New gun caliber, new dies, new molds, new powders....even new boxes to put them in.
Why do I want that 300 BO

 

[AJC1]

I started with a buddy, he had a Thompson Contender with lots of different barrels.
New gun caliber, new dies, new molds, new powders....even new boxes to put them in.
Why do I want that 300 BO

One can always choose a caliber that has a huge resource pool. 20 practical, 6x45, 300 bo and more. A box of dies a barrel and some bullets and your off to the races....

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

One can always choose a caliber that has a huge resource pool. 20 practical, 6x45, 300 bo and more. A box of dies a barrel and some bullets and your off to the races....

221Remington Fireball.
That was a deep rabbit hole. I like to never have made it out.

 

[bullseye308]

If you will be loading single stage, let me offer this bit of how I do mine. I’ll deprime a bunch of brass, then tumble it(or otherwise clean it), resize the whole batch, flare if using cast, trim/chamfer/debur if rifle, then prime the batch and store it. When it’s time to load, pull out the primed prepped brass, measure out the powder, then seat the bullet.
Next to my press I have a funnel going into a piece of pvc pipe going into an ammo can to catch my loaded rounds. That contraption is screwed to the cabinet and doesn’t move. I did the loading block thing but I like a smooth flow of work and this seemed better to me. maybe it will work for you, maybe it won’t. You will try many things and see what works best for you. Good lighting cannot be underestimated, you can see splits in cases you didn’t hear, and you can visually check your powder level in every case.

More things that may help.
1. only one can of powder on the bench at a time.
2. only one type of primer on the bench at a time.
3. keep a logbook of every load you make. You can buy them or make your own. At a minimum it should record: which powder and weight, which bullet and weight, which primer ant type, overall length, and how it performend.
4. no distractions while loading. Ask anyone in the house to wait till you finish a round before disturbing you to prevent something ashy from happening.
do not hesitate to ask here if something doesn’t seem right, feel right, or you just want a second opinion. We all started where you are, and know how daunting it can be.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Bullseye thank you!

 

[Bazoo]

I hardly ever go from start to finish in one sitting while reloading. I most often get cases ready to charge powder in the first sitting, then charge powder and seat bullets in the next.

I leave a note as to where I’m at in the process with the brass so that if it’s a few days or weeks before I return I know right where I left off.

 

[shoebox1.1]

My “mobile” kit I’m assembling will lend to multiple day sessions well. Deprime on the ez chair after dinner

 

[shoebox1.1]

Awww look! It’s so cute! My first piece of reloading equipment!

 

[Soonerpesek]

Awww look! It’s so cute! My first piece of reloading equipment!

Someone here refers to that as “The Nutcracker”……

 

[shoebox1.1]

Now that you say it —that’s it! The nutcracker

 

[Soonerpesek]

Now that you say it —that’s it! The nutcracker

I didn’t say it…… another member did…