Who taught you to handload?

[Tallinar]

I was standing at the reloading bench today and got to thinking (which is always dangerous).

I’m curious: Who taught you to handload? I’m interested in what the demographics would look like among the forum members these days.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

When I started hand loading I didn’t know anyone who loaded, and was left with no other alternative than to teach myself. Luckily I was starting with 38 special which in one of the more forgiving rounds to load. To begin my journey I downloaded Lee Modern Reloading #1 from archive.org and read it completely. I then followed up with several videos from YouTube. That was several years and many cartridges ago and I’ve been learning ever since.

 

[higgite]

Richard Lee had a hand in it. As did Speer, Hornady and Sierra manuals. And the internet.

 

[Chuck R.]

For shotguns it was a Ponsness Warren manual that came with my press and for centerfire it was Speer Manual #9. Al Gore hadn't invented the internet yet, so we were on our own.

I was 15 and my family didn't reload.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

My uncle (mother's side) taught me and his four boys starting around 9 or 10. It started with watching and listening to stories while he puttered and worked magic. Then at some point it stopped being magic. I passed the "make a decent cup of coffee" test and then the puttering and stories turned into lessons and tasks.

Ray Holt, Sir Clive Sinclair, Jim Westwood and the two Steve's - Jobs and Wozniak - hadn't invented the personal computer yet so using electronic media was a non-starter.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I started with cap-and-ball revolvers back in the 1970's.
Extreme poverty (and the acquisition of auction and swap meet lots of reloading components, tools and books) led me to reloading, 20 years before that 'internet'... .

 

[bihj]

Myself using books.

AL Gore hadn't invented the internet.

 

[Targa]

I took it upon myself to learn reloading from books but I credit deciding to reload to the .44 spl/mag. I realized if I wanted to have a meaningful relationship with them I would need to find an alternative way to feed my firearms other than blowing the family fortune on factory ammo…

 

[drband]

Richard Lee had a hand in it

Same here, along with helpful posters on several forums.

 

[dannyd]

Guy I worked with in 1988, but I taught myself how to cast bullets.

 

[Ranger99]

A friend taught me to load , and the
charge for the lessons was an obligation
to show others, and pass the obligation
down the line.
I've never minded not receiving $$$
The safety aspect is satisfaction
enough. Just me- I'd never dream
of charging someone to mentor
them as far as loading.
He also showed me what a Contender
pees- tol was capable of in qualified
hands

 

[GRIZ22]

Taught myself in the 70s before internet.

I've never been into hot rodding calibers. If I need.more than a 357 I go to a 44 magnum. More than a 44 I'll use a rifle.

 

[Jeff62]

I started reloading shotgun shells in the 70’s. I read Phillip Sharpe and the Lyman manual cover to cover, over and over.
I’m still doing it.

 

[GW Staar]

RCBS, Speer, Sierra, Nosler.....and me because I could read their books.
Oh......and I should add NRA National Rifleman, and Handloader Magazines.

 

[Ru4real]

I was aware because my grandfather was handloading by the 1950’s, my dad by the 70’s.

When I started in the 1990’s I followed Speer, Hodgdon, Lyman reloading manuals to the T, along with RCBS die and press information. Worked everything up, measured case expansion, measured & questioned everything…

A month ago I bought new RCBS 45-90 dies. Never even looked at the instructions and had perfect 45-90 reloads in a couple hours. Funny how things become intuitive once a guy gets seasoned.

 

[tygranch]

I got talked into highpower in the early 90's. The enabler, um, friend also "encouraged" me to start hand loading. It really has been a great hobby I didn't know I needed. Bought an RCBS Rockchucker kit and added to it through the years. I now load for 20+ rifle cartridges and maybe a dozen pistol. That would be on a Dillon.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Richard Lee had a hand in it.

Myself using books.

AL Gore hadn't invented the internet.

Both of these pertain to me.

Nobody I knew reloaded. I can read, but if it wasn't for Richard Lee I could not have afforded even buying the tools.

Started with a set of Lee does; which come with instructions and data. And a scoop. I was all set - loaded thousands of rounds with just that and a hand press.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Noone in my family ever owned a gun.So a shooting buddy gave me the basics and I took the ball running 41 years ago.I was 16.

 

[gudaki]

I taught myself in the mid 70s. It's just a miracle I'm still around.

 

[sparkyv]

I resemble these remarks.

When I started hand loading I didn’t know anyone who loaded, and was left with no other alternative than to teach myself.

Richard Lee had a hand in it. As

Myself using books.

AL Gore hadn't invented the internet.

 

[red rick]

Lyman 49th mostly and YouTube .

 

[Electrod47]

I taught myself WITHOUT the internet Thank you......

 

[Mark_Mark]

A Ruger #1 7STW & a box of $80 ammo taught me to reload!

The RCBS kits was only $229 with rebate. Still use that sucker today.

 

[Mark_Mark]

But the High Road taught me I don’t know diddly Skwat!

 

[THEWELSHM]

I taught myself with books, other forum members and the internet. I figured I'm probably the only the Welshman, now American citizen that does lol. I learned on a progressive then a single stage, I use both and cast bullets. Therapy I call it..

Thewelshm