I'm interested in being able to reload for myself. I'm not particularly interested in reloading plinking stuff. I'm much more interested in being able to load equal to or better than premium performance loads in 5.56 and .308. I don't expect to need to load in large quantity. What are the important considerations...equipment manufacturer? Are there grades of reloading equipment or is it simply a matter of being more or less convenient and fast? Can someone point me to a link to a website that adresses equipment considerations?
- Thread starter mlwjackson
- Start date
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
Go back up one level (Alt-back)
Click on all of the stickie items with the word "Hand loading" on them.
Everything you need to get started is up there.
Go back up one level (Alt-back)
Click on all of the stickie items with the word "Hand loading" on them.
Everything you need to get started is up there.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
+1_
+1_
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
do like i did (and i live on the internet).
spend about 2 months researching reading, buy the book recommended above, scan the various forums including this one.
make a list of the tools you will need to reload. i did an excel spread sheet. you probably will get more than one option for one tool type.
get the workflow process down in your head. how you will do it. some good vids on youtube.
make sure your tools and workflow match your goals. obviously if you want to reload 500 rounds an hour a single stage press isnt for you. but if you want to load precision then a single stage press is recommended. i ended up with a foster coax.
when your spreadsheet is finalized, start going to various vendors and pricing each component. add it up and see what it costs. place your order(s). include bullets probably at least. i could buy powder and primers locally but some of the better bullets i had to order.
i started with a 308. by the time i had my tools i had shot around 600 rounds of fgmm so i had brass to start with. i also bought some lapua.
like i said, i live on the net. i work out of my house and can literally spend hours researching stuff. and thats how i work. still it took me about two months from start to finish before i had everything i needed.
one last thing. i have discovered that as soon as you think you've found the gospel for a particular process or tool, you will find someone(s) totally contradicting it. there is no absolute right load for any given round or rifle. and start with low loads and work up.
do like i did (and i live on the internet).
spend about 2 months researching reading, buy the book recommended above, scan the various forums including this one.
make a list of the tools you will need to reload. i did an excel spread sheet. you probably will get more than one option for one tool type.
get the workflow process down in your head. how you will do it. some good vids on youtube.
make sure your tools and workflow match your goals. obviously if you want to reload 500 rounds an hour a single stage press isnt for you. but if you want to load precision then a single stage press is recommended. i ended up with a foster coax.
when your spreadsheet is finalized, start going to various vendors and pricing each component. add it up and see what it costs. place your order(s). include bullets probably at least. i could buy powder and primers locally but some of the better bullets i had to order.
i started with a 308. by the time i had my tools i had shot around 600 rounds of fgmm so i had brass to start with. i also bought some lapua.
like i said, i live on the net. i work out of my house and can literally spend hours researching stuff. and thats how i work. still it took me about two months from start to finish before i had everything i needed.
one last thing. i have discovered that as soon as you think you've found the gospel for a particular process or tool, you will find someone(s) totally contradicting it. there is no absolute right load for any given round or rifle. and start with low loads and work up.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mlw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm interested in being able to reload for myself. I'm not particularly interested in reloading plinking stuff. I'm much more interested in being able to load equal to or better than premium performance loads in 5.56 and .308. I don't expect to need to load in large quantity. What are the important considerations...equipment manufacturer? Are there grades of reloading equipment or is it simply a matter of being more or less convenient and fast? Can someone point me to a link to a website that adresses equipment considerations? </div></div>
So you don't really want much, you want to just skip ahead to building high precision rifle ammunition without any experience or bothering to know what you are doing and why.
Good luck with that.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mlw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm interested in being able to reload for myself. I'm not particularly interested in reloading plinking stuff. I'm much more interested in being able to load equal to or better than premium performance loads in 5.56 and .308. I don't expect to need to load in large quantity. What are the important considerations...equipment manufacturer? Are there grades of reloading equipment or is it simply a matter of being more or less convenient and fast? Can someone point me to a link to a website that adresses equipment considerations? </div></div>
So you don't really want much, you want to just skip ahead to building high precision rifle ammunition without any experience or bothering to know what you are doing and why.
Good luck with that.
M
milo 2.0
Guest
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YAOG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
So you don't really want much, you want to just skip ahead to building high precision rifle ammunition without any experience or bothering to know what you are doing and why.
Good luck with that.
</div></div>
I honestly don't know why a guy couldn't start out loading match grade ammo.
Buy qaulity quipment, new qaulity components, and go to town.
The best ace in the hole would be a friend who has the knowledge to help out in the jams. If not available, go to a gun forum to get 4 pages of useless drivel for 1 correct answer.
There has been some pretty good equipment buying lists on here in the last year, find these. Buy good stuff, doesn't have to be the most expensive, not the cheapest either.
I will concede, I had never heard the saying, "Buy once, cry once" before, totally makes sense when it comes to gun shit.
Nothing has ever been written to say a guy must pay his dues to load quality ammo. But you will hit some snags, this where a person needs to pay attention and learn.
And don't be a gadget whore, most specialty items aren't needed, nice yes, but not a necessity. So save your coin and buy more components, and shoot!
Some people have more money than brains, if you are one, buy all the good shit.
Let us know how things worked out.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YAOG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
So you don't really want much, you want to just skip ahead to building high precision rifle ammunition without any experience or bothering to know what you are doing and why.
Good luck with that.
</div></div>
I honestly don't know why a guy couldn't start out loading match grade ammo.
Buy qaulity quipment, new qaulity components, and go to town.
The best ace in the hole would be a friend who has the knowledge to help out in the jams. If not available, go to a gun forum to get 4 pages of useless drivel for 1 correct answer.
There has been some pretty good equipment buying lists on here in the last year, find these. Buy good stuff, doesn't have to be the most expensive, not the cheapest either.
I will concede, I had never heard the saying, "Buy once, cry once" before, totally makes sense when it comes to gun shit.
Nothing has ever been written to say a guy must pay his dues to load quality ammo. But you will hit some snags, this where a person needs to pay attention and learn.
And don't be a gadget whore, most specialty items aren't needed, nice yes, but not a necessity. So save your coin and buy more components, and shoot!
Some people have more money than brains, if you are one, buy all the good shit.
Let us know how things worked out.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: milo-2</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YAOG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
So you don't really want much, you want to just skip ahead to building high precision rifle ammunition without any experience or bothering to know what you are doing and why.
Good luck with that.
</div></div>
I honestly don't know why a guy couldn't start out loading match grade ammo.
Buy qaulity quipment, new qaulity components, and go to town.
The best ace in the hole would be a friend who has the knowledge to help out in the jams. If not available, go to a gun forum to get 4 pages of useless drivel for 1 correct answer.
There has been some pretty good equipment buying lists on here in the last year, find these. Buy good stuff, doesn't have to be the most expensive, not the cheapest either.
I will concede, I had never heard the saying, "Buy once, cry once" before, totally makes sense when it comes to gun shit.
Nothing has ever been written to say a guy must pay his dues to load quality ammo. But you will hit some snags, this where a person needs to pay attention and learn.
And don't be a gadget whore, most specialty items aren't needed, nice yes, but not a necessity. So save your coin and buy more components, and shoot!
Some people have more money than brains, if you are one, buy all the good shit.
Let us know how things worked out. </div></div>
I can see the point(s) in both of these responses, but I lean towards the learn to walk before learning to run concept. My first experiences with reloading were with .40 cal and .38 spl pistol rounds. Made plenty of rookie mistakes at that level, and learned from every one of them. Then moved on to reloading for my AR (5.56/223). As I gained more experience my tastes improved as well which eventually led me to this forum and long range/precision shooting.
To me, reloading and handloading are a journey and the ride is half the fun.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: milo-2</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YAOG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
So you don't really want much, you want to just skip ahead to building high precision rifle ammunition without any experience or bothering to know what you are doing and why.
Good luck with that.
</div></div>
I honestly don't know why a guy couldn't start out loading match grade ammo.
Buy qaulity quipment, new qaulity components, and go to town.
The best ace in the hole would be a friend who has the knowledge to help out in the jams. If not available, go to a gun forum to get 4 pages of useless drivel for 1 correct answer.
There has been some pretty good equipment buying lists on here in the last year, find these. Buy good stuff, doesn't have to be the most expensive, not the cheapest either.
I will concede, I had never heard the saying, "Buy once, cry once" before, totally makes sense when it comes to gun shit.
Nothing has ever been written to say a guy must pay his dues to load quality ammo. But you will hit some snags, this where a person needs to pay attention and learn.
And don't be a gadget whore, most specialty items aren't needed, nice yes, but not a necessity. So save your coin and buy more components, and shoot!
Some people have more money than brains, if you are one, buy all the good shit.
Let us know how things worked out. </div></div>
I can see the point(s) in both of these responses, but I lean towards the learn to walk before learning to run concept. My first experiences with reloading were with .40 cal and .38 spl pistol rounds. Made plenty of rookie mistakes at that level, and learned from every one of them. Then moved on to reloading for my AR (5.56/223). As I gained more experience my tastes improved as well which eventually led me to this forum and long range/precision shooting.
To me, reloading and handloading are a journey and the ride is half the fun.
M
milo 2.0
Guest
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JoeBUtah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
To me, reloading and handloading are a journey and the ride is half the fun.
</div></div>
I totally agree with you, I said he will have a few snags.
I've loaded for 27 years, sometimes it feels like every day is a new day.
I just re-barrelled a 7mm Saum, with a slightly smaller match grade reamer. let the games begin, the brass from before won't work. A trip to Chad Dixon's shop with 3 sizes of brass and gun. 2 self proclaimed reloading guru's, 2 gun builders, multiple tools, came to conclusion the throat needs more reaming, ok. Get back home, old brass still won't fit, to big down by the case head, fuckkkkk.
I resized over 500 cases yesterday to make them fit, hope the shoulder didn't get bumped too far.
And this is the 2nd time this has happened to me, the first being a 6.5x284. Watching my expensive Lapua and Norma brass get wasted was a tear jerker, shit canned the gun too.
I don't care how much experience a guy thinks he has, you are going to get kicked in the nuts at some point in time. It is all part of the ride, as you say.
Please,
Fuzz, Buzz, DisTurbo, don't bash me on this one.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JoeBUtah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
To me, reloading and handloading are a journey and the ride is half the fun.
</div></div>
I totally agree with you, I said he will have a few snags.
I've loaded for 27 years, sometimes it feels like every day is a new day.
I just re-barrelled a 7mm Saum, with a slightly smaller match grade reamer. let the games begin, the brass from before won't work. A trip to Chad Dixon's shop with 3 sizes of brass and gun. 2 self proclaimed reloading guru's, 2 gun builders, multiple tools, came to conclusion the throat needs more reaming, ok. Get back home, old brass still won't fit, to big down by the case head, fuckkkkk.
I resized over 500 cases yesterday to make them fit, hope the shoulder didn't get bumped too far.
And this is the 2nd time this has happened to me, the first being a 6.5x284. Watching my expensive Lapua and Norma brass get wasted was a tear jerker, shit canned the gun too.
I don't care how much experience a guy thinks he has, you are going to get kicked in the nuts at some point in time. It is all part of the ride, as you say.
Please,
Fuzz, Buzz, DisTurbo, don't bash me on this one.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
ha reloading a journey. For me its a means to an end.
to the op
buy a redding body die and redding s type neck bushing die. But whatever micro/match seater you want. Forster is a good way to go, you can send them the particular bullet you want to shoot and they will adjust the stem to match.
read the stickies.
ha reloading a journey. For me its a means to an end.
to the op
buy a redding body die and redding s type neck bushing die. But whatever micro/match seater you want. Forster is a good way to go, you can send them the particular bullet you want to shoot and they will adjust the stem to match.
read the stickies.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
One thing to consider is that its dangerous.
Are you a smoker?
Do you have little children?
Again, you will be dealing with gun powder.
I would first and most importantly consider safety issues.
Do you have a secure safe room to reload?
Ive never ever reloaded a shell in my life but am strongly
considering it. And these issues came to mind.
Im still not sure.......
One thing to consider is that its dangerous.
Are you a smoker?
Do you have little children?
Again, you will be dealing with gun powder.
I would first and most importantly consider safety issues.
Do you have a secure safe room to reload?
Ive never ever reloaded a shell in my life but am strongly
considering it. And these issues came to mind.
Im still not sure.......
M
milo 2.0
Guest
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: paulL01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One thing to consider is that its dangerous.
Are you a smoker?
Do you have little children?
Again, you will be dealing with gun powder.
I would first and most importantly consider safety issues.
Do you have a secure safe room to reload?
Ive never ever reloaded a shell in my life but am strongly
considering it. And these issues came to mind.
Im still not sure....... </div></div>
You are 100% correct.
You should not reload.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: paulL01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One thing to consider is that its dangerous.
Are you a smoker?
Do you have little children?
Again, you will be dealing with gun powder.
I would first and most importantly consider safety issues.
Do you have a secure safe room to reload?
Ive never ever reloaded a shell in my life but am strongly
considering it. And these issues came to mind.
Im still not sure....... </div></div>
You are 100% correct.
You should not reload.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
I have a cousin that can help me. That's one of the bigger
reasons I am considering it. Good luck man.
I have a cousin that can help me. That's one of the bigger
reasons I am considering it. Good luck man.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
Everyone else has offered reasonable advice on the question I asked...quality equipment. How about if you take their example and do the same. I don't expect run before walking but I know I can't do a craftsman's job with pot metal tools. I'm not interested in buying junk equipment from someone that went out and just bought whatever was in the first sporting goods store into which they walked. I don't want to be stuck with some of the crap you've probably got gathering dust in the closet from you 'walking' days. I'd rather buy a quality tool first and learn to get the most from it.
Everyone else has offered reasonable advice on the question I asked...quality equipment. How about if you take their example and do the same. I don't expect run before walking but I know I can't do a craftsman's job with pot metal tools. I'm not interested in buying junk equipment from someone that went out and just bought whatever was in the first sporting goods store into which they walked. I don't want to be stuck with some of the crap you've probably got gathering dust in the closet from you 'walking' days. I'd rather buy a quality tool first and learn to get the most from it.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mlw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm interested in being able to reload for myself. I'm not particularly interested in reloading plinking stuff. I'm much more interested in being able to load equal to or better than premium performance loads in 5.56 and .308. I don't expect to need to load in large quantity. What are the important considerations...equipment manufacturer? Are there grades of reloading equipment or is it simply a matter of being more or less convenient and fast? Can someone point me to a link to a website that adresses equipment considerations? </div></div>
I use mostly the cheapest equipment available, Lee, (except for an RCBS ChargeMaster) and my rounds are more accurate out of my rifle than FGMM.
There are likely benefits to using more expensive equipment, but it isn't at all necessary.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mlw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm interested in being able to reload for myself. I'm not particularly interested in reloading plinking stuff. I'm much more interested in being able to load equal to or better than premium performance loads in 5.56 and .308. I don't expect to need to load in large quantity. What are the important considerations...equipment manufacturer? Are there grades of reloading equipment or is it simply a matter of being more or less convenient and fast? Can someone point me to a link to a website that adresses equipment considerations? </div></div>
I use mostly the cheapest equipment available, Lee, (except for an RCBS ChargeMaster) and my rounds are more accurate out of my rifle than FGMM.
There are likely benefits to using more expensive equipment, but it isn't at all necessary.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
Sounds like it is more attention to detail from me and not so much the equipment. That being the case maybe durability is the question. Most of the presses I see look pretty indestructable. Is that the case? Looking back on getting into reloading is there one item you really regret not buying earlier in the process?
Sounds like it is more attention to detail from me and not so much the equipment. That being the case maybe durability is the question. Most of the presses I see look pretty indestructable. Is that the case? Looking back on getting into reloading is there one item you really regret not buying earlier in the process?
M
milo 2.0
Guest
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mlw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sounds like it is more attention to detail from me and not so much the equipment. That being the case maybe durability is the question. Most of the presses I see look pretty indestructable. Is that the case? Looking back on getting into reloading is there one item you really regret not buying earlier in the process? </div></div>
MLW,
I know you weren't asking me but, the Chargemaster.
Changed everything!!
I understand it is no Promethius Gen III, but highly functional none the less, get one.
Good Luck,
Miles
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mlw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sounds like it is more attention to detail from me and not so much the equipment. That being the case maybe durability is the question. Most of the presses I see look pretty indestructable. Is that the case? Looking back on getting into reloading is there one item you really regret not buying earlier in the process? </div></div>
MLW,
I know you weren't asking me but, the Chargemaster.
Changed everything!!
I understand it is no Promethius Gen III, but highly functional none the less, get one.
Good Luck,
Miles
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mlw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sounds like it is more attention to detail from me and not so much the equipment. That being the case maybe durability is the question. Most of the presses I see look pretty indestructable. Is that the case? Looking back on getting into reloading is there one item you really regret not buying earlier in the process? </div></div>
I only know the press that I have, but I can't imagine being able to break it.
I realized on day 1 that weighing charges was going to be my biggest complaint, and got the ChargeMaster pretty quickly. It really makes things easier.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mlw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sounds like it is more attention to detail from me and not so much the equipment. That being the case maybe durability is the question. Most of the presses I see look pretty indestructable. Is that the case? Looking back on getting into reloading is there one item you really regret not buying earlier in the process? </div></div>
I only know the press that I have, but I can't imagine being able to break it.
I realized on day 1 that weighing charges was going to be my biggest complaint, and got the ChargeMaster pretty quickly. It really makes things easier.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
I'll gladly take input from any experienced reloader. I've done the trading up game before with other things and what I have discovered was that the phrase,"you can always upgrade later" benefited the seller much more than me. Thanks for your thoughts.
I'll gladly take input from any experienced reloader. I've done the trading up game before with other things and what I have discovered was that the phrase,"you can always upgrade later" benefited the seller much more than me. Thanks for your thoughts.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
Thank you for the reply. It's good to see Milo-2 opinion confirmed.
Thank you for the reply. It's good to see Milo-2 opinion confirmed.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mlw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Everyone else has offered reasonable advice on the question I asked...quality equipment. How about if you take their example and do the same. I don't expect run before walking but I know I can't do a craftsman's job with pot metal tools. I'm not interested in buying junk equipment from someone that went out and just bought whatever was in the first sporting goods store into which they walked. I don't want to be stuck with some of the crap you've probably got gathering dust in the closet from you 'walking' days. I'd rather buy a quality tool first and learn to get the most from it. </div></div>
O.K. you asked for it. I was trying to see where you are in terms of outlook. If you are serious about learning to load precision ammunition for your rifles there is a lot of good stuff on the internet you can use. But a lot of it is based on old wives tales passed down from some guy who did not understand why he was doing what the other guy said he did to solve what looked like the same problem. A lot of the information on the internet is frequently just a little bit off causing people to go nuts trying to solve things that a better understanding of the basics would have prevented from ever happening.
About 90% of the problems I read about here are caused by not understanding the basics because the person with the problem did not bother to read, think, read, think, re-read, re-think to fully understand the manufacturer's directions any why they said to do it this way before doing or not doing what those directions said. This is the best advice I can give you, read and understand why you are going to do something before you do it and try it the way the maker of the tool said to use the tool before you improvise.
I've been reloading for well over 40 years. At the time I started there was no good way to learn how to reload except by finding someone who knew what they were doing, watching and picking their brain during the process. IMO with reloading among other things there is no substitute for experience and/or solid mechanical knowledge and process insight. Find a shooting group or club with similar interests and a bunch of reloaders in the group and seek them out. Ask for a day or two to watch and pick their brains while they are loading, be a good guest and bring food and beverages. Take notes on the process and understand you will make mistakes. But you can minimize mistakes and improve safety by keeping good notes of the process and following a checklist.
If you have the money to buy it twice you have the money to buy good stuff once. Buy the right tool to measure what you need to control. Many people buy tools and do not understand what the tool they bought does or measures and then cannot understand why they cannot build ammunition that measures to spec. using their tool. Often these are the same people who tell you to use smoke and mirrors to measure things. But smoke and mirrors only works if you fully understand what it is you are measuring and trying to achieve and why. Stick with measurement tools designed to measure what it is you need to control.
If you are a long time precision shooter that shoots at least a couple hundred rounds per month it will be worth it to buy better reloading equipment than if you shoot less or are new to precision shooting. Chances are you won't see a performance advantage from handloaded ammo unless you shoot enough rounds often enough to shoot at the limits of your equipment.
Regarding the process of controlling case dimensions and bullet seating the best way to know what you are doing is to measure before and after you perform your case or bullet operation. Many people here will tell you you don't need to be able to measure headspace or case shoulder datum line or distance to the lands or ogive height. And even if you want to make these measurement that you don't need to spend any money on good measurement tools to do because they say you can use smoke and mirrors. Many of these people are wrong and frequently wonder what went wrong and why their ammo won't shoot. There is no mystery here if they had simply measured first and measured after they could know with a very high degree of certainty what they did right and what they did wrong before they loaded all 500 cases the wrong way.
Set goals and understand what you want from your handloaded ammunition. But realize it will cost you more money than you think and you will not save any money or more importantly time by handloading your own ammo.
Buy books first. Read them and then read them again to fully understand the reloading process. Then ask questions from the people below.
Find experienced shooters / reloaders in your area and make friends. Set as many loading dates as it takes to learn the basics before you rush out and start buying stuff. If they tell you that smoke and mirrors work just fine thank them and find another person to guide you.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mlw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Everyone else has offered reasonable advice on the question I asked...quality equipment. How about if you take their example and do the same. I don't expect run before walking but I know I can't do a craftsman's job with pot metal tools. I'm not interested in buying junk equipment from someone that went out and just bought whatever was in the first sporting goods store into which they walked. I don't want to be stuck with some of the crap you've probably got gathering dust in the closet from you 'walking' days. I'd rather buy a quality tool first and learn to get the most from it. </div></div>
O.K. you asked for it. I was trying to see where you are in terms of outlook. If you are serious about learning to load precision ammunition for your rifles there is a lot of good stuff on the internet you can use. But a lot of it is based on old wives tales passed down from some guy who did not understand why he was doing what the other guy said he did to solve what looked like the same problem. A lot of the information on the internet is frequently just a little bit off causing people to go nuts trying to solve things that a better understanding of the basics would have prevented from ever happening.
About 90% of the problems I read about here are caused by not understanding the basics because the person with the problem did not bother to read, think, read, think, re-read, re-think to fully understand the manufacturer's directions any why they said to do it this way before doing or not doing what those directions said. This is the best advice I can give you, read and understand why you are going to do something before you do it and try it the way the maker of the tool said to use the tool before you improvise.
I've been reloading for well over 40 years. At the time I started there was no good way to learn how to reload except by finding someone who knew what they were doing, watching and picking their brain during the process. IMO with reloading among other things there is no substitute for experience and/or solid mechanical knowledge and process insight. Find a shooting group or club with similar interests and a bunch of reloaders in the group and seek them out. Ask for a day or two to watch and pick their brains while they are loading, be a good guest and bring food and beverages. Take notes on the process and understand you will make mistakes. But you can minimize mistakes and improve safety by keeping good notes of the process and following a checklist.
If you have the money to buy it twice you have the money to buy good stuff once. Buy the right tool to measure what you need to control. Many people buy tools and do not understand what the tool they bought does or measures and then cannot understand why they cannot build ammunition that measures to spec. using their tool. Often these are the same people who tell you to use smoke and mirrors to measure things. But smoke and mirrors only works if you fully understand what it is you are measuring and trying to achieve and why. Stick with measurement tools designed to measure what it is you need to control.
If you are a long time precision shooter that shoots at least a couple hundred rounds per month it will be worth it to buy better reloading equipment than if you shoot less or are new to precision shooting. Chances are you won't see a performance advantage from handloaded ammo unless you shoot enough rounds often enough to shoot at the limits of your equipment.
Regarding the process of controlling case dimensions and bullet seating the best way to know what you are doing is to measure before and after you perform your case or bullet operation. Many people here will tell you you don't need to be able to measure headspace or case shoulder datum line or distance to the lands or ogive height. And even if you want to make these measurement that you don't need to spend any money on good measurement tools to do because they say you can use smoke and mirrors. Many of these people are wrong and frequently wonder what went wrong and why their ammo won't shoot. There is no mystery here if they had simply measured first and measured after they could know with a very high degree of certainty what they did right and what they did wrong before they loaded all 500 cases the wrong way.
Set goals and understand what you want from your handloaded ammunition. But realize it will cost you more money than you think and you will not save any money or more importantly time by handloading your own ammo.
Buy books first. Read them and then read them again to fully understand the reloading process. Then ask questions from the people below.
Find experienced shooters / reloaders in your area and make friends. Set as many loading dates as it takes to learn the basics before you rush out and start buying stuff. If they tell you that smoke and mirrors work just fine thank them and find another person to guide you.
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
The most recent post (and several others...) reflect(s) my own views very accurately.
No matter how you say it, a quality press is a "do it right or don't do it at all" imperative. IMHO, The Dillon RL550B is my choice and my recommendation. Nossir, not cheap; but skimping money on the press is fool's economy.
"You can update later", true about all but the press. I occasionally buy an additonal set of dies to set up in another toolhead for another rifle. Dies are relatively affordable and it pays not not have to reset them back and forth for different firearms. This is my version of "update later".
I use basic two-die sets, usually RCBS. They do all I need a set of dies to do. The accuracy is in the manner of employment.
After several decades, I still us the Dillon powder measure. I will either run it progressively for semi's, or drop charges and check-weigh each one for bolt gun match applications.
If you like doing extra steps, do your load developement using them. I don't, and I don't. If a load can't tolerate a very basic approach, it's too finicky for my purposes.
For example, I usually develop my loads using standard primers, then try match primers as a last step. Often, there's not enough improvement to justify match primers.
There's more than just economy at work here. It's also about forcing charge selection/refinement so it's less sensitive to primer selection.
Yes, read and think, etc., etc. in the beginning; but also stop periodically afterward and weigh effort vs benefit for each thing you do, and each tool you add to the mix.
If you are like me, you'll eventually start to simplify, simplify, stop sweating the small stuff; and put your primary attention into doing it simplest, with first care to doing those fewer things with greater diligence.
Learn what counts and what doesn't, like recognizing that concentricity has to get fairly significantly "off" before it even begins to affect accuracy with the basic, more forgiving SAAMI chamber spec.
Things like that.
IMHO, yes, simplicity allows for some inaccuracy; but it's small, and not the horror some think..., in the longer run.
Greg
The most recent post (and several others...) reflect(s) my own views very accurately.
No matter how you say it, a quality press is a "do it right or don't do it at all" imperative. IMHO, The Dillon RL550B is my choice and my recommendation. Nossir, not cheap; but skimping money on the press is fool's economy.
"You can update later", true about all but the press. I occasionally buy an additonal set of dies to set up in another toolhead for another rifle. Dies are relatively affordable and it pays not not have to reset them back and forth for different firearms. This is my version of "update later".
I use basic two-die sets, usually RCBS. They do all I need a set of dies to do. The accuracy is in the manner of employment.
After several decades, I still us the Dillon powder measure. I will either run it progressively for semi's, or drop charges and check-weigh each one for bolt gun match applications.
If you like doing extra steps, do your load developement using them. I don't, and I don't. If a load can't tolerate a very basic approach, it's too finicky for my purposes.
For example, I usually develop my loads using standard primers, then try match primers as a last step. Often, there's not enough improvement to justify match primers.
There's more than just economy at work here. It's also about forcing charge selection/refinement so it's less sensitive to primer selection.
Yes, read and think, etc., etc. in the beginning; but also stop periodically afterward and weigh effort vs benefit for each thing you do, and each tool you add to the mix.
If you are like me, you'll eventually start to simplify, simplify, stop sweating the small stuff; and put your primary attention into doing it simplest, with first care to doing those fewer things with greater diligence.
Learn what counts and what doesn't, like recognizing that concentricity has to get fairly significantly "off" before it even begins to affect accuracy with the basic, more forgiving SAAMI chamber spec.
Things like that.
IMHO, yes, simplicity allows for some inaccuracy; but it's small, and not the horror some think..., in the longer run.
Greg
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
It takes a wide net. There are some factory rifles that won't improve with state of the art precision reloading tool and some accuracy numbers that require the best you can afford. Knowing what the objective is, is also beneficial. Then we get into the economy of reloading and I quit kidding myself years ago, handloading has never saved me a dime. But, I'm not a high volume shooter, a case can be made for reloading to save money if you shoot X number of thousand rounds per month or per year, but that applies to maybe 10% of all handloaders. (instantly made up statistic)
As somebody mentioned, it's basically handgun cartridges where the high volume and saving money may occur. For precision rifle, bench work, it's a hammer and arbor press and a retro operation and it's still the best, most accurate handloads that money can buy. Wide net. BB
It takes a wide net. There are some factory rifles that won't improve with state of the art precision reloading tool and some accuracy numbers that require the best you can afford. Knowing what the objective is, is also beneficial. Then we get into the economy of reloading and I quit kidding myself years ago, handloading has never saved me a dime. But, I'm not a high volume shooter, a case can be made for reloading to save money if you shoot X number of thousand rounds per month or per year, but that applies to maybe 10% of all handloaders. (instantly made up statistic)
As somebody mentioned, it's basically handgun cartridges where the high volume and saving money may occur. For precision rifle, bench work, it's a hammer and arbor press and a retro operation and it's still the best, most accurate handloads that money can buy. Wide net. BB
Re: Starting with almost zero knowledge
YAOG, Greg L, Buzz Boss915n and everyone else that have contributed thank you for you input. YAOG I could not agree more about learning from other peoples experience. I think the old phrase, "no need to reinvent the wheel" kind of paraphrases your commnets. I work a rather unusual schedule and am never at the club range when the really serious shooters are there. In fact most of the time I have to go I will have the range to myself or no more than 2 other shooters will be there. The trap range has even fewer shooters. As a result it's been kind of slow finding someone that appears to have the depth of knowledge to be something of a mentor. Sniper's hide has been very helpful in that regard.
YAOG, Greg L, Buzz Boss915n and everyone else that have contributed thank you for you input. YAOG I could not agree more about learning from other peoples experience. I think the old phrase, "no need to reinvent the wheel" kind of paraphrases your commnets. I work a rather unusual schedule and am never at the club range when the really serious shooters are there. In fact most of the time I have to go I will have the range to myself or no more than 2 other shooters will be there. The trap range has even fewer shooters. As a result it's been kind of slow finding someone that appears to have the depth of knowledge to be something of a mentor. Sniper's hide has been very helpful in that regard.
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