So you want to reload but you don’t know where to begin (??)

[Linkpimp]

Good gravy, helluva post. I've been mulling all this over in information overload for months now.

Good info and would make a nice sticky.

Thanks!

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Thank you.. hopefully this will help lay it out a little simpler for you??. I’m glad you found the thread helpful..

Have a great one and best of luck to you on your upcoming adventure into reloading.. The only down side is you’ll spend all your money on reloading supplies.. Hahahaha.. Good times..

Link..

As someone who is planning on getting into reloading I really appreciate you posting up this thread.
Thanks

Should definitely be a sticky.

Excellent this post was written in hopes of helping out the new guy, or at least providing you /them with enough information to build a strong foundation to work off of.. Best of luck to you sir..

Please remember the only stupid questions in reloading is the one not asked..

Link..

Thank you for your awesome contribution to the forum. My vote for a sticky.

You're more than welcome sir, I glad you enjoyed it / I could help..

Yes a sticky would be nice…. Mods???..

As is the norm for you, that was an excellent post. Thank you for taking the time to compile all that info as I will hopefully try my hand at "rolling my own" this year. This post covered alot of ground.

Thank you Bantee, you're too kind..
Yes… by all means sir you must try your hand at “rolling your own”….There is no greater feeling than being able to produce all of the (safe) ammunition you can ever shoot.. the key word of course being safe. As much information that I have presented here, it’s nothing in the overall picture of reloading.. Knowledge is power and Knowledge will keep you safe.. I strongly encourage everyone to read as much as then can then follow-up with team for confirmation. The one GREAT thing about reloader’s is we are a giving bunch of guys..

Have a great one sir and thanks again for the compliment and your time..

Link.

[Jer]

Great resource! I'm just starting on reloading and been doing lots of reading online and it's difficult to get info and you get it in bits here and there. Here is a great source of LOTs of information and I will start reading it starting this afternoon. Thanks for compiling it all!

[VaeVictis]

Thanks for the great post. I've been looking into reloading myself and this post really helps. +1 for sticky.

[762xIan]

I would say to the new reloaders out there looking to save money getting started, don't discount used equipment!

Used reloading equipment is usually a steal! Many of the gunshops near me carry used equipment for sale.

Some stuff you want new, but there is virtually no way you are going ruin a set of dies, or say an old cast iron RCBS rockchucker press. I have saved a bundle buying used equipment over the years.

Reloading is fun and can be very rewarding, as far as saving money......well, I shoot a lot more!

[nwcatman]

i was especially interested to read ur views on the PTX. i gave up using the ones i got w/my LNL progressive and went back to an expander die. now i know it's not just me that has a problem w/it. and ur right, the instructions that come w/the LNL really suk!! an engineer, not an end user, obviously wrote em. also, i gave up on using the electric case feeder loading .40 cal S&W. found out that neither tube supplied is the right size for that caliber. when i switch to .45acp i am really hoping that situation improves. several people on the net on loading sites have told me that they have the same problem w/the .40 case feeding properly. but, when i call hornady techs they are friendly and helpful. thanks for a great post!

[lwhazmat5]

I would say to the new reloaders out there looking to save money getting started, don't discount used equipment!

Used reloading equipment is usually a steal! Many of the gunshops near me carry used equipment for sale.

Some stuff you want new, but there is virtually no way you are going ruin a set of dies, or say an old cast iron RCBS rockchucker press. I have saved a bundle buying used equipment over the years.

Reloading is fun and can be very rewarding, as far as saving money......well, I shoot a lot more!

I was fortunate to learn/taught on an old RCBS Rockchucker. I feel it is important to learn on a single stage press all of the steps versus jumping onto a progressive press where 6 things happen at once. I still use a Rockchucker to load for a 308 and 22-250. However, I have 2 Dillon Machines that I use for pistol and the other for 223.

[seacoastnh]

Thanks to the initial poster for taking the time to put this thread together. Now I know where to start, I am going with the 650 with the case feeder, not the 1050. I plan to start with 45 ACP.

Couple of questions:

I am leaning toward ultrasonic cleaning of the cases. Specifically removing the used primer and cleaning the cases in the manner described here http://www.6mmbr.com/ultrasonic.html

I am going to use a larger ultrasonic cleaner. I don’t want to deal with the dust associated with the media.

Any thoughts or suggestions on ultrasonic cleaning?

I looked through the list of vendors linked above in hopes of finding components to match a particular load. I like the Georgia Arms 185 gr. Round Nose FMJ.

I can’t find a bullet manufacturer that sells 185 gr round nose full metal jacket bullets. The closest is berry’s plated bullets. I thought sierra, but it is not truly round nose and it is too expensive to make it worth reloading for my purposes.

I contacted Georgia Arms and was told they do not sell the bullets.

Any suggestions?

[chadbag]

I was fortunate to learn/taught on an old RCBS Rockchucker. I feel it is important to learn on a single stage press all of the steps versus jumping onto a progressive press where 6 things happen at once.

Waste of money. Start with the progressive and use it like a single stage to learn with... Just put one round in and treat it like a simple turret.

There is nothing you can learn on a single stage that you cannot learn on a progressive.

[Submariner]

Waste of money. Start with the progressive and use it like a single stage to learn with... Just put one round in and treat it like a simple turret.

There is nothing you can learn on a single stage that you cannot learn on a progressive.

Word!

My first (and only) press was/is a 550. I loaded one round at a time until I understood how to properly run it.

Buy once; cry once.

[nwcatman]

Thanks to the initial poster for taking the time to put this thread together. Now I know where to start, I am going with the 650 with the case feeder, not the 1050. I plan to start with 45 ACP.

Couple of questions:

I am leaning toward ultrasonic cleaning of the cases. Specifically removing the used primer and cleaning the cases in the manner described here http://www.6mmbr.com/ultrasonic.html

I am going to use a larger ultrasonic cleaner. I don’t want to deal with the dust associated with the media.

Any thoughts or suggestions on ultrasonic cleaning?

I looked through the list of vendors linked above in hopes of finding components to match a particular load. I like the Georgia Arms 185 gr. Round Nose FMJ.

I can’t find a bullet manufacturer that sells 185 gr round nose full metal jacket bullets. The closest is berry’s plated bullets. I thought sierra, but it is not truly round nose and it is too expensive to make it worth reloading for my purposes.

I contacted Georgia Arms and was told they do not sell the bullets.

Any suggestions?

+1 that ultra sonic is a waste. contact LASER-CAST fro OREGON TRAIL for ur bullets. hard as hell, can be loaded to jacketed specs.