Getting into reloading?

[AWS]

Oops! Forgot Powder Measures

Most are pretty much the same, and work with a rotating cylinder. I prefer ones with a micrometer adjustment, the ones with a sliding sleeve are a pain.  I have on my bench right now 2 Lyman 55's, a Hornady, a Redding, a Midway pistol. and a couple of no names.

[CAMPMEAT]

I had a friend come over and actually teach me how to reload and he told me to, read, read and read your manual. If in doubt, start over with your load. Get a rhythm too....

[splitshot]

  some good stuff here.  I just reread the entire thread.  mike w

[bobcat]

If you want to save money, you can use Lee powder dippers instead of a powder measure. That's all I've ever used in over 30 years, along with a trickler.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/943305/lee-improved-powder-measure-kit

[Biggerhammer]

As soon as you can, get a chronograph and learn to use it. It is invaluable to a expirienced handloader. It will tell you everything. Especially if you want to shoot distance but it will help dial you in for consistency no matter the distance and consistency is displayed in tight shooting loads.

[BigGoonTuna]

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I took a drive over to Cabela's yesterday and picked up a RCBS master kit for $300 with a $75 rebate   Just have to get some dies and components and I'll be on my way.

[Blacklab]

So it begins B.O.A.T................ 

[rudysts]

one of the most overlooked part of reloading is bumping the shoulder if done properly your brass will last a long time there are a few videos on youtube about this. you will also need bump gauges.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/479704/hornady-lock-n-load-headspace-gage-5-bushing-set-with-comparator

[b23]

one of the most overlooked part of reloading is bumping the shoulder if done properly your brass will last a long time there are a few videos on youtube about this. you will also need bump gauges.

This is very true as it IS often an overlooked stage. 

Oversize your brass, aka bump the shoulder back to far, and it'll lead to over worked brass and premature case/head seperation.  Not a good thing!

Undersize or don't bump the shoulder back far enough and you'll end up with brass that won't chamber in your gun.

Think of your brass as a pressure chamber and every little change in the pressure chamber either increases or decreases the pressure.  You want every piece of brass to be as near identical in size/dimension as possible but you also want it to just barely fit in your guns chamber without having to much extra room for the brass to expand.

Factory guns often have chambers that are a little on the loose side, compared to one cut by a gunsmith with a top quality reamer.  So it may take a 2-3 firings before your brass has expanded enough to fit your chamber, if you're reloading for a factory chambered gun.  This is why I don't bump the shoulder back until I get a piece that doesn't want to easily chamber.  If you start bumping the shoulder back before that you really don't know if you're oversizing it or not.

If you go with bump guage inserts, spend the money on a decent caliper.  Remember, you're measuring in the thousandts which is a VERY small measurement and cheap calipers can drive you nuts with inconsistent readings.  Digital calipers are great but I'd gladly take a top quality dial caliper to a marginal digital one any day.

www.larrywillis.com makes a headspace, aka shoulder bump, guage that works for a variety of calibers and shoulder angles, works great for measuring bullets too.  It's easy to use and even though a good caliper is something you'll want to eventually get, the cost of his headspace guage is less than what inserts and a caliper will cost you.

Also, I'd recommend buying one of the different reloading CD's that are out there.  Shawn Carlock w/Defensive Edge made one that explains things in a very user friendly way.

What brand or color equipement you buy matters little if you aren't putting it all to good use.  Do your research and take the time to always do things right.  I'll often ask the same question multiple times and when I start getting the same answer, consistently, that's usually the one I tend to go with.  It all may seem "Greek" to you at first and don't be surprised if it all gives you a headache.  We've all been there and it is a lot to understand at first but learning from your mistakes and knowing all the things NOT to do is just as important as having the right answer.  Get yourself one of those reloading CD's, I think it's a lot easier to learn stuff, especially if it's foreign to you, when you watch it as it's being explained versus just reading about it.

Also, don't get discouraged if the accuracy from your own loaded ammo isn't there right away.  It, often, takes many tweaks before a load gets dialed in and the more proficient you become as a reloader, typically, the faster you can dial in a new load.

[bobcat]

I know of the advantages of only partially resizing your brass, but I just always full length resize. It's simpler for me and I don't shoot that much anymore so using up the brass too quickly isn't an issue. And I still get great accuracy.

[b23]

I know of the advantages of only partially resizing your brass, but I just always full length resize. It's simpler for me and I don't shoot that much anymore so using up the brass too quickly isn't an issue. And I still get great accuracy.

I'm not a high volume shooter and I'm a little OCD, Ok, maybe a lot OCD so I vary well could be doing things that return minimal gains but I struggle with myself to do it any other way.  I've got a brand new 550 Dillon that sits at the end of my bench collecting dust because of it.

[HighlandLofts]

Just started reading this thread, some interesting stuff here. I'll have to come back to read it all.

I'm putting together what I need to reload, just about there. Every thing I have has been bought used except some powder I picked up.

Ebay is a good place to look for stuff. I just bought four reloading books on there, a lyman bullet puller, a Lee primer pocket tool and a few other things.

I bought two Pacific single stage presses and other accessories from members on here really reasonable.
One press came with a ton of 45acp brass.

I'll be useing mostly RCBS & Hornady dies. And I'll be loading handgun ammo for the most part to start with then rifle once I get it going.