Going to start hand loading, need help

[h20hunter]

I've been meaning to put this out there......as you begin take a little pride in simply making rounds that work. When you hit the magic formula for a gun great, but don't think rounds that didn't group are "bad". Anything you load that functions properly and safely is a good thing. When I dove a lot I said any dive you start and finished as planned is a good dive. Enjoy the process, learn the quirks as you go, take your time, when something is totally frustrating you it is likely a very very simple thing to correct. Ask every question you think is to dumb to ask. Be safe and enjoy the process.

[zwickeyman]

Thanks all for the input and info

[W_Ellison2011]

I've been meaning to put this out there......as you begin take a little pride in simply making rounds that work. When you hit the magic formula for a gun great, but don't think rounds that didn't group are "bad". Anything you load that functions properly and safely is a good thing. When I dove a lot I said any dive you start and finished as planned is a good dive. Enjoy the process, learn the quirks as you go, take your time, when something is totally frustrating you it is likely a very very simple thing to correct. Ask every question you think is to dumb to ask. Be safe and enjoy the process.

I look at loading kind of like I do hunting! You might see an animal but not be able to get a shot. Loading you might find a load that goes bang but doesn't group the way you want. That's how things go though. Really loading for me is relaxing. Its therapeutic. H20hunter hit it on right on the head btw. When starting out, anything that functions correctly is a good thing. Ohh and when you go to shoot your loads. Be sure to bring your cleaning rod along! Just in case you forget powder in a round and the cap pushes the bullet into the barrel. Doesn't happen all the time but even the most senior reloaders have it happen from time to time.

[JeffRaines]

Another couple tips...

I always keep my powders in a separate room from my loading stuff, and I unload the powder thrower directly after I'm done. That way, theres no question of what powder is in the thrower... I just look on the bench to be sure. With that said, I always double check my work. I'm constantly looking to make sure that I'm set at the correct weight that I intend for it to be set at.

If you can afford a nice automatic powder thrower, or even a nice electronic scale, I'm sure its great... if you can't, I wouldn't use anything other than a balance beam. Those cheap battery powered scales that come with a lot of the kits are trash.

As some other folks have mentioned, you don't need a progressive press to reload for something like 300 mag. Until you find a load that it likes, you're going to be making small runs.

[W_Ellison2011]

All I use is the balance beam scales and it doesn't take long. If he gets the electric powder throwers he will still want the balance beam scale and trickler. My buddy spent $200+ on an electric and its always low by about .3 grains. Another buddy spent like $300+ on an electric and even the more expensive one is off by .1-.2 grains. It doesn't sound like much but when you really get into loading and further down the road loading more for precision that can be the difference between a 5 round group being sub moa and it being moa. You will learn all about that as you progress and learn from the guys who want to teach you.

[Magnum_Willys]

Use a powder thrower to dump into beam scale tray and finger trickle last .1 - .2 grains.  Quick and exact.

[W_Ellison2011]

Use a powder thrower to dump into beam scale tray and finger trickle last .1 - .2 grains.  Quick and exact.

That's exactly what we are doing now! Its super fast compared to scooping!

[jasnt]

Use a powder thrower to dump into beam scale tray and finger trickle last .1 - .2 grains.  Quick and exact.

That's exactly what we are doing now! Its super fast compared to scooping!

same here. Nothing electronic in my setup but the light and my rcbs case prep station to save my hands and wrists

[h20hunter]

I have the rcbs power dispenser....love it.

[Fl0und3rz]

Use a powder thrower to dump into beam scale tray and finger trickle last .1 - .2 grains.  Quick and exact.

That's exactly what we are doing now! Its super fast compared to scooping!

The Lee Dippers are even faster and don't cut grains of the extruded powders.

For those not aware, they are scoops calibrated to and cross-referenced to powder type and charge weight.

I'd say that once I get going, I probably get 30-50% scoops right on the money or close to the mark.  With practice, you can tap the final few grains onto the pan up to the charge weight.

[kselkhunter]

I was in your spot a little over a year ago.  I had reloaded in my younger years but it had been a couple decades since.  I put an ad on this website looking to buy used reloading equipment to get started, and some very kind members of this site sold me the various items at a reasonable cost for used gear.   Much lower cost of entry going the used route.

I find reloading therapeutic.   I put one hand-primed brass in my reloading tray at a time, use the Lee powder measure dippers to load my balance beam scale for each charge and verify each weight, pour each charge into the single case in my tray, then move the case to the press and seat the bullet in the single stage press.  One at a time.  Eliminates risk of a double charge, and makes for accuracy in powder measurement.  And bizarrely therapeutic for me...I enjoy it.   

Granted my setup is very basic and I'm not pushing velocity to pressure limits or eeking out every last bit of accuracy in the guns I reload for at this time.   I'm only reloading a few calibers for now, about 100 pistol rounds per month and maybe 40 rifle rounds per month.   This setup works fine for that. 

[zwickeyman]

kselkhunter

That is very much how I see myself reloading. I might be a little anal on the accuracy though