Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: scoyoc5 on February 19, 2010, 03:47:50 PM

Title: reloading manual
Post by: scoyoc5 on February 19, 2010, 03:47:50 PM: Well figured the best way to start the process of learning to reload was to buy a couple books on the subject. so went onto amazon and picked 2..ABC's Of Reloading: The Definitive Guide For Novice To Expert and Hornady Reloading Handbook 7th Edition. I don't have any equipment yet but I think I have my mind made up on a Hornady press
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: AWS on February 19, 2010, 04:02:43 PM: You might want to take a look at this one.

http://www.grafs.com/product/294977 (http://www.grafs.com/product/294977)

AWS
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 19, 2010, 05:00:37 PM: always good to do some home work before you start and you are on the right track.
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: Jamieb on February 19, 2010, 09:33:49 PM: Any more I get more load data from the powder company websites. The one manual that I do use alot is the speer book and I dont load many speer bullets. I use the speer book for the cartridge drawings, max, and trim to case length.
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 19, 2010, 10:18:33 PM: i agree my no 13 is my main go to. but 90% of my info comes from the net via powder company's
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: cwuwildcat on February 19, 2010, 10:49:36 PM: So to clarify, you don't have to be exact in matching your bullet to the load #'s in the bullet manufactors own books? It's ok to use the more generic info from the powder co.? I'm asking because I'm new to handloading and have speer and lyman books, but have Hornady and Nosler bullets ready to go. I was thinking of picking up a Hornady book tomorrow, but I'm going to be using IMR powder so could use their load info instead. I can rely on the IMR websites #'s for my grain and shape of bullet, even though their grains may not be the same as what the Hornady or Nosler book may say?
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: Jamieb on February 19, 2010, 11:00:59 PM: Starting out, stick with data for the bullet your useing.
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: Jamieb on February 19, 2010, 11:13:51 PM: Diffrent bullets from diffrent companies are shaped diffrent, the length, shape , and bearing surface.
The best thing to do is find printed data with the bullet/powder/primer/brass combo your going to use.
After you've been at it a while, get more comfortable experimenting. and know the rifle your working with. then you will be able to make test loads, useing data from a few soarss but none with the exact componants you have.
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: Wacenturion on February 20, 2010, 08:59:02 AM: Might want to consider getting the Hornady Classic Kit @ like $349, which comes with additional stuff you'll need........and take advantage of the promotion for 500 free bullets....or in dollar terms at least $120 in bullets when you figure in the tax. Get a Cabelas code from someone for $40 off $300 or more and you reduce the cost down again. There's a new Cabelas coupon out now.

When you decide to buy your die sets, you get another free 100 bullets for each. Pretty hard to beat when you figure those free components in. Here's a link to the promotion...........

http://www.hornady.com/promotions/get-loaded (http://www.hornady.com/promotions/get-loaded)
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: cwuwildcat on February 20, 2010, 09:14:38 AM: I've got a $75 off $500 at cabelas, that expires on march 10th if you go that way. I've already used the $40 off. It will not be hard to get to $500 when you add the cost of dies and extra goodies to the kit.
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: Jerbear on February 21, 2010, 07:19:22 PM: I disagree on using the reloading manual from the company that makes the bullet. I have and old Herter's manual, and an old N.R.A. manual. They both list the weight of the bullet and then list the powders and the charge for that powder. Hodgdon powder lists loads on the front of the containers the same way. Go to the powder company charts. They do a good job.
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: B.G.hunter on February 21, 2010, 08:09:03 PM: i also like the speer #13 for most of my loads but there is a fair amount of data from the powder companies for free. i would suggest to look at the lee reloading press and kits i like them as good as the hornady or rcbs but for about half the price. my favorite press is the lee cast turret press. :twocents:
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: Huntbear on February 21, 2010, 08:55:05 PM: I personally, have as many manuals for reference as possible. I have old ones, and new ones. From ALL the manufacturers. I also print off the Powder companies data off the internet. I really believe in cross referencing everything, especially working up new loads, or approaching max loads.
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: high country on February 21, 2010, 09:02:59 PM: Quote from: Jerbear on February 21, 2010, 07:19:22 PM
I disagree on using the reloading manual from the company that makes the bullet. I have and old Herter's manual, and an old N.R.A. manual. They both list the weight of the bullet and then list the powders and the charge for that powder. Hodgdon powder lists loads on the front of the containers the same way. Go to the powder company charts. They do a good job.

the thing you have to realize on the bullets is that all bullets "slug up" in the bore. barnes xlc's need a lot more then a speer hot cor to do so. using mismatched info can be dangerous. you might get lucky with retumbo and blow chit up with unique. take all data from mfrs and cross ref it. lee used to say one of their powder scoops in the lee loader for my 300roy was safe. it sure sucked having to hammer that bolt open with a mallet. I use bullet mfr's info first and powder mfr's info only if it lists specific bullets, other wise start light (with appropriate powder, some need to be pretty close to max) and work up measuring case expansion. don't wait for flat primers and head shines.
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: Intruder on February 23, 2010, 02:58:26 PM: Quote from: scoyoc5 on February 19, 2010, 03:47:50 PM
Well figured the best way to start the process of learning to reload was to buy a couple books on the subject. so went onto amazon and picked 2..ABC's Of Reloading: The Definitive Guide For Novice To Expert and Hornady Reloading Handbook 7th Edition. I don't have any equipment yet but I think I have my mind made up on a Hornady press

Sounds like you're on the right track. Hornady makes a good press and their bushing system is pretty handy. Having said that.... there are a bunch of good presses out there.
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: MtnMuley on February 23, 2010, 03:07:35 PM: The only thing I would add, is get a feel from other reloaders you know or people on this site, before you purchase any equipment. There are a lot of very knowledgible guys on here that have a lot of experience and could point in the right direction on the things to buy. Personally, I would highly recommend the rock chuckar press from RCBS or even the kit for a beginner. They work very well and most any store that has reloading stuff would have surely have dies and components that go with it.
Title: Re: reloading manual
Post by: cwuwildcat on February 23, 2010, 07:58:06 PM: MtnMuley is correct, every store that sells reloading has one or two brands they carry. Always one of them is RCBS. On my quest for reloading gear, I looked at wholesale sports, sportco, Cabelas, Welchers, etc. some had lee, some had Hornady or Dillon, but they all had RCBS. Easy to get stuff if your missing something, loose it or break it. From what I can can tell, it's hard to break RCBS. Ultimately, get what you want. The dies should be interchangeable, and you're the one doing the work, so you should have the tool you are comfortable with.

I just started into reloading myself. The first book I purchased was the ABC's, and I'm glad I did. It's less of a take this bullet with this powder, primer and brass kind of book, and more of a how and why. I'm up to 4 other books now. Each one seems to have a nugget of info the others don't have. Plus, I'd rather spend a few dollars more on reloading books, and a few dollars less on insurance copays by blowing off a random body part by doing the wrong load!