Beginning to Reload....first time...wish me luck!

dcloco

The shortened story....wife went to a garage sale...oh...9 years ago...picked up two huge boxes of reloading equipment for $65. She waited until I got home...with that "I got somethign really special that hubby is going to love" look on her face. Yes, it was a pleasant surprise....especially when I told her...."now I need to buy a shotgun"....hehe....Ended up trading it to the neighbor for his complete RCBS setup...straight across.

Now, living in western Nebraska, actively shooting again....and have decided to reload.

Starting with 44 mag, 223, & 6.5x55.

Will let you know how everything progesses.

Bought a tumbler last night...so all the brass is clean.

Any MUST DO's....and MUST DON'T?!?!?!

I have read everything, talked with a couple of very experienced reloaders. I am a meticulous & technically savvy type of guy.....but still open to advice.

deadeye46

Here's a couple rules I go by,don't load when in a hurry and don't load when tired.It only leads to problems,been there done that,my .02

Pinhead

First of all, if your not sure about something--don't. Err on the side of safety and don't procede until your have researched and are sure of what you are doing. Don't get in a hurry to load x number of rounds in x number of minutes. Speed doesn't count here, but correctness does. Do Not have more than one type of powder on the bench at a time. Well made firearms have been damaged as a result--not counting the injuries of course. Keep accurate records of the loading that you do and refer to manuals before starting even if you are fairly sure of the load you are going to use. Buy as many loading manuals as you can afford. Do not exceed the loads listed in the manuals, they have proven to be safe in the lab and therefore are better heeded than "secret" receipts provided by others. When using the manuals also be sure to keep the load exactly as listed(primer, powder, bullet, case manufacturer, and loading length should be adhered to as listed). Any deviation "can" change the pressure dramatically depending on case capacity, burning rate of the powder and even the hotness of the primer. Also, as chamber dimensions vary from one rifle to another, remember that the load that is safe in one rifle might generate high pressure in the next. This is not a complete list of the safety precautions but without writing a book, this will be a good start. Hope this helps, Jim

jimbowby

[8D]You'll get more advice than you can digest, so I'll give you one you probably haven't heard. When you take all you're RELOADS and firearms to the range and load-em-up-to shoot. If at ANY time all you hear is the PRIMER ignition---STOP---- Don't shoot again-pistol/rifle eject cartridge(safely),unload-and check Barrel for BULLET. Go from there[}:)][}:)][:p][:D]

I'm only wearing Black untill they make something darker

sandwarrior

Dcloco,

JimBowby is right!!! Primers will push a bullet halfway down the barrel...now let me add my experience to that. I was a senior then in H.S. I had that happen. There was still so much pressure behind the bullet in my dads .243 that when I opened the bolt and it jammed my thumb. I had a feeling the bullet didn't go out of the barrel. Sure enough, it was halfway down.
I took it to a guy who said he knew what he was doing (cop,...longtime shooter, etc.) He took his cleaning rod and promptly peened the bullet into the barrel. That .243 is now a rebarreled .257.
You can do one of two things if you come across this. Wait for pressure to release... remove the bolt, then take gun to gunsmith and he will put 1/4 charge or so in primed case and pop it out of there like a cork. Note: it may take him a couple of days to get to the range. Or, you can take along some powder and a primed case if such an instance occurs. Shake the powder to the back of the case before firing and viola...you now have a clear barrel. Warn others around what is going on and give them chance to "fight or take flight". But, by no means let anyone peen a bullet into your barrel....it's expensive.
P.S. The above is all true. The gunsmith(s) were my g' uncle Vern Mills and Skip Talbot. Anyone who shoots competition can ask him(Skip) if they don't believe it.


We have the second amendment so that all the rest are secure....UNK>

dcloco

Thanks for the feedback.

FrancF

Reload Books,Books and more Books! You will never have enough. Cross check and triple check everything. If you get stuck, ASK!!!!! [:D]

quote:I have read everything, talked with a couple of very experienced reloaders. I am a meticulous & technically savvy type of guy.....but still open to advice.
You will do fine.


NRA Life Endowment Member

bpost

the 6.5X55 is fun to load because the bullets are so long you don't get your fingers pinched when using the seating die [:)]. The .44 is fun because you have so many choices to play with. If you load lead bullets to 900-1000 FPS the recoil goes way down, you can shoot them all day. The .223 is a tack driver if loaded right. If you are using the .223's in an autoloader you may need SB (small based) dies. it helps with positive chambering.

GaBob

I agree totally with everything "Pinhead" said. I would add that I always use at least two loading manuals to check against each other. Don't need a typo causing problems.
Bob

Keep Your Powder Dry

The only criminal class that is native to the United States is congress.
MARK TWAIN

JustC

Don't stray from published loads until you are an accomplished and educated handloader, and you will be fine. Feel free to push the pills out closer to the lands ( I STRONGLY suggest you spend the minimal amount and get a sinclair OAL seating tool).

Watch for pressure signs,and know how to spot them. Educate yourself by reading material published by respected companies/persons.

Spend the time to set your dies up correctly. This may take an hour or more to get a set just right for your chamber and bullet. This pays off!!

Most of all,..enjoy it.

why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?