My first reloading experience

[alphabrace]

Hello,
I am pleased to announce that there are 6 more 38 specials in the world as of last night. Using Lee equipment I brought forth out of the dirt (used brass) boxes (primers and lead) and containers (W231) 6 reloaded 38 spls!
What I found out during the process: Need organization to area where you are doing the work because you'll have a lot of stuff laying around. With only a single stage press the cycle is long. Weighing out powder is tedious. The right amount of crimp is very subjective to the naked eye. Lastly I can't wait to load somemore!

[Rule3]

Welcome to the wonderful world of reloading! Go forth and produce more! You will shoot them faster than you make them.

Once you get a rhythm it goes much faster. Batch loading, do all your resizing(depriming) all your case flaring, priming, seating, crimp etc.

I was almost as fast on the Lee breech lock as with the Lee turret press. Taking my time it's around 100 rds per hour.

[flat top]

Congratulations!!! I remember my first reloading experience. A friend of mine who was a few years older than I had been reloading with his dad for quite some time. He helped me reload my first 45 ACP round, and when I pulled the trigger and sent that round downrange I just got a big smile on my face, and I was hooked...and have been doing it ever since! I have never bought a box of factory ammo (other than 12 Ga, and 22 lr's), and have never had an issue with anything I have reloaded in near 50 years of doing so. Its a great pastime, and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have!

[overl001]

That sounds fun. Something I've been wanting to get into for a long time now. I've been saving all my brass for several years, but haven't made the leap to purchase the reloading equipment and supplies yet. Mostly because I haven't researched it much and don't know what I need. I used to reload all my shotgun shells but haven't done that for years since I don't shoot them much anymore. Any tips, advice for a newbie to reloading? List of things needed, etc.

[44Steve]

Keep Records
Stay Undisturbed
Triple Check Powder loades (in cases)
Have Fun

[alphabrace]

Originally Posted by overl001

That sounds fun. Something I've been wanting to get into for a long time now. I've been saving all my brass for several years, but haven't made the leap to purchase the reloading equipment and supplies yet. Mostly because I haven't researched it much and don't know what I need. I used to reload all my shotgun shells but haven't done that for years since I don't shoot them much anymore. Any tips, advice for a newbie to reloading? List of things needed, etc.

I bought some of my stuff off of ebay at a good price for LIKE new.
Press (I choose a single stage to get started); Set of dies (Get Carbide!);
Powder (I choose Winchester 231 as it will load my 9, 40 and 38); Scale (I bought an inexpensive electronic scale for $30 but I can see I would like to have a better one); Reloading manual (I have a Speer); Bullets (I choose Hard Lead cast); Primers (Good luck with those, I am using CCI500 small pistol primers); Good lighting; Patience; Kindness (oops wrong message); a sound place to BOLT your press down to.
Thanks everyone for the encouragement by the way.