I am fairly new to handguns & shooting. (March of this year).
But REALLY new to reloading!
I loaded my first 100rds on a friends equipment last night!!
I think I hooked.

Not only will I save a bunch of cash, but it is quite rewarding to punch a hole in a target with your own creation!
I can see this developing into a hobby itself!

Just wanted to warn you guys!
***STUPID QUESTIONS & MISS USE OF TERMS MAY FOLLOW***

Just please extend me a bit a patience, I'll try not to bug you to much!

PS - I can see handguns & reloading being listed as a contributing factor in a divorce if that ever happened!

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~ "JJ"

If I can give you one bit of advice, get yourself a good reloading manual (Speer, Sierra, Lyman, Hornady etc.) and read ALL the material in the front of the book. Then read it again.

And learn to keep good records.

If you love to shoot it's the only way to go.

"Save a bunch of cash". Heh, I said that once too.

You don't really save that much unless you value your time a zero.

But it is still a bunch of fun and I am able to produce more for a given dollar assuming I put the above valuation on my time.

Yes, thank goodness we don"t have to pay for our labor!!

I consider myself very blessed.
The friend who introduced me to handguns also has been reloading for 30+yrs.
He is teaching me his techniques.

He is very thorough with his procedures.
With both older and newer reference books & checking the log book, he makes sure before he runs a load.
He keeps a detailed log of all loads & comes back and makes reports on loads after firing.

He is letting me use his press & equipment & until I feel comfortable supervise my loads!.
I just buy my own parts & save my brass.

__________________
~ "JJ"

Welcome and there is no such thing as a stupid question. Everyone has been there at one time or another and there is always something new to learn. Better to ask and not make a mistake than the other way around. Good that you have a experienced person to guide you, that will help a lot!.

JJ, I started like you. I was trained by guys who had been at it 30 years or more.

And my first reloads were for my 629 Classic so my love of reloading and S&W sort of go hand in hand.

Congrats and welcome to yet another shooting sickness! It is a ton of fun and very addictive. A quick word of advice if I may? Even though your friend has been loading for years, we all get stuck in our ways...as mentioned in excellent advice above, get manuals, as many as you can find and read the first chapters as there is a lot of "Why it does what it does" info to learn, read and see in there.

This is an excellent forum and the years of experience and advice is fantastic. Remember that the load that works great in your friends gun because "he developed it and you should use it" isn't always true. Every gun shoots the exact same load differently. Load in small groups of 3 or 5 rounds starting at the low end of data and work your way up, putting them on paper. Find which charge works best for YOUR gun and you will really come alive at the range.

I load 28 calibers, if I can offer any advice, please email! Good luck to you!

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The gene pool needs Chlorine!

Thanks for the welcome, info & understanding! Great advice guys. I will try to read everything I can get my hands on. WOW!! 28 calibers!! Thats all of them ain't it?

__________________
~ "JJ"

I said it was a sickness, didn't I? LMAO! I was a cop for a lot of years and also worked in a local shop specializing in reloading for 15 years.

__________________
The gene pool needs Chlorine!

You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

You will save no money. You will just shoot a LOT more.

If SWMBO ever found out just how much $$$ was stashed under the bench...in the powder locker...my primer box...etc etc etc...

That's great. The internet is a great source of information but nothing like having a mentor who can eyeball your work in RL.