New Reloader

[Rambler42]

Well, after a lot of research I finally pulled the trigger (pun intended) and bought an RCBS single stage Partner press, and assorted reloading paraphernalia to go with it. First I loaded up several dummy rounds to make sure I knew what the different dies do, and I just finished loading up my first batch of live rounds, 25 .38 S&W’s with 2.7 grains of True blue and 158 grain lead round nose bullet. Tomorrow I’ll take them to the range and see if they go bang. I also shoot a lot of .38 Spcl and .357 and will be reloading for those too.

[robertrwalsh]

Nothing wrong with a single stage press. I have used a prehistoric RCBS for something like 40 years. It isn't real fast, but I find the process to be relaxing and therapeutic. Enjoy. (As a safety issue, make sure to have only ONE type of powder on your bench at one time, and double-check the powder measure to make sure it is really empty before putting in the powder. It can save you some grief down the road. Spoken from experience. Disassembly of a couple hundred rounds is a serious nuisance.)

[rwsmith]

Good luck and be safe.

[gwpercle]

Congratulations !
A fellow never forgets his "first" .
Mine was 50 rounds of 38 special , 150 gr. cast SWC , Lyman #358477 over 5 grains Unique . That was 50 years ago (1967) and today I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday...but I can still remember my "first" handloads .

Don't be nervous when shooting them , if you did it right they will be just fine ... Have fun !

I still use a single stage press , no awards are given for speed loading but unsafe practices will get you an unpleasant surprise ... load safe not fast .
Gary

[Ivan the Butcher]

My first were: 303 British using a Lee Loader, sitting on the basement floor, Hammering them together.

A quality single stage press (along the lines of yours) will be found on the loading bench of every serious reloader. My F-I-L is an exception, He only has two Dillon 1050's and only loads 38 special and 45 ACP. He's not really a serious reloader: HE IS a serious shooter!

Ivan

[stansdds]

I learned reloading on a single stage press, it was a Lee Challenger, which is an O-frame press. I still have it and occasionally use it for things like de-priming. Take your time, be patient, and you will be rewarded with ammo that is at least as accurate as factory ammo and less expensive than factory ammo.

By the way, if your experience is like mine, reloading will not actually save you any money. You just end up shooting more ammo every time you go to the range.

[Sevens]

My first was 1989, Lee Challenger press, .38 Special in Federal brass with Speer 158gr swaged lead round nose bullets over a dipper full of Hercules Green Dot and a CCI-500 small pistol primer, launched from my 6-inch S&W 686-3 at the dirt berm a full 100 yards down range.

Success!

[Tex1001]

Important tips:
DO NOT try to amortize equipment cost or try some kind of cost analysis on finished rounds. It's just not worth the effort.
Stockpile components.
Upgrade/replace equipment when you see a need.

I was taught reloading on an old ECHO C-type press 53 years ago by an old, old friend. When he died, his widow sold me his equipment for a pittance.
I told all of my friends to save their empty brass. When I would later give them a couple of boxes of reloads for free, they would look at me as though I was magic.

The knowledge that I wouldn't be even slightly affected if all ammo sales were stopped tomorrow is very satisfying.

[prairieviper]

As robertwalsh already mentioned, I also reload on a Lyman press from the days that dinosaurs walked the earth and consider it relaxing and fun. I shoot a lot of competition and practice but I am satisfied with the reloading equipment that I have and don't have any cravings for a progressive.

[The Norseman]

Thank you for Sharing your Story and your Progress.
Keep Researching like your doing and don't be afraid on asking
questions.

I started simple and have stayed simple since about 1981.

The Best to you and your Endeavors. Think Safety.

[LoboGunLeather]

Welcome to the crowd! Personally, I have found that rolling my own ammo is every bit as interesting and involving as the shooting part.

Enjoy!

[deputydon]

2 - Lyman Turret presses. One for .38/.357 & one for .44spl/.44mag.
1 -Orange Crusher for Rifle
2 - Lyman Spartan C presses for all others. One in use & one spare.

Progressive presses scare me.

I have been loading since 1972 and am a believer in loading blocks & #55 Lyman powder measures. I visually check each case after dropping powder prior to seating bullets. All cases are cleaned & deprimed after shooting. I then use a batch method with hand priming,case belling, powder dump,visual check, seating bullet, and wipe before boxing.

I, like others find reloading relaxing & satisfying. From time to time I have considered progressives but the only gain would be faster production. In addition I know of several instances where folks have had very unpleasant things occur using progressives. At my age speed is not as important as avoiding unpleasant happenings.

-don

[Rambler42]

Originally Posted by Rambler42

Well, after a lot of research I finally pulled the trigger (pun intended) and bought an RCBS single stage Partner press, and assorted reloading paraphernalia to go with it. First I loaded up several dummy rounds to make sure I knew what the different dies do, and I just finished loading up my first batch of live rounds, 25 .38 S&W’s with 2.7 grains of True blue and 158 grain lead round nose bullet. Tomorrow I’ll take them to the range and see if they go bang. I also shoot a lot of .38 Spcl and .357 and will be reloading for those too.

Just back from the range and they all did go bang as expected. The accuracy was quite good too if I do say so myself. These were at 10 yards with a .38 Double Action Perfected. This may seem a little mundane to you that been reloading for years, but I am quite pleased with this first experience.

[lrrifleman]

Great results! As you gain experience, you will learn little tricks to improve the performance of your reloads!

I started reloading 45ACP with a Lee tool in 1977, and quickly moved into an RCBS Junior. I eventually moved into a Dillon 550B, but I still use that RCBS for precision rifle ammo!

My strongest recommendation is to forget what you paid for your reloading equipment, and focus only on the cost of components when you try to calculate the cost of your reloads and determine what you are saving!

I am now casting my own bullets, and that has reduced my ammo costs radically. I can now do a box of 38 Special Wadcutters for about $0.80, 38Special SWC for about $0.85, and 45ACP SWC for just under a dollar. The nice point about reloading is that you can tailor your ammo to your firearms.

BTW, my reloading equipment probably paid for itself around 1992, after I had been reloading for about 15 years.

[The Norseman]

I like! Thank you for Sharing and the Target.

[DWalt]

Like many new reloaders at the time, I started with the old Lee Loader (.44 Mag, .30-'06, and 12 Gauge) back in the early 1960s. Cheap and very slow, but they worked. I gradually increased the number of Lee Loaders in a few other calibers, then graduated to a Lyman Tru-Line Jr. press, actually not a bad tool. I still have it but haven't used it for years. I still use two single-stage presses (Lyman and RCBS) for most rifle calibers, and a Posness-Warren MetalMatic for handgun. And I still have an old Lyman Tong Tool I use for .45-70. Other than the dippers for the old Lee Loaders, I have always used the Lyman 55 powder measure, actually I have two of them, never had a need for anything better. I won't get into my shotshell loaders, as that's a different topic. And I haven't used them for years as there is no longer a good economic reason to load shotshells today because the cost of lead shot has increased so much.

I have never been interested in casting my own lead bullets, always seemed to be more work involved than I wanted to do. I'd rather buy them from someone else (in my case, mainly from Missouri Bullet Co. or at gun shows).

[gwpercle]

Mundane ? ...Hardly , more like Freaking Awesome !!!

Well done , keep on doing what you're doing !
Gary