Message To New or Potential Reloaders

[H Richard]

The room is 11 X 21, and has work bench's in a "U" shape wrapped around 2/3's of the interior. The other side is my clean/repair side. In the corner is a poured concrete 4'X7' walk in vault, and next to that is shelving to hold all the gun cases etc. I spend a fair amount of time in there. Just outside is my small work shop, 8'X 18' with my drill press, compound miter saw, scroll saw, belt sander, and grinder/polisher. I did add an air compressor with nail & staple guns as well as a "blower" for when I am cleaning out a guns internals. Just outside and as a part of the workshop is my 10 meter airgun range. I've competed in international air pistol postal match's for several years. Got to keep busy when you retire.

 

[oberon]

or those contemplating doing it

I only wish I'd started sooner.

Apart from the economics, I'm finding it to be relaxing, interesting, mentally challenging, and kind of "renewing".

And, of course, with the instability in the ammo market, it's quietly reassuring when I see the boxes of loaded ammo begin to stack up.

No better time than now to start!

Best advice you can give a shooter.
I bought a Lee handloader the same week I bought my first revolver. In ~'72. Never looked back. Made the appropriate improvements in the technology shortly thereafter.
I have been a reloadin' fool ever scince.
Good thread.


[

 

[Mikey217]

I'm on board. Something enjoyable to do while the wife worries about who 'the bachelorette' is going to send home. I am happy in the garage making good ammo and I even get points for giving the TV remote to her.
You know you're doing well when your buddies want to trade their store-bought ammo for your home-made.

Haha! With my wife it's the Housewives of Wherever... Whenever those come on, that's my cue to head to the garage to get some reloading done.

I've been doing it for about 9 months - 9mm and .40 S&W. I started with the Lee Classic and moved up to the Classic Turret.

I really love the way you can customize bullets for a specific gun! You don't get that with factory ammo. I have a M&P 40c and a Walther PPQ 40. Recently I've been playing with the COAL, making the rounds a little longer to decrease the pressure a bit. My goal is to get 9mm-like recoil in the .40 for IDPA shooting.

 

[fyimo]

The level of equipment and the type of press that you get is dependent upon the money you have to spend and the amount of time that you allocate to reloading. If you shoot regularly and reload your ammo then you will buy the equipment that you need to meet the ammo requirements that you need for shooting.

That said, there is nothing wrong with starting with a single stage press now and learning the process and then moving up to a multi stage press in the future.

 

[gwpercle]

I want to join the club of re-loaders just not possible right now. I have wanted to start since I got my first gun 2 years ago. Seems like every time I plan to something comes up that stops me.

Take a look at the Lee Hand Press. For the price it can't be beat to get started in reloading. I have 2 bench mounted presses in a garage but found the hand press so useful that I now have 2 Hand Presses and do a lot of reloading inside the house...air conditiong and heat is nice in Louisiana.
gary

 

[TheTinMan]

I got a progressive press recently for handgun rounds, but for me the most satisfying aspect of reloading is hand loading for a specific rifle. When you finally dial in the specs for YOUR rifle and can get 1 MOA groups or better at 100 yards, that is the best.

 

[rwsmith]

Which book?

Which book should I read for starters?

I started many years ago with the Speer manual because besides having good data there are very detailed sections on 'how to'.

 

[udchemist]

Random question - considering getting into reloading but not sure where to buy supplies. I have access to a Lee reloader. Need dies - does it matter what brand they are? Also, what type of primers should I pick up for 9mm and where is a good place online to find them? Thanks in advance!

 

[blujax01]

Random question - considering getting into reloading but not sure where to buy supplies. I have access to a Lee reloader. Need dies - does it matter what brand they are? Also, what type of primers should I pick up for 9mm and where is a good place online to find them? Thanks in advance!

Any brand of die should fit your Lee. Can't help you with on-line vendors but if UD = Dayton get up to Ashland (I70 - I270-I71 exit 186) to a place called Fin Feather and Fur. I know it's a haul (2-1/2 HRS) but their reloading equipment and supply showroom is larger than most gun stores.

 

[oldman10mm]

^^^ Fin Fur Feather Ashland is incredible !

My area,started in mid 70s'.

Also have 'stuff' for 17Rem,243Win,6mm Rem,30-06,44spec & mag.

 

[Bohonkie]

Good for you! I've been handloading for about 46 years and have been teaching it for 12 (NRA certified). I work part time for a sporting goods store and teach classes in basic and advanced. You will learn, and appreciate, more about your guns, ballistics, and performance than you ever thought possible. As others have said, next will be casting. Then, if you're lucky, you might even get into black powder handloading!
Congratulations!

 

[denrain]

denrain

Reloading components are now hard to find here in Southern Calif. Stores are out of powder and primers and I was told yesterday even presses are disappearing. Factory loads in popular calibers are unavailable now.

 

[SatCong]

My set up isn't as nice that I some of you have, but it is my little room. Been reloading from 1972.I don't know if I shoot to reload or reload to shoot.

 

[Muddyboot]

If a numbskull like me can reload, you can too. I was forced into reloading because of my obsession with .41 Long Colt Army Specials. Like many others here, I wish I had stated sooner. Besides the .41 Long Colt, I now reload.38 Special, .44 Special and Magnum, 357 Magnum and 30 carbine. I have dies for several other calibers for future relaoding plans. So quit fooling around and get to it.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Got to love all the pictures of all the reloading rooms and all the different types of equipment and all the "Goodies" !!

Hard to beleive how time flys by................and all the improvements on components. I really dig the poly tip V-Max
for varmit use and who would think of a solid copper bullet,of all things.

I got the "BUG" back in 1969.

 

[hdman97]

I'm new to reloading as I started last summer.
It is a great way to pass some time and keep the mind working.
Wish I would have started sooner also.
Problem now is trying to find primers,powder,bullets etc.
Locally supplies have dried up and online everything is out of stock.Many bare shelves where factory ammo use to be.
Should have really stocked up sooner.
Wish this anti-gun **** would end......
.

 

[Cokeman]

What stuff did you start with?

 

[StephenCD]

Just my 2 cents worth folks, with both my knees going on me (both been cut into) and my lower back slowing going I can't pick up the brass at the range I manage.
Couple of weeks ago I came up with the idea of attaching a kitty litter scoop to the end of a broom handle. I use the empty cat food container (about 5 gallons with a snap on lid) to store the brass (and the odd gravel) that I scoop up. May not be perfect but it sure as heck works pretty darn good.
When it's half full I dump it out on a table at the range, sort the brass and throw the gravel back where it belongs.

 

[Rorsborn]

How to start

I have been considering it for a few months and find it confusing and just don't know where to start.

 

[mike smith 1002]

I started reloading in 1970 after coming home from USMC because a friend got divorced and sold me his equipment Now my wife and grandson and i shoot every weekend. Buy good manuals i just found out some of my older 1965 barnes manuals and lyman 45th edition are worth $300 bucks (wouldnt part with them). Most relaxing / rewarding hobby you can have save money and make ammo to shoot SWEET. Never lost a dollar on any gun i bought and added equipment as i could afford one piece at a time. please join the rest of us reloaders as i know it will be a life long enjoyment