NEW to RELOADING

[Claymore33]

I have just been reloading for 6 months. I have my loads for .41 SPL and 44 SPL figured up an chrono graphed. A friend asked me to load some .38 SPL for him. I have 158 gr bullets. I had purchased LYMAN 50th and SPEER # 15 books. I was shocked at how different the recommendations for .38SPL were in those to books. SPEER #15 shows 4.0 of UNIQUE for starting load, and LAYMAN 50th shows 4.7 of UNIQUE for starting load.

 

[iouri]

Alliant online manual lists 4.7 gr as a maximum charge for LSWC bullet at OAL 1.440". 4.7 as a minimum sounds like +P load.

 

[BrovoEchoSierra]

Nice to see another reloader enter the hobby. Here is a thought or two..
I dont load ammo for others, nor do I shoot someone else's reloaded ammo.

I will help them, or let them use my equipment, do about anything to get them started, on their own, and mentor them.
What ever it takes, but I wont load for them.
To me its a no win deal, and a thank you is not worth the liability placed on my back.

 

[Johnrh]

While it's a great hobby don't reload for someone else. He won't be your friend if you mess him up or his gun. While we all try and double try not to make a mistake it can happen especially if you're new to reloading. Too much liability. Best idea is for you to show him what to do on your press and let him reload it for himself.

 

[cracker57]

I never reload for anyone, nor do I shoot their reloads. I do have one friend that I have come over when loading 45 ACP I watch over him and pay attention to what he is doing but I DO NOT PULL THE HANDLE. These are his reloads, with his brass, primers and powder.
when looking at different manuals for starting and max loads pay attention to Coal and barrel length they factor more than primers.

 

[glenwolde]

I think we all look at the conflicting data and pick a starting point, then work up from there.

 

[Goblin]

You'll find that the various manuals show different charges, and yes, sometimes the differences are quite large. That's why most of us have multiple manuals and cross-check them all before engineering our starting loads. The key is the chronograph. As you test the loads, ensure that the increase in velocity is in line with the increased charge weight. Sudden spikes in velocity indicate a problem.

 

[Alton]

If you are using Lyman bullets use lyman data, Speer bullets speer data. Also Unique can be an accurate powder, but you can accidently place a double charge in the case without realizing. I only use powders that take up more than 50% of the case.

 

[Tu_S]

In using the various books I have, I've found that unless you have the exact bullet that was used to generate the data, you'll need to use some common sense, taking into account the length and diameter of the bullet you have on hand.

Looking at the books I have, the Hornady manual lists 4.1gr v.s. the 4.7gr in the Lyman one for 158gn JHP starting loads. Also noticed Lyman has a COL of 1.480" and Hornady has 1.455", which can account for some of the difference.

I would probably start with a safe 4.1gn at 1.470" and see what happens.

 

[glenwolde]

I think we all look at the conflicting data and pick a starting point, then work up from there. That's harder when it's not for you. If I was going to do that I'd pick the lowest load listed. But that will likely be unsatisfactory.

Lead or jacketed bullets?

 

[Nevada Ed]

Rule #1...........
start low and work up.

All guns are are different and nothing is safe unless tested.

I have a "Safety valve" that I use in testing my loads......
it is called a , "Chrony" that does make me feel a little safer with my loads.

After you have loaded for a while, you will learn that you do not need a 100%, maximum load
to get an accurate load for your gun.

Have fun.

 

[cowboy4evr]

My minimum load for the 38 special using Unique powder and 158 gr cast bullet is 5.0 grs . 5.4 grs of Unique is my favorite load using the above cast bullet . People complain about Unique shooting dirty , yet they load it low . Unique is like all other powders , load it to the max and it cleans up , load it low and it is dirty , like all other powders . Regards Paul

 

[AlHunt]

I'm in the don't reload for other people camp. If anything goes wrong with their firearm while using your reloads, you'll get the blame. And the medical bills.

 

[H Richard]

From the legality side, the BATFE "claims" you need a ammo manufacturing FFL if you load for anyone. I have also let a very few use my equipment, but never reload for them.

 

[Claymore33]

Nice to see another reloader enter the hobby. Here is a thought or two..
I dont load ammo for others, nor do I shoot someone else's reloaded ammo.

I will help them, or let them use my equipment, do about anything to get them started, on their own, and mentor them.
What ever it takes, but I wont load for them.
To me its a no win deal, and a thank you is not worth the liability placed on my back.

Thanks for all the MOTHERHOOD but the young man(my son's friend ) is sitting right beside me doing the loading. He is pulling the lever.

 

[Cdog]

As long as you're staying below +P pressures I wouldn't be too concerned.

With all due respect, after handloading for 6 years your thoughts on being involved with someone else's property and safety may be different than they are 6 months in.

Regardless of the cause, a double charge or something as common as a squib or even snow/ice/dirt inside the barrel after being dropped may have you wondering

Will Mom, wife or insurers feel the same? Truly only posted as things to ponder.

I've loaded for other folks before, regardless of who's pulling the handle I'm the one in charge of quality control.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I started reloading in 1979. Back then and before, NOBODY mentioned the worry about "Double Charging" your cases. The actual advise was "Pay attention!" or "Don't allow distractions!" If you can't pay attention, you have no business reloading ammunition!

That being said, Reloading is safe, fun, and may or may not produce savings. I started with a Lee Loader in 303 British and a hammer, sitting cross legged on my basement floor. In 3 boxes of ammo, I had paid for all my equipment and components, so the next 40 rounds were absolutely free! If I had stopped there, I would still be about $18 ahead of buying 100 rounds of sporting ammo! BUT NO, I was bitten by a bug that is "Itching" me every day until I die! I now load 117 (or a few more) different cartridges. My newest loading bench has 3 different presses for metallic cartridges, and I have 8 shotgun presses. I have multiple collections of "Antique" loading devices. As well as two presses I set up on a Workmate, to help with "High Production" projects.

Of course selling my sub-machine gun a few years ago did away with to 20,000 round years of 9mm! But when I'm active in Cowboy shooting I run 8000 round of 45 LC and every year runs about 5000 rounds of 45 ACP. Plus I load several thousand rounds of shotgun ammo a year.

I tell people, "I can quit any time I want!"

I would advise you to sell your equipment, and save yourself!

Then again, you can stay here with us and be "One of the Cool Guys!"

Ivan

 

[stansdds]

I've been reloading for 3 decades now, I have yet to reload ammo for anyone but me. There is too much area for liability and potential legal issues.

 

[H Richard]

Just one thing. You mentioned Unique powder, If loading on an automatic machine be cautious. Unique doesn't measure well. It is bulky and there can be quite a bit of variance from one drop to the other. This affects accuracy, and in extreme cases has been known to cause a low pressure load to lodge in the barrel causing damage to the firearm.

When I load Unique, I weigh every charge independently.

 

[Scriv]

Charge weights

One thing to consider is bullet profile. Two bullets of the same diameter, same weight, same material, can use two different sets of load data even within the same manual. Take the 200 grain bullets for the 45 ACP in the Lyman manual for example. They are different profile, and have different beginning, and max loads. Whenever I encounter this, and am not sure which I have I start with the lowest, and work from there. The one possible exception is when using very slow burning powders because it is possible to go too low with these, and end up with a squib due to insufficient ignition of the powder charge.