With 10mm being a little pricey, I have been thinking of getting into reloading. Figured I would get a good book or manual first. I know Lyman is the oldest and most popular it seems, followed by Hornady. Are those a good start or are there better choices for beginners?
Go with the ABC's of Reloading first... then Lyman loading manual would be a good second choice. After this pick up what you can as more knowledge is better.
See if you can find someone nearby thats been reloading and work with them to really learn whats going on... Start on a single stage press ( or one that can work as one ) to get the process down well... move slow and safe.
good loading!
Good advice, loading data is not as critical as the instructions of using your equipment, especially your scale or scales. The scale can be your best friend or worst enemy and I like a good balance beam type ;D...my digital is cheap but before it drifts it is correct and faster at finding unknowns 8)...
Load recipe data can come from many sources, many are electronic from powder makers. But nothing replaces a good source such as Lyman's books, Hodgdons Annual, although I have several Speer manuals that have guided me over the years for many cartridges.
Single stage presses are great for the feel you get with doing only one operation or process, like bullet seating or finish crimp.
If you are going to load 10mm or 40S&W a pass-through sizing is a great way to recondition & prep your brass. I would suggest read about this process. I use a LEE 10mm/40 FCD with the guts removed for this process on 10mm, 40S&W, 357Sig and 9x25 Dillon cartridges, I also do 45ACP with its appropriate 45 FCD. More can be found here...
http://10mm-firearms.com/reloading-10mm-ammo/pass-thru-sizing-using-lee-fcd/ (http://10mm-firearms.com/reloading-10mm-ammo/pass-thru-sizing-using-lee-fcd/)
In addtion to the other fine manuals mentioned, I use one called One Book, One Caliber which I paid less than $10 each. The book for 10mm also has loads for .40S&W.
I'm new to reloading but found a nice used Dillon 650 that really suits my needs. I did a lot of studying and watching videos for about a month after I got it before I made my first round. I started slowly with 9mm because that is what we shoot the most, and then progressed to loading light 10mm loads for practice. I have a couple of nice soft shooting loads for the 10mm that I really enjoy shooting. Only problem is finding brass that is reasonable. I hate to lose it at organized matches that are "lost brass" matches. If you have brass and can recover it, you can load for less than 20 cents a round.
There are many ways to get started, but has stated above, a good Reloading Guide is your first step
Here's a good bit of free info:
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/Catalog.pdf
Also, Richard Lee's Reloading Book has a lot of good info and its Load Data is not Component Maker Bias (i.e. Hodgdon, Hornady etc)
(http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mDEi0EDbvdGsi5t2r-1hjVg.jpg)
I started Reloading using one of these, the Original Lee Loader:
(http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mRYYuS_bVcV7rYyuIssTfJQ.jpg)
I reloaded tens of thousands of 357 and 38 rounds using nothing but one of them and a Plastic Mallet
Not that I am Lee oriented, I now run an (original, 3 hole) Lee Turret Press with RCBS Dies
I do like having all my Die Sets in their own Turret, ready to go
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h414/denstinettm14/Shop%20and%20Reloading/MyClassicLeeTurretPress-1.jpg)
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h414/denstinettm14/Shop%20and%20Reloading/MyRCSBDiesinLeeBoxes-1.jpg)
Thanks. I will go with The ABC's and Lyman manual first. Then decide on the gear.
.20 a round? Is that with purchased bullets and what type? Good FMJ bullets are about that much aren't they?
Quote from: Intercooler on March 10 2014 11:59:44 AM MDT
.20 a round? Is that with purchased bullets and what type? Good FMJ bullets are about that much aren't they?
About only ones I use ( below .20 ) are Montana cmj at $189 per K.
The Remingtons are 236 per K
BUT, plated work great below 1100fps and are about .10 each
I just started reloading this winter. I had been reading books, watching youtube videos, talking to other reloaders and paying attention to sites like this. All of that was helpful, but the most valuable learning experience was when I actually purchased the equipment. The first day I got it, I read all the instructions, set it up and started making dummy rounds (no powder or primers). I went from being somewhat confused to things making a lot of sense in just hours.
I bought a Lee challenger kit with the Lee 3-die set. I followed the advice of many here and have since bought the factory crimp die for the 10mm and use it as both a pass through sizing die and as a dedicated crimp die. For the 10mm, I recommend getting the 4-die set from the start. My only upgrade from the kit was to get an RCBS 5-0-5 balance scale. The scale that comes with the Lee kit is accurate, but clumsy.
So my best advice as a newbie...figure out what equipment you want, get it and get your hands on it. I hesitated for over a year because I thought I had to figure it all out before buying the gear. I am in no way an experienced hand loader, but the learning process got so much easier having the equipment.
So how many rounds can you put together in say 1 hour?
If you are just loading pistol cartridges to start with, the turret press like DenStinett show in his post is a great first press in my opinion
Quote from: BEEMER! on March 10 2014 03:15:06 PM MDT
If you are just loading pistol cartridges to start with, the turret press like DenStinett show in his post is a great first press in my opinion
I also load Rifle Calibers too
I regularly load .308 / 7.62 NATO
And the Press handles them well
I have been debating on either a single stage or turret press. I cannot spend to much, so cost is a bit of an issue. On the other hand I want to be able to make a good amount of reloads for low-cost target shooting, rather than making precision hunting or carry loads. I leave those roles for high end factory ammo.
Quote from: CCantu357 on March 11 2014 01:14:09 AM MDT
I have been debating on either a single stage or turret press. I cannot spend to much, so cost is a bit of an issue. On the other hand I want to be able to make a good amount of reloads for low-cost target shooting, rather than making precision hunting or carry loads. I leave those roles for high end factory ammo.
The reason for handloading is that its relatively easy to exceed the quality of factory ammo. For me there is no factory fodder that will measure up to hand made specialty, custom crafted, handloads. Unless we are talking shotshells, your hndloads will likely surpass the quality of just about anything out there after some testing/development.
Greg
Quote from: CCantu357 on March 11 2014 01:14:09 AM MDT
I have been debating on either a single stage or turret press. I cannot spend to much, so cost is a bit of an issue. On the other hand I want to be able to make a good amount of reloads for low-cost target shooting, rather than making precision hunting or carry loads. I leave those roles for high end factory ammo.
I would suggest the Lee Turret. Can be had for a low cost. the changable turret plates allow you set your dies and then you can change the plate for another caliber. It save time setting your dies each time. I see Shadow already mentioned the pass thru sizer.
Im a firm believer that you should practice with what you carry occasionally. This can get expensive fast buying factory SD ammo. What I have done is made my handloads to mimic the factory. First I buy factory SD ammo in a bullet that I can buy to handload with, example Hornady XTP. Then I chrongraph the factory ammo and begin building my handloads to match the speed as close as I can to the factory rounds. In the end, you can have 100 rounds of handloads( for a little more $), that are almost identical to 20 factory SD loads. I carry a 45 acp and carry 185 gr Hornady Custom XTP SD loads and load my casing with 185 grain XTP. You would never notcie a difference as far a point of impact goes. Every few hundred rounds, I will shoot my box of factory loads to check my work compared to the factory rounds.
I use Xtreme plated bullets at about .12, primers .03, and powder .03, for a total of 18 cents each. I've managed to save a good supply of brass from factory ammo I've shot. I also have a good supply of new Winchester and Starline that is still new and unfired that I'll use when I decide to load hotter. Right now I"m happy at low to mid range for practice. I've used my G29 in GSSF matches for Major Sub and Heavy Metal and lose the brass but really enjoy shooting it.
Quote from: 357_Sig on March 12 2014 08:01:55 AM MDT
I would suggest the Lee Turret. Can be had for a low cost.
Here's a few links to the Lee Turret Press
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R1.TR7.TRC1.A0.H1.Xlee+turret+p&_nkw=lee+turret+press&_sacat=0&_from=R40
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lee+turret+press%2C+hole&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Alee+turret+press%5Cc+hole
http://www.brownells.com/search/index.htm?k=lee+turret+press%2c+hole&ksubmit=y
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=lee+turret+press%2C+hole
Thanks for all the info fellas. I just bought the newest edition of the ABCs Of Reloading, looks like a new author but great information for a novice like me. I will definitely look into that turret press. Seems faster than a single stage while still being simple. As a new guy I do not want to move to progressive presses just now. I have always wanted to get into reloading, and now I can't wait to start.