Reloading?
I am new to this whole gun thing. I have always owned a fire arm or two.
I now and trying to build a assortment of firearms.
I am wanting to know if there is a good and RIGHT way to get started in reloading?
I also would like to know about reloading the 12GA mini shells. I, my wife and two children love shooting this shell. We would like to be able to shoot it alot more by reloading. Any suggestions?
Were is the best source for reloading equipment?
I see this as a hobby. I would not mind a capitol investment as long as I can enjoy it. I do not plan on reloading everything. I just think I would really like to reload verses shoot. It just seems like a real science. I love science.
I would like to start on maybe the Mini 12ga, 45 cal, 223, or the 380?
Any hints or help would be great!
Also, how about starter kits?
If You were going to say sink 3k in reloading equipment. what would you buy and why?
The one and only daytrader.
I now and trying to build a assortment of firearms.
I am wanting to know if there is a good and RIGHT way to get started in reloading?
I also would like to know about reloading the 12GA mini shells. I, my wife and two children love shooting this shell. We would like to be able to shoot it alot more by reloading. Any suggestions?
Were is the best source for reloading equipment?
I see this as a hobby. I would not mind a capitol investment as long as I can enjoy it. I do not plan on reloading everything. I just think I would really like to reload verses shoot. It just seems like a real science. I love science.
I would like to start on maybe the Mini 12ga, 45 cal, 223, or the 380?
Any hints or help would be great!
Also, how about starter kits?
If You were going to say sink 3k in reloading equipment. what would you buy and why?
The one and only daytrader.
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What can I look at spending to get set up to start reloading, maybe one or two calibers? Does anyone sell a "starter kit" or something similar? Also, what is the best way to learn this art? Can it be done from books and if so which books do you recommend? I have never done any reloading but have come into some money and think it would be an interesting hobby.
Thanks for the help
Opinions are like azzholes, eveyone's got one, and this just happens to be mine!0 -
Welcome to Gunbrokers!!! You have asked an open-ended question[8D]Reloading is a complex but not complicated undertaking. Since you are starting from square one, do some reading research to begin.Stop by a gunshop and purchase some reloading manuals.They will take you from the basics to the particulars.The information contained will also be necessary for developing the correct loads when you start.You will use them forever. Get a basic understanding and the folks here will be more than happy to help you with the details.
Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob0 -
Shotgun shells & metallic cartridges are reloaded using (2) different types of reloading equipment.
These (3) companies are the ones I'm personally most familiar with and deal with most when I buy reloading equipment and supplies.
www.midwayusa.com
www.grafs.com
www.wideners.com
Go through their on-line sites and buy some reloading handbooks. Try to get a basic feeling for what is required, to reload the cartridges & shells your interested in.0 -
I do know that Brass and plastic are two diff processes. I do not know what they are.
Thank you for the reply's. I am a nut for research.
That is what I am doing now.
I plan on buying some reloading books. There are like 2000+ of them out there.
I do not want to buy even 30 of them. Unless I have to. Can anyone point me in a good reading order?
Like a reloading 101 then the next level and so on.
Lets say you had to have a test. You get to put your student up against 10 others. All novices. The only median you get is books. The test would be written then a skills test.
I am not saying this to try and make a real Competition here. Just a way of understanding the way I learn. We all know that there are a lot of wasted pages in books. What are the best books to start with?
Like I said. This seems like an area I would really like. I am into that kinda thing.
Just a note. This may help some in the way I am. This way you have an idea how I react to information. This may help in references to books.
I have some rental property. I got tired of paying to have locks rekeyed. I started doing this my self. I didn't think I was doing a good job. I took the classes and became (still am) a lic locksmith.
I really enjoy locksmithing. I just do not want to do it as a living. I do stay up on ALL aspects of it. I really like it. It is very technical. You also have to stay up on it.
I know I am going on and on. Just want to give you an idea how I deal with things.
I will mine every source I can get for info, then I will weight it. I will then start to act on it. Then do it over and so on.
I know there has to be some folks that wanted to do this. They tried. They failed. They tried again, they failed. They tried again. Learning each step of the way.
I hope to learn from others failures. This way I do not have to repeat the process. I know I will fail. I just hope to cut some of the "bad" resources out if I can.
I really appreciate your replies. Also. I am no spelling guru. I know This is my worst area. Please put up with my bad grammar and spelling.lol
The one and only daytrader.0 -
Complete Reloading Guide by John & Robert Traister is exhaustive; every technical specification for every metallic cartridge in existence! Hundreds of illustrations and only $34.95 from www.dillonprecision.com home of the finest progressive reloaders in America.
Start off with a single stage to acquire a process, then when you want to shoot alot more so you can have more empties to reload; get a progressive.
And welcome to the board!
www.natchezss.com also has reloading/shooting stuff
www.midwayusa.com is another source
www.cheaperthandirt.com is yet another
If you know it all; you must have been listening.<br>WEAR EAR PROTECTION!0 -
DayTrader:
Purchase an RCBS Rock Chucker reloading kit. When I purchased mine it came with the basics to load both rifle and pistol ammo. Included was a Speer Reloading Manual that was particularly informative. I often re-read the first 60 pages or so of the Speer Manual when I'm starting a new project. What you won't get and really need is a digital scale which I would recommend to replace the balance beam type that comes with the kit. You'll need a set of dies (probably 223 to start); some new 223 brass, powder & primers (again you can refer to the manual); and a bullet (weight again determined by the manual). READ THE MANUAL several times through. If you follow the book, and select the components set out; its tough to go to far wrong. You'll have some trouble over lubing cases, and trying to decide how deep to seat a bullet; but again if you read those magic first 60 pages, you'll find the solutions to most of your questions. The worst thing you can do is buy a fancy progressive machine . . . maybe someday you'll need and buy one . . . but not yet. It would be great (and faster) to have an experienced reloader sitting over your shoulder and guiding you through the set up, but again all the training can be gleaned from the Speer book. I've loaded thousands of rounds (both rifle and pistol) with my Rock Chucker; and all I did was carefully read the manual, and follow it the letter. Shotgun reloading is a different animal; but once you get the basics of rifle cartridge reloading down, both shotgun and pistol will be easier. I purchased a progressive MEC 650 shotgun shell reloader (although I'd recommend the MEC Grabber); which again came with the basic information necessary to start reloading shotgun ammo. I think your learning curve will be better on shotgun shells once you've gotten a handle on the rifle ammo reloading. Reading a number of reloading books won't hurt, but my problem with that has always been that each book sets out the basics a little differently which can be confusing. Plus reading even the best books won't get you reloading, and the process is really the best learning tool. There's always this forum to fall back on if you get stuck. Hornaday, & Hogdon also put out similar reloading books to Speers, its just nice to get it all in one kit. There are plenty of folks who use the Rock Chucker, so you can't go wrong with RCBS. I'd take the big step, and buy the kit . . . it should all fall into place after that purchase.0 -
The two brands that stand out MEC for shotguns and DILLON for brass shells. You can load some very good shells with simple tools such as LYMAN TONG TOOLS for brass shells and simple LEE LOADER type tools for shotgun BUT it is slow and takes the fun out of it. Dillon has the best customer service and mec is what most people use for shot gun . Our gun club puts on a reloading clinic each year and some times the large gun stores do the same thing .Speed cost money but does not make for better leroads. quote:"PRAISE THE HARDBALL GUN" 0 -
Before you spend any money on equipment, I'd suggest you do some reading:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0873491904/qid=1089461104/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-8282509-9151318?v=glance&s=books
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0873491971/qid=1089461104/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-8282509-9151318?v=glance&s=books
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9993634077/qid=1089461104/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-8282509-91513180 -
The budget you mentioned(3k) would buy as nice a reloading setup as there could be.Most of us have less than a grand in our reloding room.
The trapshooters who load thousands of rounds per year love Ponsness-Warren,Spolar gold,and the upper end Mec's.
Dillon fans like myself really like thier product and servie,and the 650 would load thousands of rounds very quickly.Almost overkill but it's a very nice machine.! So is their shotshell loader.
www.dillonprecision.com
Is it the lack of recoil that you like about the mini-shells.?That can be contolled when you load your own..there are minimums and maximums for powder loads in a given shell.
costwise shotshell loading is minmal as far as savings.Brass cartridge reloaidng saves a ton of money over a years time.
My go-to book is the Lyman Metallic book.period.
I do use other books and online manuals to doubel check a load before usint it..tipos dew happin.
A person such as you describe could have a great time weighing cases,bullets,powder charges,checking runout,etc etc.Myself I just crank'em out and shoot 'em up.:)
Throckmortons' the alias,cas is the game.0 -
I'd have to agree with most posts above except you might want to start reloading shotshells first to get a hang of things. The minishells are sort of an exclusive to Aguila, and as yet don't know of reload data nor components. I suppose it could be done, but you would be experimenting, as it is a special powder/wad propietary to Aguila, and truthfully, I doubt they are yet willing to share.
Some have started on progressives, but they can be a little more finicky and you do have to be a little more watchful. All reloading is something HAS to keep sharp when doing. My suggestion would be to start things with a MEC 600jr. Fool proof,makes really good reloads and with practice, you can turn out a 100 shells an hour quite easily. As one said above, there are faster, more expensive machines, but won't turn out better shells. If this turns out to be something you like doing, then go up to a MEC 9000 or a Dillon shot loader.
I would suggest stating the same with metallic cartridges, tho if I remember, there are a couple Dillon's that can be used both ways. RCBS and Dillon are both hard to beat if you get into a corner.
Check with a local gun shop or range. They sometimes have classes and there are usually a few old salts that don't mind helping someone get started and to answer questions. After all, that's usually hoe we all got started.0 -
Great Info! Thank you for your replies!
On the mini's. We like them because the kids can shoot them with out much recoil and we can get more in the firearms.
We shoot for fun. We(my family) are not hunters. Never done skeet or anything like that. We just like to shoot targets.
I like to buy and own guns. Just not a big shooter. I think the cost is what gets me down. I am real cheap. I hate pumping out money. If I can relaod or use a product I have done would make me real happy.
After reading a few things about relaoding I really think it will be a area I will enjoy.
I mentioned the Mini, shells because it is nothing for my son to pump out 100 rounds a week of these. Now you add my daughter and my wife it adds up real quick.
I think it is the kick that the kids like about the shell the most.
The one and only daytrader.0 -
Welocme to the zoo, trader.
There's a lot of good advice above. If you do a search, you might find dozens of similar inquiries in the archives. I'm going to throw in my $0.02, some of it repetitive, some of it more detailed in certain matters.
I suspect it might be difficult to find the wads and hulls to load the "mini" shotshells. If *anyone* carries them, Precision Reloading will: http://precisionreloading.com/index.html In my experience they carry virtually everything a shotshell loader could ever think of using, and then some! At a reasonable price, too (doesn't mean you might not find a better deal on some things elsewhere). But why bother with the mini shells? When you read through your manual(s), note that you can make up all sorts of loads, not just the conventional ones, using standard hulls. It's been a long time since I bothered with SS loads (I just don't shoot the scatterguns except at game, and it's not worth it to me to invest in the time / material expense of loading a few handfuls each of several different loads. Change a wad or hull with a shotshell, and you (usually) have to adjust the wad seating height, the crimp and a few other details. Will metallics, the inside configuration is largel the same. So my first piece of advice is *be sure* you are going to be loading enough shells from the exact same components to make the investment worth it.
On metallics, even if $3K was chump change for you, I'd *not* recommend starting with a progressive. Start with the RCBS Rock Chucker - top flight quality, service, the whole nine yards. Even when one loads thousands of rounds, the single stage is the beast which is pulled out to do load development. A progressive really only makes sense if one is loading relatively high volumes in any given cartridge. The progressive units are absolutely wonderful, but you need to have your loads tuned and be familiar with the reloading process, first. A single stage will do that, a progressive *can* do you!
MANUALS!! Personally I prefer Lyman, since they aren't limited to / pushing a particular product line. Whatever you get, just read the details and you will be OK.
Y, you can spend an easy three grand on reloading gear, have good tools and peripherals and hve money left over for components. This is JMHO, but simple is best when you start. Good items will always keep their value, but you'll take a bath if you find you don't care for it, so why invest a large amount at first?
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain) ". . . And liberals / DemoWipes" (me)0
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