Finally bit the bullet

[gizmo]

Good luck and have fun. I used to reload a lot and have been too busy the last couple of years. I miss it. Reloading is like theropy to me. Also, I really used to get a kick out of taking game with my hand loads.

 

[Royal27]

Good luck and have fun. I used to reload a lot and have been too busy the last couple of years. I miss it. Reloading is like theropy to me. Also, I really used to get a kick out of taking game with my hand loads.

Thanks!

I think this so part of it too. Handloading is slow, quiet, precise, methodical, and repetitive. Everything my real life is not!

 

[Grady]

And the main reason I started with a kit was so that I could see what worked for me and what doesn't. I'm all about buying quality, but want to figure out what I like first. The only thing worse than buying cheap and then buying again is buying expensive and then buying again!

Starting with a kit is a great way to start. My father is still loading with his RCBS Rock Chucker that he bought in the 70's and I started with a Rock Chucker kit that I purchased in '94. I am still loading on it and only upgraded the scale and purchased a few other odds and ends. The Lee that you purchased is also a great press.

I am considering buying a Dillon 650 for handgun reloading because my daughter is starting to shoot Scholastic Pistol and will be going thru 9mm like crazy. But I will stick with the Rock Chucker for all rifle (except 5.56 and .223 plinking loads)

 

[lcq]

Multi quote isn't working so I'll just answer the whole thing.

Great points all....

I plan on both handloading and reloading. Some things I don't care about extreme accuracy. Even up to now I've always shot cheap ammo and hunting ammo. For shooting off sticks as practice I never felt the need for sub MOA accuracy, but for hunting I do.

Bullet seating depth is one of my "stress points" as I start here. I was surprised to see how much shorter factory ammo was than what the reloading manuals say. I feel like the loads should be shorter and I guess they may end up being shorter depending on accuracy?

For the reason mentioned above I am sure I will end up with "practice" brass and "hunting" brass. I understand the entire consistency thing.

And the main reason I started with a kit was so that I could see what worked for me and what doesn't. I'm all about buying quality, but want to figure out what I like first. The only thing worse than buying cheap and then buying again is buying expensive and then buying again!

The Manual length is maximum SAAMI. Factory is seated to be away from the lands in all rifles, therefore is usually shorter. The bullet and seating depth will make the most difference and if you have one of the inherently accurate calibers (308, 3006, 300wsm) and a good rifle achieving MOA accuracy will be really easy. My 7mm Mag and 243 were quite frankly a royal pain. You got plenty of good advice here and I have confidence you will get a good load rapidly.

BTW If you are developing a load in really cold weather Hodgdon Extreme powders are a good idea or you can keep the ammo warm read room temp (70F or so) inside a mini cooler before shooting them out in the cold.
https://www.hodgdon.com/smokeless/extreme/page2.php

 

[Nicholas Barcomb]

From Hornady "Case lengthening produced by repeated full length resizing will shorten case life." I trust them way more than you. BTW cam over doesn't work with all presses and FL resizing bumps back the shoulder as well as restoring the case to factory spec

Yeah, you may wish to find more sources than that one. That is THE only source that I found with that quote as well. Still a bunch of malarky! You got the rest of it right though. spike.t, you're a hoot chum!

 

[lcq]

Yeah, you may wish to find more sources than that one. That is THE only source that I found with that quote as well. Still a bunch of malarky! You got the rest of it right though. spike.t, you're a hoot chum!

http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/lid=16138/GunTechdetail/Choosing-A-Case-Trimmer-
http://leeprecision.net/support/ind...cle/View/286/49/reloading-223-rem-in-pro-1000

Just think about it. When FL sizing the case is squeezed and the only place to grow is the neck, everything else is restrained by the die and ram

 

[JTEX]

Yeah, you may wish to find more sources than that one. That is THE only source that I found with that quote as well. Still a bunch of malarky! You got the rest of it right though. spike.t, you're a hoot chum!

I'm curious? Which part is "malarky"?

 

[PLM]

Therapy, Yes. When I am at the reloading bench I am in my own little world away from all bothersome things. There is an endless amount to learn, the combinations for different loads and how they are going to shoot fascinates me. Plus, as has been said, there is great satisfaction taking game with ammo you have loaded yourself.
Grady, The Dillon XL 650 is the way to go if you want to load LARGE amounts of pistol ammo. I love it but I still load my rifle rounds one at a time. Royal 27, you are starting a fun and interesting journey. Hope you enjoy it. Philip

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Not sure how I missed this post, but welcome to the world of handloading!!! I started back in the late '70's with a LEE load-all for my .30/30 Winchester; bought several of those kits for the various calibers I reloaded. Later I moved up to a LEE hand press with the idea that I would eventually move up to a bench mounted press.....still haven't done it! That little LEE hand press has served me well throughout the past 30 or so years....
As for the 200 grain Nosler partition: I worked up a load with those YEARS ago; it is pushed along by a charge of H414 and shoots a 1/4" group at 100 yards, repeatably....not the fastest load, but accurate.
Long and short? I used that load/bullet combination to take 4 of my 5 trophies last summer; only my wildebeest was shot with my .338. The other 4 (cow waterbuck, impala, Kudu, and gemsbok) were taken with the 06; all were one shot kills, with the exception of the gemsbok, which I hit a bit too far back. The kudu was a 250 yard shot across the mountains, and he did a quick sprint and piled up about 40 yards from where he was shot.
Guess I can't argue with those results.................................

 

[Grady]

Philip, I agree with you, I like to load my rifle one at a time.

 

[tarbe]

And don't forget to keep good records Royal.

I have two three-ring binders full of every round I have loaded over the past 40 years. It becomes your own loading manual of sorts.

Not to mention it is fun to go back and look at what I was doing with my spare time when I was 17 years old!

I definitely also second the chronograph. I bought mine in 1978 when I was a lowly Corporal of Marines. It is an Oehler Model 33 that cost me an entire month's pay at the time ($300). That chronograph helped me put my May Safari loads together, and is still indispensable after all these years.

 

[PLM]

So Royal, How goes the reloading?

 

[Royal27]

So Royal, How goes the reloading?

Honestly, I need to get back to it. I haven't had time to shoot much and haven't shot my .30/06 at all. Once it warms up a bit I will get back to it.

 

[PLM]

I know what you mean, the weather here has been rainy and cold. Today we had 5 1/2" of snow here. Very rare for East Texas, temps in low 30's.

 

[ActionBob]

Once it warms up a bit I will get back to it.

I know what you mean, the weather here has been rainy and cold. Today we had 5 1/2" of snow here. Very rare for East Texas, temps in low 30's.

Come on guys! I was out this week. The cold wouldn't have been so bad as it was above zero, but the damned wind! It kept blowing my target traps off the wire... not to mention the wind chill factor.

At least we are a couple feet behind normal on snow!

 

[Royal27]

View attachment 38012 View attachment 38013




Come on guys! I was out this week. The cold wouldn't have been so bad as it was above zero, but the damned wind! It kept blowing my target traps off the wire... not to mention the wind chill factor.

At least we are a couple feet behind normal on snow!

Yeah Bob,

The weather is a crappy excuse down here. LOL

We had some snow earlier today, but the rain melted it all

 

[ActionBob]

Royal I can talk smart, but I am fortunate to not have to drive hours through traffic to get to a place to shoot. Although I do need to watch out for those whitetails that like to jump out on the road!

 

[Royal27]

Royal I can talk smart, but I am fortunate to not have to drive hours through traffic to get to a place to shoot. Although I do need to watch out for those whitetails that like to jump out on the road!

I know! I would kill to be within minutes of a 100 yard range!!!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

It was so cold here this morning there was dew on my windshield!

 

[PLM]

I feel bad now. I have a hundred yard range in the back yard and I didn't shoot today. I did go outside and run around with the dogs. They were pretty funny playing around, first time they have ever seen snow.