Getting into reloading, where should I start?

[357 MAX]

so your brass is shinier than mine? GOODY!

 

[ktgee]

Don't reload anymore. 30 years ago, I started with the RCBS single-stage reloading kit. I never attempted to reload in single stage and went straight to progressive reloading by adding the Piggyback conversion kit. It's a great hobby to get into.

 

[Mikej]

so your brass is shinier than mine? GOODY!

Precisely why I never get involved with dick measuring contests! Someone always ends pissed-off.

 

[Richo877]

Who's dicks are we measuring?

 

[357 MAX]

every reloader should google Lyman ideal 310 and lee loader. to see how the old timers reloaded. SHTF reloading tools. in the old days when you ordered a rifle you could also get a tong reloader with a bullet mould built in. how did the buffalo hunters reload their ammo? i have read of bench rest shooters using the lee loader for reloading at the bench.

 

[Richo877]

every reloader should google Lyman ideal 310 and lee loader. to see how the old timers reloaded. SHTF reloading tools. in the old days when you ordered a rifle you could also get a tong reloader with a bullet mould built in. how did the buffalo hunters reload their ammo? i have read of bench rest shooters using the lee loader for reloading at the bench.

That's pretty neat. It would be a good last resort, and a nice addition for the range bag or a bug-out bag. I don't see it being a practical go-to, but definitely can see how learning on one of these would give you a great understanding and respect for the process.

 

[ageingstudent]

Precisely why I never get involved with dick measuring contests! Someone always ends pissed-off.

I think I mentioned he'd fit right in here.

 

[Richo877]

While the kids are on a summer schedule sleeping in late and the wife was at work, I had some time this morning to run a bunch of 9mm through a Lee factory crimp die. I can definitely feel how inconsistent the crimps were before. Some were barely crimped at all. I got the factory crimp die for .223 also, so I can revisit those rounds when I've got some more time to dedicate to them.

I kinda just want to blow through everything I've loaded and start with a clean slate. I'm confident that they will shoot just fine, but as time progresses, I'm learning more of what I should've done on the first or second batches. Testing the fit, some of the .223 chambered really tightly because I was just pushing the shoulder back on someone else's fired brass (a simple concept that I missed). I started full length resizing on the mixed range brass, but the first run should still chamber and fire. Some of the 9mm and .45 brass I've got was aquired under the impression that they were processed, resized, and ready to load. Taking that at face value, I primed and went to load a bunch, but the bullets just slid right in. As I'm picking up information and going through the steps, I'm smoothing out the process little by little. It's not just learning the steps and learning what to do, but more learning what to Not do.

 

[ageingstudent]

While the kids are on a summer schedule sleeping in late and the wife was at work, I had some time this morning to run a bunch of 9mm through a Lee factory crimp die. I can definitely feel how inconsistent the crimps were before. Some were barely crimped at all. I got the factory crimp die for .223 also, so I can revisit those rounds when I've got some more time to dedicate to them.

I kinda just want to blow through everything I've loaded and start with a clean slate. I'm confident that they will shoot just fine, but as time progresses, I'm learning more of what I should've done on the first or second batches. Testing the fit, some of the .223 chambered really tightly because I was just pushing the shoulder back on someone else's fired brass (a simple concept that I missed). I started full length resizing on the mixed range brass, but the first run should still chamber and fire. Some of the 9mm and .45 brass I've got was aquired under the impression that they were processed, resized, and ready to load. Taking that at face value, I primed and went to load a bunch, but the bullets just slid right in. As I'm picking up information and going through the steps, I'm smoothing out the process little by little. It's not just learning the steps and learning what to do, but more learning what to Not do.

Yeah, I always resize brass to my tool's settings and my firearm. Bought or picked up. I'd actually rather buy unprocessed brass anyway if the price is right. Sometimes I have to buy revolver brass because it's harder to find. I still run it through the polisher and size it before loading. If you want to make dependable functioning ammo and minimize the head-scratching time, it's worth the extra effort. Luck favors the prepared.

I hope you are enjoying your journey. It certainly keeps the brain engaged. If you stick with it you will experience some immensely gratifying moments.

 

[Richo877]

I never logged in to report on my initial loads, but I went out a couple months ago and fired through some of my own loads. The 9mm all ran smooth for all different loads fired with N340, bullseye, zip, and #5. I liked the feel of shooting the Accurate #5 load, but the Zip seemed to group best, maybe because I got a little warmed up and fired them last. As far as the .223 goes, the very first round I chambered for my first batch was a slam-fire. Maybe improperly seated primer or not enough headspace? It shook me quite a bit and made it a little nerve wrecking going forward. I knew that batch was going to make me sweat a little bit because it was the first batch of ammo I ever loaded, but on the very first round, it had me nervous. I went through 30 rounds of it without any other issues. I also fired 30 rounds of another batch I had made with 62gr. All using 24gr benchmark. First time around, I didn't fire any .45, but in my initial range day, I was very pleased with all my loads.
More recently, I loaded a handful of 9mm hollow points for a friend mirroring one of the loads I had with bullseye. He reported back to me that they burned "stinky" but the other ammo I gave him didn't have a problem. I've fired the same load using plated round nose bullets and doesn't notice any particularly strange smell so I was thinking maybe the bullet itself had a burning smell. I haven't made more loads with the hollow points, but I had a bunch of .45 230gr plated RN loaded with different weights of bullseye so I figured I'd go shoot them and see if I could notice a smell. The wife and I got grandma to watch the kids yesterday, went out to the woods and blew off some rounds for an hour. Got through another hundred or so .223, maybe a hundred 9mm, and knocked out about a hundred .45 that were loaded with the bullseye powder in question. I noticed no notable strange smells and everything went in and out of every gun and fired flawlessly. I'm thinking it's probably the actual projectile that burned smelly? I'll have to load some more 9mm HP with other powders to see if they are burning the lead. Anyone else have experience with "stinky" bullets?
Either way, I've got a little stash of twice fired brass to clean up and and play with again. This time around it was a little muddy because it rained the whole time, so I spent more time yesterday cleaning guns than shooting. And today I'll spend more time cleaning brass than loading.

 

[Mikej]

I never logged in to report on my initial loads, but I went out a couple months ago and fired through some of my own loads. The 9mm all ran smooth for all different loads fired with N340, bullseye, zip, and #5. I liked the feel of shooting the Accurate #5 load, but the Zip seemed to group best, maybe because I got a little warmed up and fired them last. As far as the .223 goes, the very first round I chambered for my first batch was a slam-fire. Maybe improperly seated primer or not enough headspace? It shook me quite a bit and made it a little nerve wrecking going forward. I knew that batch was going to make me sweat a little bit because it was the first batch of ammo I ever loaded, but on the very first round, it had me nervous. I went through 30 rounds of it without any other issues. I also fired 30 rounds of another batch I had made with 62gr. All using 24gr benchmark. First time around, I didn't fire any .45, but in my initial range day, I was very pleased with all my loads.
More recently, I loaded a handful of 9mm hollow points for a friend mirroring one of the loads I had with bullseye. He reported back to me that they burned "stinky" but the other ammo I gave him didn't have a problem. I've fired the same load using plated round nose bullets and doesn't notice any particularly strange smell so I was thinking maybe the bullet itself had a burning smell. I haven't made more loads with the hollow points, but I had a bunch of .45 230gr plated RN loaded with different weights of bullseye so I figured I'd go shoot them and see if I could notice a smell. The wife and I got grandma to watch the kids yesterday, went out to the woods and blew off some rounds for an hour. Got through another hundred or so .223, maybe a hundred 9mm, and knocked out about a hundred .45 that were loaded with the bullseye powder in question. I noticed no notable strange smells and everything went in and out of every gun and fired flawlessly. I'm thinking it's probably the actual projectile that burned smelly? I'll have to load some more 9mm HP with other powders to see if they are burning the lead. Anyone else have experience with "stinky" bullets?
Either way, I've got a little stash of twice fired brass to clean up and and play with again. This time around it was a little muddy because it rained the whole time, so I spent more time yesterday cleaning guns than shooting. And today I'll spend more time cleaning brass than loading.

Fun shooting your own, home loaded rounds, isn't it? Wait a year or three and you'll see the ammo section in stores as something completely different than before you started loading your own. About your smelly rounds. Bullseye was one of the first powders I tried, Unique too. Loading the standards..9mm. 45acp, .38 special then on to .40 S&W, .357mag. Bullseye and Unique have been standards for many years before I stated loading in 2011. I didn't care for either one over W-231 and HS-6. Bullseye seemed dirty/smokey (smelly?). Unique seemed the same. HS-6 in the higher pressure 9mm and .40 is quite clean. And W-231 in the lower pressure rounds burned clean and measured great, as does HS-6. FYI I have no idea of the properties of any Vitavouri.

 

[Richo877]

Fun shooting your own, home loaded rounds, isn't it? Wait a year or three and you'll see the ammo section in stores as something completely different than before you started loading your own. About your smelly rounds. Bullseye was one of the first powders I tried, Unique too. Loading the standards..9mm. 45acp, .38 special then on to .40 S&W, .357mag. Bullseye and Unique have been standards for many years before I stated loading in 2011. I didn't care for either one over W-231 and HS-6. Bullseye seemed dirty/smokey (smelly?). Unique seem the same. HS-6 in the higher pressure 9mm and .40 is quite clean. And W-231 in the lower pressure rounds burned clean and measured great, as does HS-6. FYI I have no idea of the properties of any Vitavouri.

I didn't notice anything special about the Vitavouri, but I haven't done a whole lot of comparing grouping or velocities. So far, mostly just going out with the intent of making sure they all chamber and go bang. I've got a partial 4lb jug of True Blue I'll probably load a few with too. Right now I'm just loading for the .45 and 9mm in pistols, so I'll probably just stick to what's cheap or convenient to find at the time. If I get back into shooting .357/.38 spl or start looking at the more expensive calibers, I'll probably be more particular. I haven't had a good time to get some actual grouping data yet, but I got the scope on the AR dialed in to hit a 3" group at about 70 yards in the rain yesterday. A little more time and a little better weather would be nice, but I've gotta take the chance to go when I have it.

 

[Mikej]

I didn't notice anything special about the Vitavouri, but I haven't done a whole lot of comparing grouping or velocities. So far, mostly just going out with the intent of making sure they all chamber and go bang. I've got a partial 4lb jug of True Blue I'll probably load a few with too. Right now I'm just loading for the .45 and 9mm in pistols, so I'll probably just stick to what's cheap or convenient to find at the time. If I get back into shooting .357/.38 spl or start looking at the more expensive calibers, I'll probably be more particular. I haven't had a good time to get some actual grouping data yet, but I got the scope on the AR dialed in to hit a 3" group at about 70 yards in the rain yesterday. A little more time and a little better weather would be nice, but I've gotta take the chance to go when I have it.

As long as you're enjoying what you're doing. When I started out I just knew that I'd never dink around with long gun stuff. Loading for hand gun must have got boring. I ended up doing .223, 6.5 Swede, .30-06 (for Garand) .30 Carbine and .30-30. Now I feel like a person just need to go where the hobby takes them.
RE: loading.223. I took a suggestion from a member that the 1in7 twist in our ARs might be better suited to heavier bullets than 55gr. I got some RMR 69gr BPHP bullets. Both the wife and I are getting inside an inch at 100 yds. But the funnest part was watching her smash 5 clay targets, in a row, on the back berm that's a few yards further than a 100.

 

[Richo877]

As long as you're enjoying what you're doing. When I started out I just knew that I'd never dink around with long gun stuff. Loading for hand gun must have got boring. I ended up doing .223, 6.5 Swede, .30-06 (for Garand) .30 Carbine and .30-30. Now I feel like a person just need to go where the hobby takes them.
RE: loading.223. I took a suggestion from a member that the 1in7 twist in our ARs might be better suited to heavier bullets than 55gr. I got some RMR 69gr BPHP bullets. Both the wife and I are getting inside an inch at 100 yds. But the funnest part was watching her smash 5 clay targets, in a row, on the back berm that's a few yards further than a 100.

I've read that the heavier bullets are better suited for 1:7 so I've got some 62gr for it. I've got a bit of the 55gr too, but just the 1:7 upper right now. I might look into 77gr later too.