Getting started.

[montana]

Just getting into handloading for rifles(30-06 for starters). I have some hand-me-down equipment, and need some 'basics' advice. (I have gone as far as de-priming/sizing a couple cases)
I already have:
- home-made single stage press.
- rcbs shell holder
- rcbs dies.
- rcbs beam scale.
- rcbs de-burr tool.`
- powder trickler
- lube-pad.
- home made primer inserter?(in press)
- rifle primers (10 yrs old or more)
- some powders " .
- shell sorting tray?
What are the necessites, and what can one get away without? Local suppliers? Brands to stay away from? Major no-no's?

I do need a good how-to book or video, I have a sierra manual. Is there such thing as a handloading course available in the L.M.? I have a room put aside for loading.
Any in-put appreciated. Montana.

[Cariboo]

Originally Posted by montana

Just getting into handloading for rifles(30-06 for starters). I have some hand-me-down equipment, and need some 'basics' advice. (I have gone as far as de-priming/sizing a couple cases)
I already have:
- home-made single stage press.
- rcbs shell holder
- rcbs dies.
- rcbs beam scale.
- rcbs de-burr tool.`
- powder trickler
- lube-pad.
- home made primer inserter?(in press)
- rifle primers (10 yrs old or more)
- some powders " .
- shell sorting tray?
What are the necessites, and what can one get away without? Local suppliers? Brands to stay away from? Major no-no's?

I do need a good how-to book or video, I have a sierra manual. Is there such thing as a handloading course available in the L.M.? I have a room put aside for loading.
Any in-put appreciated. Montana.

It looks like you have a good start.

A few items that are needed are:

A set of calipers that measure to .001". The electronic ones at Canadian Tire that go on sale from time to time are just as accurate as my more expensive RCBS ones and will work OK for what you need them for.

You need a way to trim the cases to length as they grow after resizing. The Lee trimmer works well if you are only loading for one or two cartridges.

You need a couple of permanent Sharpie markers for writing notations on the cases as you work up loads.


A notebook to keep track of your data as you develop loads.


What powders do you have? Also what make and type of rifle primers do you have?

[srupp]

Great list hopefully I am not still sick when Wholesale opens in Kamloops I too have to pick up the whole works again.. ..oh well there is enough help here to spend my wifes money on reloading setup..

Steven

[Luckynuts]

Hey montana,

For the extra insurance I would replace your 10 yr old primers with new ones they come in packs of 100 for 3$. Not saying they won't work as I reloaded all my last season rounds with 2 yr old primers and only had one dud at the range most likely due to me handling it or something But you never know what may have happened in the last 10 yrs or so with those ones.

Best of luck, reloading is very enjoyable and gives you a feel of acomplishment when you see your groups shrink and velocities increase

W.

[savagewsm]

Buy the 48th edition of the Lyman reloading book. Read the how to section a few times. It is and excellent and well written explaination with good photos showing the stages. If you can find an experience reloader to mentor you a bit that is an excellent way to learn.

Reloading is an awesome way to enhance you enjoyment of shooting and hunting but please be cautious because improper practices can lead to trajedy. Take your time and follow your manuals religiously do not use word of mouth or any other non official sources. ( eg: internet sites that are not company sponsored )

You might want to pick up a new press ( even a cheap Lee one ) the homemade one may be fine but proper allignment of the ram to the die is very important.

P.S. I.ve been doing this for about 30 years so if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer. Just PM

[montana]

Cariboo, the powders I have are Dupont Imr 4895, and 3031. Label says 1981. Primers are CCI 200 large. I'm guessing about the same age. As luckynuts pointed out, maybe I should dispose of this old stuff? I'll start looking for the other tools. What about a 'pocket' cleaner? Is this a must have?

Hey savage thanks for the info. Would the 47th edition be ok, or is it outdated?

You might want to pick up a new press ( even a cheap Lee one ) the homemade one may be fine but proper allignment of the ram to the die is very important.

What press would you recomend, there are many to choose from.

[savagewsm]

Should be fine. The only difference is that it may not have loading info for some of the newer rounds like the WSM's

As for presses it depends on your budget. I'd reccomend a single stage to begin with ( thats what i use )

Top $ RCBS rock chucker ( you'll have it for life )
Low end Lee challenger

My tools list ( I have Lyman )
1) Press
2) scale
3) trimmer
4) primer cleaner/deburring tool
5) tumbler
6) digital calipers ( .001" capable Can tire )
7) lube pad
8) hand primer seater RCBS
9) many manuals
10) dies ( i like RCBS but I use lee carbide for pistols )

I'm old school and do everything by hand. Don't like progressive systems or powder dispensers. I weigh every load. Slow but no mistakes

I have a pretty basic set up and I can produce very good ammo. Much better than factory but it takes a lot of attention to detail. You can find some good deals on dies on Gunnutz on the EE forum. Usually half price from new.

[the rifleman]

Add a powder funnel to your "need to get" list. I suppose any small kitchen funnel would work, but you'll need a funnel. Pouring powder out of the scale pan could be tricky. A primer pocket cleaner is a handy tool to have, but you could fabricate something to do the job.

If your using once fired shells, or new brass, you can likely get away without trimming them. The calipers will tell the tale. The calipers are needed for measuring the case length, as well as to check in case expansion, and cartridge overall length. The digitals are nice, but cost a little more.

Primers can and do last a long time if stored correctly, as do powders. You can always do the sniff test of your powders. If it smells very acidic it should be tossed. Some powders look like they are a rusty color when they go bad as well.

If you know what bullets you plan on using, such as Nosler, they have manuals that have specific loads for their bullets, as well as a wealth of info on the loading steps, case inspection, etc. Reliable had Noslers latest, last time I was there.

I'd be happy to go over the basics with you when you are ready to start, just give me a call.

[Undergrad]

As cariboo mentioned the Lee trimmer is a cheap way to go. 6 bucks. The Lee primer pocket cleaner does both small and large, 5 bucks.

I haven't read the Lyman book savage mentioned, but I found the Modern Reloading - second edition - by Richard Lee to be a wealth of information. This book seems to get into the "science" of hand loading. A buddy of mine bought this book, the Speer book, and the ABC's of reloading. He even said the Lee book was the most detailed.

The Speer book, I would update, it has the reduced loads listed. I don't know much about the rest of the reload books on this.

[Kevin]

A few things I would add to all the great suggestions above:

- a pair of good safety glasses to use whenever you are handling primers or powder, or seating bullets. This is important. You don't want a tray of primers going off without anything covering your eyes.

- shellholder - I'm cheap and just use an old foot-long piece of 2X4 with a bunch of not-so-neat countersunk holes in it, works just fine.

- powder trickler - I have one, but I don't use it - I use an old piece of brass, with a filled-in primer pocket. Works better than a trickler IMO.

- use old plastic margarine/yogurt containers for sorting brass - label them to make sure you keep lubed and cleanded brass separate.

I use the Lee Challenger press, it has worked just fine for me, so far, but, I'm not a very high volume reloader.

You can also search around on the web, and some bullet and powder manufacturers make some of their reloading data available for free. It's great to have a whole bunch of reloading manuals, but that can get a bit $$$.

Good luck!

[Hunter_Jed]

As far as reloading manuals go, I have given up on spending too much money on something I can get for free!! There is a link on this site for about 8 different sites where you can get your info for free! Print them off and stick them in a binder. Voila caliber specific reloading manuals for free!!

Oh ya also, My preference for dies is the hornady competition grade. Inexpensive, and the seating die is AWSOME

[slopeshunter]

Hey guys, lots of great info. One question, whenever I saw reference to a pair of calipers it seemed to reference needing more than one pair of them. Do you need more than one pair, or just one that measures to 0.001?

tks

[308BAR]

Originally Posted by Hunter_Jed

As far as reloading manuals go, I have given up on spending too much money on something I can get for free!! There is a link on this site for about 8 different sites where you can get your info for free! Print them off and stick them in a binder. Voila caliber specific reloading manuals for free!!

Hunter jed correct about the reloading resources online. There are some great ones out there and there are sites that you have to take with a grain of salt so exercise caution. I'd like to add that Barnes bullets are a little bit different than your regular lead core bullets (higher preassure), you may want to go to their site for details and look through their reloading manual.

Good Luck.

[Cariboo]

Originally Posted by slopeshunter

Hey guys, lots of great info. One question, whenever I saw reference to a pair of calipers it seemed to reference needing more than one pair of them. Do you need more than one pair, or just one that measures to 0.001?

tks

One will be fine.