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Help out a newbie please

Nobody has mentioned my main reason to find a mentor. I, like most that would mentor you, has lots of stuff sitting around just waiting to give it to the next guy wanting to get started. I have enough stuff to get many newbies started- most reloaders do. And the more advanced they are the better stuff you get. I gave away a dillon scale, a lyman dps, a rock chucker, redding powder drop, a large flat rate box of once fired brass and decent dies plus a whole toolbox of stuff from cleaning equipment to case prep to the last guy i got going. I cant think of many reloaders that dont have stuff sitting. Go to a range with some factory ammo and look for the guy NOT shooting factory ammo and become friends
 
I am seeing alot of different prices posted and all of them or/can be correct.... You can reload on a budget , or you can go big....
I will say this , around Xmas Cabela's normally before the buy out puts their rockchuker supreme kit on sale for around $265... That's a great deal especially if their a store near you... That's how I got started years ago and I still use some of the things out of the kit... Yes you will upgrade over time but that kit will get you going no problem... You might stay with it forever it just depends...
Last year i bought a Dillon and have loved everything about it but I still use the rcbs press for large rifle were there's only two dies or just de-capping etc... It in no way was a throw away cost... I still after all these years am using the Cabela's brand tumbler , it was cheap but it's been a heck of a deal... The one thing I bought and hated since day one was a Lyman case trimmer , I upgraded a few years ago to the Forster trimmer and love it... In reality you don't need alot of high dollar stuff especially if you're not competing.... In the uncertain time of the upcoming election I would spend the bulk of my money on primers , powder and bullets that can disappear off shelves in a few days depending on election results....
 
The Mentor suggestion is a very good one . I started by joining a Club that had a decent Shooting Range. Look around at guys who are shooting small groups and have well cared for Equipment . Make friends and ask Questions . Chances are Shooters are a friendly group and someone will take you under his wing . Good Luck !
 
Nobody has mentioned my main reason to find a mentor. I, like most that would mentor you, has lots of stuff sitting around just waiting to give it to the next guy wanting to get started. I have enough stuff to get many newbies started- most reloaders do.

This is the truth. We all started with that "kit". Then we got this upgrade, that upgrade, and few of the other upgrades. I just gave a press, some dies, brass, powder, and some bullets to a new loader last month. It's great to get a call from him with texted pictures of "look what I did". It bring JOY to my heart.

Some one did it for me... so I will do it for the next guy.

Find someone local, and that is time well spent.
 
So here's my useful version of a reply. I apologize but going from zero to precision handloading in two years, I still have some appreciation for coming into this game absolutely new.

(I will use the term handload because reloading is just handloading with a used piece of brass, and handloaders going for accuracy prefer used brass)

I have four loading manuals with very good front matter about the handloading / reloading process. Lyman, Nosler, Hornady, and Lee all have decent instructional content. No two will tell you the same steps, because each has their own starting process and not all cartridges are hand loaded the same way. Lee tend to be focused on low cost, Lyman and Hornady on accuracy on a budget, and Nosler maybe a bit more oriented toward hunters. I found their different reloading processes to be confusing until I got familiar with them.

Anyway, if you share what cartridge(s) you intend to load, we can probably agree on some basic steps that will work for that cartridge. I load for my 6PPC and 6BRA. The bare minimum process is to size the brass and push out the old primer, load a new primer, fill with the correct measure of powder, and seat the chosen bullet.

Any other processes serve to make the basic steps go better / more consistently or to maintain the brass as it withstands multiple firings. Trimming, cleaning, uniforming, annealing, sorting, full length sizing, etc etc each have their place depending how many times you reload a piece of brass and how uniform (accurate) you want the ammo to be. These supporting methods really do vary depending on the cartridge. The value of these supporting methods vary with the distance you'll be shooting and the level of effort you want to invest in obtaining accuracy.

I started with an RCBS "Supreme Master" kit. The Lyman and Hornady kits look similarly good. They tend to have great discounts this time of year if you watch for them. If you're looking to load modern rifle cartridges accurately, it's a very good start. I immediately bought a Chargemaster Lite scale, which really helped because a manual scale is useful but when its your only scale, slows you down greatly. I also recommend immediately buying a good dial calipers and a base-to-ogive measuring kit and base-to-shoulder measuring kit. The Hornady Lock-and-load kit is very good for the money.

People will tell you that you'll re-buy most of the tools you started with and this is true. As you slide down the rabbit hole, you'll upgrade tools for either more speed, more precise results, or both. But it should not turn you off, because the basic kit parts remain useful in their own way for a long time.
 
get a good log book, Boorum & Pease and keep logs..mistakes you made, loads, methods, targets good & bad,, but keep a log book log ething you do
 
A great place to find a mentor is at a local F class or benchrest match (or other types of matches, but those two will be more precision rifle minded). Everyone there will be a reloader. Talk to some of the guys - they'll be eager to help. Just make sure you don't interrupt someone who's shooting/scoring/preparing - the pace of a typical match can be brisk. Wait for a time when guys are BSing, or show up early while people are still registering.
 
Nobody has mentioned my main reason to find a mentor. I, like most that would mentor you, has lots of stuff sitting around just waiting to give it to the next guy wanting to get started. I have enough stuff to get many newbies started- most reloaders do. And the more advanced they are the better stuff you get. I gave away a dillon scale, a lyman dps, a rock chucker, redding powder drop, a large flat rate box of once fired brass and decent dies plus a whole toolbox of stuff from cleaning equipment to case prep to the last guy i got going. I cant think of many reloaders that dont have stuff sitting. Go to a range with some factory ammo and look for the guy NOT shooting factory ammo and become friends
Ain't that the truth. I've got a bunch of stuff that's too good to throw away but not worth the effort to sell.
 
I am brand new to this. Have been around shooting sports my whole life but never re loaded. Starting to build some rifles and want to learn about re loading. Is there a book or manual that you would recommend starting with? Also, what is my initial investment on equipment?Thanks for any suggestions.
What caliber will you be reloading I have a set of 6.5x284 Norma dies I would give you
 
Youtube videos are free. I have a few people i like for reloading depending on what your into.
1. Johnny's reloading bench for basic assembly of cartridges and charge testing.
2. If your into casting then fortuencookie45lc is a great guy to watch. He does a lot of casting and includes powder coating gas checking and testing of those reloaded rounds.
3. General gun stuff to include reloading and working on guns gunblue490. He is videos cover everything from a restoration of a 7.7 jap to gun stock repair and making reloads.

If you have nothing right now i would recommend the book
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1571573712/?tag=accuratescom-20

If you have a favorite bullet brand buy thier book on reloading. If not i recommend the Lyman 50th manual.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H2JD6CK/?tag=accuratescom-20

If you plan to cast or reload cast bullets then an additional resource would be
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004DWBKQY/?tag=accuratescom-20
I would also highly recommend you check out castboolits web page for a huge amount of information. If your reloading for an old war relic like the 7.7 like i am, you may want to look in the older manuals for loads that no longer are published. Note that powder formulations have and can change, but they at least give you a starting place.

Now that your brain is about to explode and you desire to no longer read another word check out the NewB post on this site for a guide to recommended equipment. Based on your reading you should already have a great idea of what you need and the authors make some recommendations on what they like for equipment and why.
 
You can get going with a set up that will produce good ammo for under $500. many of the brass prep and cleaning operations will be manual, but it is a good way to start slow and learn what is right to do. Check out Panhandle Precision on Youtube. He has multiple series on how to produce good quality ammo.
 
You can get going with a set up that will produce good ammo for under $500. many of the brass prep and cleaning operations will be manual, but it is a good way to start slow and learn what is right to do. Check out Panhandle Precision on Youtube. He has multiple series on how to produce good quality ammo.
I agree panhandle makes great videos. You will never catch him using cheap equipment.
 

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