KY boy new to reloading. Would like to learn from someone with experience!
- Thread starter rpv623
- Start date
my advice is to catch up with someone at your local range, preferably a benchrest shooter and also read, read, read as much info as you can. youtube also has alot of very good informative videos. Reloading takes minutes to learn but handloading takes years to master...good luck
Hi Ryan, most reloading manuals walk you through it if you are a carefull reader. Dies come with setup instructions that are pretty simple to understand. It would be reassuring to get a little help getting started so you may ask around your town at the gun shops or any gunsmith in your area for who's doing it. If you can find someone close it will be more convenient for both of you when questions come up.
+1 on lmmike. Never consider starting reloading without 1, or more, quality reloading manuals. Most good ones have very good instructions on "Getting started".
do you know if there are any benchrest competitions in your area. this is a good place to get a wealth of knowledge and meet new friends. I once met the late gunsmith/author Bob Jourdan here in oklahoma. That man taught me more in 1hr. than i had learned in 2 years. He also introduced me to Precision Shooting Magaizine which was another avenue for knowledge.
Your first and most impactive purchase should be Lyman's 49th reloading manual. I bought this manual while I was still trying to decide which type of press setup to purchase. Lyman's is a wealth of knowledege and will answer all of the basic beginner reloading questions. Plus Lyman's has a huge library of caliber load data that I have found to be pretty close to my end results (as far as advertised velocities).
http://www.amazon.com/Lyman-49th-Edition-Reloading-Handbook/dp/B001MYEU0E/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1417353460&sr=1-1&keywords=lyman+reloading+book
You won't better spend 18 bucks anywhere else ! Your next decision will be what type of press setup you need. Watch Youtube vids on single stage, turret, and progressive press setups and make your best decision. (I only advise you stay away from a progressive setup initially as it will be very frustrating for the beginner handloader to get functioning correctly). I purchased a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme single stage kit off Ebay for $300 minus a $50 rebate, so my net cost was $250. I also purchased a good set of dial calipers, and some misc stuff like Dillon Terminator digital scale, Lee case trimmer arbors and a powder trickler. This will get you up and running nicely for precision target. Then of course as you have more specific questions, ask away, there is a wealth of expert advice (myself excluded, i'm still just an amateur reloader LOL ). Good luck, and ALWAYS remember this when you get overwhelmed and frustrated..... have PATIENTS reloading and stay calm, or stop and take a break and pick up again tomorrow. If you load aggravated things go very wrong and that could be potentially deadly !
http://www.amazon.com/Lyman-49th-Edition-Reloading-Handbook/dp/B001MYEU0E/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1417353460&sr=1-1&keywords=lyman+reloading+book
You won't better spend 18 bucks anywhere else ! Your next decision will be what type of press setup you need. Watch Youtube vids on single stage, turret, and progressive press setups and make your best decision. (I only advise you stay away from a progressive setup initially as it will be very frustrating for the beginner handloader to get functioning correctly). I purchased a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme single stage kit off Ebay for $300 minus a $50 rebate, so my net cost was $250. I also purchased a good set of dial calipers, and some misc stuff like Dillon Terminator digital scale, Lee case trimmer arbors and a powder trickler. This will get you up and running nicely for precision target. Then of course as you have more specific questions, ask away, there is a wealth of expert advice (myself excluded, i'm still just an amateur reloader LOL ). Good luck, and ALWAYS remember this when you get overwhelmed and frustrated..... have PATIENTS reloading and stay calm, or stop and take a break and pick up again tomorrow. If you load aggravated things go very wrong and that could be potentially deadly !
I just did a google search "shooting competition Owenton, ky and a number of hits.
most sporting clays, etc, however, these shooters will know rifle and pistol shooters, check one of the clubs out and ask around.
also local gun stores who sell reloading supplies will know who the "buyers" are and most likely the better qualified ones. check with them. see if they know a gunsmith in the area, they will know the shooters as well.
Bob
most sporting clays, etc, however, these shooters will know rifle and pistol shooters, check one of the clubs out and ask around.
also local gun stores who sell reloading supplies will know who the "buyers" are and most likely the better qualified ones. check with them. see if they know a gunsmith in the area, they will know the shooters as well.
Bob
Redding sells an instructional DVD that is really good if you learn visually. Reading how it is done works for most people but seeing it done has advantages.
Unless I knew someone, I wouldn't learn from a stranger I met at the range. I'd rather take my chances with the DVD and the manuals first.
Unless I knew someone, I wouldn't learn from a stranger I met at the range. I'd rather take my chances with the DVD and the manuals first.
rpv623 said:
About 150 miles or 2 hours and 15 minutes away in Leitchfield KY live two of the nation's top Benchrest shooters, Bart Sauter and Billy Stevens.
Bart was recently inducted into the Benchrest Hall of Fame. Here's his site: http://www.bartsbullets.com/products/barts.html Give him a call.
You might be able to drive down, watch them practice, and ask a few questions.
Both, are Army veterans, and real gentleman.
Oh, here's Billy's site too: http://stevensaccuracy.com/html/benchrest.html
I sent you a pm.
Hey Ryan. One only needs some basic knowledge of reloading with a focus on safety. Not to worry, it's not rocket science. You can spend much more, but the inexpensive and current Lee Modern Reloading Book 2nd Edition will get you going in the right direction quickly. It's straight forward and they don't try to force their products down your throat. I'm sure I'll get ripped on for stating that but oh well. Good luck, have fun and be safe. Southeast MO boy myself. Love KY Lake.
Brians356
Silver $$ Contributor
In addition to all the good advice above, I recommend folks start by firing a box of factory ammo in their gun, then reloading that once-fired brass, rather than starting by buying new unfired brass. It makes the initial reloading experience a bit simpler, and most books' narratives assume you are literally "reloading" anyway. Like anything else, after you go through the process once, it no longer seems daunting, and you'll find the more advanced techniques are grasped more easily. I can learn from books, and the more books the better, but there's really no substitute for having someone walk you through it, if possible.
GSPV
A failure to plan is a plan for failure.
Bluegrass Sportsman's League is close to you as well.
I shoot at Miami Rifle and Pistol some, but I live closer to Dayton.
I'd be happy to work with you if you don't find someone closer. I work with a friend that lives in the Hamptons all the time. Skype and FaceTime are awesome.
Depending on what you are reloading for, metallic cartridge reloading can be pretty simple or it can be very, very detailed.
Greg J
I shoot at Miami Rifle and Pistol some, but I live closer to Dayton.
I'd be happy to work with you if you don't find someone closer. I work with a friend that lives in the Hamptons all the time. Skype and FaceTime are awesome.
Depending on what you are reloading for, metallic cartridge reloading can be pretty simple or it can be very, very detailed.
Greg J
I have had 4 reloading mentors. And one of them was an idiot, glad I picked up on that quickly. I have been shooting for 20+ years. As I look back on it I would shoot factory until I found a range buddy who could give me some pointers, that is what I pretty much did. Try to find someone at the range who knows how to shoot real well, with nice rifles. This is the guy/gal you want as a mentor.
I started real slow. Just one caliber for the first 5 years. Learned a lot just working with just one caliber. To me calibers are like women, focus on just one at a time, if you focus on too many you will never figure it out. What appear to be little changes can be very significant to the big picture. One caliber is expensive enough. I use Redding and Forster. I own just about every reloading book/CD and quite a few reloading manuals. All of the reloading manuals (Sierra, Berger, Lee, Lyman, etc..) have very good knowledge sections as well. And I call up the bullet makers and supply companies on a regular basis with my questions no matter how dumb they might appear to be. Thru the years the folks at Redding and Sinclair have helped me a lot. Last, reloading might not be rocket science but it is very easy to screw up and get hurt or wreck stuff, like reloading dies. I personally know 2 reloaders who have screwed up and blew up guns. Be careful, reloading is not for everyone. Be careful, reloading is not for everyone.
I started real slow. Just one caliber for the first 5 years. Learned a lot just working with just one caliber. To me calibers are like women, focus on just one at a time, if you focus on too many you will never figure it out. What appear to be little changes can be very significant to the big picture. One caliber is expensive enough. I use Redding and Forster. I own just about every reloading book/CD and quite a few reloading manuals. All of the reloading manuals (Sierra, Berger, Lee, Lyman, etc..) have very good knowledge sections as well. And I call up the bullet makers and supply companies on a regular basis with my questions no matter how dumb they might appear to be. Thru the years the folks at Redding and Sinclair have helped me a lot. Last, reloading might not be rocket science but it is very easy to screw up and get hurt or wreck stuff, like reloading dies. I personally know 2 reloaders who have screwed up and blew up guns. Be careful, reloading is not for everyone. Be careful, reloading is not for everyone.
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