Rabbit Hole

[SxS]

Hello everyone from Taxachusetts,

New to the site and wanted to introduce myself.
After viewing, decided I would join in.
Been shooting and hunting now for more than 40 years.
Started shotshell reloading when I was 14 and been reloading shotshells ever since.
So, 90% of my shooting is shotgun.
Last couple of years, I had a renewed interest in pistol and rifle. Went on a buying spree and filled up 2 medium sized safes.(I enjoy collecting too). I sold some guns to support my fishing habit. Wish I had a couple of those back!

So now, while I have plenty of components to keep me shooting shotgun, the factory rifle and pistol ammo dried up.
So, I decided it was time to start a new hobby.
Always had an interest in metallic cartridge, but did not have the need.
That said, I purchased an RCBS Rebel Master kit.
Did a bunch of reading on the subject, and did some surfing on the inter-web.
This is going to be far more complicated and involved than shotshell. Even expanding my vocabulary(ogive!)
Found out to do this correctly and safely, I needed to buy a lot of other items. So I did. And it is a long list.
I still have one or two things on my list of what I feel are necessary. An annealer, cocentric gauge, and a chronograph.

Anyway, I am excited to start(when I feel I am ready), and looking to possibly add another rifle to the collection when and if things settle down.(6.5 Creedmoor).

For now I plan on staring with my .17 Remington BDL. Then with my 7MM-08. Squeeze in some 9mm and .45(all 1911s), and maybe some '06 for the Garand.
Now if I can just find some primers(at a reasonable price)! Lol.

I hope to find some good advise here. My interest is in staying safe, not damage any valuable firearms, and not hurt myself or anyone else in the process.

Gary

 

[Bill Norris]

And your title statement is as accurate as any load u may ever put together. LOL. But, it's a lot of fun and this is the place to learn how to stay safe, not damage any valuable firearms, and not hurt yourself or anyone else in the process.

 

[OKyote73]

My advice would be start with the 7/08 as the little 17's are a bit more unforgiving on powder, just to get some experience first. Then give that 17 a go! You won't mash any fingers on that 7mms too!

 

[LHSmith]

Welcome, ask questions, have fun, but I wouldn't sell your fishing stuff just in case.

 

[tsyarnall]

It’s a very, very deep hole!!!

 

[jackson1]

SxS, its a long deep hole with many gateways into other holes. Enjoy the journey. Remember at the end of the day, its your money and your choice. Many fine people here to give you good advice.

 

[ronsatspokane]

It can go deep but really only if you get into precision shooting sports and start trying to ring the last ounce of accuracy out of your loads. To me shotgun reloading can be more complicated than basic metallic cartridge reloading. With shotgun you need to find the specific wad for the specific case for the specific shot diameter and weight and the specific powder you want to use. Get one thing wrong and you start having crimps open up or worse.

By basic metallic reloading, I mean loading something like 30-30 for hunting. You already have the brass and it does not vary like shotshells cases do. Pick the bullet and powder, start at the lower half of the documented load range and seat the bullet to SAMMI specs. Go shoot. Taking it to the next level is like stepping off a cliff however.

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Another man done gone ...lol

 

[PigButtons]

Welcome to the site! You are always welcome here. I know the feeling of wanting to be safe, I've only been hand loading for 12 years, so it is still a cause for caution whenever I load a new cartridge. Like others have said, stay at the low end of the published loads to begin with, learn as you go, and stay on this site to learn from the masters.

 

[cw308]

Now is a tuff time to get into reloading do to the shortages . Follow the load books .

 

[K22]

Get a copy of the Lyman Reloading Handbook and read it thoroughly - it will start you in the correct direction.

Reloading for rifle is not that difficult if you follow the basic procedures and adhere to the safety rules.

Welcome.

 

[EOD Rob]

SxS,
Welcome to the community! All the advise above is correct. Take it slow and keep it safe. Its kind of like cooking, you dont want to burn the sauce! OKyote73 had the best advise I saw! Those 17 little S##ts will get your fingers. Been there done that!

 

[dkhunt14]

Hello everyone from Taxachusetts,

New to the site and wanted to introduce myself.
After viewing, decided I would join in.
Been shooting and hunting now for more than 40 years.
Started shotshell reloading when I was 14 and been reloading shotshells ever since.
So, 90% of my shooting is shotgun.
Last couple of years, I had a renewed interest in pistol and rifle. Went on a buying spree and filled up 2 medium sized safes.(I enjoy collecting too). I sold some guns to support my fishing habit. Wish I had a couple of those back!

So now, while I have plenty of components to keep me shooting shotgun, the factory rifle and pistol ammo dried up.
So, I decided it was time to start a new hobby.
Always had an interest in metallic cartridge, but did not have the need.
That said, I purchased an RCBS Rebel Master kit.
Did a bunch of reading on the subject, and did some surfing on the inter-web.
This is going to be far more complicated and involved than shotshell. Even expanding my vocabulary(ogive!)
Found out to do this correctly and safely, I needed to buy a lot of other items. So I did. And it is a long list.
I still have one or two things on my list of what I feel are necessary. An annealer, cocentric gauge, and a chronograph.

Anyway, I am excited to start(when I feel I am ready), and looking to possibly add another rifle to the collection when and if things settle down.(6.5 Creedmoor).

For now I plan on staring with my .17 Remington BDL. Then with my 7MM-08. Squeeze in some 9mm and .45(all 1911s), and maybe some '06 for the Garand.
Now if I can just find some primers(at a reasonable price)! Lol.

I hope to find some good advise here. My interest is in staying safe, not damage any valuable firearms, and not hurt myself or anyone else in the process.

Gary

Probably alot of stuff you bought , you really didn't need. The best thing is to find a good mentor. He will save you lots of time and money. He can cut the learning curve dramatically. He can also help you save money and be safe. Matt

 

[SxS]

Thank you all.
Books I have now I am reading or read, and will reread are
Berger Bullets 1st Edition
Hornady 10th
Lyman 50th
Speer #15
I have questions. I'll post em up. BUT I have sought advice from guys are the clubs I use and It seems to me like anything else, everyone has a different way of ding things to try and get the same result.
Imagine I will develop my own process in due time.

 

[FNSafari]

Now is a tuff time to get into reloading do to the shortages . Follow the load books .

Agreed!!! Even dies and presses and scarce.

 

[SxS]

Welcome, ask questions, have fun, but I wouldn't sell your fishing stuff just in case.

NO shit!
I am having trouble finding components, mainly primers.
Frustrating. But I will always have fishing to fall back on. The way things are going I may end buying a bigger boat(similar rabbit hole).

 

[SxS]

Agreed!!! Even dies and presses and scarce.

I have bullets, brass, powder, and dies, got a nice clean bench with a new press and maybe a bunch of stuff I dont need, like a digital and analog caliper. digital and beam scale, walnut and corncob.....oh my!

 

[jasophil1]

Hello start with the 7mm08 work with it double check every thing use two reloading trays always check the primers make sure they are seated deep enough always look in the cases at powder charge see there the same good luck if you let people know some one in your area will help you on primers.

 

[lightman]

Welcome Aboard!

This Rabbit Hole is Deep!

Good advice to start with the 7-08. With your experience loading shotshells you should have a fairly painless transition to metallic cartridges.

Feel free to contribute or ask questions.

 

[jonbearman]

Make a list of everything you need to do to the brass,dont go crazy at first , and then once you clean, size, trim and chamfer inside /outside. Then one this is all done have your companenets ready, prime the cases and start by leveling your scale for powder weighing and once your powder throw gets adjusted to the exact weight of powder the book tells you, now you can start charging the cases and seating the bullets to sammi spec for now. Go shoot and repeat. Now if your loads werent shooting dont give up as different charge weights can make all the difference . up or down but start by loading 3 at the beginning load and move up in 1/2 grain increments and stop at about 1 grain form the top load, you can revisit it later. If the powder you select isnt working at all ask questions which might work better . If you want the last grain at the top learn to read pressure signs first before you go towards the top at 2 tenth increments. If your light loads are sooting the case up after shooting move up right away to the next trial load until the breach gets sealed by enough pressure which will be towards the lightest loads initially.