Reloading-Where to start?

[Dlee]

New to this forum, very new to reloading, ordered some Lee equipment to slowly start gathering parts to start. I am wanting to do 45 ACP for now. I picked up the Complete reloading manual for 45 ACP, watched a few videos online. Should I start looking for brass first? Large or small primer, I want to do more shooting, more training, recommendations on bullet? Grains, 230?
Thanks for any advice for a newbie reloader

 

[piie]

You would probably be advised by the majority of long standing members of this forum to get a mentor to assist you in the beginning stages of reloading. Although that may be difficult in the current situation of isolation, it would probably remain the best advise - even though it would not be what you would want to hear. Wait untill someone can sit with you, or until you can sit with someone so you can see the actual process first hand. In the mean time, read your manuals, and look for good video tutorials.

 

[rwj]

Welcome, you've made a great start by joining this forum and have already received good input! When in doubt, ask questions. You’ve already stated that you’re new and most members replies will be according. If you’re reluctant to post questions, you may find answers to many of them via the site’s search function.

 

[rkittine]

Get yourself a good General Reloading Manual like the Lyman. The front chapters will help fill you in. Also as someone said above, find a mentor, maybe at your local gun club.

Loading pistol rounds take less work than what you will hear on this site regarding loading for long range target shooting.

The three areas of concern on the .45 are that case length as the case headspaces on the case mouth since it is rimes, the powder type that you use, as some loads would not show up so easily if you double charge and a tapered crimp again due to the headspacing on the case mouth unless you are shooting 45 ACP out of a revolver with Half Moon Clips.

Bob

 

[R.Morehouse]

I have not loaded for pistol. If I was going to start I think I would choose a quality brass and buy a few hundred rounds of it loaded from the factory. You may find that the loaded rounds cost a small fraction more than the new brass. If that ammo shoots well, you will have quality brass and a good idea of what bullet to start with......Welcome to the site....

Regards
Rick

 

[bsekf]

Buy a good reloading manual... Berger, Nosler, Sierra.... and read it, all of it. Lot of good information about the reloading procedure and each one approaches it differently.

You said 45 APC, be sure and buy a carbide sizing die when you get your die set. Those manuals will tell you why.

Bill

 

[Chuckhunter]

All of the advice you have received so far is very good, definitely read a good manual. Since it may be difficult to find a mentor, try going to You Tube and typing in reloading 45 ACP, watch several videos and you'll see how each person develops their own procedure but the end result is basically the same. You could start with this one and goo from there.

Good Luck and don't be afraid to ask specific questions.

 

[Steve Ladino]

Don't be overly concerned with headspace as to overall case length. A taper crimp will pretty much negate the case mouth contact and the bullet ( 200 grain lead wadcutter ) will be at or barely into the lands when the slide is forward.
Any case length will be OK assuming it hasn't been shortened. The extractor will hold the case otherwise. These details pertain to the 1911 model 45 ACP. Overall cartridge lengths can vary from pistol to pistol. You will need to fine tune your 45 ammo to your pistol's magazine and the various recoil springs, slide and hammer strut.

 

[Falfan2017]

I started by reading the ABCs of reloading cover you cover. Just beware this is a slippery slope. Next thing you know you have $12,000 worth of equipment to save a few bucks on ammo.

 

[Rsadams]

I started reloading for pistol and moved on to rifle and shotgun... The easiest way is to buy a few reloading manuals and read the first part on reloading... Pistol is not hard.... I wouldn't buy bulk brass , you will end up with plenty from range pick ups etc... Buy you a few boxes and shoot them saving the brass... You can reload them a ton especially if you're not hot loading them and there's no reason to do that for practice ammo...

There's plenty of good pistol loading videos on YouTube... I didn't have anyone to help me so I learned by reading , watching and practicing the steps one by one on junk brass long before I loaded a round... Just make sure you do it by the rules and you will not have a problem... Check and recheck everything everytime... Never have more than one powder on your bench etc... Safety is your main concern... Reloading is a safe hobby , reloading is not a fast hobby and you never master it you just get better....

Right now it's hard to get components because of this crazy going on... This makes it a perfect time to learn because it won't always be like this... I will suggest this , try and find a powder that if there's a double charge will over flow the case... That makes a little more insurance against that happening... So for you beginning stay away from powder like Tite group that use a very small charge weight... There's a few good tips we can give you but it's harder for us to tell you not knowing what bullets your going to use etc...

Edit... If it were me I would use large primer brass because even now you can find it... Other than that it's personal preference... Small primers get gobbled up fast because that's what people use in .380 , 9mm etc... Feel free to post whatever questions you have and we will answer them for you... We all were right were your at at one time.... Just take your time... Practice now on some junk brass , get your loading stuff together , dies , tumblers etc and let the rest of the world fight over everything else while you learn....

 

[Jody Simcox]

I would say purchase several entry level reloading books and manuals. Read carefully, then read again. You will start to gain an idea of what equipment you’ll want to acquire (generally and specifically). If you become passionate about your loading (as these folks have), you’ll quickly move beyond these books. One day you’ll be able to pass them on to a new reloader!

 

[gambleone]

New to this forum, very new to reloading, ordered some Lee equipment to slowly start gathering parts to start. I am wanting to do 45 ACP for now. I picked up the Complete reloading manual for 45 ACP, watched a few videos online. Should I start looking for brass first? Large or small primer, I want to do more shooting, more training, recommendations on bullet? Grains, 230?
Thanks for any advice for a newbie reloader

Welcome, you've gotten some excellent advise already, most of it pertaining to studying your reloading manuals. Please don't make the mistake of just skimming through your manuals trying to rush things along.
Reloading is serious and should not be hurried - Period.
Take your time & the quality of your loads will improve. Targets will prove it.
Good luck.

 

[2506]

I have been hand loading for 41 years. When I started you could actually save money by doing it but it took a while to work out the cost of equipment. These days don't plan on saving any money by hand loading unless you are loading a thousand or more rounds of practice ammo a week or quite a good number of hollow point self defense/hunting ammo because you probably will not live long enough to make up the price of the equipment. Components these days are not cheap like they once were. If you are not hand loading seeking for the best accuracy possible you are actually wasting time and money. With that said let add this. If you are going to be hand loading I suggest that you purchase QUALITY tools. Pay once, cry once. Some things that Lee has are OK for longevity but others are not and some are just plain junk. Lee dies in my experience are good to go. One of the BEST things they have come up with is the Lee Factory Crimp Die. This makes ammo run like water through semi auto's in my experience. The aluminum frame Lee presses are not very good. They will wear out and they also flex. Get a good steel frame press. The Lee powder scale is junk get a good scale. Get a good powder measure RCBS or Lyman. I would also get a good hand priming tool. The old no longer made Lee was great and I still have one that I use. The new "improved" Lee screwed up a good thing. If I was to purchase a priming tool these days I would get a Frankfort Arsenal. As has been said I would get a good manual and I probably would get the Sierra myself. Best way to get cases is to purchase Winchester, Remington or Federal which ever I could get the cheapest, 230 FMJ ammo and keep the cases after you shoot it up. These are just a few suggestions.

 

[drano38]

Reloading .45 auto is fairly straight forward -- buy several reloading manuals/books, watch videos, ask here.
Be careful, check everything twice.
What is your intended use? Plinking? Action Pistol like USPSA or IDPA? Bowling pin shoots? That can affect bullet choice.
I did USPSA, and shot thousands of lead cast 200 grain semi wad cutters.
Large primers would be my recommendation since its the normal size.
I like having all the same brand of brass. Buy some low priced Federal or UMC (Remington) that you think you'll be able to get more of in the future.
Decide what you'll do with the pistol, and select components based on that.

 

[Falfan2017]

New to this forum, very new to reloading, ordered some Lee equipment to slowly start gathering parts to start. I am wanting to do 45 ACP for now. I picked up the Complete reloading manual for 45 ACP, watched a few videos online. Should I start looking for brass first? Large or small primer, I want to do more shooting, more training, recommendations on bullet? Grains, 230?
Thanks for any advice for a newbie reloader

I started with a bunch of lee equipment. Their 4 station classic turret press is nice.
Stay far away from their progressive machines they are extremely frustrating.

 

[Cecil S.]

Welcome to the Form. Some great advice has been given here. Keep an eye on the buy and sell on this site a newbie can save some bucks on good equipment. The rabbit hole has no bottom!

 

[F Class John]

The only thing I can add to all the great advice above is that the first shot is the scariest. After you take your first shot of ammo that you carefully and safely loaded yourself and it goes where you wanted it’s a very exhilarating feeling and you will be hooked.

Oh and don’t lose focus. Whether you’ve been loading for one day or 50 years it is still very easy to make a stupid mistake so don’t get complacent in your reloading.

 

[divingin]

Everything above, and I'll add:

Read and reread the manuals or textbooks (ABC's of Reloading by C. Rodney James is good) until you understand not only each step of the loading process, but also the reasons for the step. Try to get a handle on what can possibly go wrong at each step, and how to recognize those errors. You won't be able to get everything, but the likely ones caught early (like before you shoot) will avoid a lot of grief.

 

[Big Mc]

New to this forum, very new to reloading, ordered some Lee equipment to slowly start gathering parts to start. I am wanting to do 45 ACP for now. I picked up the Complete reloading manual for 45 ACP, watched a few videos online. Should I start looking for brass first? Large or small primer, I want to do more shooting, more training, recommendations on bullet? Grains, 230?
Thanks for any advice for a newbie reloader

Don't be afraid to ask questions.. Plenty of folks here to help. Welcome. Tommy Mc

 

[Bill Norris]

Hand loading may not be cheap these days but it is very rewarding to load and shoot your own ammo. Safety is always number 1. Never take ANYTHING for granted. ALWAYS inspect your components. Read and study. Ask questions here. There is a wealth of info in these guys heads and they don't mind sharing. Great to have another hand loader among us. Stay safe and have fun.