I was about 9 or 10 years old when my dad who was an experienced reloader, would have me "help" him reload, like doing the sizing on his 257 roberts, by the time I was reloading for myself, I was pretty comfortable with reloading, I thank my father for the head start in reloading, not to mention father/son time doesn't get much better than that. Over 50 years ago and I still remember it like it was yesterday.
Tell me about the first time you reloaded...
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It's been a few years since I started reloaded. I've been a long time shooter (like since I was a pre-teen) of various guns but never did any reloading. When I retired and at an advanced age where the sports I used to love playing just became too hard on my body to continue and precision shooting came to mind as it appealed to my tendency for attention to detail. To do precision shooting well and keep it affordable on my fixed income I started doing precision loading for just my one .308 gun (it's a caliber I used and liked when I was in the military) designated for precision shooting.
Since I've always had a talent mechanically and advanced knowledge of physics, I felt very comfortable in starting reloading and adhering to published guidelines. So I bought a Lee Challenger Reloading Kit and at the same time I searched the internet for websites (like this one) and found some quality YouTube that were/are helpful. I wish I had found this website with I first started as I feel it would have saved me some expense and got me to my goals quicker.
Though it took me a year or so to really feel like I had a good handle on what I was doing on my reloading, I found that it's really a never ending path as there's always something to learn. And that became most evident when I found this website. I wouldn't ever say my reloading is "second nature" as for me it's always a matter of focus and attention to detail. Of course, with regards to me, I'm talking about "precision reloading" and not just reloading in general. The cartridges I reload are very close to being as good as anyone else might produce . . . but NOT "perfect", so I'm still tweaking my procedures to make them better.
If I could only afford a IDOD Case Turner.
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I had the same set up but in 20 gauge. Used a hammer to punch out and seat a primer and to crimp. Took FOREVER to load a box. I'm guessing I was around 12 or 13 at the time. A neighbor gave it to me for watching his bird dogs when he was on vacation.
Robert G
Gold $$ Contributor
Keep notes on everything. I have moleskin notebooks for every firearm I reload for.
Leave index cards with status of reloading session components as you'll forget where you were when you come back to finish.
ONE powder on the bench at a time, don't ask me how I know that one.
Go ahead and upgrade your Wife's tupperware set now as you'll be stealing all of her existing stuff.
Make a dummy round with no powder or primer and check it in your firearm when you're trying new dies, brass, bullets or just reloading for a new gun.
And, like everyone else said, don't get distracted.
Leave index cards with status of reloading session components as you'll forget where you were when you come back to finish.
ONE powder on the bench at a time, don't ask me how I know that one.
Go ahead and upgrade your Wife's tupperware set now as you'll be stealing all of her existing stuff.
Make a dummy round with no powder or primer and check it in your firearm when you're trying new dies, brass, bullets or just reloading for a new gun.
And, like everyone else said, don't get distracted.
dellet
Gold $$ Contributor
I started loading by, in short terms, carefully doing everything wrong. Early 80’s, antique rifles, data was scarce. Smokeless powder in black powder cartridges, brass often formed from something else. Nothing like cutting your teeth basically wildcatting.
Didn’t matter how much care or research you put into something, that first pull of the trigger could easily be the only one you got. Even with sand bags and a string for safety, you might be turning a collectors item into garbage.
Not as crazy as it seems, but the lack of easily obtainable data and others with experience then, compared to the access we have now makes you wonder why you never had an issue.
My first issue came some 30 odd years later, loading a seemingly safe, modern cartridge, with data everywhere you look. Sub-sonic 300 Blackout. Complacency, a distraction and a double charge. Blew an AR upper to pieces.
There’s a certain pucker factor loading and shooting the first few rounds you put together and then send down range. Doesn’t hurt to hold onto that feeling just a bit for safety the rest of your days loading.
Didn’t matter how much care or research you put into something, that first pull of the trigger could easily be the only one you got. Even with sand bags and a string for safety, you might be turning a collectors item into garbage.
Not as crazy as it seems, but the lack of easily obtainable data and others with experience then, compared to the access we have now makes you wonder why you never had an issue.
My first issue came some 30 odd years later, loading a seemingly safe, modern cartridge, with data everywhere you look. Sub-sonic 300 Blackout. Complacency, a distraction and a double charge. Blew an AR upper to pieces.
There’s a certain pucker factor loading and shooting the first few rounds you put together and then send down range. Doesn’t hurt to hold onto that feeling just a bit for safety the rest of your days loading.
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
So long ago I can't hardly remember. But I think it was on my Dad's turret press. I later bought an RCBS Rock Chuker kit. Still makin ammo on that press almost 50 + years later
1967... had a Lee Loader in 303 British. The kind that used a small hammer to apply the motive force. Diapered powder. 39.5 grains of Norma 203 behind a 180 grain soft point bullet. They shot ok and I didn’t blow myself up.
As soon as I resized my first .223 case, I realized I didn’t have enough lube on it. I then got to wait 3 days for the stuck case tool before I could try again. To this day, I haven’t had to use that tool again.
nilebartram
Silver $$ Contributor
I was a little nervous my first time, 38spl, 148 wad cutters for the S&W 52. But that was nothing compared to the first time shooting one of my reloads. Did not know if I should tie a string to the trigger, put the gun in a rest. I was so relieved to see it hit the target and it was in the X ring. nilebartram
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
This is what you need to know and ALWAYS FOLLOW..... ONLY ONE CAN OF POWDER ON THE BENCH!!!!!!!!! Yes be slow and methodical. Double check every thing and write down your powder charge, primer and bullet used prior to doing any thing. Verify the it is all safe according to the manual you use. Then load a dummy round to set you seating depth...
And remember only ONE CAN OF POWDER ON THE BENCH>>> Oh I reloaded 44 mag back in 1983 on a friends Dillon 350.. First rounds I ever loaded..
And remember only ONE CAN OF POWDER ON THE BENCH>>> Oh I reloaded 44 mag back in 1983 on a friends Dillon 350.. First rounds I ever loaded..
Unsure what was the 1st. I had a Marlin 30-30, a S&W 9mm, & a Model 27 which were doing OK with factory stuff every once in a while. I got a 6.5 Jap rechambered to 6.5x257, the dies for it, an RCBS Junior, & a Lyman manual from a guy I worked with & started picking up the other tools & components here & there. There were a lot of estate auctions around that time, a lot of old pappy gunshops were still all over the place too, so it was mix & match at bare minimum with dies for all & a powder measure. When I was ready to go, he came over one night after work & watched me do the deal, gave me some pointers & I was off to a good start. It may have been some 38s & a box of 30-30s that 1st night. The pistols shot OK. The 30-30 was quick & easy... 30 gr. 3031 with 170s & 32gr. with 150s. The Jap was a learning project in frustration, but it got me started on a powder selection. It went DTFR to help finance new more exciting things. The best thing was that I could shoot a lot for cheap. Primers were a penny apiece by the 100 or less by the 1000, powder was under $10/#, 100 bullets were maybe $8, cast pistol bullets were about $4/100 or $15/500. Then the accuracy bug bit, I discovered Handloader magazine, & joined an active gun club with all kinds of activities & shooting disciplines.
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dgeesaman
Gold $$ Contributor
Sako A1 6ppc, H-322 powder, Sierra 70gr Matchkings. Using a ladder within the range from Hodgdon website.
I did not have a mentor or hands-on example, but with my engineering background and careful reading of numerous illustrated sources, I was comfortable it was done correctly. My concern came from the variety of reloading processes I saw across the sources.
I was a bit nervous but after seeing them go off cleanly without pressure signs, I was comfortable.
I did not have a mentor or hands-on example, but with my engineering background and careful reading of numerous illustrated sources, I was comfortable it was done correctly. My concern came from the variety of reloading processes I saw across the sources.
I was a bit nervous but after seeing them go off cleanly without pressure signs, I was comfortable.
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early 20's so I was invincible. Older neighbor had his press on back porch, we dipped powder into .308 cases and shot at beer cans sitting on his junk car collection and the odd crow that was foolish enough to land within sight. Bacon grease for case lube. If we ran out of empty beer cans and crows we would empty some full ones
MikeMcCasland
Team Texas F-T/R
In retrospect those first rounds were terrible; the wealth of good information available today (and the 'real talk' presentation of it here) makes things easier by orders of magnitude.
I was 18 years old living in my first apartment. I converted my kitchen table into a reloading bench. Made some 30-06 with IMR 4350 using an RCBS Barbie dream house kit of the day. My boss at the time was a reloader, but at 18 it's awkward asking your boss to mentor you on the weekends etc. I was pretty much on my own.
I remember being terrified that I was going to blow my gun or myself up, but somehow it worked. Not any better accuracy than factory ammo, but it worked. Perhaps the most important thing was just getting started.
I also remember having a sportsman's warehouse (with a reloading section) two blocks from my apartment, and wanting to shoot every combination possible. I must have put 1000 rounds down that crappy factory tube the first month LOL!
Edit:
To answer your questions...
How long before it became second nature? Not long, however I wasn't doing it "intelligently" until several years later; competitive shooting was a massive eye-opener in terms of reloading practices. I think most of us are on a never ending quest for better tooling, and better methods.
And if you think you're invested now, God help you 10-15 years from now. I heard someone at a match say this the other day, and I think it's true for a lot of us "I got to thinking the other day, I could probably pay cash for a truck with everything I have invested in this shit....like a brand new 1-ton diesel"
I was 18 years old living in my first apartment. I converted my kitchen table into a reloading bench. Made some 30-06 with IMR 4350 using an RCBS Barbie dream house kit of the day. My boss at the time was a reloader, but at 18 it's awkward asking your boss to mentor you on the weekends etc. I was pretty much on my own.
I remember being terrified that I was going to blow my gun or myself up, but somehow it worked. Not any better accuracy than factory ammo, but it worked. Perhaps the most important thing was just getting started.
I also remember having a sportsman's warehouse (with a reloading section) two blocks from my apartment, and wanting to shoot every combination possible. I must have put 1000 rounds down that crappy factory tube the first month LOL!
Edit:
To answer your questions...
How long before it became second nature? Not long, however I wasn't doing it "intelligently" until several years later; competitive shooting was a massive eye-opener in terms of reloading practices. I think most of us are on a never ending quest for better tooling, and better methods.
And if you think you're invested now, God help you 10-15 years from now. I heard someone at a match say this the other day, and I think it's true for a lot of us "I got to thinking the other day, I could probably pay cash for a truck with everything I have invested in this shit....like a brand new 1-ton diesel"
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3Sigma
Silver $$ Contributor
When I was in my late 20s, I jokingly told a friend that my "old man hobbies" will be motorcycle touring, fly fishing, and long range/precision rifle shooting.
Fast forward to my late 30s, knees are not the best, have a new son, and I figured if I want to be set when I'm "old", I should start learning when I'm not.
First cartridge was 30-06. I wasn't too nervous, as I went with a very conservative load using powder designed for the case. I'm an engineer by trade, and deal with high energy systems daily, so I focused on the process and checked/double checked everything just as I would on the job.
+1 to the no distractions... given I had a new baby in the house, there were lots of times where I had to just stop and put things away. Make sure you take good notes.
Another thing - get yourself quality measuring tools - scale, micrometer, calipers. If you go cheap, I guarantee you will eventually regret it and get something better. You don't need top of the line, but cheapo calipers are a crap shoot.
Fast forward to my late 30s, knees are not the best, have a new son, and I figured if I want to be set when I'm "old", I should start learning when I'm not.
First cartridge was 30-06. I wasn't too nervous, as I went with a very conservative load using powder designed for the case. I'm an engineer by trade, and deal with high energy systems daily, so I focused on the process and checked/double checked everything just as I would on the job.
+1 to the no distractions... given I had a new baby in the house, there were lots of times where I had to just stop and put things away. Make sure you take good notes.
Another thing - get yourself quality measuring tools - scale, micrometer, calipers. If you go cheap, I guarantee you will eventually regret it and get something better. You don't need top of the line, but cheapo calipers are a crap shoot.
skeeljc
Gold $$ Contributor
I was in college and a member of the small bore rifle team. The Sargent that was one of the team coaches and I loaded some .222 Remington in the storage room behind the indoor range. I think it was his first time reloading as well as mine. I cannot remember where the equipment came from but I believe it was mine. I used those reloads in my 722 Remington to shoot ground hogs in Indiana. This was in 1962.
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