Tell me about the first time you reloaded...

[megastink]

I’ve got just about everything I need to start loading. I can’t help but be a little nervous about screwing up. Tell me about your first time reloading. What cartridge? What were your thoughts? Fears? How long before it became second nature? Put my mind at ease, I’ve got too much invested to turn around now!

 

[ryewhiskeybent]

Nervous, 308. Be slow and methodical. Measure twice, cut one type of deal. If you’re this far in, I think you’ll be fine. Safety isn’t an accident, it a conscious thought process. You’re gonna do great.

 

[Rset]

It's been over 30 years since I loaded my first round. Hard to remember the details.
The best way to learn is to do it. If you can find an experienced re-loader to act as a mentor, that would be my first suggestion. Will save you a lot of time a help build your confidence. If not, get a good manual or two and read it until you think you understand it and then read it again. When you have questions ask. Most of all, don't get in a hurry and enjoy the process. To start, load a few, shoot a few, learn and repeat.

 

[Fast14riot]

Write yourself a check list, in order, of all the operations required. This will ease your nerves a bit. Stay within book specs until you learn how to read pressure signs and have a better idea of how different powders perform.

Start with 10-20 rounds. Jumping into a big batch of 100+ can be annoying when you discover your mistake after you already finished then have to pull them all down. It still happens to us experienced loaders. (I discovered my sizing die lock ring was loose after the 3rd case being bumped .006" just last week, lol)

Check out Erik Cortina's video on how to set up a sizing die, its quicker, easier and doesn't need several cases to be sacrificed in trying to dial it in. Also, your chamber is your best brass gauge.

Lastly, you won't find a single more knowledgeable, friendly group of shooters willing to go out of their way to help you, than these guys here. Ask anything you aren't completely sure about.

 

[Sandstorm]

First time out just load a few...bout 20 -25 rounds and go by the book.
Take'm out and see how they fly.....One time is all it takes to get rid of the butterlys.
Now rinse and repeat...just take it slow....and think only about what your doing....not a time to be distracted.
have fun.

 

[Twicepop]

The year was 1978 or 1979, the cartridge was .357 Magnum. I loaded the minimum charge of Unique over a 158 grain bullet (I think it was a Speer) lit with a CCI primer (somethings haven't changed, I still use Unique and I still use CCI primers when I can get them). When I touched it off, I held the gun out at arms length and turned my head away waiting for the gun to blow up and take me with it. A subdued pop happened, I then looked to see if the gun had been destroyed, it wasn't. The next five rounds gave the same report and I lived to tell the tale.

 

[D-4297]

If it ever becomes second nature , go take up golf . Many of the preparation processes become second nature after being repeated thousands of times , but the total skill is a continual learning process . I think one of the things that draws people to reloading is the exacting precision required to re-produce consistent , repeatable rounds . To do this requires patience , and repeating endlessly , the somewhat mundane processes necessary . All of the steps to properly prepare the case , the weighing of each powder load , and then inserting , and pressing the bullet to the correct seating depth in the case neck . Then comes the phase where you begin to "adjust" the load for better , more consistent accuracy , and then maybe this "other" bullet will work better , and on and on it goes . Then there are Bushing Dies , and Mandrels , and Small body Dies ... It's a virtual never-ending adventure . welcome to the Rabbit hole .

 

[Fast14riot]

This also happened last week, lol! The biggest thing in reloading isn't avoiding screw-ups, its catching them at the bench and fixing them before they go in the gun. Trust but verify every single step of the process.

 

[LHSmith]

I remember-1966, Lee Loader for 30/06, Dupont 3031. Did not load much with that setup. After graduation, I bought a real reloading outfit RCBS Rockchucker Kit. Felt more confident in using my reloads with this outfit.

 

[46and2]

I started out with the right cartridge but the wrong rifle, 308 winchester but in a DPMS LR308 gas gun. It just wouldn't shoot without a malfunction of some kind, even full length sized too much. Finally got an adjustable gas block. Very frustrating at the time because I had no mentor, just me and a reloading book.

I'll never forget being so nervous on the first shot. I strapped the rife down with bungee cords and remotely fired it with a string. Lol.

 

[DngBat7]

There are answers on the forum for your every question, every step of the way. And if you don’t see a answer to your question in a prior post, just ask and many will help you out.

 

[jasophil1]

Hey get to where you have no distractions only do one step at a time use two case holders always double check every thing looking the case at the powder charge you get used to doing good luck do not drink alcohol.

 

[gravelyctry]

I remember reading and studying for months while acquiring the basic equipment. I couldn’t bring myself to do it until i realized that there were much less thoughtful and intelligent guys that I shot IDPA with that did it and still had their fingers and eyesight. I figured if those morons could do it, I surely could. It was 45 ACP on a single stage press.

This site and all the smart folks that post here has really helped me out over the years as my shooting interests have grown.

 

[gravelyctry]

I should have added that ive made plenty of mistakes since then, and getting A bullet puller was an essential piece of equipment for me starting out. If I had doubts about anything, I’d just pull the bullet and start again.

 

[Rednexx]

Well was maybe 50 years ago or more loaded 30-40 Krag and 22 Hornet with a Lee Loader, the type you use a hammer with. I have advanced a bit from there.

 

[stork]

1974 Lee Loader in 38 special & Hornady 158 swc. Can't remember the powder.

 

[Chiquita]

Keep detailed notes on your steps, on your cases, on your procedures. When testing for a change or troubleshooting, change one thing at a time then check again. If no change then change another things then check results.
Keep your work bench organized and hav only the equipment and the cases that you are working on on the bench.

I will add more when it comes to mind.

These are my mistakes that I have learned from. As the saying goes "experience is what people call their mistakes"

 

[Coonman300]

41 years ago...I was 16 and my dad gave me a rockchucker starter kit. Still use most all of it. I had a Speer manual- read it several times and followed it for every step. I was nervous about getting a case stuck in the die while resizing. It took more force than I thought to resize the case (30-06). Finally I said screw it and ran it all the way in and it came back out! I’ve been very lucky I guess and still have never stuck a case. I reloaded exactly as that manual said until a few years ago and then I got more into precision reloading. I’m a hunter so my stuff is not at the same level as many on here but I really enjoy the higher precision at this point. I was overworking brass and had never taken a measurement for bumping shoulders or seating bullets. I set the dies up according to the directions and measured overall length from a factory round. The only real measuring ( caliper) I ever did was case length for trimming. I managed to load a pile of bullets and killed a pile of deer and shot a lot and never blew anything up. I’ve learned more in a couple of years on this site than all the other years combined. Now I measure a lot and have accurate ammo for my purposes and enjoy load development. Have fun and enjoy.

 

[hoz53]

I’ve got just about everything I need to start loading. I can’t help but be a little nervous about screwing up. Tell me about your first time reloading. What cartridge? What were your thoughts? Fears? How long before it became second nature? Put my mind at ease, I’ve got too much invested to turn around now!

I think it was 1976 for me. I was loading for a 7x57 mauser. It is not hard and the basics dont take long to understand. The intricate parts will take longer but you dont need to learn them all at once. MAIN thing is concentrate on what you are are doing. Dont load when there are distractions or you are tired. make sure to get the correct powder and correct weight of powder in the case. after loading i take a light at an angle to check by looking at the cases to see the powder in them. Use only one container of powder at time. keep it on the bench where you are loading until you are through then put it away before you get another out. rifle cartridges will usually overflow if you double charge them so youll know something is wrong. with many pistol cases you can double or triple charge without over flowing and if you dont catch them blow your gun and mabie you to pieces. extra caution is warranted. heed the above stuff and no need to be nervous- you will do fine.

 

[mr45man]

no distractions, Short story, a friend had a phone call, went back to what he was doing, chambering dummy rounds, loading 45 acp. Shot himself through left palm , off work 6 months.When the wife insists on talking to me I just stop loading and wait till she goes to bed.Winter time I move most operations in living room coffee table.