Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
Last night I sat down at the bench for what will have to be my last reloading session before the new year begins. The holidays are a difficult time for me to get anything done with travel and work. So where did I end up?
I finished out at a nice round number of 3000 rounds loaded in 2018. It's not a lot, but considering I was trying to learn the process and troubleshoot, I don't think it's a bad start. I also made it through all my brass and cleaned it, so now all I have to do is keep up with it.
I started out just getting my toes wet with 45 acp. I loaded 1500 rounds of 45 and what did I learn? I learned the joys of SPP 45 brass and what happens when you try to seat a LPP in a SPP pocket. I learned never to force the press. I learned that choosing a bulky powder like Unique is great for avoiding a double charge, but also may not meter the best.
Then I bought another tool head and started in on 10mm. I loaded 850 rounds of it and I learned that buying factory 10mm is almost a complete waste of money since so much of it is watered down. I learned what a splendid metering powder AA#9 is and how easy it is to work with. I learned that it's better to buy 10mm brass in bulk new, rather than shoot crap ammo and reload it.
As my revolvers were starting to look entirely too clean, I realized I needed to start loading for them. So another tool head was purchased and I loaded up 650 rounds of 38 Special. I learned that 38 brass will likely last more loadings than I'll keep track of, and since I have many thousands of cases on hand, I'm likely to be loading 38s for a long time. Fine by me. I learned the importance of a good roll crimp to proper and complete burns of your powder.
What were my overall lessons of the year:
1) It's better to have multiple manuals and more load data than you will ever use than not enough load data.
2) Never force a press when you feel resistance. Something may be wrong. It may just be a stubborn spent primer that doesn't want to pop out, but it's best to check it out and look for issues.
3) Pay the utmost care to your scale, and get some check weights. A minor inaccuracy could cause problems if you are loading max or minimum loads. A minor misuse or poor adjustment to your scale, or a failure to zero it can lead to dangerous powder charges. I nearly loaded a few 10mm cartridges more than 2 grains over max loadings.
4) There is never a "just working ok" when it comes to a Dillon press. If something isn't operating correctly, something is broken, or adjusted incorrectly. Stop, and figure it out, or call Dillon. I'm guessing this is true of many presses out there.
5) Start slow. It's way better to go slow starting out, observe carefully what is happening at each station, ensure it's occurring properly, and get something done smoothly and correctly, rather than be in a rush and have things go wrong.
6) Work up your own loads of course, especially if you aren't using the exact bullet in a load recipe.
7) It is possible to decap a live primer, and reseat it if you bugger up the case. Just be damned careful, and wear appropriate safety gear. I decapped one and seated it again in a new case when a misalignment ruined the case is seated it in originally.
8) Avoid distraction at all costs. If you have a pet that likes to "help", stop, give them the attention they want, and then send them on their way. Or, don't allow them in the reloading room at all.
9)Date your powder and primers on the container they came in. Old powder can become a fire hazard. Check its odor and store it properly.
10) Swallow your ego and ask the questions you need to. It's better to feel a little foolish than make a mistake that gets you or someone else hurt.
11) Nearly every question you get answered will breed another question.
12) You will not save money unless you don't shoot much. You will shoot more, and want to load more.
13) I should have started years earlier. I don't think it will take me very long to recover the cost of my equipment in the savings from loading my own, but I could have been shooting more for years prior.
14) Keep good records of your loading sessions and label each lot of loaded cartridges.
15) Always make sure to put more powder in the hopper than you think you'll use in one session. I ran my hopper dry on 4 rounds of 10mm and had to weigh them, pull the bullets, and charge them properly.
16) Keep a kinetic bullet puller on hand even if you don't think you'll need one. They are cheap, and when you need it, you need it.
17) Don't be cheap, buy a press light. It makes a world of difference. The UFO lights are a great option.
I'm sure there are more lessons learned that will pop into my mind.
THR and the many members of this forum are a fantastic resource, and I'd like to thank anyone that took the time to answer my questions and impart their wisdom upon me. Learning to reload can seem overwhelming and intimidating, and I'm guessing that's why many people don't do it, or don't do it sooner. However there are many folks that participate in the discussions here who are quite inspiring and helpful, and it reemphasizes what a great hobby it is, and what a great community we have. When you go to the other forums, everyone is busy arguing about what cartridge for this, or that, which gun should they buy, snark this and snark that. There always seems to be some debate and turmoil going on. The reloading forum has been a source of calm for me as it is based so much on good technique and proper procedure, and less on picking apart each other's choices.
So thanks again to each of the members who took the time to help me and interact with me either in a thread posting or in pms, thank you. You've been very helpful and made my first year successful.
Now on to 2019, where I hope to triple my output.
I finished out at a nice round number of 3000 rounds loaded in 2018. It's not a lot, but considering I was trying to learn the process and troubleshoot, I don't think it's a bad start. I also made it through all my brass and cleaned it, so now all I have to do is keep up with it.
I started out just getting my toes wet with 45 acp. I loaded 1500 rounds of 45 and what did I learn? I learned the joys of SPP 45 brass and what happens when you try to seat a LPP in a SPP pocket. I learned never to force the press. I learned that choosing a bulky powder like Unique is great for avoiding a double charge, but also may not meter the best.
Then I bought another tool head and started in on 10mm. I loaded 850 rounds of it and I learned that buying factory 10mm is almost a complete waste of money since so much of it is watered down. I learned what a splendid metering powder AA#9 is and how easy it is to work with. I learned that it's better to buy 10mm brass in bulk new, rather than shoot crap ammo and reload it.
As my revolvers were starting to look entirely too clean, I realized I needed to start loading for them. So another tool head was purchased and I loaded up 650 rounds of 38 Special. I learned that 38 brass will likely last more loadings than I'll keep track of, and since I have many thousands of cases on hand, I'm likely to be loading 38s for a long time. Fine by me. I learned the importance of a good roll crimp to proper and complete burns of your powder.
What were my overall lessons of the year:
1) It's better to have multiple manuals and more load data than you will ever use than not enough load data.
2) Never force a press when you feel resistance. Something may be wrong. It may just be a stubborn spent primer that doesn't want to pop out, but it's best to check it out and look for issues.
3) Pay the utmost care to your scale, and get some check weights. A minor inaccuracy could cause problems if you are loading max or minimum loads. A minor misuse or poor adjustment to your scale, or a failure to zero it can lead to dangerous powder charges. I nearly loaded a few 10mm cartridges more than 2 grains over max loadings.
4) There is never a "just working ok" when it comes to a Dillon press. If something isn't operating correctly, something is broken, or adjusted incorrectly. Stop, and figure it out, or call Dillon. I'm guessing this is true of many presses out there.
5) Start slow. It's way better to go slow starting out, observe carefully what is happening at each station, ensure it's occurring properly, and get something done smoothly and correctly, rather than be in a rush and have things go wrong.
6) Work up your own loads of course, especially if you aren't using the exact bullet in a load recipe.
7) It is possible to decap a live primer, and reseat it if you bugger up the case. Just be damned careful, and wear appropriate safety gear. I decapped one and seated it again in a new case when a misalignment ruined the case is seated it in originally.
8) Avoid distraction at all costs. If you have a pet that likes to "help", stop, give them the attention they want, and then send them on their way. Or, don't allow them in the reloading room at all.
9)Date your powder and primers on the container they came in. Old powder can become a fire hazard. Check its odor and store it properly.
10) Swallow your ego and ask the questions you need to. It's better to feel a little foolish than make a mistake that gets you or someone else hurt.
11) Nearly every question you get answered will breed another question.
12) You will not save money unless you don't shoot much. You will shoot more, and want to load more.
13) I should have started years earlier. I don't think it will take me very long to recover the cost of my equipment in the savings from loading my own, but I could have been shooting more for years prior.
14) Keep good records of your loading sessions and label each lot of loaded cartridges.
15) Always make sure to put more powder in the hopper than you think you'll use in one session. I ran my hopper dry on 4 rounds of 10mm and had to weigh them, pull the bullets, and charge them properly.
16) Keep a kinetic bullet puller on hand even if you don't think you'll need one. They are cheap, and when you need it, you need it.
17) Don't be cheap, buy a press light. It makes a world of difference. The UFO lights are a great option.
I'm sure there are more lessons learned that will pop into my mind.
THR and the many members of this forum are a fantastic resource, and I'd like to thank anyone that took the time to answer my questions and impart their wisdom upon me. Learning to reload can seem overwhelming and intimidating, and I'm guessing that's why many people don't do it, or don't do it sooner. However there are many folks that participate in the discussions here who are quite inspiring and helpful, and it reemphasizes what a great hobby it is, and what a great community we have. When you go to the other forums, everyone is busy arguing about what cartridge for this, or that, which gun should they buy, snark this and snark that. There always seems to be some debate and turmoil going on. The reloading forum has been a source of calm for me as it is based so much on good technique and proper procedure, and less on picking apart each other's choices.
So thanks again to each of the members who took the time to help me and interact with me either in a thread posting or in pms, thank you. You've been very helpful and made my first year successful.
Now on to 2019, where I hope to triple my output.
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I write the load data on the box with a sharpie. All I need to do is look a the top of the box. It's easy to remove the writing with a rag and a little alcohol if you change loads. I keep a log book for how the ammo performs because I'll forget that quickly if I put the gun aside and don't shoot it for a time.
