Starting out reloading

[scheaman88]

Ive never done reloading before but i am wanting to get started and am wondering what kind of tips and suggestions i can get? I am wondering if there is a reloading setup also that can be used to reload both rifle and shotgun ammunition. if this is not the case then i am more interested in the reloading of rifle ammunition.

What do i need to get started?
What kind of price am i looking at?
What are good brands to work with?
What kind of supplies (ie powder and bullets) would you suggest?

Thank you for all your help and suggestions.

 

[gspn]

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-238214.html

 

[Lennyjoe]

No on the rifle and shotgun set up. One won't do the other, that I know of.

gspn gave you a very good link to use to get set up.

One word of caution, be careful! Reloading is addictive! I reload about 90% of my ammo with the exception of 7.62x39 which is still cheap enough to buy.

 

[scheaman88]

I have been reading on the link seems very hepful thanks. As far as it being addicting i can understand that my Godfather shoots competition skeet and reloads all of his own. ive helped him out before with reloading shells but i never got into the technical side of things with him. he always had everything preset for what he needed and i just put the cartridge on the loader and pulled the lever. but i could sit there for hours on end and just load shells.

 

[KevinR]

If I had it all to do again. The first thing I would do is purchase a reloading manual about ($25) and start reading. If you are interested in it, you will not be able to put the book down and you will learn a lot. Then pick a brand of equipment and go for it. I like RCBS and Hornady but there are other good brands. Reloading will be an enjoyable hobby for the rest of your life.

 

[oneounceload]

There are stickies here and on other forums that will give you the info about reference sources, equipment, load data, etc. As to shotgun and rifle - as mentioned above, the simple answer is no, you'll need different equipment. The best of the cheap shotgun reloaders come from MEC; for metallic there are a large number of companies to choose from

 

[Cranky CJ]

1. Two or three good books on reloading, and the time to read them. Anybody that is any good at it has become a "student" of it.

2. The sky is the limit. Minimum investment is a few hundred.

3. Lyman, RCBS, Lee, Dillon and all the other major manuf.

4. Components usually become personal preference. some guys like this brand of primer and that brand of bullet. others shop by price for economy. in the end, all major manuf produce quality products.

The thread linked above is the one i read when i was getting into it. This place is a great source of information, but, you have to learn on your own and be a student of reloading. There is no room for error, each one you make is a little bomb.

 

[Hondo 60]

The first place to start is by getting a reloading manual or 3.

Lyman's 49th Reloading Handbook is next to me as I type.
Many of us recommend that one.
Another good how-to manual is "The ABCs of Reloading"

Welcome to the addict ... oh, I mean hobby.
Ya, that's it!

 

[scheaman88]

Thank you to all of you for all your advice. I can say one thing for sure getting the manuals is one thing that everyone i have encountered has said i need to start with so since i am currently in afghanistan i will be getting manuals asap and i have plenty of time to read them. Again thank you to all of you your input has been more then valuble.

 

[Lennyjoe]

How much longer are you going to be there? I have several older manuals that have some good info and could send them to you on my dime. Something to read anyway during your downtime. PM me if your interested and I'll get them out to you.

Stay safe.

 

[Hondo 60]

Wow - very big of you to offer than Lennyjoe

 

[Duckdog]

I also like the Lee 2nd edition for a manual/book. It is one of the most down to earth manuals you can find.

 

[scheaman88]

Lennyjoe thanks very much i have sent you a PM. Duckdog also thanks i will look into this manual also and see what i get. thanks for all of your help gentlemen.

 

[Hondo 60]

Just ignore Richard Lee's hyperbole about all things manufactured by Lee.
Yes, they make some great stuff, but it's not necessarily better than sliced bread as he would have you believe.