I don't know if I want to start handloading or not. First of all I don't really understand how it all works. Can someone explain to me what I would do if I just went to the range shot a few round came home and wanted to reload them. Also what would I have to buy and what brand should I buy. Another thing question I have is is this a really confusing thing to do? Any other advice would be great.

Thanks for the help.

The basics are very simple. A cartridge has a brass case, there is a primer in one end and a bullet in the other, gun powder inside.

To reload an empty, you knock the old primer out and put a new primer in. Put the appropriate amount and type of powder into the case and insert a new bullet.

In most cases the fired case will not hold a new bullet properly so you have to squeeze the neck down a little bit in a die.

How simple is that?

I have two suggestions. Reading a manual will take you step by step thru the process and because there are a couple hundred pages that talk about the reloading process it's pretty hard to explain on a simple post.

1. Get Richard Lee's Modern Reloading manual and read it from cover to cover or at least to page 200. The rest of the manual is loading data for different cartridges. It's only 15 bucks at Cabela's or Midway.

2. Get one of the reloading videos from Midway MidwayUSA - Shooting, Reloading, Gunsmithing, Hunting, Ammunition & Outdoor Products (http://www.midwayusa.com/)

With the information contained in this manual or for that matter any reloading manual you'll have a better idea of what's involved in making your own ammo.

Savings can be as much as 70 percent, but you have some time involved in the process. One of the big advantages is you can tailor loads to your rifles and handguns. This can lead to some gains in accuracy.

For beginners I suggest getting the Lee Anniversery Reloading kit. It has all the equipment you need to reload except reloading dies for around a hundred bucks. I've been using one of these kits for 15 years now and it makes accurate ammo. I also like Lee dies and they are a bargain for the price.

This kit with dies and the addition of your brass, some bullets, primers and powder will get you into loading at a reasonable cost. This is one place you do not have to spend big bucks to get equipment that makes quality ammo.

Here's an article you might check out on reloading.

Reloading: The Art and Science (http://www.reloadingpro.com/)

The beauty of reloading ammunition is that it is so flexible. You can start simple and advance to complex. You can load mild paper punching loads or high velocity hunting loads. You can spend a little or spend a lot on equipment and components. It all depends on how deep and how far you want to go. You might not save a lot by reloading but that is only because reloaded ammunition is so affordable that you will tend to shoot more hence spend more. Reloading definitely gives you more "bang" for the buck.

You might want to browse through these sites as they are provided by some very popular reloading manufacturers: www.leeprecision.com (http://www.leeprecision.com), www.lymanproducts.com (http://www.lymanproducts.com), and www.rcbs.com (http://www.rcbs.com)

These folks will give you some idea on how you can take a fired cartridge case and turn it back into a loaded cartridge. Best wishes.

Let me add the RCBS site has some videos you can watch on there.

[mr. miagi] Reload yes. Safe. Reload no. safe. reload, ehhh i don't know. squish. like grape [/mr. miagi]

Sorry its late...

But seriously, the RCBS site also has a very detailed step-by-step procedure here. (http://www.rcbs.com/guide/stepbystep.aspx)

[mr. miagi] Reload yes. Safe. Reload no. safe. reload, ehhh i don't know. squish. like grape [/mr. miagi]

Sorry its late...

But seriously, the RCBS site also has a very detailed step-by-step procedure here. (http://www.rcbs.com/guide/stepbystep.aspx)

yes it is late..... i figured out you were a flier the second time i saw a post from you! aviator...........................

bigcheese reloading is so easy even i can do it.... the best way to learn how to reload is have a patient friend teach you.... that's how i learned.... now reloading to me is as much fun as shooting! get into it!!

While reloading is fairly easy, fun and can save you money its not for everyone. If you don't like to "tinker" with things chances are you may not like reloading. If you don't like doing it then whats the point.
Don't let me discourage you if you really want to take it up.

Thanks for the help. I understand a lot more about handloading then I did.

I think I would like to try it but I am still learning some more about it. If I was going to start handloading and I bought either the Lee Breech Lock Challenger Reloading Kit or the Lee Anniversary Reloading Kit what else would I have to buy to get started.

Thanks again.

I started out with the RCBS kit and with most kits the only thing you will need to add, is Dies specific to the caliber you intend to reload. Brass, if you didn't keep all of that factory ammo you've been firing. Primers, specific to the cartridge your reloading, you'll find more information about these in the reloading manual. Powder again specific to your cartridge, the manual will give you an idea of which you should try.

Here is a complete Lyman set up from Mid South for under $150. http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...u=000157810270

Just add dies and components and you are ready to go. It is a little more expensive than the Lee but it is high quality equipment at a good price.

Big cheese
Be advised,handloading is not too difficult,but it is labor intensive.
It's for the guy who likes to "do it himself".
If you always look for the fastest way,and tire of a job that takes a little longer,you may tire of handloading.
Fank

Reloading is a precision process.

You can start with an easy caliber like .38 Spl. or .357 magnum, any straight wall brass that headspaces on the rim . . . Mostly these loads are "eyeball" on spec. for length, seating, sizing, etc.

Semi-auto handgun calibers headspace on the mouth of the case, and so getting them to "spec out" can be a bit more critical.

Bottle-neck cases in rifles -- 30-06 Spfd. -- require case lube and some other details. There are some various "custom options" for loading these cases, like "neck sizing" when the brass is to be fired in one specific rifle.

Mostly, you read up on reloading. It requires some precision work. You need to be able to set up dies and scales to spec., understand bullet weights, materials, diameters. Powder characteristics come into play.

What you should keep in mind is that you WILL NOT "save money." Your load cost comes down, but your equipment costs even that out in many respects. The gains are that you get custom ammo, get to develop loads for your shooting, and get to shoot MORE because cost per round goes down.

But you won't "save money" reloading. You get to shoot more for about the same $$$.

First thing, get a manual. Lyman makes a good one. It will explain the process. I recommend a Lee Turret Press for new guys. You can use it for a single stage press until you learn the ropes. Used as a turret you can put out ammo fairly quickly. Any questions you have can be answered here. Reloading is easy so dont let it scare you. Good luck.

I second "Nasty Jack" all the way. If you are loading straight-wall pistol cases, less is required of you in terms of equipment and knowledge (you still need to read a manual or two). If you are reloading for rifle, more equipment and knowledge is necessary. I started a long time ago with a .357 Lee Loader, the basic model that you can carry around with you and which sells for under $20 still today (seems like mine cost about $6). It required no scales, no reloading bench, was time consuming, but got the job done. I decided to reload to save money because I really liked shooting and factory ammunition was so expensive. I loaded thousands of .357 and .38 cases with that reloader. Over 25 years later, I find I have invested well over a $1000 in reloading equipment, not counting expendables like powders, primers, bullets, etc. I have expanded and am reloading for 4 handgun calibers, 5 rifle calibers, and .12ga. shotgun. I am absolutely certain that I have not saved any money at all; however I shoot a lot more than I would have otherwise and in truth, I have come to love the process of reloading almost more than the shooting. I am a fussy old crank about the process and most of the members of this forum would scoff at the pains and excesses I take when reloading even the straight-wall .357 revolver cases that started me in the game. My advice is start cheap to make sure you enjoy the process. You can always sell a cheap press to someone else who is starting or if you choose to be really cheap as I was when I started, you can later build a frame and put the old classic Lee Loader on the wall above your newly built reloading bench with all its expensive equipment mounted neatly for everyone to eny.
Moosie

Tp answer your other question about getting started with reloading, it cost me about $350 for the 1st caliber to buy everything--brass, powder, primers, some cast bullets, a Lee anniversary kit, a Speer #13 manual, Lyman #48 manual, a Lee #2 manual and the magazine version of Hodgdon's manual. I wanted enough manuals to cross reference my starting loads. My second caliber for reloading cost a little over $20 for the dies, about $70 (in 2007) for the brass, and about $20 for the different primers. In the first caliber (.45C revolver), I've reloaded 3500+ rounds in the 1000 pieces of brass I bought, and the brass is still good. The rifle caliber has about 400 rounds through the 100 pieces of brass I originally bought. I only load to middle velocities to make the brass last longer, and because its all I need for hogs, deer, & varmints in my neck of the woods. I reload my .444 because factory ammo selection is very slim if its even available in my area. I reload my .45C because I like large for caliber bullets and get better accuracy. While I don't save money by reloading, I sure have much more fun with my hobby. And,in bad situations, I can pick all my little toys and be in the back country in short order with enough firepower to last for months.

I shoot action pistol, so reloading is a necessity for me. I shoot about 400 rounds per month from my pistols. I also like oddball rifle calibers so I reload for them to gain options. I also shoot varmints, with my .204. Reloading for that is about 60% cheaper than compared to factory ammo.

I don't save money, but I shoot a lot more... so its a trade off. Some people reload just to save money, and the Lee kit is great for them. Others do it for sheer volume and they buy Dillon or other progressive type presses. I use a single stage and turret press, both are RCBS.

What a great set of posts. I don't think that I save any money overall but certainly the cost per round is way less than buying from the local gun shop.
I, too, started with a Lee Loader - in 30-06. Noisy and slow, it produced accurate, reliable ammo. For some one who just wants to "try out" reloading, it is by far the least expensive option (and the least flexible).
You do, however, NEED a manual and a scale. Lee offers both affordably - though I like the Lyman manual as suggested in an earlier post.

I don't know if I want to start handloading or not. First of all I don't really understand how it all works. Can someone explain to me what I would do if I just went to the range shot a few round came home and wanted to reload them. Also what would I have to buy and what brand should I buy. Another thing question I have is is this a really confusing thing to do? Any other advice would be great.

Thanks for the help.
Forget it. First off, it doesn't sound like you have the volume of shooting to make it worthwhile. Second, this is a hobby for people who have an inquisitive nature, and a passion for digging into new areas. You don't have that passion.

I know several people that don't shoot a lot and have very elaborate reloading setups with very nice machines and all the gadgets.

I do believe you have to shoot a bit to make it worthwhile, but it can be a rewarding hobby for somebody that just wants the ultimate precision. I'm not in it for the precision yet, I just reload for volume at this point.

I have two suggestions. Reading a manual will take you step by step thru the process and because there are a couple hundred pages that talk about the reloading process it's pretty hard to explain on a simple post.

1. Get Richard Lee's Modern Reloading manual and read it from cover to cover or at least to page 200. The rest of the manual is loading data for different cartridges. It's only 15 bucks at Cabela's or Midway.

2. Get one of the reloading videos from Midway MidwayUSA - Shooting, Reloading, Gunsmithing, Hunting, Ammunition & Outdoor Products (http://www.midwayusa.com/)

With the information contained in this manual or for that matter any reloading manual you'll have a better idea of what's involved in making your own ammo.

Savings can be as much as 70 percent, but you have some time involved in the process. One of the big advantages is you can tailor loads to your rifles and handguns. This can lead to some gains in accuracy.

For beginners I suggest getting the Lee Anniversery Reloading kit. It has all the equipment you need to reload except reloading dies for around a hundred bucks. I've been using one of these kits for 15 years now and it makes accurate ammo. I also like Lee dies and they are a bargain for the price.

This kit with dies and the addition of your brass, some bullets, primers and powder will get you into loading at a reasonable cost. This is one place you do not have to spend big bucks to get equipment that makes quality ammo.

Here's an article you might check out on reloading.

Reloading: The Art and Science (http://www.reloadingpro.com/)

+1 on all of bob's recommendations!

I too have been using the anniversary kit for close to 15 years, with out a hitch.

Lee's RGB die sets are inexpensive enuff to get all the flavors U need.

+1 on all of bob's recommendations!

I too have been using the anniversary kit for close to 15 years, with out a hitch.

Lee's RGB die sets are inexpensive enuff to get all the flavors U need.
Ever since I came home from Nebraska with part of my Dad's gun collection I had wondered if I should reload. At first it didn't really seem to matter - I also brought home quite a few of my Dad's reloads and I used those on my first trips to the range...and then I ran out of his reloads and I had to buy some ammo! :mad:

After doing some reading on here - specifically some of Bob's posts, I decided to take a serious look at some reloading equipment online. I also ran the idea past my wife and she seemed to think it was a good idea too, so this evening I placed an order for my first batch of reloading equipment that will be my Father's Day present! This is what I decided to get:


Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit (I got the upgrade from the Anniversary kit that has the Auto Prime System)
Lee Deluxe Handgun 4-Die Set in .45 ACP
Lee Breech Lock Quick Change Bushings - pack of 2 (the kit only comes with 3 of them and I figured they would come in handy - I'll get more of them down the road)
Lee "Modern Reloading, Second Edition" reloading manual by Richard Lee
Hornady Universal Reloading Tray (x2)


There are some other things I'll need - a case trimmer, a case tumbler, a powder trickler, more dies, etc, and of course my consumables, but I have a birthday coming up too. ;)

I feel VERY good about this - it will allow me to carry on what my father started with shooting and reloading. Looking back, I'm a bit surprised considering how much shooting I did when I was a kid that I don't know more about reloading. I did it, but it was always after Dad had set things up and it was alway under his direction. I'll read the Lee reloading manual before starting anything, and I'll probably pick up and read the Lyman 48th edition reloading manual for good measure.

Big Cheese, I say go for it. Take the plunge - it isn't like you have to go out and buy a $400 Dillon progressive reloader - Dad had one, but he reloaded thousands and thousands of rounds with a standard single stage press before he got one.

To Bob aka faucettb, I'd like to say thanks - it was your posts and advice that helped me make the decision, and I know that it was a good decision - I think my Dad would be happy.

Look to midway for your tumbler, also get the lee case trimmers for each caliber you wish to shoot.

READ the book, i did many moons ago, and STILL refer to it for my questions.

m141a, I'd like to get a case trimmer like what Dad had, but I think that's considerably more costly than the Lee setup. I think his was a Forster case trimmer - you could set it up for specific lengths and then it had stops for when your case was trimmed to the correct length. Come to think of it, I didn't order a deburring tool either.

I'm not sure what I'll get for a tumbler, but I'll go pretty basic and inexpensive to start. I'm really looking forward to it. Now I need to convince my mom to send me my Dad's ledgers where he recorded every round he reloaded since the 1950s. He made note of his better performing loads and it would be nice to be able to use his notes.

The Lee dies will make as good ammo as anything, the RGB rifles are great for very little money. The Lee case trimmers work well for little cost. Mid South now has a tumbler for 29.99.

Sign up for MidwayUSA's Eblast... then just wait for stuff to go on sale. Their 'Frankford Arsenal' line is as good as any basic reloader will need and its priced very well, and it often goes on sale and its too hard to pass up.

I read somewhere too that working with your hands on something intricate is very stimulating to your brain. For me it is very relaxing. But try to set up some place where you can have some peace and quiet. You definantly don't want any distractions. Half the time I go shoot jut so I can make more bullets.:D:D

Half the time I go shoot jut so I can make more bullets.:D:D
I think that was part of the reason my Dad did it although I think he probably started reloading as a practical way to be able to shoot more for less money. His shop was his getaway place and he'd spend hours in there, especially in the winter, reloading or working on guns. In retrospect, I wish I had spent more time with him in the shop - as it is, I only have a high level knowledge of guns and reloading and he probably forgot more than I'll ever know.