The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

1)Why do i handload?
With the 357 mag it comes down to cost.Factory ammo is around £19 per box and i can reload it for around £5 so a substantial saving for when you're plinking.The 303 is cheaper too (£60/100x compared to £34/100),but is a nice accurate round.

I also enjoy handloading so yes its a hobby.

2)Which book?
I use Lee's one.

3)Equipment wise i use Lee.People might knock it,but it isnt expensive and i can produce accurate ammo so im happy.

As Kennyc has pointed out; I'm speaking generally, and your best information will come from people who have experience in reloading for the specific rifles and calibers you want...

I'm going to start a thread on 6.5 x 55 - feel free to ask any extra questions you want on it.....

I can understand that longer range shooters using jacketed bullets may not see great economic benefits in reloading. Most of my shooting is on a 100yd range and I stretch out to 200 twice a year at Bisley. All my bullets are cast---I start about now and cast around 3000 various calibres and shapes, usually finishing by Christmas. In the pistol shooting days, I had a number of .38 / 357 revolvers and I estimate that, over 30 years, I have shot over 70,000 rounds of .357. I have still never fired a factory round in this calibre. Today, most of my shooting is with obselete calibres and so I have no choice but to reload. The economic advantages are considerable, but the process itself makes an interesting as well as a rewarding hobby.
Fred

Robin128 wrote:13. Finally, what reloading kit would you recommend to a beginner ? Not Lee, its shoite :55: , apart from the Lee auto primer...RCBS, Forstner, Lyman.

Lee scales - yep, shoite! Lee Classic Cast Press, Lee Collet Dies - not at all shoite!

I have always used Lee kit, in the pistol days a Pro 1000 progressive and now for rifle a Classic cast press , I load .308, .303. and .223 and have never had a problem with it, it loads very accurate ammunition with a little help from me, the scales are a bit basic but at the end of the day they are fit for purpose.

I started off about 40 years ago with a Bonanza press...I think Forstner took them over.

Still got it know and none the worse for wear. Someone recommended RCBS for dies and have stayed with them. Along came a RCBS Lube-a-matic for my cast boolits for my 45 Colt Gov't. Then RCBS scales...very good quality IMHO. RCBS uniflow for powder throwing. But nothing beats a Lee auto prime.

A mate of mine was talked into buying a Lee kit...scales are shoite...and the aluminium press comes nowhere near the quality and sturdiness of my Bonanza. A good few years ago my neighbour got into shooting, I got him into a club and stood as referee for a while. His Mrs said he wanted to get into reloading one Christmas and I recommended an RCBS Rockchucker which is still going strong.

I have been shooting reloading for more years than I care to remember Lee is crap.Crap with a capital C.
Except for the auto prime and the NEW CAST re loading press.

I personally find the latest cast classic press very good, I am often tempted by the Forster co-axial amongst others but have never got around to getting one.

ovenpaa wrote:I personally find the latest cast classic press very good, I am often tempted by the Forster co-axial amongst others but have never got around to getting one.

Buy the Co-ax...its a joy to use!

*crosses 'Lee' off the list*