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Well oomans, after much nigglin' and nagglin', we're contemplating take up the Blacke Arte of paw loading. We have a few rifles that we're finding it hard to get good ammo for, or ammo at a reasonabubble price (exemplis gratia, MAS 36), a few others where we think a paw load would perhaps be kinder to the gun than factory ammo (our noggin Krag Jorgensen 6.5x55 Swedish), and a few others where we think a sub-sonic load would be useful (our Goblinator, for instance). We shoot mainly at 300 yards and sometimes at 600 yards, so we don't need hypervelocity.

What books should we read ?

Who should we talk to ?

Where do we learn ?

Are there courses?

If you live within digging distance, the Surrey RA at Bisley have a very good reloading room, buy the components in bulk and have several people who can tell you exactly how its done. You do have to be a member, but if I wanted to get into reloading, I'd be down there applying like a shot.

IainWR wrote: applying like a shot.

Wouldn't that get us stuffed in a cartridge and blasted at some goose?

You probably already know as much as the 'ABC's of Reloading' will tell you - The 'recipes' themselves are in various manuals (I use a Viht manual, as I use Viht powder), but the 'how to' information can be found on YouTube, and asking specific questions on here...but right at the start, it's a good idea to ask an experienced fellow club member to show you the basics.

facilis descensus Averni
1618, from L., lit. "the descent of Avernus (is) easy" [Virgil, "Aeneid," VI.126], in ref. to Avernus, a deep lake near Puteoli, a reputed entrance to the underworld; hence, "it is easy to slip into moral ruin."

Reloading is a very slippery slope in to the dark art of Alchemy and convert paper into lead and smoke!

Noticed this while looking on Fleebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BASIC-HANDLOA ... 1c3090586e

Buggrit ! We have just ordered a copy of Lymans's 49th tome upon the Blacke Arte...

You won't go wrong with the Lyman, its one of the best handloading books out there.

meles meles wrote:Buggrit ! We have just ordered a copy of Lymans's 49th tome upon the Blacke Arte...

Sorry stripey, I would have suggested this, but wasn't sure how serious you were about starting loading - Most books describe the 'how to' bits in a similar way, but the Lymans is very detailed and has lots of cartridge and bullet info that makes it a reference book to keep - Droomie gave me a good deal on a copy last year at the Trafalgar

My only criticism of it is that as it covers so many calibers the actual load data (i.e the amount of powder to use for a specific bullet) is limited, so you will still need a specific manual for the powder you intend to use - But that's no problem as Vihtavouri, for example, will send you their loading data manual for free...

Dougan wrote: but wasn't sure how serious you were about starting loading -

... neither are we. We were dead set against it when we started shooting, but those little siren voices keep tempting us...