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Beginner's guide to reloading

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 10:42 am
by meles meles
oomans, we're contemplating taking up re-loading. Is there such a thing as a basic guide to reloading book that will let us decide if it is for us before we go out and spend money on kit ?

Re: Beginner's guide to reloading

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 10:49 am
by Watcher
There are some good fillums on YouTube. I like Hickock45 so this is good (but US based so rather upsetting)

http://youtu.be/I-OYW8dWJN0

Full-Bore poster 1967spud has produced some very informative Youtubes as well.

http://www.youtube.com/user/1967spud?fe ... sults_main

Re: Beginner's guide to reloading

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:34 am
by spud
meles meles wrote:oomans, we're contemplating taking up re-loading. Is there such a thing as a basic guide to reloading book that will let us decide if it is for us before we go out and spend money on kit ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD0kMrinYUk

Re: Beginner's guide to reloading

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:36 pm
by meles meles
Excellent videos, but now we'd like a book to read. We like books, do we...

Re: Beginner's guide to reloading

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:02 am
by Hauptman
Lee's reloading manual, mine was ten quid from Henry Krank.

Hauptman

Re: Beginner's guide to reloading

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:10 am
by shugie
Looks to be a simpler process than I expected. But there were hints of more intricacies for the fully enlightened.

Re: Beginner's guide to reloading

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:14 am
by DaveT
Almost any reloading manual gives the very very basics BUT don't do such a good job when it comes down to certain critical issues such as managing Headspace or understanding neck tension and bullet seating depth / pressure effects etc etc...... you would be wise not to ignore these as they ARE critical and are not covered in basic reloading data manuals.

I can recommend the following...

ABCs of reloading

Handloading for competition by Glen Zediker (Excellent but quirky language used... its a goldmine of info however)

There is truly nothing like getting someone who knows what he is doing to help you though!

Re: Beginner's guide to reloading

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:23 am
by John25
shugie wrote:Looks to be a simpler process than I expected. But there were hints of more intricacies for the fully enlightened.

Shugie, it is a simple process, one which you will steadily introduce more complex procedures as you gain in experience. Just follow the rules and don't be afraid to ask. There is a lot of excellent advice and knowledge out there (there is also a lot of twaddle) Stick to the basics, don't over complicate at first, just re-size, prime, powder, bullet. Stick to SAAMI sizes and worry about the rest as you progress, you'll soon get the hang of it.

You will enjoy it for it can become all consuming and you will spend many happy hours at the bench, let us know how you get on.

The wait between manufacture and firing always seems never ending tesnews

Re: Beginner's guide to reloading

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:26 am
by ovenpaa
Sitting down next to someone and asking questions is always going to be better than books and tutorials as it allows you to feel what you are doing as much as see. It has taken us years to fine tune our reloading and many tools have been discarded along the way in the search for the ideal 'xyz' this is one of the things that prompted me to start building things in the first place.

Re: Beginner's guide to reloading

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:44 am
by dromia
Shugie, it is a relatively simple process but it does require alertness and attention to detail. Being shown is always best, however reading a good reloading manual beforehand can be helpful and is also good to have as reference.

I recommend the "Lyman 49th Reloading Handbook" it has a very good basic principles section with good load data, to all my pupils along with Wooters "The Complete Handloader" as a second buy to open ones eyes to the world of handloading.