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Want to Start Reloading |
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cpwomack
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/29/2009 Location: Chattanooga Status: Offline Points: 550 |
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Posted: March/18/2009 at 14:39 |
I have never reloaded but would like to get into it. Any suggestions on equipment, powder, brass, etc.
I have a Savage 270, Remington 7mm08, and a LR308 that I would like to work up some good loads for.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I would just start out with a reloading book and one of the kits from RCBS, Hornady, etc. They have pretty much all you need to get started.
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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Monster
Optics Master Joined: December/16/2008 Location: So. Cal Status: Offline Points: 2031 |
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I agree with Supertool read a reloading book before you get into to see what you will be dealing with. Once you do this, start off simple! The last thing you want to do is over complicate things at the beginning. If you have questions their are plenty of people here who will be glad to answer them for you.
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"Get Busy Livin' or get busy dyin'" -Red (Shawshank Redemption)
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trigger29
Optics Master Extraordinaire X = 180 Y = 90 (X+Pyro)+(Y-Pyro) = ? Joined: September/29/2007 Location: South Dakota Status: Offline Points: 4353 |
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BINGO!! Too late for me. I'm in over my head. Keep it simple first, learn what you can, then go to the next step. I researched for about a year or so. By the time it came time to actually load, I had so much stuff in my head, I didn't know what was what.
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"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." |
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Monster
Optics Master Joined: December/16/2008 Location: So. Cal Status: Offline Points: 2031 |
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hahaha plus people on this forum like to give technical details (not that it is a bad thing but may cause confusion with beginners) that are not needed for the beginning reloader.
You have to learn to walk before you run... Edited by Monster - March/18/2009 at 18:53 |
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"Get Busy Livin' or get busy dyin'" -Red (Shawshank Redemption)
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cpwomack
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/29/2009 Location: Chattanooga Status: Offline Points: 550 |
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Thanks, is one reloading book better than the others or is it a matter of personal preference?
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rifle looney
Optics Master Joined: November/21/2008 Status: Offline Points: 2553 |
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Start with A LYMAN ABC'S of reloading and I think the SPEER manual has easy to read and understand information with out all the extras, it was my first book and I still use it 15 years later. good luck and if you need any help just come on back...
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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as far as manuals go they are all pretty good, the lee 2nd ed isnt biased towards any one company's bullets, where as you buy a sierra or nosler or hornady or barnes or speer etc. manual its data was compiled using their bullets, not that it makes a huge difference. i will use data for my sierra bullets out of a hornady or nosler manual.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I would buy a couple reloading DVDs as well.
David Tubb has one called "High Power Rifle Reloading." While it has a
ton of detail, when you get done watching it, you will have seen
everything done and have a very good understanding of reloading and all
the things he went over. I learned more watching that video than 7
years of reading manuals and asking questions on forums like this. It
is good stuff and will help you a lot.
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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BillyWayne
Optics Journeyman Joined: February/27/2009 Location: New Hampster Status: Offline Points: 408 |
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I have read the ABCs, Speer, Nosler, Sierra, Hornady and Lee. But I learned best by taking my time and doing it one step at a time. I also had my uncle walk me through when I was younger.
As for equipment, I learned on my uncle's RCBS. But he bought me a Lee Anniversary kit and some Lee dies to get me going on my own. Some people get defensive about their reloading equipment. Because Lee is inexpensive people think it is junk, even my uncle. But when I get quarter to dime sized groups using Lee equipment he looks at me funny. I believe most reloading brands are good. I know people that use all different brands. I cannot say anything bad about them. Dillon, Lee, RCBS, Forster, Hornady, Redding...all good. Redding make a great body die, Lee makes a great neck die and so on.
As for powders it depends on cartridge and bullet weight. I find Varget works great for 308 and 243. I like Reloader 22 for 140 grain 6.5x55.
Brass...I use Winchester because it is less expensive but I also use Lapua on 6.5x55 (American brass is not correct dimension for the swede) Norma, Remington, Nosler and Starline.
Having the many choices makes reloading fun. I like to outdue my last load to see if I can come up with a tighter group using different components. Got a half inch group using Winchester brass...change to Norma and see it makes a difference.
Reloading is a fun and rewarding hobby. Have fun with it and do not be afraid to ask questions. There are plenty of people here that have a wealth of information to share.
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John 11:35
The're taking the hobbits to Isengard!! |
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cpwomack
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/29/2009 Location: Chattanooga Status: Offline Points: 550 |
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Thanks, here is my plan of action: Get the ABCs book, read it and then maybe get some DVDs. This should take me at least three years (got a three year old and another due in May). Once this is done, I may some slight idea of what I am in for. I will probably also go see my father-in-law as he reloads for all his rifles.
There is a RCBS starter kit on competitor , is this decent equipment for a novice to start with?
Thanks for all the help and I will keep you posted on my progress. For safety reasons, I will probably only reload for the bolt actions until I get a little more confidence in what I am doing, then maybe start in on the LR308.
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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the rcbs rock chucker kit is excellent.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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BillyWayne
Optics Journeyman Joined: February/27/2009 Location: New Hampster Status: Offline Points: 408 |
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Yep. Rock Chucker is nice.
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John 11:35
The're taking the hobbits to Isengard!! |
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cpwomack
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/29/2009 Location: Chattanooga Status: Offline Points: 550 |
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Who ever edited my post and added "competitor", thanks should have remembered that rule.
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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word filter bro its automatic
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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cpwomack
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/29/2009 Location: Chattanooga Status: Offline Points: 550 |
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Cool, can I get one for my brain!
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22284 |
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It's hard to beat the RCBS Rock Chucker, especially for a beginner. Get more than one reloading manual, and don't be affraid to ask questions. Also don't get locked into one brand of equipment, as just about everything is compatable with different brands. Start out with the basics and when you are comfortable with them then you may want try someting new like case trimming. The one piece of equipment you must have is a good and accurate scale. If you get hooked on this hobby, you will wind up with a ton of equipment and knowledge. I call my reloading room the laboritory.
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Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22284 |
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If you could I would be rich.
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Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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