Looking to get started in reloading?

Question

Well with ammo costs rising and ammo becoming not available I'm looking to start getting into reloading. I'm primarily looking to reload .223, 30-30, and .308. Wondering what I need to get started or if someone can refer me to a place where I can learn about all this stuff. Recommendations for reloading manuals? Lastly, if a neck on a casing has a little ding in it, can it be fixed or is it just no longer usable?

Sorry for the boatload of questions, I just wanted as much info as possible. Any other info or experiences that you guys have would be great.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I suggest getting a good loading manual first-Speer,Barnes,Hornady,Lee,etc all have good ones-and having more than 1 is no sin. If you can find a reloading book (not manual) in library check it out for a week. There are lots of YouTube videos on reloading too. You can get most stuff you need in a kit form-RCBS,Lee,Hornady,others but I like some modern stuff like a digital scale instead of a beam scale;some little things like that. You will need a trickler,dial or digital calipers, tumbler or vibrator for cleaning brass,some other small tools. Always good to get a bullet puller just in case too. You spend more on RCBS,Hornady,Lyman than on Lee to start,and while Lee is good I much prefer the more solid feeling cast presses than the Lee. You can look for a lot of this stuff used if you want that route-after doing your research.

Small dent on neck-depends on where,how it got there,if it will be smoothed by the sizing die. Too much case lube can cause dents even. And realize brass "flows" when the cartridge is fired,so it matches to the chamber when all that pressure is applied.

Not enough space on here to get you all the info you need,but there are a lot of forums and sites to help with reloading too. NEVER trust a load or information from someone without verification in a manual or from info from the powder/bullet makers.

If you are like me and not burning through lots of cartridges you can use a single stage to get things done;pistol and LOTS of rifle cartridges means using a turret.

So,read,research,watch,have someone who reloads show you how to do things if possible.

Answer 2

BEFORE you buy even one piece of equipment, buy a book on reloading and read it. I like the Lee reloading manual.



See if any of your friends is reloading and ask to see his setup. If he is willing, he can show you how to do it.



If you are going to start on your own, I would suggest you start with just one caliber and pay very close attention to the powder load. 308 or 30-30 would be better choices for starting than the 223.

Answer 3

I'd start with a single stage press kit. Look up the Hornady Single-Stage Lock-n-load press kit. It will provide everything except for dies for your round of choice. Hornady is, in my opinion, considerably better than Lee as far as lee press kits go, even though Lee is the cheapest. You will also want to get a high quality 4-decimal electronic scale.



Plenty of step-by-step info can be found online. The Hornady reloading manual will be plenty of a resource for loads for those common cartridges. As long as you aren't an idiot and have some common sense, handloading is very safe.



If there is even a fairly large dent, running the case through the mouthing die, then through the sizing die will return the case to normal contours.

Answer 4

Just search Google for reloading information. The Lee reloading manual has a lot of info. I load Nosler bullets exclusively in center fire rifles. I have the Nosler manual. Having a manual for the powder manufacturer is good info too.