New to reloading

[archangel]

Hi I'm new to reloading I'm curious what I would Need to start reloading I ordered this kit I know it's cheap I didn't want to invest too much into this and find its not for me I have seen on videos something to polish the brass is recommended I know I'm going to need a few books but not too sure what to look for I want to reload 9mm 223 and 308

[Great-Kazoo]

Start with that sticky up top, Or the SEARCH function

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https://www.ar-15.co/threads/18232-Reloading-Links

[rondog]

You're gonna love it, it's addictive! Won't be long before you'll be wanting something like a turret press to go a little faster. But that one will be good to keep around for other uses.

Then there's bullet casting.....

[Mazin]

ABC's of reloading is a must read and go get a couple different load manuals (Hornday, Speer etc). I think some things to add to the list would be caliper, case trimmer, Die's, primers, brass, brass tumbler, tumbler media, brass polish, projectiles and powder.


ETA: Universal Deccapping Die and a bullet puller are helpful to have as well.

[Delfuego]

Good calipers and shoulder bump / comparator gauges are critical. Without gauges you are just guessing. Gauges will teach what your are actually doing to your brass during resizing and loading.
Loading blocks are must have too! Have fun

[rondog]

Cash. Definitely gonna need cash. And watch this forum and other sites, Craigslist too, for reloading items for sale. People are always selling brass, primers, bullets, powders, dies, scales, presses, powder measures, and myriad other goodies. Buying second-hand is a great way to get equipment and supplies. There's a lot of things for sale here right now.

[KS63]

Patience in finding the good powder....Lots of patience.

[rondog]

Patience in finding the good powder....Lots of patience.

I was in the Lone Tree Cabela's recently and they had a huge amount of powder! Many, many varieties, and lots of it. Not everything, of course, but an impressive selection nonetheless. It was good to see.

Tip for the OP - might make a list of the various powders suitable for what you plan to load, and keep it in your wallet. When you're in a store and see powders, it can be confusing trying to figure out which ones you can use and which are useless for your needs. The types of powders and number of brands and names can be daunting. Literally dozens and dozens of them.

[crays]

I was in the Lone Tree Cabela's recently and they had a huge amount of powder! Many, many varieties, and lots of it. Not everything, of course, but an impressive selection nonetheless. It was good to see.

Tip for the OP - might make a list of the various powders suitable for what you plan to load, and keep it in your wallet. When you're in a store and see powders, it can be confusing trying to figure out which ones you can use and which are useless for your needs. The types of powders and number of brands and names can be daunting. Literally dozens and dozens of them.

And for newer reloaders, beware particularly powders of different brands with the same number (e.g. H4895 IMR4895),they are not necessarily interchangeable. It doesn't hurt to keep note similar powders (say, W231 HP38) which can be interchanged with minor adjustments.

I also try to keep track of what others are using. Trading is just as good as buying.

Edited above for more clarity, as pointed out below by Hound.

[Hound]

I think he was going to say: Just because you see H4895 and IMR4895....these are similar...... But NOT THE SAME!! Reminds me of those commercials going around.

Always work up a load and don't try to guess or "come close". Use the books as a Bible but realize they will differ. Use several "GOOD" sources from either the powder and/or bullet manufactures to come up with what your Max and Min powder loads are and always start at the bottom. If you come accross a powder or bullet you can't find good information on (some will only give you a max load) start 10-15% lower and again work up. For OAL start with SAMMI specs and realize that this is for "general" use. Any gun 'should' be able to shoot it. I have loaded some rounds that were right at SAMMI and a buddies magazine had issues with it, I went in .01 and it fixed the issue. You can extend OAL and be OK (to a point) when it comes to pressure but reducing it will increase pressure, possibly to a dangerous level. Don't play with this until you are comfortable the basics and know why to play wit OAL, stick with SAMMI to start off. Everything is "to a point", meaning everybody has different places and amounts of tolerance they will accept, press's have different tolerances they can provide, gauges are not all the same. Trust your gauges and your gauges alone. You would think .001 is .001.... Or .1 grain is .1 grain....... Nope. All gauges have their own tolerances. A digital gauge that is cold will be different from one given 15 minutes warm up, which will be different from an old fashion counter weight system. They should all be 'close' but that is what is meant by "to a point". Powders will also "meter well" or not. One guy may claim powder X meters well becuase they are good with .5 grain variance and in a hurry for bulk loads while the next guy is cutting stick powder in half to get .0005 precision for a long range cartridge. Personally if I am within +/- .005 on the OAL or +/-.2 grain on bulk powder/+/-.09 on long range I am good. Powder comes in three general formats stick, ball and flake. See what you like. Enjoy the static electricity and fighting it, ground your press(s).

These are just a few things that come to mind, take'em or leave'em. Remember you are the one with an explosion going off within a few inches of your body parts. Keep that in mind and it makes it much easier to take those extra few seconds to be 'sure'. And don't let anybody shoot your loads till you have been doing this for awhile. The only thing I can think about that would be worse than loosing an eye to my own screw up is having to look at somebody else who has to suffer because of it.

Read, reasearch, read more, research more...... Repeat.

And for newer reloaders, particularly different brands with the same number (e.g. H4895 IMR4895), and it doesn't hurt to keep note similar powders (say, W231 HP38).

I also try to keep track of what others are using. Trading is just as good as buying.