New to reloading...

[Hoser]

I used to dread neck turning. Tried a few different brands. Ended up with a 21st Century. Makes life so easy.

http://www.xxicsi.com/powered-neck-turning-lathe2.html

[cstone]

Hoser has the coolest toys. There are photos somewhere of his reloading room. I'm not looking for them because they inspire a great deal of envy in me which is not how I like to start a New Year.

This is the only hard copy book I still look at from time to time: https://www.amazon.com/ABCs-Reloadin.../dp/1440213968

My recommendation is find someone near you who reloads. See how they do things. Watch lots of YouTube videos. Choose your first caliber (straight wall pistol would be my suggestion) and take it slow. You will find a process that works for you. Reloading isn't hard but it does require attention to detail and focus on safely moving through your process. Over time you will reevaluate your process and find better/simpler/faster ways to improve your process. Money for good tools will save you time but starting out, save your money and focus on understanding your process and why you are doing what you are doing. Decide early on what your goals are for the ammunition you are reloading. Long range precision is not the same process as short range pistol ammunition.

Ask lots of questions and evaluate the answers you receive against your process and goals. Use what works for you and bypass information that doesn't work for you.

Enjoy and Be safe.

[eddiememphis]

Next question.

I read a bunch more and watched a few videos. One guy was loading .30-30. My books and online say overall length is 2.550. He was pressing in to 2.520.
He was loading 31 grains of IMR4064 and a Sierra flatnose 150 grain bullet.

I used to build engines and know thirty thousandths is a lot when you are talking precision. I was reading and think I understand freebore.

So my questions are these. How much pressure is he adding by pressing the bullet in that far? When there is a lot of freebore, does some of the gas escape in front of the bullet before it enters the rifling and seals the barrel?

I have been trying to find the answer elsewhere, but as with anything on the 'net, everyone has a conflicting answer.

[20X11]

OAL in manuals is usually list MAX OAL and "as tested OAL"....you have to change your actual OAL based on the length of bullet you are loading and your chamber. Thats why you start with lower powder charges and carefully work your way up to desired load/pressure/velocity, checking for pressure signs along the way.

[spqrzilla]

Seating bullets deeper could in theory raise pressure but the actual effect in minimal in most rifle cartridges. Its more pronounced in pistol calibers because of the smaller case capacity makes the volume change proportionally greater.. Seating a bullet out to touch the lands of the barrel actually will increase pressure more significantly as it combines the beginning of bullet movement with the resistance of engraving the bullet in rifling.

[beast556]

Johnny's Reloading Bench channel on YouTube has some good content.

Huge +1 on Johnny's reloading bench. I just recently started reloading and I spent a few weeks watching his beginners reloading series before I started. I like the no BS way he walks you through the process.

[Tim K]

Seating a rifle bullet deeper typically reduces pressure, just the opposite of pistol cartridges. SPQRZILLA has it right.