Thread: Newbie information

Hello, I have been thinking of getting into reloading for quite a while. Are there any recommended resources I should look at before I outlay for all the equipment? What sort of cost am I looking at for a basic set up? Mainly .303 and .308

I started off by reading the Nick Harvey reloading manual, but there are many other good manuals too.
You don't need too much gear to get started but there are always bits and pieces you decide you "need" later, including new rifles in different calibres! I have found reloading does not save me money, but I enjoy it a lot.

Ill get shot down but when i started out a long long time ago i used a lee loader and still have a few for different cals i shoot then i decided to move onto a press i just got a lee press with the intention of upgrading at a later date because according to the experts lee stuff is supposed to be shit well i still have it and other lee gear as well im waiting for it to turn out shit ammo or something but it hasnt yet so i guess ill just keep using it and the lee dies etc

Always buy the most expensive of everything, then if you get disillusioned by it all you can sell it cheap on here...works well with fishing gear as well.

@AWBates I asked something similar just recently, if you go back a page or 3 you should find it. Will have some info that you may find useful

Hi AWB, Have a look at you tube, plenty of videos on there. ( Me, I learn better by watching as well as reading )



Then come back and ask questions.

Lee gear is ok to start with.

If the option is there, I would try and get together with someone who reloads and they can show you the ropes. Everything looked so intimidating and complicated to me trying to research it myself but after a few sessions loading and prepping cases with a mate it all started to click and make sense.

In terms of cost, that's a pretty broad question. You can buy entry level kits that will get you going for a few hundred dollars or you might be like me and after having spent some time learning on a mates kit, I identified all the stuff I wanted individually and made an order that gave me everything I wanted from the brands I wanted within reason of quality and affordability.

Someone experienced would be ideal. I'm still a rookie and learning new things all the time in the reloading game (like the stuck case I got last week.. woops).

Originally Posted by stagstalker

I'm still a rookie and learning new things all the time in the reloading game (like the stuck case I got last week.. woops).

Dude, you aint gotta stuck case, you aint been reloading long.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Dude, you aint gotta stuck case, you aint been reloading long.

About 25 years for me. I have probably cursed myself now...

Originally Posted by mimms2

Buy a kit at whatever price you feel comfortable. (Lee at the cheap end, RCBS or Dillon at the top) It will include a reloading manual. You'll find you don't use some things, you may want to upgrade others.
I prefer priming off press so if a hand primer isn't included I'd recommend you to one of those.

Lee Kit about $300 or you might find one second hand. Die set start about $80 per calibre. If you do go Lee, the QC bushings are a brilliant timesaver.

Some people work up loads without a chrony. I wouldn't, I like data . So add a couple hundy for one of them.

When buying powders, brass or projectiles, the manufacturer will have recipies for them as well - cross compare with your reloading manual.

Thank you- perfect information.

Originally Posted by stagstalker

If the option is there, I would try and get together with someone who reloads and they can show you the ropes. Everything looked so intimidating and complicated to me trying to research it myself but after a few sessions loading and prepping cases with a mate it all started to click and make sense.

In terms of cost, that's a pretty broad question. You can buy entry level kits that will get you going for a few hundred dollars or you might be like me and after having spent some time learning on a mates kit, I identified all the stuff I wanted individually and made an order that gave me everything I wanted from the brands I wanted within reason of quality and affordability.

Someone experienced would be ideal. I'm still a rookie and learning new things all the time in the reloading game (like the stuck case I got last week.. woops).

Great advice actually- it is very intimidating looking at it all!

Greetings AWBates,
Glad to hear of another prospective hand loader, especially one loading for the .303. Here are a few notes that may help both on kit and loading. Most of my loading gear I have had for some time, 40 years plus for some of it and have never regretted buying quality.
I don't have any of the newer manuals but would suggest the one put out by the manufacturer of the projectiles you plan to use. I use the data on the web from the Hodgdon and Nosler sites. The Barnes site would be good if you are using their solid copper projectiles. Currently I use a Redding press and have dies from most of the manufacturers other than Lee mostly due to what as available at the time. Things that most hand loaders do not get at the start but are essential if you plan to do much handloading include access to a case trimmer and a chronograph. The other thing that you need but can not buy is experience. Stag stalker above suggested getting together with someone who hand loads and this is good advice. I would go a bit further and suggest an older person with plenty of experience. They, like myself, have made most of the mistakes so you don't have to. They will mostly have all the kit needed but often not the latest wizzo bits.
Loading for the .303 especially in Lee Enfields is an interesting journey. Case life can be brutally short if the loads kept down and the cases neck sized or minimally full length resized. Experience is especially important here.
All the best Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Dude, you aint gotta stuck case, you aint been reloading long.

Yea. Like I said.. still a rookie..

if you use lee lubricant its not a matter of if you will get a stuck case its when........ and that toothpast type crap is one of the only product LEE makes that I dont use and swear by.
find the older nosler manuals....version 1 or 2 are excellent for the how to...as is the nick harvey ones.
when doing a new load I will triple check my intended load...manuals,online database and old paper manuals all get used. the .308 is an easy beast to load for.if you pick middle of road load and it shoots accurately enough...all is good. you can kill stuff,maybe shoot more and will learn a lot about how to make reloads.

one of the point the early manuals make is that there are two main types of reloaders....
guys like me who started loading to save $$$$
pick a run of the mill load and are happy with loads as accurate as off the shelf factory stuff maybe saving a little coin on the way


and then there are the other type who want to create the absolute very best than can make....some like it super hot...some like it super accurate..some like it subsonic..some are anully pedantic about how they go about it and get great results....


if you work it out backwards...eg decide what you NEED and WANT to achieve from reloads and go from there...my advice,start simple,dip your toes so to speak and see how far you want to take it.


for what its worth I lube with vasoline...as older guy showed me some 30 plus years ago.

Originally Posted by stagstalker

Yea. Like I said.. still a rookie..

It's just part and parcel of reloading. I still get cases stuck occasionally, this after thousands of rounds.