Thread: Reloading set up

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

I use a plastic KFC spoon instead of a trickler.

You complete redneck.

Got to reiterate what some others have suggested. Go treat youself to a good reloading manual such ad Speer Richard Lee or Lyman. The instruction they give is essential knowledge and will set you on the right path. Study thoroughly because " a little knowledge is dangerous", and can be very costly in several ways.Take care and good luck

OP, I have read the thread through, and am guessing at this point, that your head will be spinning a bit.

When I started, I was intimidated by how much I didn't know, and afraid of making a dangerous mistake. There was nobody to teach me, so I was learning solo.

So I did two things.I spent a long time reading and thinking about each step.

And I made a few dummy rounds.



A dummy round is a cartridge with everything done to it, except having a primer and powder.

If it's the right length, fits in your magazine, feeds into the breech, extracts and ejects sweetly, then it means that what you have done to that point is working ok.

The next round you make, assuming you prime and charge it with powder correctly, will be good to go.

Dunno if it's a dumb idea or not but I made a dummy round to the exact C.O.A.L of my load in case by book ever goes missing, also taped a bit of paper to it with the load weight and powder brand etc, I keep it in the box my dies came in.
I guess if nothing else it was a good practice run.

I have several dummy rounds with different projectiles, its an easy way to set the seating depth on the seating die.
Screw in the die, make sure seating stem is backed off, put dummy round in shellholder, raise ram to highest point, then wind down the seating stem until it contacts the projectile.

You don’t really need a manual although it’s handy to have one but not essential As all the information is available for free online
For example you get a can of ar2208 for your 7mm-08 308etc
Go on the adi website and go to the handloaders gide
Put in your Cartridge and scroll down till you find your desired bullet weaght and then look for the ar2208 Column and
You’re all go

All the other information like trim length for brass etc will be at the top of that page also

Coal (cartridge over all length) is up to the rifle what the manual says as far as that is considered is only a gide and should be taken with a grain of salt some rifles like them longer and others like them shorter

There’s some really good reloading 101 videos on YouTube if you want to learn the basics
Once you know the basics you can modify the Process to what suits you/your rifle

Reloading basic hunting ammunition as good as factory ammunition is peice of piss
When you start playing arround and trying to get the most accurate ammo possible for the rifle is when it stats getting Technical

Thanks for all the great input,I've got some idea now on what's required to start reloading,
So any suggestions on projectiles,powder choice and the most reliable primers?



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Now you have opened a can of worms..

Originally Posted by Hbwanderer

Thanks for all the great input,I've got some idea now on what's required to start reloading,
So any suggestions on projectiles,powder choice and the most reliable primers?



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What calibers are you reloading for, how long are the barrels ?

Nothing wrong with Lee kit.Look at this group

I see you’re shooting those new ‘tumbling projectiles’

Originally Posted by marky123

Nothing wrong with Lee kit.Look at this group Attachment 104030

What distance was that? 500yds?

To be fair he is using a pistol ( from his avatar) So in the black is a group.

Originally Posted by Hbwanderer

Thanks for all the great input,I've got some idea now on what's required to start reloading,
So any suggestions on projectiles,powder choice and the most reliable primers?



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I use ADI powders because they work and are readily available.
I have used various primers over the years and never had any problems, I go with what my local shop stocks.
Sierra (blitz, gameking, prohunter) and Hornady (interlock, eld-x) projectiles always seem to do what is required at the pointy end.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

What calibers are you reloading for, how long are the barrels ?

Im shooting 7-08 out of a 22inch barrel,
Currently using factory hornady with 139grn interlocks,I have tried other brands but the hornady is the most consistent (1inch groups on a good day at 300m)


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