Reloading Newbie

[mightyman]

To All,

I am really impressed here with the knowledge of the members on all topics! I really enjoy reading all the info and have learned much.

Based on the continued rise in cost of factory bullets, I bought a RCBS Rockcrusher kit and am almost ready to begin my first reloading.

However I would appreciate your expertise on anything else outside of the kit that I may need like extra tools, types of scales, gauges, and especially the best brass to use as there are so many to choose from.

I can easily watch a couple U-tube videos and learn, and ask a couple friends but would greatly prefer listening to the experts.
Another question, is how many times can you safely reload the same shell?
thanks so much for the response.
Mike

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

To All,

I am really impressed here with the knowledge of the members on all topics! I really enjoy reading all the info and have learned much.

Based on the continued rise in cost of factory bullets, I bought a RCBS Rockcrusher kit and am almost ready to begin my first reloading.

However I would appreciate your expertise on anything else outside of the kit that I may need like extra tools, types of scales, gauges, and especially the best brass to use as there are so many to choose from.

I can easily watch a couple U-tube videos and learn, and ask a couple friends but would greatly prefer listening to the experts.
Another question, is how many times can you safely reload the same shell?
thanks so much for the response.
Mike

Get a couple of reloading manuals and pour over them. Then read 'em again. Lot's of good info in Sierra, Nosler, Lyman's books and others too.
You will need your press, a beam and balance scale(and funnel), a case trimmer, method of priming,dies for each cartridge, case lube, and a way to clean your cases(tumbler, etc.). You should have a powder measure, trimer pocket scraper(if you don't get the ash out of the primer pockets you will get high primers- a safety concern), a caliper, and loading blocks. There are case uniforming tools that I'm sure are great, but I really don't get into that. I'm more concerned with the barrel liking the bullet.
Others have their necessary tools in addition to this, but some get by with less than I've mentioned.

 

[Bart B]

Another question, is how many times can you safely reload the same shell?

That depends on a few thing. One is how much the sizing die used reduces the fired case dimensions. The other's what tools one has to measure fired cases dimensions both before and after they're sized. And very important is how hot one loads their ammo.

Some folks have got several dozen reloads per .30-06 or .308 Win. case. Belted magnum cases can be reloaded 20 to 25 times.

 

[wisdeerkiller]

if you are shooting a bolt action, or break action and you are going to do alot of long range shooting pick up a neck sizer die. not good to use when your hunting.

A.K.A. fire forming

these will make your brass last alot longer as it only takes out the primer and opens the neck up.

 

[Bart B]

if you are shooting a bolt action, or break action and you are going to do alot of long range shooting pick up a neck sizer die. not good to use when your hunting. A.K.A. fire forming these will make your brass last alot longer as it only takes out the primer and opens the neck up.

If you talk with the folks who've won most of the matches and set virtually all the records using shoulder fired bolt action rifles since the 1960's for long range competition, you'll learn they all used full length sizing dies. And got a few to several dozen reloads per case. But a break action rifle may well do best with neck only sized cases; I don't know of any break action rifle that'll hold 1 MOA at long range.