testtest

The First 100 Rounds: Getting Starting with Handloading

Talyn

Talyn

Emissary
Founding Member
1777688527030.png


www.everydaymarksman.co

The First 100 Rounds: Getting Starting with Handloading

This post documents my entry into the world of handloading and reloading ammunition, with a focus on revolver cartridges for now
www.everydaymarksman.co www.everydaymarksman.co

1777688279069.png
 
Talyn said:
View attachment 109502

www.everydaymarksman.co

The First 100 Rounds: Getting Starting with Handloading

This post documents my entry into the world of handloading and reloading ammunition, with a focus on revolver cartridges for now
www.everydaymarksman.co www.everydaymarksman.co

View attachment 109497
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting! The author's thought process parallels my own fairly closely.

I agree with his choice of cartridge, 38 Special / 357 Magnum for the same reason: ease of brass recovery. If I were less picky, I'd choose 9mm and just use mixed brass. 9mm is a bit "safer" for the beginning reloader in that its case capacity more closely matches the bulk of the powder charge, thus its theoretically easier to catch double-charges. But my OCD won't let me simply throw a fixed powder charge into a batch of cases having random headstamps.

I don't think that I'd recommend a progressive press, even the Dillon 550, to a beginner. Probably I wouldn't even recommend a turret press. Not unless I already knew the person really well and felt that they'd enjoy handloading enough to continue doing it after the "honeymoon" time period ended. A good solid single stage press is my personal recommendation to the beginner. If they continue in the hobby, it will ALWAYS be useful and a good one will last longer than the energizer bunny. If the beginner tires of the hobby, then a good quality single stage should sell for enough to allow recovery of a large chunk of its original cost.

When the question of "is reloading worth it?" is covered, the discussion almost never thoroughly addresses the value and availability of time. That is a factor that a younger person, particularly with family, should take into consideration as well as the cost of equipment and cost of components.
 
Last edited:
Old_Me said:
yeah, the Dillon 550C.....i have it and its the best dang press for a reloader...not a junk Lee, which i made the mistake of buying and forever regretting.
Click to expand...
I was always a RCBS man back when I reloaded, never cared for any progressive press, used the old faithful Rock Chucker single stage press.
 
RedGoat said:
When the question of "is reloading worth it?" is covered, the discussion almost never thoroughly addresses the value and availability of time. That is a factor that a younger person, particularly with family, should take into consideration as well as the cost of equipment and cost of components.
Click to expand...
I was probably 10 years old when my dad put me on an old MEC shot shell loaded and turned me loose. In the 40+ years since then, I have altered my habits (and tastes).

I do value my time way more than I used to. I only load for my serious rifles and my revolvers anymore. For me, I'd rather order that case of 9/40/45/223 ammo than to find time during the week (and away from family). I no longer case my own bullets; the internet made that task easier. And I do check prices from time to time, just to make sure I am where I feel comfortable.

But we have to pass on our knowledge ... that is our contribution.
 
Annihilator said:
I was always a RCBS man back when I reloaded, never cared for any progressive press, used the old faithful Rock Chucker single stage press.
Click to expand...
when i went for the first time to the range and had a lesson, i asked what type of gun should i start out with, to gain experience.

i was told a .38

i went and bought a 9mm (G-17), then immediately the CZ 75B
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
when i asked about reloading way back then, i asked what should i start out with, and was told, DO NOT start with ANY progressive press....

i was told a single stage, and i looked at RCBS....

what did i do..???

i went and got the disastrous Lee Pro400 progressive, and learnt how to set it up, on my own, and it actually worked..when it wanted to.

then I got the fantastic Dillon 550C...works every stinking time, with NO hiccups......i can NEVER say that about a Lee

and learnt how to set that Dillon on my own

of course you tube videos or Dillon videos were and still are available so i watched them. but NO one came to my house to help me, as some of you guys have many friends that were able to do so.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i don't always tend to do as told

however

when the wife tells me to do something..................??

damn straight i do it............!!!!!!!!
 
powerboatr said:
i have a square deal b from dillion it runs my 380, 9mm and 45s
it has thousands of round built through it

other than normal maintenance, its a terrific piece of gear
my next dillion will be a 500 series for sure
Click to expand...
If you've been running the Square Deal B for a long time, do you think you will miss having the auto-indexing feature that the 550 lacks? Just asking. Also, I've read that the number one root cause of double charges on progressive presses is most often traceable to lack of auto-indexing.... And that's what the 550C is: manual indexing only.
 
Old_Me said:
when i went for the first time to the range and had a lesson, i asked what type of gun should i start out with, to gain experience.

i was told a .38

i went and bought a 9mm (G-17), then immediately the CZ 75B
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
when i asked about reloading way back then, i asked what should i start out with, and was told, DO NOT start with ANY progressive press....

i was told a single stage, and i looked at RCBS....

what did i do..???

i went and got the disastrous Lee Pro400 progressive, and learnt how to set it up, on my own, and it actually worked..when it wanted to.

then I got the fantastic Dillon 550C...works every stinking time, with NO hiccups......i can NEVER say that about a Lee

and learnt how to set that Dillon on my own

of course you tube videos or Dillon videos were and still are available so i watched them. but NO one came to my house to help me, as some of you guys have many friends that were able to do so.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i don't always tend to do as told

however

when the wife tells me to do something..................??

damn straight i do it............!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
You sir, are a rebel.
 
Annihilator said:
I was always a RCBS man back when I reloaded, never cared for any progressive press, used the old faithful Rock Chucker single stage press.
Click to expand...
I have all types of presses (except an auto-indexing progressive) and I use all of them. However, when I am working up loads (handgun or rifle), running small batches (handgun or rifle), or basically exploring any new die type, etc., I find myself most often reverting back to a single stage press (of which I have several of different brands, but RCBS is my absolute favorite). I guess that is where I find my comfort zone when the OCD in me takes charge. Since I'm retired, single, and my dog allows me a lot of free time, the amount of time it takes to crank out rounds on a single stage isn't a concern for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top