Darkside
Active member
If you REALLY WANT TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT RELOADING you will have manual's.
Starting reloading - what to get next?
- Thread starter Forkyfinder
- Start date
MTGunner
Well-known member
Ya’ know, I started same approximately 40 years ago. Had some help along the way. It has been years since I have purchased a factory cartridge. At this point the only factory shells I use are 22rf and 17 hmr. I load 28 gauge shot shells as they are too damn expensive. I load 12 and 20 also.
I have found that my cabinet/s are full of lots of components and my reloading area has expanded exponentially. It’s my quiet room. No music, phone or disruptions. I will say that I have way too many bullets that I have tried and they merely take up room in my cabinet. But, someone might need something. Good ‘nuff!
I have enjoyed reloading, it has paid dividends on game. My rifles, each, have specific loads. It has been an education that fills my time. MTG
I have found that my cabinet/s are full of lots of components and my reloading area has expanded exponentially. It’s my quiet room. No music, phone or disruptions. I will say that I have way too many bullets that I have tried and they merely take up room in my cabinet. But, someone might need something. Good ‘nuff!
I have enjoyed reloading, it has paid dividends on game. My rifles, each, have specific loads. It has been an education that fills my time. MTG
Redmt
Well-known member
I have stacks of manuals, somewhere. Most manuals I have seen are limited to the manufacturer's components or are pitifully incomplete. Most reloading data is available online if you take the time to research it.
Bigjay73
Well-known member
Another vote for using online resources. There isn't a technique or load recipe you cannot locate easily online. Just wait until you're quite experienced before taking advice on loads from individuals, you need to know what's safe and what's insane.
El Jason
Well-known member
Nick87
Well-known member
I would just ask the good people.on Facebook. What could possibly go wrong.
44hunter45
Well-known member
"Good judgment comes from experience—and a lot of that comes from bad judgment". - Will Rogers
There is a lot of hoopla of the 5 stages in the life of a hunter. Or seven, or six, choose one. I think there are stages in the life of a handloader also. When was young I wanted to hotrod everything. Every load had to be the fastest I could get until the bolt stuck. Then I got into the accuracy phase. Not about speed but hitting the node. Now I'm about searching for the node that might be a little over the book max, not showing excessive pressure in my gun. The load that is just right. I've run the gammut and I still have both eyes and all my fingers.
I own every Speer manual from #8 on. I own Berger, Nosler, Sierra, Herters, Hornady (Eww), and even Norma manuals. I have manuals published by powder companies, by bullet companies, and by freelance writers. Back in the day there were some really cool technical articles in these. Most modern manuals are useless after the lawyers get done taking out anything useful.
I personally have learned far more from Quickload than I have from any manual, but it will let you screw up also.
Now there are internet handloading experts. Some will blow up your guns, but getting a broad general spectrum of the internet knowledge and staying away from the fringes will grow your knowledge without painful lessons. There are some seriously skilled loaders on HT, HammerTime Forums offers a world of free knowledge on Hammer bullets and how to load them.
The most important skill for a handloader is reading pressure sign. I don't think you can learn that in ANY manual. Everything else is stuff I learned at my grandfather's knee in his shop.
Some of us never go near that max load. Others of us get a manual and then blow right by the max data because our gun is "better" than the test gun. I had a Speer engineer tell me they get handloaded ammo back which has blown up guns. Some of it peizos over 120k psi.
Oh - and anyone who says handloading will save you money is trying to sell you something....
I think you can get decent data online. Everyone has their own preferences and reasons for reloading, etc… My preference is to have a few manuals around. I prefer looking in a book, probably because I am old. Whatever works. …
I have found it very useful to record load data and notes about stuff. If you reload for more than a few cartridges you’ll find it useful when you come back around to that cartridge after a while.
I have found it very useful to record load data and notes about stuff. If you reload for more than a few cartridges you’ll find it useful when you come back around to that cartridge after a while.
Redmt
Well-known member
I think the most useful "tool" is someone else who you can bounce things off of and learn with you.
