"NEW" to rifle reloading - Advice on Press

[Catahoula12]

Two RCBS Rockchuckers at my bench. I would not go to a progressive press ever. I load 4 calibers in my household consisting of 270 Winchester, 30-06, 7mm-08 and 308 Winchester. I know others who use those progressive presses and perhaps they work fine for them and they do. But for me... I just think my quality control is better using single stage press. Good luck Mallardsx2!!

 

[muleyfool]

There's some great knowledge going on here...but no comments about annealing brass.
Like most of you my first introduction to reloading was my father. I remember he would stand brass casings in a pan of water and torch the necks.
I do it with more modern equipment for the same if not better results. For most loads, I get longer case life and consistency.

 

[JimP]

I have been thinking of building a case anneal-er. There are some great ideas on YouTube. I'm leaning towards the second one but the first one would be a neat one to have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnghijHWBQs&feature=youtu.be


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pblxxT-3s0

 

[fackelberry]

I learned how to reload from my father when i was around 5 years old, almost 36 years ago now! Geez im getting old. He would have me do the case prep work as most of us serious reloaders know, all the deburring, flash hole chamfering, cleaning primer pockets, you know the stuff after 100 rounds makes your wrists and fingers hurt. My dad was no dummy, haha. Long story short, i absolutely love to reload for my hunting rifles. Its a good hobby, and when you can custom build a load tailored for that specific rifle, they are usually more accurate over all and that in itself gives the average shooter confidence in his gun and load which i believe helps him make a more accurate shot in the field. I'm like most here, dad started me out on an old RCBS RockChucker, the kind thats the mint green color not forest green like todays. When i set up my stuff he gave me an old RockChucker but i bought the RockChucker Supreme as i reload for the longer Ultamags and it has a bigger case window for easier asccess. I use Redding and RCBS dies. Its What i learned on and and have the most of. I guess to answer your question a little more thouroghly, if you were only gonna reload for 1 rifle i would probably just find a good accurate factory load you like and buy a case of them with the SAME lot number on ALL the boxes, usually inside one of the end flaps on 20 round box. It will take awhile to pay for alot of the reloading components you will need if your only gonna shoot 1 box or so a year. If your gonna reload for say 3 or more guns it would be beneficial to reload your own. But be very careful as it it is a really addicting hobby with all the combos of bullets, powders, primers, cases, seating depths just rying to wring out that last 1/4 inch of accuracy. I find myself buying reloading stuff all the time just to try and improve on a load i have already got. If you decide to go that route, you will enjoy it like the rest of us here do. Good luck, and good shooting.

 

[mallardsx2]

I did a count this weekend.

I got 110 cases.

50 Winchester silver-tip cases.
40 silver federal cases.
40 brass federal cases.

I may need to initially full length re-size and shoot these all through the specific guns before going further. I dont remember what shells were fired in what guns at this point.


The dimension of these (Empty cases) were all within a couple thousandths of each other.

Winchesters were about 10 grains heavier.
Federals were all within .2 grains of each other.
The Winchester OA case length was about .012 longer than the federals (Hence the weight difference I recon)

I might just get a loader to play around.

Right now I got waaaaaay too much going on with the 35 vanguard mud-motor engine re-build...I got stuff scattered everywhere.

Hid in the basement to escape the heat Saturday and Sunday and loaded 500 .410 shells and 600 9mm brass yesterday as well.

I have come to the conclusion that I will never have time for additional hobbies and that I may never me a master at any of the ones that I currently have... lol

 

[Slugz]

Fackleberry.......great point on confidence in the load. Until I read your post and thought about it. I have a whole different demeanor while hunting with my 30-06 and my load.

 

[JimP]

I don't have time for the hobbies that I have now.

I have found that most of all of my reloading is done during the winter when I am not doing something else. About the only time that I'll reload in the summer is when I am working up loads and have to run down to the range every day to see what the rounds are doing.

 

[fackelberry]

Fackleberry.......great point on confidence in the load. Until I read your post and thought about it. I have a whole different demeanor while hunting with my 30-06 and my load.

I know when i get a good consistent load for my rifle and can shoot it repeatedly at the range multiple times and it stays accurate it gives me way more confidence out in the field. I always tell my friends that if i miss an animal i know its me NOT the gun or load. I have seen too many people buy factory loads 1 year and shoot good and wait til they run out 3 years later or so and go get more of supposedly the same load combo and have it not shoot the same or inconsistant. There is alot more to it than that also, as i have no idea how many rounds are through there gun as it may be fouled and too dirty to be consistant. Or scope rings and action screws are too tight or too loose. Thats why i double check it all before season and after practicing, I want buck fever to cause me to miss not the gun or load.

 

[RICMIC]

Mallardsx2; What in the hell do you plan to do with 500 rounds of .410...….sporting clays?

 

[mallardsx2]

I shoot sporting clays, skeet, and 5 stand pretty frequently.

I normally shoot about 2000 rounds of .410 a year.

It doesn't kick and when you beat people shooting 12 gauges it makes you feel good and when you loose to someone shooting a 12 gauge you can blame it on having 1/2 as much shot as them.... lol

Love my .410 Browning Citori Lightning (Double Full chokes)

 

[Mule3006Elk]

Happy with my RCBS Rock Chucker.
I don't shoot a ton but I'm glad I reload.
There are factory inconsistencies that I can easily eliminate reloading.
I feel much more confident pulling the trigger with my reloads.
Good luck and have fun!