Well i will start with this statement, you can't fix stupid. With that said, i thank you all for your opinions. Anyone going into any venture without arming themselves with knowlegde needed to safely complete the task is looking for tragedy. As a marine vet i fully understand the possible dangers of reloading ammo. Which is why i am gathering my information not only through books, but from the experienced reloaders that can tell you what the books dont. I believe that anyone that have been reloading has vital information that is both good and bad and it is up to the individual to make a well informed decision. I look forward to sharing my experience in the near future when i reload my first cartridge. Thank again for all your input.
First time reloading
- Thread starter jcolon95
- Start date
jcolon95,
I hate to see a reloading question answered with a lot of condescending remarks about the new persons knowledge . Don't be afraid to ask questions , just totally ignore the snarky answers . I don't understand why some seem to do this . You will quickly realize who gives solid information.
I started in 1967 with two reloading manuals and wish there had been a place to ask questions . Some...a lot actually, of information isn't in the books ...I learned a lot the hard way ....I am always glad to share that knowledge , if you have a question ...ask it, I for one will try to help sans sarcasm
Gary
I hate to see a reloading question answered with a lot of condescending remarks about the new persons knowledge . Don't be afraid to ask questions , just totally ignore the snarky answers . I don't understand why some seem to do this . You will quickly realize who gives solid information.
I started in 1967 with two reloading manuals and wish there had been a place to ask questions . Some...a lot actually, of information isn't in the books ...I learned a lot the hard way ....I am always glad to share that knowledge , if you have a question ...ask it, I for one will try to help sans sarcasm
Gary
JeepHammer
Moderator
I like Jcolon95 already.
Inactive Marine, so thick skin. Knows how to pick the pearl out of the hog crap.
Ignorant means uneducated on the subject. That is easily solved by education.
Stupid is when you refuse to educate yourself, or ignore education handed to you.
In this case, he'll take things serious...
Military in general, and Marines in specific are trained to absorb information, improvise, adapt, overcome. Only about 3% of the population is current/former military so they are the vast minority.
The majority question things as simple as safety glasses...
Inactive Marine, so thick skin. Knows how to pick the pearl out of the hog crap.
Ignorant means uneducated on the subject. That is easily solved by education.
Stupid is when you refuse to educate yourself, or ignore education handed to you.
In this case, he'll take things serious...
Military in general, and Marines in specific are trained to absorb information, improvise, adapt, overcome. Only about 3% of the population is current/former military so they are the vast minority.
The majority question things as simple as safety glasses...
jcolon95, Welcome to the world of reloading. From the looks of it your question wasn't very well received by some of the Experts! It really was a simple question that really only needed a simple answer.
In todays world you will find many more resources available to you than I did way back in 1980. About all one had was the published books and whatever monthly magazines one could find on the racks that had articles. Today there are still the books, still some magazines and now the web with forums, blogs and youtube videos.
You haven't mentioned anything about the type of reloading you will be looking to do other than this question about rifle bullets, so we assume that is one aspect. I will suggest that to actually get started and easily learn the basics that the simple revolver pistol cartridge is the easiest to learn on.
Also if you can find a mentor to work with it certainly helps and besides it's nice to have someone to talk to about it.
Anyways, good luck, don't get discouraged and enjoy the new hobby because it is fun and very rewarding.
In todays world you will find many more resources available to you than I did way back in 1980. About all one had was the published books and whatever monthly magazines one could find on the racks that had articles. Today there are still the books, still some magazines and now the web with forums, blogs and youtube videos.
You haven't mentioned anything about the type of reloading you will be looking to do other than this question about rifle bullets, so we assume that is one aspect. I will suggest that to actually get started and easily learn the basics that the simple revolver pistol cartridge is the easiest to learn on.
Also if you can find a mentor to work with it certainly helps and besides it's nice to have someone to talk to about it.
Anyways, good luck, don't get discouraged and enjoy the new hobby because it is fun and very rewarding.
Good thinking jcolon95. One thought though. When you ask a question on a forum, you are going to get opinions as often as facts (now the "old guard" here are gonna object to that statement!). You are getting information from an anonymous screen name and the info can be real, factual or complete BS. For a new reloader that hasn't developed his "Reloading BS Filter" it may be confusing and/or hazardous. Personally I'd say find a good, well recommended text and stick with that, and just smile and say thank you to forum experts, range rats, gun counter clerks, and gun shop gurus, at least until your BS filter is working...
Aguila Blanca
Staff
I've also taken to wearing ear protection when priming. (I prime off the press, in batches, with a Lee Autoprime, so I don't wear hearing protection for the entire loading operation. I usually pre-prime a few hundred cases in trays on the bench, then load them in smaller batches as I have time to do it.)JeepHammer said:
2wheelwander
New member
jcolon, I got into reloading a while back this was the first advice I received. Didn't want to do it because I'd rather 'do' that read about it. Picked up Lee's latest modern reloading manual. Some was a bit dry to get through, the vast majority was interesting and informative. Wasn't a 'text book' I had to study to get to the fun stuff - most of the time. In the end, I was grateful I'd made myself sit and read it. Once I did it went pretty fast. Keep in mind the last half of the book is recipes. You'll be better equipped and a better reloader for reading about it. It covers questions you wouldn't know to ask and solutions to problems you didn't know might exist.
A guy who saw a photo of my loading bench had a fit when he saw my pipe rack on a shelf next to reloading tools. No, not next to explosives.
I smoke my pipe twenty feet away at my office desk but keep another rack over there.
It is good that he was looking out for me. everyone needs to be protected from mistakes.
HE SHOULD NOT HAVE CALLED ME AN IDIOT IN BOLD ALL CAPS BECAUSE HE SAW A PIPE RACK AND A TIN OF CAVENDISH NEXT TO MY BOXES OF DIES AND TOOLS!!!!
When you get good advice, heed it, and try not to take it personally if you get a lot of snotty responses.
Just for the record, think about how many pages of tips and information that you have had here, without much organization, and a whole lot of duplication.
reading a good manual is the best, easiest way of learning the basics, and picking up most of the details.
There are plenty of times that you should consult resident experts, because there are endless situations that aren't in the books. and feel free to ask, because that is what the forum is about. Sharing information.
Aguila Blanca
Staff
Interchangeable, but not identical. It's fortunate that, within limitations, firearms are built to accommodate some slack in tolerances. For example, the SAAMI drawing for .45 ACP shows the case length as .898 minus .010. That means anything from .888 through .898 is within SAAMI specs.Unclenick said:
Just last night I took out some newly-tumbled, once fired .45 ACP brass and measured the case length. Where I had enough, I measured five of each. Some I found only two or three.
Winchester USA: length ranged from 0.885 to 0.887. Average = 0.886. Technically out of spec, but these are from once-fired ammo that Winchester produced for commercial sale.
Federal (small primer): length ranged from 0.887 (out of spec) to 0.890. Average = 0.889 (in spec)
Remington (R-P headstamp): length ranged from 0.888 to 0.893. Average 0.892 (in spec)
This is why many reloaders sort brass by headstamp.
JeepHammer
Moderator
Repetition, Echo, whatever...
In the Marines we had DRILL instructors, they DRILLED it into your head until it became automatic.
Constantly review the process, when you make corrections you drill on the new order of things.
Basic safety never changes... So it's pointless to waste time/effort arguing against it.
Drill again, safety glasses at all times, no LEFT OPEN powder/primers, one type of powder/primers on the bench at a time, keep your fingers out of linkage and out from between case/dies...
Don't prime looking down into the case!
I had a guy just melt down because I had a little butane torch on the bench. Total meltdown.
Trigger locked, set aside with spray cans/bottles.
Not like I was using it on a powder die with a loaded dropper above!
Lit cigarette 2" from open powder is different, and stupid. Totally preventable high risk move.
Bump the powder trickler on an active load in progress and it's over.
No ignition source and a powder spill is an 'Accident', add the ignition source and it's a total bone head disaster.
Keep in mind there is an active thread about small pistol primers in rifle rounds (.223 if I remember) and that was totally preventable by simply double checking the load data against what's actually on the bench.
Probably would have been preventable if pistol & rifle primers were separated in different containers.
While the 'Oops' threads pile up,people still scoff at basic bench safety. Counter productive...
DRILL on it until people get the message!
In the Marines we had DRILL instructors, they DRILLED it into your head until it became automatic.
Constantly review the process, when you make corrections you drill on the new order of things.
Basic safety never changes... So it's pointless to waste time/effort arguing against it.
Drill again, safety glasses at all times, no LEFT OPEN powder/primers, one type of powder/primers on the bench at a time, keep your fingers out of linkage and out from between case/dies...
Don't prime looking down into the case!
I had a guy just melt down because I had a little butane torch on the bench. Total meltdown.
Trigger locked, set aside with spray cans/bottles.
Not like I was using it on a powder die with a loaded dropper above!
Lit cigarette 2" from open powder is different, and stupid. Totally preventable high risk move.
Bump the powder trickler on an active load in progress and it's over.
No ignition source and a powder spill is an 'Accident', add the ignition source and it's a total bone head disaster.
Keep in mind there is an active thread about small pistol primers in rifle rounds (.223 if I remember) and that was totally preventable by simply double checking the load data against what's actually on the bench.
Probably would have been preventable if pistol & rifle primers were separated in different containers.
While the 'Oops' threads pile up,people still scoff at basic bench safety. Counter productive...
DRILL on it until people get the message!
The Lyman reloading book read it then reread it it will help you to do it the wright way. It is like a Bible it will not lead you wrong The Sierra is a good book also the LEE is also a good book I also use Accurate load book for I use a lot of Accurate powder I have all reloading books put on the market some are very old the powder to day is a better powder from the old Jest improved over the years and some new powder out there from when I started. I use a LEE turret press and Lyman T MAG both have done me well over the years. GOOD LUCK
ohh, here's something important.
CLEAN.
no spilled powder, oily places, no clutter, no rusty tools, no water, a loading bench ought to be as clean as a kitchen, maybe even a medical office.
The one most important thing to keep clean?
Your safety glasses. Using scratched or cruddy safety glasses? I don't know about everyone else here, but I habitually push my glasses down to examine things.
OOOHH, maybe my router just hit a knot and it seized up. Glasses are covered with sawdust, push them down and lean in to get a close look at the bit?
Yes, keep those things clean.
CLEAN.
no spilled powder, oily places, no clutter, no rusty tools, no water, a loading bench ought to be as clean as a kitchen, maybe even a medical office.
The one most important thing to keep clean?
Your safety glasses. Using scratched or cruddy safety glasses? I don't know about everyone else here, but I habitually push my glasses down to examine things.
OOOHH, maybe my router just hit a knot and it seized up. Glasses are covered with sawdust, push them down and lean in to get a close look at the bit?
Yes, keep those things clean.
Jes wonderin'. I don't smoke so mebbe one of the guys that does could preform an experiment for us. Get a cigarette going and put it in an ashtray. Sprinkle some powder on the cigarette, starting with a little then up the charges to like 10-12 gr of Unique or 46 gr. of IMR4064. Then tell us your results. A video would be great!
FWI; I read an argument about static electricity igniting smokeless powder on a forum a while back. A poster linked to a video if a man trying to ignite powder with and electrical charge. He could not. I'd like to see if a pile of powder dumped on a lit cigarette would ignite or snuff out the cigarette.
(Reminds me of the old fear of igniting gasoline with a cigarette. I tried it, lots of years ago, dropped a lit cigarette into a pan of gas, the gas put the cigarette out)...
FWI; I read an argument about static electricity igniting smokeless powder on a forum a while back. A poster linked to a video if a man trying to ignite powder with and electrical charge. He could not. I'd like to see if a pile of powder dumped on a lit cigarette would ignite or snuff out the cigarette.
(Reminds me of the old fear of igniting gasoline with a cigarette. I tried it, lots of years ago, dropped a lit cigarette into a pan of gas, the gas put the cigarette out)...
I agree that there are many little things experience teaches you that may not be in the books and I love these forums for those very things . That said I suggest you read the books first . They will answer many of your questions before you even know you had them . They will also bring up a whole bunch more . It's then you come back and ask your questions .
I agree with the poster that said don't just blindly come to a forum board and ask questions . You should have at least the basics understood before asking questions . I say this because I consider my self an experienced reloader but still learn things all the time on these forums . I've asked questions before and based on the first few responses went on with my testing and or what ever it was I was looking to learn . Only to come back to the thread to see everyone that posted after those first few posters completely disagreed with them and showed how wrong they were . My point , even when you think you've gotten good advice on a forum . Give it some time and let other chime in before running to the press .
JeepHammer
Moderator
In the OPs defense, this is his FIRST loader.
He DID ask a question before doing anything stupid.
He's a Marine, my guess is he already has reloading manuals on order, and he's watching instructional videos.
Despite the jokes, Marines aren't stupid. Once you point them in the correct direction, just back away slowly and don't get your fingers anywhere near their mouths because they will be chewing through everything in sight!
He DID ask a question before doing anything stupid.
He's a Marine, my guess is he already has reloading manuals on order, and he's watching instructional videos.
Despite the jokes, Marines aren't stupid. Once you point them in the correct direction, just back away slowly and don't get your fingers anywhere near their mouths because they will be chewing through everything in sight!