New Reloader

Welcome to the family
Great group of people here , always giving helpful advice. Shooting & reloading is a great sport or hobby . You just got into reloading , I enjoy reloading as much as shooting . The nice thing about reloading is you can find the best load for every firearm your shooting. It's only the beginning , there's always something new to try . You'll see. How'd your first 25 do?

Chris
 
Welcome. I too am new to reloading and have learned a lot from this forum. I load .45 ACP and 9MM. My plan was to start reloading so I could shoot a lot. But sometimes I feel like I'm shooting to empty brass for reloading. I enjoy reloading as much as shooting. I have recently become a Sig fan. A couple of months ago I picked up a used P220 and love it. Saving up now for a P226.
 
Welcome to the family. I hope you will enjoy loading as I much as I have. I am not sure but I might enjoy loading more than shooting. Always be safe and never shy from asking for advice.
 
And what is a good powder for a beginner to use? Maybe universal or something similar to that?
Click to expand...

I have no personal experience with Universal. The propellants I had in mind, which I have used, would be: AA#5, HS-6, or Unique. These are intermediate burn rate propellants (as opposed to "fast").

That said, I'm not suggesting your find/buy some of these. You have TiteGroup already, and that's fine.

You mentioned you already loaded 25. Have you shot them? Let us know how it goes if/when you do.
 
Welcome SigFan54.

Let me open by suggesting that before you do anything else you get a printed reloading manual. Some people like Lee's ABCs of Reloading. Others like the Lyman Manual. I grew up on the Hornady Handbook. There is no "best" manual, so any one - or two - will do.

Once you have the manual, go to the section at the front concerning "How to Reload" and study it, not just read it. And when you're done, study it again. There will be a test; it comes when you start assembling these miniature pipe bombs we call ammunition.

Once you have done that, sit down and write down the steps to reloading as you gleaned them from the book. I suggest you do this in a checklist format on a computer so that you can print out a checklist for every batch of cartridges you load. The checklist will help ensure you carry out every step, don't overlook any and know where you left off if you get interrupted. You say you want to do this safely, well in the 38+ years since I started using a press to reload, I have used a checklist and I have never had a single failure related to the reloading process.

I know it sounds like a real drag to have to start doing paperwork when you reload, but my checklists have saved me from more than one mistake and the first time they keep you from getting the nickname "Lefty" or "One Eye Jack" you'll actually look forward to filling them out.
 
cw308 said:
Welcome to the family
Great group of people here , always giving helpful advice. Shooting & reloading is a great sport or hobby . You just got into reloading , I enjoy reloading as much as shooting . The nice thing about reloading is you can find the best load for every firearm your shooting. It's only the beginning , there's always something new to try . You'll see. How'd your first 25 do?

Chris
Click to expand...
I didn't get the chance to go out today... but tomorrow I am free all day so a buddy and I are going out to shoot so I will finally get to try em out! Will let everyone know from there
 
hdwhit said:
Welcome SigFan54.

Let me open by suggesting that before you do anything else you get a printed reloading manual. Some people like Lee's ABCs of Reloading. Others like the Lyman Manual. I grew up on the Hornady Handbook. There is no "best" manual, so any one - or two - will do.

Once you have the manual, go to the section at the front concerning "How to Reload" and study it, not just read it. And when you're done, study it again. There will be a test; it comes when you start assembling these miniature pipe bombs we call ammunition.

Once you have done that, sit down and write down the steps to reloading as you gleaned them from the book. I suggest you do this in a checklist format on a computer so that you can print out a checklist for every batch of cartridges you load. The checklist will help ensure you carry out every step, don't overlook any and know where you left off if you get interrupted. You say you want to do this safely, well in the 38+ years since I started using a press to reload, I have used a checklist and I have never had a single failure related to the reloading process.

I know it sounds like a real drag to have to start doing paperwork when you reload, but my checklists have saved me from more than one mistake and the first time they keep you from getting the nickname "Lefty" or "One Eye Jack" you'll actually look forward to filling them out.
Click to expand...
I have one manual, I will definitely do that as it is a smart idea. Thanks for the help
 
The Lyman manual is the best because they are not pushing their own components, and they do their own load development and testing. Lyman tries to pick the best components for the task. They also have the widest variety of loads. Then you should also get the manual put out by your favorite bullet company. The Hodgden manual also has a huge variety of loads using their powder but many different bullets. As far as .45 acp goes, NRA bullseye pistol competitors have been loading light charges of fast burning powder for many years as that is what gives the best accuracy in .45 acp. I have used Titegroup, Bullseye, Solo 1000 (accurate arms), and also W231 (not as fast). I have come back to Bullseye after 22 years of reloading .45 acp. The classic load is 4.0 grains of bullseye for a 200 LSWC at 1.251 oal. These powders do not even fill the case halfway so you need to pay attention and have a good light so you can verrify the charge. If you are paying attention when you are loading you will not double charge a case.

Titegroup is a very hot burning powder, and I found that while it gave good accuracy at 4.2 grains with a 200 LSWC, it tended to vaporize the lead and cause lead fouling in my guns.
 
General update for everyone. Got to go out to the range today. Everything went really smoothly. Every round fired, chambered, and ejected as it should have.
 
SigFan54 said:
General update for everyone. Got to go out to the range today. Everything went really smoothly. Every round fired, chambered, and ejected as it should have.
Click to expand...
Congratulations on successful reloading and firing your first 45 ACP rounds! I am starting to acquire my reloading equipment at the moment. Last year I inherited an old RCBS Rock Chucker JR2 single stage press and some other reloading equipment including a set of 38 special dies. I hope I will be successful as you in my own reloading endeavors. All the best!

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk
 
Nick, Congrats on the successful testing!

I just finished acquiring 45acp dies, #2 and #4 shellplates for my Lee Pro1000 press which will now make 5 calibers that I can load on the Pro1000 and the old Lee 3 hole turret press

As soon as the dies arrive I will be loading for our new XD 45. I'm looking at loading 200gr Berry's FP with Hodgdon HP-38 powder.

If I could suggest, if you have a Cabela's near by check them out as they stock Berry's, Xtreme and Rainier bullets at a pretty good price.
 
I'd suggest rmrbullets.com as well, they sell FMJ bullets for cheaper than plated ones like Berry's (in 9mm anyway, i havent checked every round). "thehighroad5" coupon code will also give you 5% off your order and they have free shipping, best deal i have been able to find on quality FMJ bullets yet but i'm still a newbie as well so maybe others can chime in with some other recommendations.
 
Yessir! Definitely hooked, already excited for next time I get to test out some more. Excited to order some round noses online since its a lot cheaper than stores
 
kmw1954 said:
Nick, Congrats on the successful testing!

I just finished acquiring 45acp dies, #2 and #4 shellplates for my Lee Pro1000 press which will now make 5 calibers that I can load on the Pro1000 and the old Lee 3 hole turret press

As soon as the dies arrive I will be loading for our new XD 45. I'm looking at loading 200gr Berry's FP with Hodgdon HP-38 powder.

If I could suggest, if you have a Cabela's near by check them out as they stock Berry's, Xtreme and Rainier bullets at a pretty good price.
Click to expand...
45 was fun to reload for me! Unfortunately the nearest cabellas is about an hour away from me. They seem to have more than most places around me though so it might be in my interest to head up there once or twice a month to get some supplies
 
Yeah the Cabela's is about an hour away for me also but when I go I usually have a nice shopping list. I also try to time it for when they run sales. Watch for them online, especially for primers and powders.
 
"General update for everyone. Got to go out to the range today. Everything went really smoothly. Every round fired, chambered, and ejected as it should have."

Hey, nice going. Yep I guess you are hooked. Have fun!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top