How does one lean to hand load?

[BloodNtheboat]

I recently bought a 41 mag, and wow, the ammo is kinda spendy, so I am thinking about taking up handloading, How tough is it to get started, I understand you need different dies for different callibers, but will one press do handgun, shotgun?
And how tough is it to learn, or is it pretty easy if you get some good books?
Thanks for the help.
Brian

[baltz526]

the best way is to visit someone who reloads a lot and get a lesson,then go buy the stuff he was using to reload with because you will be familiar with it.

[Bait O' Eggs]

I believe your gonna need a different press for shotgun and rifle/pistol cartridges.

I dont think it is to tough to learn how to do it, shouldnt be to hard to find somebody who will show you if you get confused with the books.

I am partial to RCBS equipment because it is easily attainable, and not priced thru the ceiling. There is better more expensive stuff and cheaper stuff out there.

For your 41 mag, a press like the rockchucker is something to start looking at. There are bigger and smaller models. You can use the press for the primers or for pistols you can use a hand primer, I am to cheap and just use my rockchucker for primers.

A good scales is needed, a 5/10 will work or I bought the 10/10 from RCBS. If your pockets are deep, a digital scales would be nice.

Each set of dies does one caliber unless you are talking 357 mag and 38 special then you get away with one

I use a soup bowl and plastic spoon to get the powder close (remember I am cheap) and then fine tune with a powder trickler the last few grains.

I use to use a block of wood I drilled holes in to hold the casings, but finally broke down and bought some of the plastic shell holders to use while I am reloading.

Not needed but a lubricating pad is nice to lube the casings up, they dont cost much and help keep the grease off the necks when doing rifle shells. I use to use my hands and just roll them back and forth to grease them.

I have never really paid much attention to trimming the casings to the right length. I usually lose the empties, or toss them before I stretch them out of being able to be used. For the same reason I dont have a tumbler to keep the brass nice and shiny.

When you are loading a straight casing like a 41 mag, it is a 3 step process of running each casing thru the press, and the rifle casings which have a neck are only a 2 step process thru the press.

Get a good book and dont exceed the maximums.

Equipment I use
soup bowl (to hold powder)
spoon (plastic for no sparks )
scales
powder trickler
funnel for powder
rock chucker press
dies sized to caliber being loaded
shell holders to stand brass in
lubricating pad

[duckdog310]

Dillon (sp?) and several other companies produce handloading videos that are worth their weight in gold if you're a visual learner like me.

[Ethical hunter]

I use dillion presses. I do a lot of shooting (1000+ rounds a week) and if you want to crank out lots of ammo a dillion square deal b will do the trick for 41 mag. Look up dillion precision on the web, they will have everything you need and their tech staff is very helpful.

I rcbs rock chukared it for years and dillion progressives are every bit as good in quality but, with a dillion you can crank out 10 times as many shells in an hour.

HB

[slowbuilder2005]

1. Do some research on the BULLETS you will most likely want to load first, then buy the reloading manual from that brand of bullet manufacturer.

2. Buy Metallic Cartridge Reloading and/or The ABCs of Reloading.

3. Read all of the above.

4. THEN visit someone to learn or just spring for the gear and go for it.

Works for me...

Brian

[jmcvo]

Brian,
Even though ammo for the .41 is a bit spendy, unless you're gonna shoot it quite a bit more than the .44 you had I'd recommend shooting factory ammo. I load for my CF rifles and truly enjoy handloading and load development. I've loaded for my handguns, too, but I now shoot (primarily) factory ammo in them. IMHO, for the occasional shooter reloading factory-equiv. handgun ammo just isn't worth the hassle. YMMV.

jmcvo

[saltwater only]

Come up to my house, I will give you a hands on and as many lessons as you want. Live just outside of Dallas in the country load up, step out the back door and shoot.

[sunshinefisherman]

You take the weight of the foot nearest handload and then you will lean to handload.

[Flying Roast Beef]

I learned to load from my dad. The best advice I can give you is to always go by the book. Don't ever excede the max loads as the result can be tragic. Going under can give the same results. One other thing is that powders with the same number disignation but from different manufacturers are just that different. Pay attention to that for sure. I'm set up to load a lot of things but like the earlier post said some are easier than others. .38 speacial loads are hard to mess up but some rifle rounds can get you into trouble if you don't follow the specs. Please, just follow the book.

Bill.

[Ifishsum]

.38 speacial loads are hard to mess up but some rifle rounds can get you into trouble if you don't follow the specs.

Actually .38 special loads are easy to mess up. Many loads call for a smaller charge of fast powder, which makes it pretty easy to double charge the case :shocked:. I check those as close as anything.

Most of the reloaders I know lean to the right but I'm sure there are some that lean "the other way".


Read handloading manuals and find someone reliable to help you out. RCBS and Dillion is what I use for rifle/pistol presses, MEC for shotgun, Lee, RCBS, Dillon and Redding dies.

[Flying Roast Beef]

Ok you have a point there...one of my reloading routines is to always visually inspect the cases before seating bullets. That is my way of avoiding a double charge.

I like loads that fill the case for 2 reasons, uniform ignition and double loads are obvious.

BTW, I wish I hadn't sold my 41 :depressed:

[DAB]

Dito what Keta said about choosing a powder that fills the case or almost fills the case. And buy Carbide dies for stright wall pistol cases, you don't have to lube the case that way. And by all means don't go over a MAX load, per manual.Or as some one else said don't go under the minimum load either, to much powder and not enough powder can put the hurts on you and the firearm and bystanders.
Have fun , If you need help give me an e-mail
Bench_D@msn.com
DAB

PS,, Read every thing you can on reloading.

[James in Idaho]

One of the easiest ways to start reloading is with a Lee handloader ($15 to $20), a case holder ($5??) and a scale (on ebay) . Great instructions, follow your powder manual (most are on line now). Not the fastest way to reload, but you will learn the basic process for when you move up to a press. If you figure out what you want, search around, good reloading gear is hard to wear out, and you can often find it very reasonable at garage sales, ebay (most of it is heavy though), and if you can stand to go in one, pawn shops. It really is pretty simple, I've been loading since I was about 14, and I'm still using the stuff I bought in college or earlier. I just upgraded my scale, and gave my Lee 30-06 set and old scale to a young man who's interested in loading. If you get stumped, just ask here, there's a bunch of us that load.

[saltwater only]

I like loads that fill the case for 2 reasons, uniform ignition and double loads are obvious.

My press has a lock out die, under charge or double charges are not possible die stops the press if powder level is not correct.

[MOLDY]

The speer manual has a pretty good step by step instructions section.