There is a pretty good article in the March 2008 "Shooting Times" about getting started in reloading. "Learn to walk before you run" by Lane Pearce. I've seen most of the info and advice echoed here but he might put it a little more eloquently.

As has been pointed out on this site by many, he believes you should start out by reading SEVERAL manuals and then get a single stage press.

I used a single stage Rockchucker Jr for 3 years-then had to return it to my cousin since he wanted to load again. To replace it I bought a Redding T-7 Turret press. I really like the turret style presses.

For manuals I bought the Speer #13 and used that for nearly all my loading the first year then got the Barnes #3 since it was the only manual with info on their blue XLC bullets (which is all I use for big game), I also got the Hodgdon Annual Manual and one from Alliant. Gee, almost forgot, I now also have the new Hornady book. That library just continues to grow...

I guess I am in the minority. I have had 2 manuals, a Speer manual (forgot which number it is, I gave it to a teenage kid who wanted to start reloading) and a Nosler #5. I use the Nosler to look up load data and have several paperback mini-manuals called "One Caliber / One Book". They contain load data from almost all the bullet and powder manufacturers.

But I have never read one to learn how to reload. Shortly after starting to reload I found the forums and spent hours reading the different threads and posting questions. Just now looked through the front section of the Nosler #5 and it seems elementary and very basic.

I know you are going to say that is what is needed - elementary and basic. I don't disagree that it will do no harm to read every manual there is, I just wanted to point out that there are other ways to gain the knowledge.

Feel like I'm fixing to get flamed.

woods wrote:

Feel like I'm fixing to get flamed.

Nah, I think you are pretty safe mate because what you said is true. I started off with one manual in 1981...the Sierra Reloading Manual, and I still have it and use it. The only other loading data I have is the "giveaways" from Hercules from back in the 80's and the last 4 ADI Reloading Manuals with their reloading data in it.

Most of what I have learnt has come from talking to experienced reloaders, both face to face and on HuntingNut. Of course there was a little bit of trial and error in conjunction with guidance from them experienced guys too.

Cheers, Vince

I know that you can learn about handloading from someone else and through trial and error. I also had a "mentor" when I started reloading. However I discovered that he was absolutely dangerous in his practices! Luckily I saw him blow a magazine out of a gun before I got hurt following his advice. If you don't have the basic info from a reliable source, such as a published manual, you might find out too late that you're doing something wrong.

Over the years I've seen some awfully bad information passed along, in person and on the internet. Just recently I had a gun smith tell me that firing FMJ bullets in my rifle would damage the bore! The problem is that, when you are just getting started, you might not know it is bad info. That is the reason that I will continue to suggest that people read the bullet and powder manufacturers’ manuals before trying to handload.

I will say that this site has some very knowledgeable and reliable folks sharing their experiences. That's why I keep coming back.

It's a shame there isn't a way to tell if someone is giving you bad info or not. Putting statements on a public forum like this is as good as it gets.
I had a guy a work get pissed at me when I told him his 41 Mag was not and could not be pre-war.

before i even got my reloading set up i read the 7th edition ABCs of reloading from cover to cover, thats a great book for learning.
for reload info i use the 7th edition hornady handbook of cartridge reloading, hodgdons 2008 annual manual reloading(found at walmart) and hodgdons basic reloaders manual 2008. and i also use whatever info i can find from this site

Mikeleduc, I'm a Civil War buff also and you should have seen the lady's face when I informed her that "Great-great-Grandpa's Civil War Colt 1860" had Italian proof marks and was probably less than 30 yrs old...

Yup, it makes you wonder. You'd think that she could have been able to think of when she first heard or saw it, like when she was 10 years old sitting on her grandfathers knee listening to stories.
I bought a brand new Colt 1860 Army in 1982. I sold it soon after I figured out that any other gun I owned was so much quicker, easier, and way cleaner to shoot.

I was lucky. My Dad taught me all about reloading. He was a gunsmith, and spent many days at Camp Perry.

Just starting out, I agree with you Pumpkinslinger.
Read all that you can get your hands on.

I agree with the other guys, that along with reading, talk to guys at a good gun shop if you have to, and get advise from them.

Get a single stage reloader, and learn what reloading is all about, before hitting the faster reloaders.

I still don't trust the progressive loaders. Too many things happening at one time for me to trust.
You have to assume that everything is going OK.
I have a motto that says, "If you assume anything, it will bite you in the ass in the long run."
At 45,000# pressure, that is a pretty big bite in the butt.

Eric

mikeleduc wrote:

It's a shame there isn't a way to tell if someone is giving you bad info or not. Putting statements on a public forum like this is as good as it gets. I had a guy a work get pissed at me when I told him his 41 Mag was not and could not be pre-war.

Prewar, oh yea...did you tell him it could be pre-Persian Gulf war of 1991?

heheh true he didnt say what war...