Thread: First reloads

Originally Posted by kiwijames

What you will not be able to do will be too actually measure your head space unless you have a gauge to measure it with. I have a Hornady comparator for this. There is a possibility you can over work your brass but I have found typically that just touching the shell holder firmly is about right.

I will have a look into the comparator.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

No. All brass will eventually need a full size as the brass gets worked. Neck sizing is good for most cycles but it's important to have brass that fits your rifle. Nothing worse than finding your rounds won't chamber one day one of a multi-day fly in trip.


They all need to pass through, but this may just be a red herring for now. Focus on the basics


You don't in my experience. Just throw it away and start again.

Do you have a number of firings before you full length size and trim it? I was going to full length size it after 4 firings and trim to case max length.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

It's 243 brass and in S&B so it's hardly tough to buy new. Heck you could buy bags of brass for the price of a K&M tool. I've got 243Win brass I can't even give away so I think it's all relevant. Also, I think I bought up donuts not the OP so it is probably a tangent a new reloader maybe doesn't need to consider until he has got the basics right (like priming every case )

Savage. Killing me. Hahahahhahahaha.