Thread: Wannabe reloader - gear advice please

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Ftx325,
Welcome to the world of handloading. This is an addictive but highly rewarding pastime. The main piece of advice I can offer is to see if you can find a mentor to start with, something I did not have when I started close to fifty years ago. Try to find someone with grey hair. These tend to have more experience and time and will know what kit you need for a start and will help you to set it up properly. You may also be able to start loading on their kit while you get used to the process. First purchase should be a loading manual. One from the manufacturer of the projectiles you are likely to use would be ideal. Read it several times, especially the opening chapters. Plan on getting a chronograph early on, the grey haired handloader mentioned above will likely have one. Finally, join a club. Your local NZDA Branch is into target shooting with their own range and likely well stocked with grey haired handloaders as well.
Happy to answer any specific questions on gear. Grandpamac.

+1

Everyone needs a reloading sensei, was lucky enough to make friends with someone like this who I still ask for help and consult on a regular basis.

Odds are if you are about to make a fuck up they will have been there, done it and paid a bill to have it fixed, so listen!

Originally Posted by Ftx325

thanks much for the input guys , really appreciate the advice. I think I will do as suggested and try and build up a kit piece by piece as that will also help spread out the cost. There have already been a few bits and pieces mentioned I hadn't factored in such as a chrony for example.
The reason for deciding to finally have a go is I don't appear to be able to purchase the rounds I use in my second favourite rifle anymore .... the 338 lap mag.
(as a side note if anyone knows where I can get a box or two of 338 lap mag in the federal american eagle 250 gr I would be eternally grateful ... i'm down to 7 rounds total left...)
So I would be looking at 338 to reload primarily but I also have but have five other calibres from 357 , 7.62x 39 through to the mighty 45/70
I am guessing should probably look at starting with a smaller less powerful cartridge to 'practice' before stepping up to the big boys toys in the interest of not blowing my face off?
And another possibly silly question , do the dies have a standard thread so different brands work in different presses or do hornady dies require a hornady press and so on ?

A 1,2,3 here to help.

1- Richard Lee's Modern Reloading, read cover to cover first then reference again later (full PDF here, free):http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manu...%20-%20ocr.pdf

2-Buy a Lee Loader first. They only make them in sensible chamberings so if you can't find a Lee Loader for your rifle's cartridges...

and watch the inventor (Richard Lee, probably around 80 here, now passed RIP) knock out a round: https://youtu.be/UeEl9wZyabc

3- Test fire

If still alive after 3 then you can buy a press and dies... and regret starting after you are down $5k in gear