Questions from a newbie concerning reloading ammunition?

Question

My friend is giving me a reloading press/bench and will educate me concerning the basics of reloading my own ammunition. I am primarily concerned with .223 and .357 loads. My question is where can I find resources on the web or otherwise that will allow me a basic understanding of the principles of reloading so that I can be more efficient with the time he has for teaching and I dont look like such a dumbas*

Answer 1

As experienced as he might be, don't rely just on your buddy's info, or what you can find on the Net.
Unless you are getting manuals along with equipment, before you resize your first case, go to a shop that deals in reloading supplies, or you can order them over the net, but buy AT LEAST one (MORE IS BETTER) reloading manual that describes the procedure of reloading in detail and READ IT!
I have been reloading for over 35+ years, and have manuals from Speer, Sierra, Hodgdon, and Hornady, among others, most of which are older than posters on this forum, and I NEVER rely on memory when reloading even my most favorite loads. This is after WELL over half a million reloads! (I quit trying to guesstimate YEARS ago!)
Take it from an ol' timer, BUY the books & USE 'em!

P.S: One of the Ten Commandments of Reloading:

"Alcohol and Powder DO NOT MIX!"

When you reload, be STONE COLD SOBER!

http://www.midwayusa.com/
http://www.gunbroker.com/
http://www.loaddata.com/

Answer 2

Take Grizzly II's advice.

I favor Alliant powder and like their website. Powder really is a personal preference thing for the most part. Hodgdon, IMR, Accurate, Winchester, Alliant and many others all make very good powders.

Read more than one manual, measure and weigh TWICE when you're starting out. You'll wind up saving a bunch of money AND you'll probably enjoy reloading very much.

Answer 3

Don't limit yourself to the web. You can get loads from the Hodgdon website, for instance, but you should buy the paper version of several reloading manuals. They'll all have valuable descriptions and each will give you a little different insight. Welcome to the world of stuffing your own. Warning: It gets addictive, and you'll drive yourself nuts (if not into the poorhouse) trying to find the perfect 223 load for your rifle.

Answer 4

supply up!! do no longer commence RELOADING yet!!! earlier you do something with any reloading kit which you will have, bypass right this moment and purchase a reloading instruction manual. there are a number of distinctive powders obtainable and 22 grains of a few powders alongside with crimson Dot, green Dot or different shotgun or pistol powders will make a bomb out of your rifle. purchase, examine,understand and heavily shop on with the teachings printed interior the reloading instruction manual. do no longer take every physique's suggestion on how lots powder to place into your cartridges. shop on with the printed archives basically. you haven't any longer have been given a pop gun or cap gun. in case you incorrectly load some ammo to your .223, it would desire to blow up and injure or kill you. "confirm to are perfect and then bypass forward" as Davy Crockett suggested.

Answer 5

I favour the Lyman reloading handbook. It provides detailed info on the stages of reloading, as well as load data for most calibers. The web is a great way of getting ideas for loads, but you can never be sure of the source (any idiot can publish load data and procedures on the web, but are you taking your life in your hands by using it.) Also you should keep a second reference manual for load data, never fire a load until you've verified it to be safe (it would sure suck to injure yourself or others because of a typo in a book.) I try to limit my use of manuals published my ammo/powder manufacturers as they tend to be biased towards their own products.

Answer 6

Git a recent copy of "the shooters bible" it gives max and mins for reloading various charges.Also keep tabs on the number of reloads your brass has had.brass stresses with each reload and needs a close inspection before reloading.Good Luck and remember care and a good scale are needed to keep things safe....George

Answer 7

For Reloading DATA bookmark

http://www.hodgdon.com/HomePage.php

for starters.
-----
ALSO,.. Be sure to JOIN THE NRA if you haven't already,...
Lots of resources through their publications, etc.
-----

Answer 8

http://www.reloadammo.com/357loads.htm
http://www.reloadammo.com/223load.htm

Those are for the specific loads.

Don't worry, as long as you know the numbers, he'll teach the rest for you.

Answer 9

Herters, the definitive word.