I started reloading with my father when I was still sitting on his lap. My job was to make sure the empties were clean and shiny and eventually he taught me his tricks and secrets to making good bullets.
Sunday mornings we went to The Genesee Conservation League to test the loads we had made.
He used a 3 min. egg timer, one of those little glass ones with the sand inside to time between shots.He'd take a shot, open the action, blow the smoke out of the barrel and turn over the egg timer. I never saw him shoot more than 12 rounds in a session. He shot 3 shot groups and used 25 yd , 22 targets with about a 2" bullseye.
I was allowed to shoot when I was 12..those were club rules. My first group at 100 yds out of his Remington Model 722, .222 was under 3/8". He had taught me well.... How to breath, how to gently hold the rifle, how to squeeeeeeeeeze the trigger. He taught me to ignore the previous hole in the target and concentrate on the aim point (we were shooting for groups). H e taught me how to shoot...1 shot at a time.
My egg timer beeps now, but I still shoot the same way. My reloading equipment is far and away better quality than his ever was, my choice of powders, bullets and calibers all but limitless, but the proof is still in the group.
Here is a starter list for reloading equipment. I prefer RCBS from my experience in the Industry and many years of personal use. It's high quality and repeatable accuracy is complimented by outstanding customer support and available products. Certainly, there are other manufacturers out there producing fine products, RCBS works for me.
While RCBS offers kits to suit the casual reloader , some items become rapidly obsolete as the addiction takes it's hold on you. I suggest a step up from the start. So here goes.
Assuming that you want to reload for rifle cartridges;
Rock Chucker Supreme Press;
Why a single stage press rather than a turret press?
Single stage presses eliminate the possibility of misalignment between the die in the turret and the cartridge, a must for accurate loading.
Uniflow Powder Measure ; for gross powder drop
Powder Measure/Piggyback Stand; to hold the Uniflow
Powder Baffle; meters the powder into the measuring cylinder
Powder Trickler; for fine measurement
Powder Pro Digital Scale (110v); Faster easier and better than balance scales
Powder funnel; for filling cases without spilling
Case prep ;
Tumbler; to clean fired cases ( this does not have to be RCBS there are many effective, less expensive tumblers available)
Trim pro manual case trimmer; for trimming fired cases to length
Primer Pocket Brush Combo; for cleaning primer pockets
Deburring Tool; for removing burrs from inside and outside of the case
Case lube; I use Hot Shot spray lube...keeps the case from getting stuck in the die
Hand Priming Tool; for priming prepared cases
Flash Hole Deburring Tool; for removing burrs from the flash hole left from manufacturing
Kinetic Bullet Puller; safely removes bullets from loaded cartridges
Dial Caliper; for making the measurements necessary for reloading. Buy a good stainless steel dial caliper.I use an RCBS every day at the shop.
Case loading block;for holding and separating cases during loading
Well that's most of what I use for reloading great bullets for my 25-06, .7mm-08, (and my favorite) .223
There is one more invaluable item to the reloader, new or old, and that's books. Buy them ALL! The Hornady set of reloading manuals is a great start.But...get them all, Hornady, Speer, Nosler, Barnes, Sierra. You'll learn a ton from these references and you'll be able to communicate with other reloaders more effectively.
Feel free to ask some questions. One thing is evident....I do love to make fine bullets.
Keep your powder dry
RG
