Wish someone had told me:

to get a Lee Collet Neck Die, a Redding Body Die, and a Lee Factory Crimp Die in each caliber instead of all the other dies with the expander balls and all the lubing they need

to get a Lee Zip Trim and Case Length Gauges instead of a manual trimmer and tumbler

never buy a Case Master and chase runout

don't buy a gun with a lightweight barrel and expect accuracy (if it happens, great, but don't expect it)

don't tell your friends you have started reloading

Please add to the list


Without guns we are subjects, with guns we are citizens

...to buy the biggest, best tumbler I could afford.
...to keep lots of de-capping pins on hand.
...to buy a Hand Primer Tool in the beginning.

View a store bought rifle merely as a starting point.

Buy Lapua brass if they make it in that caliber.

Bigger bullets moving slower make less of a mess.

lawndart

Hey Elk That 747 statement doesn't work out when you marry to get a whole line of 747's instead of the peanuts!

If you reload, you need a chronograph.

quote:

Marrying for sex is like buying a 747 for the peanuts. There are much easier and cheaper ways to get the same thing!

You can say that again!


Reloader

Can I add?

....buy two scales...one digital...one beam

....just because there money in the account doesn't mean I need more bullets

....its gotta work better it cost more

....driving past Sportsmens Warehouse without stopping seems .........so wasteful

-- that it is much easier, and cheaper, to reduce your group sizes by

installing a match trigger,
putting on a match barrel,
putting on a quality scope,
learning to read the wind,
and learning proper bench techniques,

than by endless fussing with different reloading recipes! JMO, Dutch.

Blob,

You would be exactly right in making that statement! Are you trying to tell us you are a "kept" man?

If I had it to do over from the start, but knowing what I know now, this what I'd do:

1. Get just three calibers: 22-250, 280 Ackley Improved, and 300 Win Mag.

2. Setup each rifle with a Win M70 or Rem M700 action with 26" Hart, Shillen, or Krieger match-grade barrels that finish at .75" at the muzzle. Get barrels glass beaded. Use Jewel triggers.

3. Get MacMillan or HR Precision camo stocks pillar and glass bedded.

4. Get VXIII Leupold scopes (~3.5-10x) or equivalent with B&C reticles. Use std Leupold mounts and matte finish.

5. Use Redding competition dies and hand primers.

6. Limit bullets types to high those with high BCs, such as Nosler BTs, Scirrocco, or Barnes XLC. Also, use 55 grs for 22, 120 grs and 150 grs for 280, and 180 grs (maybe 200 grs) for the 300 WM.

7. Use Quick load and chronograph all loads during workup (Oehler 3 screen with 4 max spacing).

8. Use slowest burning powders to achieve desired pressures and velocities for given bullet, such as W760, Re22, V560, Re25, Retumbo, 7828, etc.

Had I done this, I would have saved a tremendous amount of money - although I've had fun spending that money.

Regards and happy shooting, AIU

quote:

Originally posted by woods:
Wish someone had told me:

to get a Lee Collet Neck Die, a Redding Body Die, and a Lee Factory Crimp Die in each caliber instead of all the other dies with the expander balls and all the lubing they need

to get a Lee Zip Trim and Case Length Gauges instead of a manual trimmer and tumbler

never buy a Case Master and chase runout

don't buy a gun with a lightweight barrel and expect accuracy (if it happens, great, but don't expect it)

don't tell your friends you have started reloading

Please add to the list


Without guns we are subjects, with guns we are citizens

Asking the right questions and getting from it what I really need to be able to reload accuratly,I think what really matter,you like reloading or you are not a" nuts" about firearms,standard chamber,reloading is easy but with "sloopy "chamber ,finding how to get the rifle to shoot accuratly,the challange is up there to be resolved.I think whatever "dies "you use" ,the main think remains how one can make a rifle shoot fine....

... to keep it simple stupid.

... enjoy yourself.