Hey all, I'm located in Glendive, MT. Curious if there is anyone near here that would be a good teacher for reloading. I don't want to blow myself up.

Purchase a good reloading manual. Read it from page one. Read it again, this time take notes on anything you don't FULLY understand. Then come back to one of these forums and ask your specific question. Most good manuals will guide you through the process.

I read quite a few manuals when I started out and then I just started -had a helluva time loading my first ten in 30-06 and it turned out that the dies were faulty! Hornaday replaced them but man was I frustrated.

And then there was the time I started using faster powders for the 9.3x62...that one could have turned ugly

I have friends that reload and I call them or post on AR if I have a problem.

Eddie, I've been reading my Dad's old Sierra Manual that I commandeered before moving. I think I have a good handle on everything but would like some good real life training on setting things up. Any suggestions on equipment? The RCBS Master kit is what I've been eyeing up recently.

Rainman, the NRA offers a Basic Metalic Reloading class. I don't see any currently scheculed in MT. But if you contact the NRA, maybe they can find an instructor in your area.

Hey Rainman, Good question which is getting some excellent responses.

Go to each of the Gun Shops near you that sells Reloading Equipment and see if they have anyone that can help you. Same at any Ranges.

Ask at church if there are any Reloaders in the congregation. Same where you work.

I believe Sierra used to sell some VCR Tapes of the Reloading Processes for both Rifles and Handguns.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks for the suggestions. AZ pete, I will look at the NRA class.

Rainman,

The above suggestions are pretty good, but I would be careful about asking gun shop salesmen about reloading. By the time I was 18 and could buy stuff without my Dad, I had been reloading for about 3 years. Some guys are very knowledgable, but I have also heard some salesmen spout bullshit that only an experienced reloader would know was bullshit.

The manuals are a great place to start. I would recommend buying and reading more than one. My favorites are the Lyman Reloading manual, the Hornady Manual, and the Sierra Manual. Books written by P.O. Ackley have some very interesting information, although the loads he lists are about 40 years old and wouldn't be advisable to use it today. Some books cover information more thoroughly than others, and it is always good to cross-reference loads between two or three books to be sure the information regarding max loads is "good".

The NRA courses would be an excellent choice, if you can find someone teaching them. Contact the NRA to find a certified instructor in your area.

Mike

rainman

I bought a $65 Lee reloading kit with a Lee manual included, added dies,powder,primers, and bullets for a total of about $120. The Lee manual is good with very easy to follow step by step (with pics) directions. This kit has served me over 10 years with a few upgrades.

The knowledgeable guys on this forum will gladly help you with any question that may arise.

Go ahead and take the plunge you will not regret it.

bama

Rainman..
Tell the guys what caliber you want to start loading. There are some cartridge/powder combinations that are really hard to screw up.

However it is good to be cautious. There are some folks lacking that natural caution and think any powder works in any cartridge or firearm. It is called evolution in action.

Rainman, over the last 30 years, I have used just about every make of dies and equipment out there. RCBS is hard to beat for quality, price and durability. Their customer service is also excellent.

The best teacher on reloading is yourself. As stated buy some good manuals and read and read and read,this is the only way. Then ask question from those who know. Then put what you have learned into practice and always question yourself to make sure what your doing is right. I,ve been reloading for 50yrs and i still learn stuff. Contact the people whom are in the business. Start with RCBS,as they have instruction manuals on reloading with all of there different type die sets. van

Rainman, the RCBS kits are the best way to go IMO. There is a ton of stuff out there if you get really bitten, and you can expand your horizons, but RCBS stuff is just great, better than many, and will last a lifetime. The rockchucker press is what comes with the kit you mentioned, and it is just great.

I would add the Nosler loading manual to the list of good ones, I bought it and the Speer and RCBS manuals to start, and they have been a great foundation.

Good Luck--Don

Thanks for the suggestions. I just bought the Speer and Sierra manuals. A co worker gave me some of his old equipment so now I'm just a bench and some brass from doing some loads up. I think my first work up is going to be 45-70. It looks like it should be a good rookie cutter.

Those loading manuals with good pictures are especially helpful. Having a picture that shows whatever is being described is much better than simply having a verbal description.

You've picked a good cartridge to start with. Loading the .45-70 is easy and straightforward. There is a lot of loading data available at three different pressure levels so you can start with trapdoor level loads and have a lot of safety margin in a modern rifle.

If you decide to try cast bullets, and the .45-70 is a great cast bullet shooter, get some advice on the cast bullet forum first. There's some specialized knowlege involved that does not apply to reloading with jacketed bullets.

Steve knows an awful lot. He offers it all on his website:

http://www.stevespages.com/page1.htm

Don't forget the library. In Montana especially, you'd be surprised how much stuff on reloading, firearms and ballistics can be found for the cost of a library membership. HTH, Dutch.

I will offer another option. I learned from books as well but I also bought the RCBS video and watched it. The dimension of seeing it done gives conficence. The books give knowledge. After watching the video a few times it confirmed what I had learned and I was off and running. I sold the video on ebay cheap so another newbee could use it. I now have dozzens of books and manuals. I still go back to Nonte's Modern handloading from time to time. This book is out of print but can be found used on ebay or half.com or ammazon cheap. It has no data and teaches ALL aspects of handloading short of recharging your own primers..... Best of Luck,, JB

this topic reminds me of my first reloading tools, the lee loader. with a mallet and some lube, i was able to reload 30-06 shells at the ripe age of 15. my .22 and '06 were the first guns in the house, so my only resources were reloading manuals. 30 years later and i have yet to blow up a gun. just read the reloading manuals and stay within the published limits.

Good stuff guys, I appreciate the help. I'm going to run down to a library for the first time since college. I don't know what my little town will have but it could be a treasure.

Rainman:
Speaking as a dad:
You said that you snagged your dad's old manual. To me that means that your dad did some loading at least in the pase. I don'e knoe if he is still around, if not then I am sorry for your loss. If he is around, he is your best source of informatiuon. I will bet that he would love for you to give him a call and say dad, do you remember anything about reloading?
My dad and I spent many bonding hours loading, he taught my sons and now I have the pleasure of sitting at the bench with them. My dad is gone, but I have his books and some of his equipment.
Just a thought.
Judge Sharpe

Well if the old man moves out by me so we can hang out again that would be great. I call him for a lot of advice but still a good suggestion.

In many of the reloading manuals, it will show their "most accurate" load.

Or recommend the most acurate powder. Well, maybe just those manuals not put out by powder companies.

Remember the old carpenter rule, measure twice, cut once.

Reloading is to check everthing twice then continue.

Rainman
It's impossible to have too many books on reloading.
I'll add to the reading list the books from Handloader/Rifle Magazine.
Another suggestion is there is no such thing as bargain reloading tools. Pick out what you think you can afford then buy the next more expensive brand. Use Midway or Midsouth as a pricing guide.
Jim

Thanks for the replies. End of December the old man and I are going to meet up for some shooting back in WI. Hopefully I can get him in the prarie for some shooting in a few more months. In the mean time, money=more books + equipment. When I get some good loads on the old 45-70 I'll post in the big bore section.