When you described yourself and your situation, you essentially described where I was 6 years ago.

My wife bought a Lee anniversary reloading kit as a Christmas gift.

At the time money was a concern, so we didn't want to sink a whole lot of money into something I didn't know if I could do or enjoy.

6 years and thousands of rounds of ammo later, I am a happy camper.

I found the Lee reloading manual (though somewhat self-serving) and the intructions that came with the kit easy to use and all I needed to get started in what has become a very fulfilling hobby. This coming from someone who can't figure out how to check messages on my cell-phone or switch from sattelite to antenna on my TV. I am unquestionably technologically challenged.

I later bought an RCBS press in an effort to upgrade (so many people told me my Lee press was inadequate). I still have both presses. There is no functional difference in the two.

I guess I'm trying to tell you that you can do it...and should.

Regards,
Paul

Here's something I and some others came up with to answer the type of question you asked. It gets asked so much, we thought one standard answer was a good idea.

Nice to see someone from my area on this board! Stop in at the Appleton rifle and pistol club sometime. We have a bunch of very knowledgeable handloaders there. Let me know by PM or e-mail when you get your kit, I'll come up and help you get started. Or you could look over my set-up to help you decide what to get.

BASIC RELOADER RULES & REQUIREMENTS

1. Do you have the patience to do detailed work away from distractions, (TV, Children, guests)?
2. Do you have a secure area that can be dedicated strictly to a loading bench?
3. Do you thoroughly understand what goes on inside a cartridge when you pull the trigger?
4. Are you mechanically inclined? In other words can you understand and follow instructions exactly, to make needed adjustments to equipment? Do know how to use measurement tools such as calipers and micrometers?
5. Read the front sections of several reloading manuals. I suggest one manual, printed by a company that sells reloading equipment AND bullets. The other one should be by a company that sells only powder. Case in point Hornady then Hodgdon. After reading and understanding the �HOW TO� section in those manuals, find someone who already loads to show you how and talk you through a box of shells. Better yet find a NRA Metallic/Shotshell Reloading instructor and take a basic reloading class. See links below for locating an instructor.
6. Never be in a hurry. If you are pressed for time, this is when a mistake will be made.
7. Do not under any circumstances smoke, eat or drink, especially alcoholic beverages. The reasons are obvious, but I�ll state them anyway. Smokeless powder burns at a very high temperature; it makes a dandy accelerant to start a fire. Drinking causes loss of motor skills and judgment.
8. Wash hands thoroughly when you are through. You are dealing with lead in many forms when handling bullets and primers.
9. Walk before you run. Buy a single stage press to start out with. The progressives are neat and useful when doing large quantities of ammo. You will always have uses for the single stage loader for special loads later.
10. Stay with the basics at first. The tools for neck turning, flash hole uniforming, primer pocket uniforming and checking concentricity will be useful after you get some experience.
11. To start with, stay in the mid-range of the suggested loads for medium power levels. Save the maximum loads for when you have more experience.
12. Buy the best equipment you can afford. It will last a lifetime; the cheap stuff will wear out and need replacing.
13. Have ONLY the bullets, powder, primers and empties on the table that you are loading at that time. Put everything away as soon as you are done, in a separate place.
14. The only stupid question is one that doesn�t get asked. If you�re not sure, ask somebody. Use common sense, logic is a great tool for a Reloader.
15. Maintain a log of all loads developed with the test results. Label all boxes with the load data and date of the load.
16. Every Step is an inspection point.
17. The last thing you do before the bullet goes in " Look in every case to verify the powder charge".

Links for Reloading help and instructors

http://www.sierrabullets.com/ Bullet company, very good ballistic support group.
http://www.speer-bullets.com Bullet company
http://www.nosler.com/ Bullet company
http://www.hornady.com/ Bullet company
http://www.barnesbullets.com Bullet company
http://www.hodgdon.com Powder company
http://www.lapua.com VihtaVuori Powders
http://www.bluepress.com Dillon Loaders
http://www.mayvl.com/ Mec loaders
http://ww.sinclairintl.com/ Precision Reloading and Shooting specialist
http://www.lymanproducts.com All Lyman Products.
http://www.shooting-hunting.com Great hunting and shooting site with list of instructors
http://www.mynra.com/ NRA with links to NRA certified instructors








Basic steps to reloading. This is a short edited version from the "NRA GUIDE TO RELOADING".

There are 17 steps of which most are for both rifle and pistol and one for pistol only. This is will mark with an * .
n 1. Inspect cases,
n 2. Clean Cases
n 3.Organize cases by batchs
n 4.Select proper shell holder
n 5.Insert and set up sizing die
n 6. Lubricate cases
n 7.Resize and deprime cases
n 8. Measure case length
n 9.Trim cases
n 10 Deburr and Chamfering
n 11.Clean Primer Pocket
n 12.Expand Case mouth (*)
n 13.Prime Cases
n 14.Measure powder chargeand charge cases
n 15.Check powder charge in case
n 16.Seat bullet in case
n 17. Identify the reloaded cartridges (Mark the box etc.)

I'll second B Bob's recommendation: the Lyman reloading manual has a great wealth of info that covers many aspects of our hobby. And a history lesson to boot!

Welcome to the wonderful world of handloading.

Thank you very much, friends, for all the very helpful advice. I'll do my best to start as soon as I can and am planning to get the manuals from Gander Mountain who have them on sale. I'll also check on the video cassette as it would be really educative.

Grizz,

I am a member of the Twin Cities Rod and Gun Club and have come there a few times. I have found it a very friendly place and the only unfortunate thing is that I have not been able to go there more often.

I stay about 100 yards from Fran Care where my wife works and you are welcome here for a drink and an Indian dinner whenever you feel like coming. Do let me know and we'll meet at the club some time as well.

Incidentally, this invitation holds for all members here. I have only met one member in Canada while travelling there and would be more than happy to buy anyone who would like to visit some beers.

Good hunting and thank you very much again. Your encouragement has given me tremendous confidence.

MehulKamdar. I think you'll still find it very simple. I just started about 10 months ago, use the web and you can find lot's of how-to manuals on-line, don't need to buy a thing really. All of the powder manufacturers and most bullet manufacturers have a section on their web sites to show you how and give you loads to work with. I printed out several of these and got the Lee book because if you bought the book you got the cheapy press for free.

I'm now loading regularly for 7x57, 8x57, 7.65x53, 300 Sherwood. And occasionally for 308, 300 Win, 338 Win and 458 Win. I'll actually start hunting with my handloads this year because I've gotten enough experience with them to be comfortable with what they will do.

As one of the previous posters mentioned just make sure you are in a distraction free zone. I've developed a routine, that while it isn't fast, I make sure I put the right load in the right case.