I'm sure once you start, reloading makes sense, but right now it's pretty confusing to me what equipment is needed, why some cartridges have three dies in the kit and others only two, etc,.

I have collected a bunch of gear from tag sales, a Lyman vibrating cleaner, RCBS scale, Wilson case trimmer, RCBS JR3 press, RCBS powder drop, Lyman dies (looks like they don't work with RCBS presses, much smaller diameter), other dies from Pacific & Redding. funnels, etc, deburring tools.

Still feel like there's stuff I'm missing.

What's a good book to make sense of all this stuff?

Most of the reloading component mfg's have a reloading manual that is good. For a starter book, I'd opt for Lyman's Reloading Handbook. I think the current one is the 48th. It just about covers it all.

My first manual was a Speer. I think they are up to Edition 13 or something like that. Lots of great information, descriptions, ballistics data, etc in that book.

I also have a Sierra manual that I like even better than the Speer. It also contains a lot of great info.

I say get both and more!!

The Lyman dies that are the smaller diameter are old and pretty much obsolete, unless you find an old Lyman press. All "modern"/current dies and presses use standard 7/8-14 threads.

quote:

For a starter book, I'd opt for Lyman's Reloading Handbook. I think the current one is the 48th. It just about covers it all.

Yepper!!!

I'll second that motion!

Are the books from the equipment manufacturers clear enough so that if I don't have their brand of Equipment I can still figure stuff out?


Thanks, Rob

The Hornady Loading Book has a good tutorial on how to reload too.
What you need initially is a tutorial on how to put ammo together, what steps are involved, and how to do each step, along with what tools are needed to do each step.
After that, ask questions you have here on this Forum.

Don

Rob, you and I are in the same boat. I just started reloading & asked a simmilar question. The answer & what I eventually did was, I bought the following books: Barnes, Nosler, Lyman, Speer, reloading manuals. Additionally, I went to all the manufacturing websites & downloaded all the info my printer could digest & I read every bit of information I can on websites like this one & others. I ask a lot of "stupid" questions that many with far more patience than me are gracious to answer. I have to tell you that by far the best resource I've had to date is the members of the forum, the level of expertise & experience is amazing & I am thankfull to all the great members. Parting thought: get as many manuals,magazines,ect you can get your hands on & read them all 10 times, then start again,,,,you can never learn enough. Have fun !!!!!!
Don't forget, if you see or know someone in the armed forces, please thank them for their service......Hoorah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+3 on Lymans 46th edition for up to date info. Most of the books has a "intro to reloading" section that doesn't change from update to update so if you can pick up a older copy of a book the info would be the same.

Go for the current Lyman book !!!!!!!! They have been my "go to" books for over 20 years. Lyman products may not be so popular as they once were, but their manual is still tops.

LLS

Sounds like Lyman it is! I have the Lyman book for the small dies that are used with the 310 tong tools but I'll get the bigger modern one.


Thanks guys.

if you are interested in reading, ebay has out of print books. dean grennel books "the abc's of reloading", 5 editions, are must haves. next all the "handloaders digest".

Any of the Manuals(I have them all)will tell you everything you need to know.Lyman and Hodgen are good because they are not Bullet specific to just one brand as Nosler,Hornady,Speer are.I guess I probably use the Nosler Book the most as I like their bullets .I would also recommend a Subscription to Handloader magazine,The Handloader Digest has tons of Info.The Precision Shooter if you want to become completely Anal.You will learn more about reloading and shooting in that Publication than almost anything around.I guess I have not bought Factory ammo since I started reloading in 1966.,it is very satisfieing to take an animal or shoot that target in the 2`s with your own concoction.I guess all Reloading Manuals should come with a disclaimer.(Warning this Hobby is Addicting!!!!)Have fun. OB

Modern Reloading second edition by Robert Lee is my most often go to manual. Good tutorial and he's copied most everyone's data. Which ever you select you won't make a mistake. roger

ABC's of Reloading is a good basic book which talks about how to do it. You will probably want to get the manual for the brand of bullet you plan on reloading- I reload a lot of Speer bullets in speer cases with cci primers- I got a speer book.

Where do you find Speer cases?

Rojelio

quote:

Originally posted by Rojelio:
Where do you find Speer cases?

Rojelio

I got my 357SIG Speer cases from Ebay.