Thinking of Home loading

[Liveonce]

[

I'm on the lookout for a beam scale (shortlist is Ohaus made 10-10, Lyman M5, the RCBS 5-0-5 also gets great feedback) - I wanted a digital scale but after loads of research and the help of SD community I'm going beam scale - excellent value for accuracy.

forget the beam scales, go digital you will not regret it and they can be had for not a lot of money.
Just look for jewellery type on the likes of ebay, like 20g/0.001g or 50g/0.001g

on balance is a good make

On Balance CK-20 Mini Milligram scale. about £35

you can then swap units at a push of a button and much quicker to use than a beam scale.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Here is an example.
I reload for my neighbours 5.6x50R and the dies are twice the normal price and hard to find, so after researching the whys & where of the two cartridges it shows they were of a similar concept.
I ended up buying a BRNO kipplauf rifle in 5.6x50R for myself as I was loading them for him anyway and they were working very well.
The attached picture shows they have the same case form just that the neck is longer on the 5.6x50R and the body extends on the same cone shape a little longer at the base head I use a .223 Rem die to form the main shape down to where the .223 would finish then they get a final resize for the 5.6x50R to just above the head as they were not fully seating home in my rifle this by using a .38 special/.357 mag die to smooth the base diameter as they are the same diameter. The picture will explain it better.
They shoot fine.

 

[Muir]

I have a Lee Classic for every caliber I shoot (if available) and continue to buy them. Millions of reloaders use them, and learned reloading using them. The only caveat to using them is that it must be brass fired in your rifle. It only neck sizes. Lee at one time made them fo over seventy different chamberings: i have about two-dozen of them. The only additional gear id advise is a Lee Case Trimmer and lock stud...about $10 in the US. -Muir

 

[VSS]

Lol. My mate is 70, has been shooting deer for 50+ years and can shoot 1" groups at 300 yards so dont think he gives a hoot about a piece of paper...proving the worth of such things in many ways...experience vs assumed competence.

After that many years experience, I would at least expect someone to know about deer. To at least have made the effort to learn about deer.
It just goes to show that "experience" isn't everything, and if he's getting basic terminology wrong, what else is he getting wrong?

50 years of uncorrected experience getting things wrong, or 5 years experience dedicated to getting things right? I know which stalker I'd rather go out with!

 

[Mike1979]

After that many years experience, I would at least expect someone to know about deer. To at least have made the effort to learn about deer.
It just goes to show that "experience" isn't everything, and if he's getting basic terminology wrong, what else is he getting wrong?

50 years of uncorrected experience getting things wrong, or 5 years experience dedicated to getting things right? I know which stalker I'd rather go out with!

I see your point but in this case you are way off the mark Tim. My mate is one of the nicest, most genuine guys you can meet, has shot 1,000s of deer, happy to share knowledge and is a cracking shot. I think if we are going to be so picky as to complain when hind/doe or stag/buck is used incorrectly there is little hope. Lets not go ram or tup or turnip vs swede

 

[VSS]

I see your point but in this case you are way off the mark Tim. My mate is one of the nicest, most genuine guys you can meet, has shot 1,000s of deer, happy to share knowledge and is a cracking shot. I think if we are going to be so picky as to complain when hind/doe or stag/buck is used incorrectly there is little hope. Lets not go ram or tup or turnip vs swede

That's a poor example.
Ram and tup are two words for the same thing.
Mixing up hinds and does would be on the same level as mistaking a ram for a billy goat.

I don't doubt that your friend is a great chap with a wealth of knowledge to share, but I've seen too often (in the farming world, at least) that the knowledge that's being shared, supposedly based on years of experience, is wrong. Sometimes very wrong. Simply because they've always done it that way and never bothered to learn the correct skills and techniques.

And besides, no-one is ever too old to learn. If he's a good friend he won't take offence when you correct him.

Knowledge sharing should be a two-way thing. You learn from each other, and are both richer as a result.

 

[Mike1979]

That's a poor example.
Ram and tup are two words for the same thing.
Mixing up hinds and does would be on the same level as mistaking a ram for a billy goat.

I don't doubt that your friend is a great chap with a wealth of knowledge to share, but I've seen too often (in the farming world, at least) that the knowledge that's being shared, supposedly based on years of experience, is wrong. Sometimes very wrong. Simply because they've always done it that way and never bothered to learn the correct skills and techniques.

And besides, no-one is ever too old to learn. If he's a good friend he won't take offence when you correct him.

Knowledge sharing should be a two-way thing. You learn from each other, and are both richer as a result.

Always like your views on things Tim

 

[Smellydog]

When my mate talks about shooting Hinds I dont say "ooh you mean does as they are fallow" ... I know what he means and frankly I would expect a slap if I corrected him

And he'd get a kick in the bollocks shortly after.
I don't let fear dictate terms.

 

[Mike1979]

And he'd get a kick in the bollocks shortly after.
I don't let fear dictate terms.

Fighting talk there Smelly Hes a good friend but my god I would not want him upset...50 years as a steel erector and fabricator..hands like shovels and a grip that doesnt let go lol

 

[Hardwick ranger]

Agree, I'm some months in to this rabbit hole. Everything has to be repeated exactly and meticulously, I've found otherwise can't hit the same barn door twice. Never stop learning

 

[25 Sharps]

I mean, i enjoy the process and the fact that i can make match grade .308win ammo for under £1.90 per round (£1.90 being the upper end depending on what brands gear i use and suppliers prices going up or down)
Only another 500 rounds to be made and i will finally start "saving" money

I've been informed that a primed case counts too, would be worth checking that...

They don’t…..

 

[KimE]

Buy the Lee anniversary kit. You will break even within the first 100-200 rounds(I mean 80). You can start with saving brass so you have 50-100 of the same brand. The money spent on your hobbys are probably going to be the same but more bang for the bucks

 

[MTheaded but happy]

BTW
Does anyone know the name given to the top of the neck? Shown as ????????
View attachment 456687

That diagram/picture is also missing, headstamp , primer pocket , flash hole and web .



Never had a problem with making great ammo with Lee equipment and as I progressed and changed stuff I wish I'd kept the press . Though , I'm not a huge fan of their dies or that awful beam scale .
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and if I'd bought more wisely , I could have saved a fortune.

 

[25 Sharps]

The chances of you being happy with £250 worth of reloading gear in the long run is so very slim, as with any hobby you start browsing the next best thing so if money is the only factor id say tread carefully

One benefit would be the ability to fine tune your loads though so a useful skill regardless

I started with a second hand Lee anniversary kit and a set of secondhand 505s over ten years ago. Still use the press, the primer attachment, the thrower and the 505s and I’ve loaded thousands of rounds of accurate ammunition.

Lee kit works perfectly well, there no need to spend hundreds of pounds, particularly if you only load a few dozen rounds a month.

 

[Cadalot]

Interesting read and I hope you do not mind a slightly different approach. I successfully download for quite a few calibers. Take accuracy as a given, ignore cost (it is never cheaper factoring in time and investment) but it reduces wear and tear on the shooter and the gun. For example, one of the guns I shoot is a 375 H+H Mag and with factory cartridges it hurts my pocket, it hurts my body and eventually it will hurt the gun. With a download I can practise all day out to 100yds and not feel like I have fallen under a truck or worn out the barrel. The same can be said of my downloads for 308, 9.3x74R and 444.

My reloading room started off very modestly with a mix of new and second hand kit. For a long time the kit was better than my skill. Acquiring better kit came after I had reached the limit of the kit I had, and by that time I actually knew what I needed rather than what the catalogues and retailers told me to buy.