Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Reloading is complicated

A few years ago my friend croaked on me who I used to pound steel with. He crafted my ammo that we used and had the implements to do so. Since I've cavemanned my own and it's confusing as hell with die sets, expanders, measuring implements and gouges and all the bits and bobs. I slum blackpowder some but it's still a mystery to me. Why does this have to be so tool and time intensive? Even some of my new current reloading book have errors in them I've caught and it just makes things worse. I wish brass didn't have to be so far out of shape, wish things were simpler. I get by but it's not fun at times and there's some frustration. Anneal, trim, Guage, measure. Does anyone find it a pain and share in frustration?

There’s a learning curve but once you pick up the fundamentals it’s mostly following a cookbook from that point as far as loading. There’s always something to learn as far nodes and learning how to dial in a load for a given rifle as quickly as possible.

If you’re brand new to handloading make sure your brass is well lubed before running it into a die!😂

I guess the tooling has been the biggest hurdle for me

It’s funny you mention it buddy. I have been hammering away since I was 13, 44 now.

I’m moving houses, my reloading gear is packed away and I have zero interest of rushing into a new reloading set up at the new place. My fix, I bought a plain Jane 7mm Rem Mag, I’ll mount a good scope in good mounts. I bought 3 different types of factory ammo I’ll try in the gun. I’ll pick the one that shoots best, zero at 250. Then I’ll order 100-200 rounds and just have fun shooting this summer without the worry of messing with brass prep, loading, dribbling powder, etc.

If I really get the need to load something I’ll go to my brothers and load something on his press but I don’t see it happening.

Sometimes there’s a little fun in just shooting and not worrying about a 1/4” or 50 FPS…. At least that is what I’m telling myself now.

I thing that’s true for everyone. It’s a PIA but like anything it’s trial and error go slow and overtime it’s still a hassle to set up but gets way less frustrating. If you load for several cartridges having a few presses makes life easier.

You're over thinking it, it ain't rocket surgery unless you make it so. Anymore, I don't get a big thrill out of reloading, it's a means to and end.

I started loading fired 9x19 with a Lyman 310 tool and a scale, no powder measure, and sometimes decapped with a finishing nail and a hammer 50+years ago in the earliest days.

These days I have a Hollywood Universal Turret with small and large die holes (Elmer Keith wrote that it was the very best), a Hornady Progressive with a case feeder, a Harrel's 4 position turret and a Load Anywhere portable , a CoAx and a Redding T7. RCBS Casemaster, Redding Instant Indicators and Wilson case gages and Wilson micrometer case trimmer to go with a Forster case trimmer and a power setup using a drill press. A variety of powder measures with a full set of Little Dandy rotors and all the rest. I thought that each and everything I added would make my handloads easier and better. Just maybe the additions did.

There must be a million different perspectives on handloading. Personally, I enjoy the experimentation. I apply it to hunting because I enjoy that too, but to me the journey is about more than just what happens in the field. To each his own, and enjoy.

Reloading isn't really hard at all, especially if you have
a knowledgeable mentor that isn't FOS
A good many of the pinheads on yoofloob that
profess to be expert reloaders are extremely FOS, and
it's a devine miracle they still have all their fingers and
both their eyeballs
As far as saving money, I don't think reloading saves
any money in 2022.
If I had to start fresh in 2022 with no tools or
components, I believe I'd as soon buy case lots of
ammunition suitable for my firearms and call it good.
One thing I will say. Powder and bullet manufacturers
spend no telling how much for R&D, and want you
to keep buying their products, so the likelihood
that they'd steer you wrong as far as data is low

Good Luck

Been at it more than 50 years. I either enjoy it or I'm a glutton for punishment.

Just keep doing it. Repetition brings on muscle memory, especially brain muscle. Read how others do it, with regard to the mechanics. Then try it yourself. There are some good loaders here on the campfire. Barsness(Mule Deer) literally wrote the book(s). His articles, columns and posts are worth adhering to.

If you see something brilliant posted that seems to apply to a problem you have comment on it. Have a problem with no solution, ask guidance. There are some AH personality types here but many more willing to help, sometimes even the AHs. But keep doing it. The only mentor I had was 4 hours away. But I got the basics down working with him. In 2010 I built my bench and jumped in. Made some mistakes and learned from them. Right now I don’t know nearly as much as I thought I did back in 2010. But it has become a pleasing experience for me. And new stuff keeps popping up. Good luck to you.

I like reloading and it's a hellva lot better than laundry, toilet and dish cleaning, and vacuuming . . .

The good thing is I only make up ammo for personal consumption and not any competitive pursuit. It's been good to me as per getting more proficient with my 270 and 308win. I'm very happy with the results at 400 and 500yd, it's paid off but the case prep is a pain. I can't say the same about straight walled cases as I'm still slumming those together and I know it can be done with better discipline and construction. There's certain dies and buttons and expanders and such that make no sense to me. The bottle neck cases seem easier with my tools

The Richard Noggins that talk the loudest either are trying to impress,
or know nothing.


You force a case into a die to size it, it's adjustable for length, and primer punch.
Read the die directions.

Seat a primer.
Read the press or tool directions.

Set your scales.
Read the directions

Dump powder charge.
Press the bullet in using the seating die.
It's adjustable for bullet and crimp amount/no crimp.
Read the directions.

A bit harder than that, not much.
Find a guy who you know reloads, but doesn't brag about it like
he is building the Eifle Tower while painting the Sistine Chapel.

Anything in particular you would care to mention? There are a lot of good members here and unless you've tangled with something quite exotic you can probably get an explanation from someone in a short time.

One of the worst things I don't do right is neck tension and case tension of straight walled cases. There's also videos I've watched about expanding such cases and this is one that's a bit of difficulty. That is adjusting for minimal brass working and such. Then there's these terms like "bumping a shoulder" and it seems some chambers are not within spec. Lots of issues that can come up and some terms are difficult to find in print. Fact is some terms are actually not correct yet widely used so that's an added bunch of jargon

Not me, I've been doing it since '72 and thoroughly enjoy the pursuit.

Reloading, there’s not must of a gray area. Your either a reloader or your not.

The cost of a nice setup like Dillon with the necessary accoutrements costs about what a new car cost in 1972. 😁. The amount of options and crossover compatibility for a newcomer is daunting.

Like mathman said though, there are countless great guys here like yourself SoG with years of experience that are always willing to share their tips and tricks….one of the GREAT things about this place in my opinion. 👍

That is what makes it a satisfying pursuit. But it doesn't have to be so complicated that you can't get started and enjoy it. Buy a Lee Classic loader and make some ammo!