Getting Started Reloading - Avoid These 5 Mistakes!

Saving money reloading is not something that will happen quickly. Maybe in time it will. I have not reached that point yet. I was able to find ammo that was imported that was relatively inexpensive and worked very well in my 1903 A3 30-06. I have found it difficult to reload ammo cheaper than this, but it is the reloading process itself that I seek. Reloading my own ammo is a rewarding and fulfilling process, but be ready to spend more than you planned. There is always some new gadget out there that you just have to have. Plus if you find reloading not to be a pleasure and to be a dull task, then likely you should not be doing it. It should be as much fun as shooting.

I'm having a hard time finding a cartrige headspacing bushing for my 8 x 57 mauser. Anyone help?

Even before communist china unleashed their virus on the world and caused a severe reduction in production of many supplies, the reloading market was starting to inflate their pricing.
Several years before covid and the deep state looking to reduce our availability to ammo, me and a few of my neighbors n family were very fortunate to have seen the things that were certainly going to come about sooner or later, and so we were sincerely warning others to get prepared while we were also ALL over the flea markets within a few hour radius of where we live and also hitting auction sites and other sites like Craiglist that at one time sellers could list gun and reloading supplies.
We bought up reloading equipment n tools, powder, primers, hulls, and even the used lead wheel weights from our local service garages including one day we hit the jackpot whereby stopping in a garage while out of our area and the guy had a 55gallon drum filled 3/4 of the way with used wheel weights. Our truck bed was rubbing the tires but we werent leaving without them!
So now when those family n friends who we was genuinely trying to warn to get stocked up but they shrugged their shoulders and some even chuckled at us as if we was tinfoil-hat conspiracy theory nuts, they got the middle finger when calling us or showing up at our door asking if we could spare this n that.
and it was no different during the toilet paper scare .... since we still budget what little money we have whereby setting aside so much each month for misc household supplies, and so when a couple of our neighbors came knocking asking for toilet paper, we just said you can use all those cardboard boxes from the cases of beer you always bought instead of spending a few bucks here n there to have some extra household supplies stocked up instead of living from week to week.

I set up my bullet seating/crimping die, tried it on the next piece of brass and it cracked right down the side of the brass. Was it just damaged brass? Should I be seating then separately crimping after?

As a former reloader, This is well said! Now over 70 yrs old, I have sold my reloading equipment but I
still have the books of which he speaks. LISTEN TO HIM ! ! !

I have been reloading for more than 40 years. My mantra to people interested in reloading is, "You can spend hundreds of dollars to load thousands of dollars of ammo or you can spend thousands of dollars to load hundreds of dollars of ammo." I can load ammo cans of blasting ammo for range fun relatively cheaply by buying in bulk, not getting caught up in every shiny new reloading toy, and having inventory when times are bad for component availability. If your shooting for money or food you can spend a bunch of money getting an accuracy edge over mass produced ammo. If you know where you want reloading to take you it is smart to investigate what is out there and get advice from people that have the same strategy you are looking at reloading for. I couldn't be happy loading 10 cartridges to go on an annual hunt and let expensive gear sit in a safe for 51 weeks. I prefer to hit the range for a few hours a week which makes reloading extremely cost effective.

‘Seperation’. Is that the same as the English word ‘separation’?

Reloading does save money 💰... You need to do your homework ... Don't be lazy ...

Read the book, na na nah na nah na nah na na nah, Read the book, nah, na, na , nah. Read the book book book book book book book book book, READ THE BOOK, nah, na, na, nah, nah, na, na, na, nah. READ THE BOOK, ooooweee ooooh!

Ok. Does you best overall length for a Caliber depend on the length to the ogive, not coal, correct? And if so, you must use a comparator, correct?

One of the biggest questions I have and questions I get asked all the time as a reloader. What is the best set of die brand to use?
Myself, I can't answer this question. My grandfather gave me my first dies. Pacific and RCBS are the only ones he ever used.
Now that I have tried venturing into long range I've bought Redding competition dies for my 300wm and Forester dies for my .223 and .243
Other than that I've never tried Horady, Lee or anyone else's dies.
Back in the 60's and 70's when I first started no one I knew used or would use Lee, Lyman or Hurters dies. Now I used a Hurters press for years and loved it. But now I use RCBS Rock chucker and Forster press depending on my purpose. All long range stuff goes on my Forster press. Hunting unless long range is on my RCBS.
If you have time can you please do a video on what dies are better or is there a difference in today's world?

Thank you,
Jeffrey O. Dohl

It's always good to know where your ogive jam length is, but some bullets simply cannot be seated to jam minus 0.020". Trying to do so will leave hardly any of he bullet's bearing surface in the neck. The standard is 1 caliber length of bearing surface in the neck for a solid bullet seating in the case neck. You can fudge that a little, but too much will leave the case barely holding onto the bullet.

On my 6.5 Creedmoor, the 130gr Berger VLDH bullets have that problem. They have a long boat tail and a long pointed tip. In order to get decent seating amount of the bearing surface into the neck I have to seat at least 0.180" off the lands. If I loaded to 0.020" and didn't consider the amount of bearing surface in the neck, I would only have 0.084" in the neck to hold the bullet.

By contrast, the Hornady 123gr SST will have enough bearing surface in the neck at 0.033" off the lands and the 143gr ELDX will be at ogive jam and have 0.026" of EXTRA bearing surface in the neck.

With reloading, math and knowledge are your friend.

I always confirm data with atleast 3 different sources before using it.
Loaded thousands of rounds in multiple calibers including 5.7x28mm and still haven’t had an issue.

Excellent advise. Other mistakes:
Don't use your bodies loaded ammo and don't give as gift to anyone your own loaded ammo. You are no Remington or Federal ammo making company.
Don't start with a progressive press and don't make thousands of rounds that you may end up to undo.
Decide if you are loading for hunting or precision target shooting because the levels of precisions are different and you need different grade of tools.
Safety don'ts: Never reload without wearing your safety glasses. Don't reload when you are tired. Don't reload when you are in rush and you need some ammo to take to the range.

I worked 18 years in the firearms industry. Biggest most common mistake that I saw was loading hundreds of rounds without testing them. They got grumpy when we told them that the solution was to unload them 😂

Reloading doesn’t save money? What are you talking about? The statement that it doesn’t made your word absolutely worthless to me.

ive been reloading for close to 10 years. People always ask me "how much do you save" too. Makes me laugh. I usually tell them i dont, but I shoot more for a similar amount of money.

What kind of lube do you use ?

Save money 😂😂😂😂😂 if I had all the money back I spent on reloading equipment I’d retire. The amount of enjoyment I get from reloading is priceless though.

Stop chasing the lands

Hahahahahahaha save money! I just tell people that you have to calculate how much your investment costs for the press and everything that's going to be needed, I didn't look at it as a way to save money. I started reloading to shoot twice to three times what I was paying for conventional factory loaded rounds, plus I have the advantage of customizing my rounds to work in my rifles and pistols. I started just before the scamdemic and supplies were scarce for a while, so I learned a few different things to make my own components which weren't perfect by any means but they allowed me to keep practicing while others weren't able. Plus one way to cut costs is to cast your own target ammo, it also adds another fun hobby that is just as enjoyable. A cheap set of Lee moulds for pistols or rifles is a good starting point, I use a cast iron melting pot and kitchen ladle and some paraffin wax or sawdust to flux the Lead or Zinc, Zinc will bond to aluminum so better moulds are required to cast Zinc bullets, I have a 77 grain .224 Elvis Ammo mold from arsenal molds that's brass hardened and casts great zinc bullets. Of course zinc is 30-40% lighter than lead so lead will be 77 grain on average, but Zinc comes out to be about 45 grains, Zinc requires much hotter temps to cast as well... And whatever you do, DO NOT HAVE ANY MOISTURE HIT A LIQUID LEAD POT!!! IT VAPORIZES WATER INSTANTLY AND WILL EXPLODE MOLTEN LEAD EVERYWHERE, IT HURTS!!! other than that have fun casting

I don’t know if it be for everyone but something I learned from my father 50 years. ago about reloading was when you’re working out a load try to work it to where you can never double charge cartridge it’s a safety thing lol

Awesome, practical advice! Spot on, and some of the best reloading advice I have heard!

I started reloading so that I understand ammo. Guns and Ammo(50-50). I could not understand things like headspace without actually making some ammo.

Why don’t you do a video about what happens when you reload a rifle round and tumbling media remains/lodged in the brass. How it effects pressure, accuracy, and how likely it is to blow up the gun. You make awesome videos and I'm most grateful for all the work you do.

I was at an indoor range where a guy was shooting his own reloads in his revolver. The report was loud, louder, super duper loud, super soft, i.e., his loads were all over the map. I got out of there and went to the other side of the glass to protect myself. Turns out he was well known for his inability to measure powder. Yikes.

Wonderful - quick, informative, slick.

I want to take a poll. If you're reloader, how many of you have OCD?
So I guess, I'm the first yes...

Yep. Ur. Right

why nobody ever talks about the table you need to reload ? like give suggestion, size , material, etc

This is excellent advise for the new reloader. I am fortunate enough to have a friend that has been reloading for over 20 years and he was very up front about everything from initial cost to how you will eventually morph into something bigger. I still remember the first 9mm I reloaded, I was stressed to the hilt. Thankfully everything went well. When I reload the reload room is off limits to everyone including my wife to ensure I don’t miss the mark.
Now I reload everything from .380 Auto, 9mm, 40 S&W to 223/556 and .308. I find reloading to relaxing and enjoy the actual process from start to finish. Luckily I started pre pandemic and was able to purchase my supplies at “normal” prices. I too laugh when people ask how much you will “save” and I quickly inform them that there are really no true savings but you have the ability manufacture when things are overpriced as in today’s current environment. To this day I still use single stage presses by choice and enjoy developing, shooting and documenting the results to further improve.

Well done. Keep’m coming

having head/case separation on .300winmag Hornady cases. My suspicion is we should not fully resize the whole case and only do a neck size? how much, care to comment?

#7 use the published load data and be meticulous and don't be scared! Just follow the recipe! Shoot more!

Great video! Thanks for sharing!

I've been re-loading for over 40 years and have found even so called reliable publications have incorrect re-loading data.

Lets do some 2019 math. when I started because I needed something to do in retirement
9mm on sale locally, $9.50 a box of 50.
To reload 9mm
Material cost primer, bullet, powder 13 cents. material cost for a box of 50=$6.50
Equipment cost, call it $500.
Startup raw material costs for primers, bullet, powder about $100.
Cost of first box of ammo, $600.
To continue to make just 9mm and expect to break even would mean that I have to make 8,350 rounds, 167 boxes of 9mm to break even.
However, adding more dies for different rounds spread some of that cost out over different calibers. Having a small stockpile powder, bullets and primers has allowed me to quickly break even during the past two years of shortages and price gouging. It has also allowed me to keep my bullet inventory above rookie numbers.
About 2 months ago I did the math for a buddy that wanted to reload 40S+W and 9mm. Using 2022 prices for equipment, raw materials, the payoff time was worse unless you expected prices to rise on ammo and stand pat on raw materials.

Looking to get in to reloading, both pistol (9, 40, and 10) and rifle (5.56, 270, various .30s, and 350) cases. For rifle, I am thinking of doing two press set-up assembly. First would be a single stage to decap, then tumble, then back to the single stage to neck size, following with a trimmer. Changing neck sizing dies to match caliber.
Second press would be a progressive set up to prime, charge, seat bullet, and crimp neck. Changing the turret with dedicated dies mounted for each particular caliber. Buying a new caliber components and turret set up each year until I have what I need to load for the rifles I have.
Would Lee's loadmaster progressive be acceptable for a budget minded, able to grow set-up?

All, videos has a horny in the background. Gets to the best vid, breaks out the DILLON..... LOVE it!

excellent video ; you get to the point , don't go on endlessly about your personally stories and you speak up and don't go ummm ummm ummm at the end of every sentence.
Your videos are just as good as Brownnell's video which are also excellent.
Oh and 4 to 6 mins. is just enough time.

stay safe in small groups???

Reloading is cheaper

40 years handloading. I have old manuals that are crazy over pressuer. I use a chrono and ... uh.. pressure tends to be a function of velocity.. I am not into rifle so much as handguns. I load both cast and jacketed and I know I can load cast loads at jacketed power but not the reverse. I agree.. shoot more not save money but.... I have bought expensive stuff that was worthless in the end. I am using a RCBS press from 1975 and it works just fine. Lee trimmers and primer seaters work really well for cheap. LEE bullet molds and bullet sizers. Bought stuff WAY more expensive that did not work as well.

Can’t afford to reload cheaper to buy

If you look at the price of factory ammo right now $19.95 for 115gr 9mm round nose, or $216.95 for 250 rounds of 55gr 556 fmj's, reloading is the less expensive way to go, even with primers going for six bucks a hundred.

I never seen a problem in increasing COAL.
It's decreasing or making shorter than the published info when you can create pressure issues.

A question related to this. Some 9mm load data. Is 1.24, 1.45 and even as long as 1.66.
How do I use said data. When I can't load that long for magazines length? Can you reduce charge by factor (x) and use said combination of projectile/powder safely?

I agree in the very beginning nobody told me about headspace or anything like that it was all Sammy spec stuff. The other thing is about saving money most of the time I spend more money for around and if you had to factor in the price of everything that us Reloaders invest. I remember just starting out and ordering about 90% of everything I needed off of Amazon and it was about $2300...and that wasn't everything...but I also made mistakes... I bought a single stage Lee press and then I bought a progressive press from hornaday. I got different dyes for each caliber for each press....So there was some money wasted but I use Lee with Lee and so forth

Fire form your brass.

I absolutely hate when someone talks about whether or not you save money reloading because no matter which side of the spectrum they are on, they always get it wrong. The ONLY way to determine whether or not you are saving money is to look at it on a per round cost…period. Sure, you’ll shoot more because you have more ammo, but that is a direct result of the cost savings per round. If you simply look at it from a cost savings per round, over time you absolutely will be saving money…per round. You may spend the same amount of money, or maybe even more money, because you enjoy the reloading hobby but you get more from the dollar spent.

Thanks for this info I’m totally new to reloading so new I haven’t even bought any equipment just getting in the research and vids like these are very helpful, I will check out your other vids before I make any decisions and any advice would be very helpful keep up the great work thanks again cheers Yogi Australia 🇦🇺 🤙🤙