Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

[scott123456789]

After asking tons of questions I finally loaded my first set of OCW loads. To try to contribute back to the forum I took pictures of ever step along the way. This is 95% exactly what doc describbed in his 101 reloading basics.

Bench Setup. 4" and 5" slots work perfect for RCBS accessories.

Once fired brass inspected from my rifle.

Lee Deprimmer. In the future I may consider tumbling with the primer in the first round.

Just be sure the decapping pin is set low enough it will pop the primer all the way out.

Brass deprimmed ready for tumbling

I went with the corn media as it was on sale and the walnut was backordered. I've read 50 threads that go back and forth on the perfect combo.

Little media in the tumbler

Throw your brass in

Cover your brass with media and screw on the top.
I went ahead and moved the tumbler to the floor just to be safe.

Coevered with a towel to keep dust down and sound in.
I plugged the tumbler into a timer and had it turn on at noon, then when I got home from work it was ready to roll.

 

[scott123456789]

Re: Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

If you have to wait on your tumbler go ahead and setup your sizing die.

Screw it down until it hits your fully extended press ram.

Then as per the RCBS instructions added another 1/8 turn.

Very gently tightened down the lock ring without buggering it up, and then set the brass set screw.

Tumbler was finished was I poured the media into a small rubbermaid container.

Brass was nice and clean now.

The big problem with tumbling after you pop primers is you will catch media in the flash hole.

Started with these three tools. The Lee primer pocket cleaner was awful, so I used a wire brush I had to finish. I have since purchased the lyman case prep kit.

turning the brass upside down let me visually check all was good with flash holes.

Used the RCBS lube pad and RCBS lube. I bought wax as well but didn't end up running any this first time through.

Twist the case neck on the lube pad so the sizer ball will slide through easy.

 

[scott123456789]

Re: Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

After running your brass throuhg your sizer you have setup, I used the lee hand trimmer. It was a heck of a workout, but somehow the pin guide wouldn't seat in the cutter deep enough so I couldn't use their lock stud.

Chamfer

Debur, I was not crazy about the Forster tool, I thought the RCBS was much easier to handle. But bought the Lyman kit instead.

After all 50 rounds were finished back to the tumbler to clean off lube. Keep one round so you can setup your seater while you wait.

RCBS says tighten till it hits the ram

Then backoff a full turn.

Before seating your first round, back off the seater a BUNCH!
I went a couple of twists and thought I was good to go, and then punched out my first .308 round at 2.68" wayyyy too short.

So I then bought a bullet puller

You have to buy different collectors for each caliber, but I got the unit for half off so I didn't feel as bad about giving cabelas $15 for the collect.

Load round that needs to be pulled into the press. Raise the ram, tighten the puller then lower the press. Very minimal blemish to the bullet and it would still be just fine to use to setup the seater correctly.

 

[scott123456789]

Re: Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

Brass should be done you will have to recheck flash holes, and seater should be adjusted correctly. I opted to use the Sierra's 2.75" suggestion for the bullet I was using. Certainly could have used a number of other devices but I figured starting with the factory spec then going from there wouldn't be a bad idea.

This old kit came with the ram prime that I am sure I will grow out of in a hurry.

Shell sits on top of the press on your shell holder and then your push the primer up. Primer depth isn't controlled so Be sure adjust it based on where your press cams over.

Primer tray is pretty useless since you have to hand load them one at a time.

Once primed I flipped cases to be sure I had everyone done.

Zero out scale

Measuring spoons work well to get an approximation. My particular load was about a 1/2 teaspoon of varget.

Then trickled once the scale started reading.

Move the trickler spout away from your scale or else you'll bump grains of powder onto the plate and change the weight just slightly.

Using your powder funnel, pour your powder into your round.

Powder should fill most of the case.

Since I was running OCW test rounds, I opted to seat immediately after weighing. That way I didn't have to figure out how many grains were in which load along the way.

 

[scott123456789]

Re: Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

I completed 24 rounds in this sitting, began at 44 grains of varget and went by .3grs to 46.1. Hopefully, I'll find a decent node and will start playing with seating depth.

I bagged and saved the other 26 rounds of brass I prepped so I can jump right into powder once I know what my rifle likes.

Hopefully, someone can take something from the extra pictures, but once again I could not have done this without the help of the Reloading 101 thread by DOC.

 

[SPS308]

Re: Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

Thanks Scott,
this is a Very nice write up and great pictures as well. By the way I noticed you were in Weaterford. My Aunt and Uncle have lived there for years.

Take care and happy reloading.
JH

 

[1lnbrdg]

Re: Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

2 things that should be mentioned, Setting headspace and trimming.

Check out Tresmon's ariticle on setting headspace?

Tresmon's article on setting headspace

Trim after you resize. That's when the cartridge is going to be the longest.

 

[DubGunner]

Re: Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

Thanks for posting. You spent forever on all those pics. Hope to start reloading soon myself, and this should help.

 

[targaflorio]

Re: Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

nice post - thanks! Your box references 178 gr Amaxes. You didn't start your load development at 44 grs for 178s, did you? You're shooting 168s maybe?

 

[scott123456789]

Re: Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

Was going to try and pickup a box of 178s but didn't have any in stock so I just went with the 165 gamekings to work on a hunting load first.

 

[targaflorio]

Re: Beginners Photo Guide To Reloading (Doc's Steps)

That makes me feel better!