Re: Reloading 101: Reloading basics for the new reload
101 basics, good topic and you have the basics covered. I've been loading for almost 40 years and I read all of your post, I'll be incorporating some changes to my routine.
I do have some comments to add, concerning dies. This goes well beyond reloading basics. I also use low cost Lee, RCBS, Lyman and Forester dies. All dies are not the same, they are individual and sometimes they need some rework. I've had dies that overwork the necks and undersize the bodies for my guns chamber, brass combo. When I buy a dies set I first clean them thoroughly and polish the expander button like you suggested. I then check how it sizes a case. With the decapper removed I size a case. I check how much the neck was sized, ideally the inside dimension should not be much less than the expander, for a 30 cal I like to see no smaller than 300, 303-304 being ideal. Some dies resize a bunch, like 280-290 and necks will split after a couple of reloads. Next I smoke a new unfired case and size it, this gives me a visual of of the die dimensions. I do not want a die that makes the cases smaller than a factory round. If it passes these tests it is good to go, if it does not I'll either rework the die or buy another one. Not all brass is the same and neck thickness varies, sometimes a die works best for a specific case. Sometimes a die needs to be reworked for a specific rifle chamber. Again like I said, beyond basics but something you may want check.
The last die dimension I check is headspace. I have a slightly different recipe for adjusting the die in the press, not that I am suggesting yours is wrong, it's not, just I do it differently. I screw the die in until it contacts the shell holder, then I carefully screw it in some more so that press exerts some clamp or compression force. I then size some fired cases and observe that there is no gap between the shell holder and die. This ensures that all the cases will be the same dimension. I now check if the case fits in my gun (trim first). I have had one instance where it wouldn't fit, everything else was good so I had my gunsmith modify a shell holder for me, he took several thou off the face and it was good to go. Most dies will size enough for the shell to fit. I then put a piece of masking tape on the back of the case and check the fit again. It usually is hard to close and squeezes the tape. Ideally you want about 2 thou clearance. Redding makes a set of shell holders in 2 thou steps (-0.002 > -0.010) for 308 & 30-06 that work well. I prefer bolt guns, these methods may not be what works with auto's, levers or pumps. It also applies to calibers like 270, 300 Win mag, 7mm-08, 7mm Rem and such which have such varied sized chambers. cases and dies. 223 dies seem to be spot on and variations few, nice.
The reason I added this is that even if you follow all the basics and do everything right it still doesn't work, and then it gets interesting.
Great site, love it.