I have just started reloading and believe this is the greatest hobby out there. Before I started, I had no idea how talented I really am. I am repeatedly amazed at the numerous, and imaginative, ways I can come up with to screw things up. Every time I think that I have exhausted the possibilities, I am once again left in awe at my ingenuity. It truly makes you appreciate how special you really are. I once thought I was a fairly average guy, but reloading has been a massive boost to my ego.
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Why reloading is the greatest hobby
- Thread starter Thunderkok
- Start date
I love it too and I’ve been reloading since 1995!
Like most things in life, experience will make you a better reloader.
Chris
Like most things in life, experience will make you a better reloader.
Chris
I thought I was pretty slick when I took a dozen or so 225gn bullets from a mostly used box, and consolidated them into a full box to save shelf space ... until I realized the consolidation box was 195gn bullets. Spending 45 minutes individually weighing 112 bullets taught me once again ... that I'm not as smart as I would like to be.
There is irony in the unassailable fact that repetitive actions are the easiest to screw up.
And, there would be a challenge in attempting to post a reloading mistake that someone has not already experienced.
And, there would be a challenge in attempting to post a reloading mistake that someone has not already experienced.
Have you started a loading session and noticed the trickler already has powder in it with no clue of what is was? I absolutely did not do that a couple weeks ago..
I have poured powder into my dispenser before insuring that the unloading spout (??) was closed. (RCBS Chargemaster)
I found a cartridge without a primer in my reloaded ammunition- at a match...
I found a cartridge without a primer in my reloaded ammunition- at a match...
I think I've pulled more bullets than I've loaded. 
Which 195 and 225 bullet are so close to the same, you can't tell the difference side by side?
Yup sometimes I amaze myself. But when it all comes together it is really satisfying. Just think of all the money your savings lol
I only get to shoot far half of the year. I really really enjoy doing load development during that other half, either trying out new combos or further refining and exploring what a combo can do. Yes, it's a great hobby.
Been there, done that and it sucks for sure. Also, one can of powder on the bench, at a time. Did that one, as well.
Chris
- Nov 3, 2010
- 9,730
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I want to strangle myself in the closet with and old work belt every time I start reloading again.
I was trying to load some 6CM one time. I had 6CM and 6.5CM brass, sized, cleaned ready for primer, powder and bullet. Well, I primed and charged a bunch ready to seat bullet. "Plunk" the bullet dropped right in wrong brass dummy. I had 6.5 brass. Well dumped out the powder back in the hopper. Here we go, got it now. Nope, Did the same exact thing again. Now I'm short on primers. WTF. The best addition I ever made to my reloading bench was a pair of reading glasses.
I do enjoy reloading.
I do enjoy reloading.
i only started a couple of months into the pandemic not the greatest of times to pick to start but it is what it is I thank god I have gotten as lucky as I have in finding the components needed to reload a few of the rounds I decided to pick to reload and while my supply is modest hell tiny in compairison to those that say they could have stopped buying in the 80's ( fuck them lol ) I may never know that type of joy but I will keep striving to feed my addiction of choice I thoroughly enjoy reloading high's , low's, victory and failures it's all part of trying to get better .
this is why, despite fairly common disdain for the product, i give credit to them for making millions of bottles of budweiser every year that all taste exactly the same.
i think i am too ocd to get into reloading, and i prefer having somebody else to blame for my misses anyway.
I was hoping the magnifier was an Amazon link. Along with some 300 watt bulbs so I can see what I am doing. Oh, and some kind of tracking device for the things that roll off the bench and obviously enter a parallel dimension where they are never seen again.
Not really. Just exaggerating. LolI think I've pulled more bullets than I've loaded.
Well, I thought I was past the dumb mistake stage of reloading. But just the other day I dropped a bunch of fired 223's into........a big bag of prepped 223's.
The best way to find one of those parts is to spend a coulple hrs. searching the internet for it, spend 3x the price of the part for shipping, wait 3 weeks. Then the day it shows up you will stumble across the original lost part. But hey now you have a spare.
Did this the other day. I had 18 stragglers left from a seating depth test so I figure I’ll just load them up real quick and top off my ammo boxes. I size them wipe off the die wax load powder into the Autotrickler and start dropping charges and pouring them into the cases while I go grab bullets and get my stuff organized. I get 7 cases loaded with powder and I grab the first one seat a bullet put it in the ammo box grab the second case and see a bunch of powder in the loading tray where the first case was. Yup I forgot to seat primers 
Oh well dump them out and start over
Oh well dump them out and start over
I think I've got EVERYONE beat in the Creative Reloading School. I found a way to crush 6.5 Creedmoor shells down while trying to size them, so they accordioned twice just below the neck. I called them Steampunk Shells. Over the years since, I've lost my touch at such creativity, sighhhhh.
We've all done that one.... I mean, I hope we've all done that one, because I've done it twice...Did this the other day. I had 18 stragglers left from a seating depth test so I figure I’ll just load them up real quick and top off my ammo boxes. I size them wipe off the die wax load powder into the Autotrickler and start dropping charges and pouring them into the cases while I go grab bullets and get my stuff organized. I get 7 cases loaded with powder and I grab the first one seat a bullet put it in the ammo box grab the second case and see a bunch of powder in the loading tray where the first case was. Yup I forgot to seat primers
Oh well dump them out and start over
I recently bought an RCBS bullet puller die. Damn if that thing ain't slicker than snot on a doorknob. Beats the shit out of those stupid hammers.
Makes it much easier to break down rounds that you goof up.
Makes it much easier to break down rounds that you goof up.
I loaded all last year and never shot one of them but I did trade 3000 rds of 6 mm GT for a lambrougini and 1000 rds of 338 lapua for a beach front house
Haha yep, really sucks when the cases are full of tiny specks of ball powder.
I have the hornady collet puller also. I mean not that I would need it for pulling bullets from a batch of '06 that was loaded exactly 5gr short(old redding beam scale)...
I reload on a progressive for pistol and 223/5.56, and a single stage for big rifle calibers, the older I get the laminated notes to my self grows daily. I have about wore out a label maker in the last year . I must be a pain freak, cause now my son and I are gonna do some shotshell reloading.
I crushed a few 300BO cartridges attempting to 1-step seat and crimp. That's now a 2-step operation on my bench.
I have failed to write down the powder charge progression for a load test, thinking "I'll remember." Then, I waited long enough to actually go to the range that I DIDN'T remember. It was long enough, in fact, that I didn't remember thinking "I'll remember" and I was surprised when I looked in my loading book (after going to the range) and didn't find an entry.
I'm sure I will think of some more nuggets of genius if I keep reading this thread...
I have failed to write down the powder charge progression for a load test, thinking "I'll remember." Then, I waited long enough to actually go to the range that I DIDN'T remember. It was long enough, in fact, that I didn't remember thinking "I'll remember" and I was surprised when I looked in my loading book (after going to the range) and didn't find an entry.
I'm sure I will think of some more nuggets of genius if I keep reading this thread...
I overcomplicated with reloading and looking for right load that much that I hated reloading and shooting. And when you hate things so much you are starting to like them more and more. So now I'm in the period that I like to reload and shoot.
I literally read this thread and pulled this stunt the next day.
Lube will help make everything easier and better in a bottle necked case.
Dont skimp or skim on it, its to cheap not to use it whenever you can.
Dont skimp or skim on it, its to cheap not to use it whenever you can.
Man I’m glad I saw this. I was going to order a carbide mandrel thinking lube wasn’t needed. Not sure where I got that idea.View attachment 7864276
Just because you buy a carbide expander mandrel doesn’t mean you don’t need lube on your necks
you don't always need lub to use the mandrels , but you do have to have it set to the correct height or you could crush the necks into the case body . with or with out them being the carbide type . they are defiantly easier to do lubed well at least mine have been that way so far ..
Don’t let that discourage you I think more of the problem was wet tumbled brass that’s squeaky clean and loading on a progressive where I didn’t feel the problem until it was too late. Cleaned up the mandrel and used dry lube on the necks everything was smooth after that.
Reloading is good hobby...and here is the soundtrack to the reloading room...
Reloading Music Playlists
Reloading Music Playlists
I have never lubed any of the necks with a expander mandrel, and I have never crushed a case. How TF are you guys doing that?
You probably aren't wet tumbling. While it makes your brass come out super clean, it takes all the carbon, etc off the necks and makes it harder to size the brass, as well as seat bullets.
I actually do both depending on how lazy I feel. And I have never noticed any difference in sizing the brass and seating the bullets. I stopped sizing with a expander ball years ago. I have recently gotten into using a neck lube for seating with very good results to continue on doing that step.
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