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Newest reloader here...

1446 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  rdstrain49, 
fupuk
Ive had my press for some time now but I wanted to read and watch videos before I started making rounds. Well with some time off from work for the holiday I got everything set up and just made my "first" round at home with no powder and no primer to make sure I had my dies set right. Its a great feeling knowing that I made this round but I just wanted to see what everyone thought? OAL is 1.576, below the 1.590 maximum. The crimp was harder to achieve than I thought it was but I figured it out. Now Im starting with Unique because of the guy at my local gun store and all of his knowledge said it would be a good beginer powder for me. Been going by the book and recording all my OAL's and making sure my powder charge is exact and im going on almost two hours right now trying to type this out on my phone and ive still got nine more to go. Its a slow process for me right now because this is my first run but time is flying will post pics when im done but thought I would post this for now.
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fupuk
2
Ok im done and I had to smoke before I posted pictures. The first picture is a round with no primer or powder to try to get the crimp and OAL right.

Wood Rectangle Tie Hardwood Office supplies


Now here is all of them done and ready to try them out. Tell me what you think or what else works for everyone else. And thanks everyone thats helped me out with my noob questions. Im sure I will have more stupid questions soon.

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sdiver35
Good job! When are you planning to take a trip to the range? We need a range report to know how they performed. Are these 38 SPCL?
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fupuk
Sorry I forgot to mention that in my first post they are .357's. And im hoping a range trip in the next couple days.
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R
I've been reloading since the early 60s. Loaded commercially for a number of years producing in the neighborhood of 2.5 million rounds a year. I have never heard of a "beginners powder". I would be cautiously skeptical of your local "authority".

Did you start with new brass? Did you do ALL of the proper case prep? Are you using a carbide size die? Hard to tell from the pic. but looks like you may be seating the bullet ever so slightly too deep, a few thousandths.

Just my opinion, but forget the internet as a source of information regarding reloading. Get Lymans Reloading Handbook and keep it as your bible. Great source of general reloading information as well as load data. You might also get one or two other loading manuals, never trust only one source for load data, typos do happen.

Looks like you're off to a good start. Good luck.
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willfully armed
NEVER go less than MOAL.
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NotMormon
rdstrain49 said:
I've been reloading since the early 60s. Loaded commercially for a number of years producing in the neighborhood of 2.5 million rounds a year. I have never heard of a "beginners powder". I would be cautiously skeptical of your local "authority".

Did you start with new brass? Did you do ALL of the proper case prep? Are you using a carbide size die? Hard to tell from the pic. but looks like you may be seating the bullet ever so slightly too deep, a few thousandths.

Just my opinion, but forget the internet as a source of information regarding reloading. Get Lymans Reloading Handbook and keep it as your bible. Great source of general reloading information as well as load data. You might also get one or two other loading manuals, never trust only one source for load data, typos do happen.

Looks like you're off to a good start. Good luck.
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Not to bust your chops but, did you look at the second picture? I notice two manuals there......or maybe the pics were not up yet. I've never heard of a "beginner powder" either. I guess you learn new silly chit every day.

I does seem like you are seated just a hair deep but they should be just fine. Nice work! What firearm gets to eat them beauties?
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fupuk
Ok maby a beginer powder is a bad choice of words, he said it has a wide variety of uses and if I didnt like it for the .357's I could still use it for a different caliber. All the brass was once fired brass from my revolver and they were the proper lenght when I reloaded them. So everyone is saying the bullet is seated to deep? I will defenitly make sure I correct that on my next run. And they will be getting put down range out of my GP 100 4inch. Thanks everyone for the input.
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dustinoif3
Did you put calipers on your crimp? It might be the pic but it looks like there's a darker ring around the neck? Usually indicates a healthy crimp. If your loading on the lower side of the scale there won't be any issues but you may wanna check because it does raise pressures. Usually .002 is a good crimp
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fupuk
dustinoif3 said:
Did you put calipers on your crimp? It might be the pic but it looks like there's a darker ring around the neck? Usually indicates a healthy crimp. If your loading on the lower side of the scale there won't be any issues but you may wanna check because it does raise pressures. Usually .002 is a good crimp
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I will check the crimp tonight, and yes they are loaded light to start with. Thanks for the help.
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R
My bad, missed the manuals.
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