Hi Guys

I have a quick question. I would like to know how many of you learned to reload strictly from the use of books. This would mean, of course, no outside help from a friend who reloaded etc. then went ahead and tested the ammo they made

Just curious

That's me. Darn near broke mom asking for more SASE's.

I did. We had little family history with firearms, outside of military service, and no history at all of handloading. I borrowed a scale from a neighbor that I didn't even know reloaded, but searching for a scale one of my teachers (also a neighbor) directed me to the other.

Never killed myself, but initial loads weren't necessarily all that productive...

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"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." --Gerald Ford

When I started about 40 years ago, I bought all the manuals that were available at the time and started studying. By the time I had enough money to buy the gear, I knew what I wanted powder wise, and had some good loads to try. I was tweaking for accuracy -- and finding it -- in short order. I didn't really have anybody to ask questions of until a couple years later when I started shooting pistol matches, but by then it was more of a case of learning some of the old timers tricks than needing any help per se.

Haven't looked back since.

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U.S. Navy Vietnam

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice - Barry Goldwater
When Injustice becomes Law, Resistance becomes Duty - Thomas Jefferson

Well, I would ask questions at the local gun shop from time to time. But, other than that, yes, I read - a lot! And depended on reloading manuals and other books on the subject.
At the time, I didn't know any one who reloaded.

I learned from Dad and several relatives and friends who were wildcatters and gun cranks.
If I were to learn from books I would buy the Lyman Reloading book, the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook and the Speer Reloading Manual.

With these three books you have the basics of modern reloading but, you NEED three more.

First a small book from R. G. Wells. Beginners Guide to Handloading. This is really a catalog for the Wells company, long out of business. Good clear information on how reloading dies work and how to adjust them. The book is available on the used market and from Cornell publishing.

Townsend Whelens, Why Not Load Your Own? Readily available on the used market, also from the NRA’s Firearms Classic Library and I believe from Cornell Publishing.

Phil Sharpe’s The Complete Guide To Handloading. This one is available on the used market but I would take care and not overpay. The prices for this book are all over the place. The book is available as a free down load - search the book section here for the link. The Firearms Classic Library has a good printing in a smaller format that is easier to read sitting in your chair. Take a look at the free copy first.

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slim

…And, this being the information age, Lee has help video's online that take you through the process of setting up and using different specific presses and tools they make. Use their single-stage press help videos to see how each kind of die they make is set up. There are also Youtube videos, but the quality and accuracy of the information is all over the map. There also seems to be a propensity among many of the authors to start by putting the viewer to sleep with unnecessary introductions, then go on to present something they just learned themselves very recently and aren't yet very good at. The Lee videos just get straight to it and are accurate for their gear, in particular, and as a good overview in general.

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Nick

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"First contemplation of the problems of Interior Ballistics gives the impression that they should yield rather easily to relatively simple methods of analysis. Further study shows the subject to be of almost unbelievable complexity." Homer Powley

I did.
Speer #9 and the RCBS Reloading Guide.
30/06, DuPont 4350, 165 grain Speer. The way I remember it, I loaded up 3 with the light charge from the book. The gun didn't blow up. Loaded up 3 with the middle charge and shot a 3 shot group under 1 inch.

I did, too!

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Ray

Me as well.
Stole MZ5's Lee handloader and manual for a few years, went to work on a 30-30 and a 25-06. Think I read the Lee manual Cover to cover at least 4 times before I got into any assembly.

Now comfort level is such that I don't fret nearly as much, but I still do things with a single stage press. I enjoy being a bit meticulous and going over everything carefully.

I read as many reloading manuals as I could get and chatted with knowledgeable folks at local gun shops. All the best...
Gil

I saw my first reloading press at the age of 10 through the garage window of my grandparent's neighbor, 270 miles from nowhere in the tiny town of Monahans, Texas. Never got to meet him. With no shooters in the family, I began reading everything I could about guns and reloading. Kent Bellah became my handloading teacher. Finally, Dad let me buy my first used centerfire handgun at 16 and it was time to feed it. Since I was working six days a week, I'd buy a used press or dies or scale every few weeks and began scrounging brass. At age 63, I'm up to 39 calibers, three guages and a half dozen muzzleloaders. I still have plans for more a few more.

I pretty much learned on my own using speer book 6, nosler book 1, and sierra book 2. A good mentor would have saved me a lot of time and boo boo,s.

For reading material, don't overlook your local library. I found quite a few books on reloading at mine.

Started out with 2 shotgun reloading manuals. Read front to back more than once. Bought a Lee Loadall and with the manuals beside me, started loading a few shells. With a little nerves tried them out and they worked. Since then have more shotgun manuals and started buying for rifle and pistol. Did the same way with them, including the nerves, am now using a progressive press with a stack of manuals. There is also quite a bit of knowledge here on this forum!

I first learned using a Lee Loader. I chose my first powder using because it was one that was listed in the load data in the Loader and was the first one I came across that listed my caliber on the can.

I actually used Lee Loaders for years, getting them in several calibers I load for. I originally just reloaded to save some money and just give me more to do with shooting. About 2 years ago, I bought a press and dies and a few manuals because I now want to squeeze all the accuracy I can from my guns.

For metallics I learned from reading too, manuals but mostly from magazines like G&A or HUNTING, I think. I started loading shotgun shells for my Uncle when I was about 10 on a MEC 250 single stage tool with paper hulls and felt wads. He coached me thru that but I think he could have used a chimp in my place! It was BASIC training.

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I bought and read three manuals; Lyman, Lee, and Speer. Then I bought a single stage RCBS, 45/70 dies, XMP 5744, and 500 Laser Cast300 gr. bullets. Still had to call Oregon Trail for load suggestions. I now have 10 different dies plus the lee pro 1000 for 38 spl.

Back in 70's, I took Skeet shooting as a phys ed course., and learned to reload shotshells from the instructor. In the late 90's-early 00's got back in to reloading by reading the Lee and Lyman manual, and asking a lot of questions on this forum. I still consider myself a rank amateur, and ask a lot of dumb(??!!) questions. Because of this forum, I have not done anything truly stupid and harmed me or my guns. When dealing with things that go BOOM, ask first. Easier to look kinda dumb than to bleed profusely!!

I too, learned by reading. My first reloading was done with a Lee Loader and it's instructions, in an easy cartridge to reload, 38 Special with generic lead bullets. Shortly after I got a Speer manual and a single stage press. Of course I stayed with proven low level loads until I got a few reloads under my belt. No kit, I just got tools as I needed them, read the instructions and learned. I think I did OK and I know I didn't get any odd or dangerous load methods from other's personal reloading styles, just proven reloading techniques, which all proved to be safe, correct reloading methods...