Taykaim
04-13-2009, 05:40 AM
So, I'm looking to get into reloading.
My first active step is going to be acquiring two of the bullet manufacturer reloading manuals, and reading all the theory and practice covered in one of them, and looking through the other to see if they cover things in another way. I've heard several times to have two books on hand, but they always refer to the tables and charts as the reason.
As a side note, I am quite open to suggestions as to what book(s) in particular would best serve someone wanting to get started reloading. Books aimed at increasing my understanding of the overall process with a lot of detail would be best I suspect.
My first passive step was mentioning something about my interest in reloading in the company of family. I am now the proud possessor of my late grandfather's single stage Pacific Power C press. He wasn't the sort to have cut rate tools, so I assume this is or was at one time considered a decent piece of hardware. So I have this blue cast iron piece of hardware, a plastic cup, a metal handle and two tiny pieces of metal (one that is a a short rod, and the other a ring that the rod can pass through). As you might imagine if you can recall knowing as little about reloading as I do, I am asking myself, "where do I go from here?"
My questions about the press itself.
#1 Is it indeed a worthy press? I am certainly happy to not have to buy a press, as money is one of the reasons I want to reload. It is of course a single stage, and while I expect one day I'll want a progressive, but since I'm making small explosives, I want to know the process pretty darn well before I get there.
#2 If the press is of good enough quality (after I clean up the rust), is it worth using? Will I constantly have to look for special sized dies or other parts to reload using this press? In short, while I would like to keep my grandfather's press alive, will it be excessively difficult to do so? On this topic, can parts for these presses be found these days?
#3 I only have what is shown in these pictures. If anyone here has one of these presses, and can tell me about any parts that are missing, that would be most helpful. Pictures, even more so. Pictures of a properly setup press of this type would be fabulous. Also, are manuals for this press available for download anywhere? In short, beyond what is shown in the photos, what else is needed?
#4 Of the re loadable metallic cases, I shoot .38spc, 9mm, .357mag, 7.62X39, .308win, 30-06. My guess is that if I have a problem, it will be with the 30-06, but if anyone knows for sure, it would be great to know if this press is able to handle these cartridges.
#5 Lastly, I have heard much conflicting info about dies. One person says most all dies will fit most all single stage presses, and you only have to worry about manufacturer on progressive presses.
Another unrelated source says that the steel and nickel cases I had considered "unlreloadable" are technically reloadable, but that they are very hard on the reloading equipment, the dies in particular, and require additional arm effort. I don't plan to reload any steel or nickel cases, but for my morbid curiosity, it would be nice to know the answer.
A couple of questions about reloading in general.
Of those calibers listed above, I shoot the most 9mm with .308 coming in close behind. Looking at the pressures involved, it *seems* that 9mm is a safer round to start with, especially as I am not entertaining any thoughts of producing hot loads, and in fact will be making loads on the lower end of the scale for the cartridge. Is reloading for all the calibers listed above too ambitious of an end goal once I get competent with my equipment?
I don't know this, but I suspect that the pistol cases listed can share primer, and that the 38spc/367mag and 308/30-06 can share both primers and some bullets, not sure about the 7.62X39, but maybe it can also have some parts in common with the other 30 caliber rifle rounds? For that matter, is that kind of interchangeability considered a good thing or an additional risk of mishap?
Anyway, I guess some or even most of my questions will be answered when I read the first book, but any info or tips will be most appreciated.
http://img10.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp3500.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp3501.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp3502.jpg
My first active step is going to be acquiring two of the bullet manufacturer reloading manuals, and reading all the theory and practice covered in one of them, and looking through the other to see if they cover things in another way. I've heard several times to have two books on hand, but they always refer to the tables and charts as the reason.
As a side note, I am quite open to suggestions as to what book(s) in particular would best serve someone wanting to get started reloading. Books aimed at increasing my understanding of the overall process with a lot of detail would be best I suspect.
My first passive step was mentioning something about my interest in reloading in the company of family. I am now the proud possessor of my late grandfather's single stage Pacific Power C press. He wasn't the sort to have cut rate tools, so I assume this is or was at one time considered a decent piece of hardware. So I have this blue cast iron piece of hardware, a plastic cup, a metal handle and two tiny pieces of metal (one that is a a short rod, and the other a ring that the rod can pass through). As you might imagine if you can recall knowing as little about reloading as I do, I am asking myself, "where do I go from here?"
My questions about the press itself.
#1 Is it indeed a worthy press? I am certainly happy to not have to buy a press, as money is one of the reasons I want to reload. It is of course a single stage, and while I expect one day I'll want a progressive, but since I'm making small explosives, I want to know the process pretty darn well before I get there.
#2 If the press is of good enough quality (after I clean up the rust), is it worth using? Will I constantly have to look for special sized dies or other parts to reload using this press? In short, while I would like to keep my grandfather's press alive, will it be excessively difficult to do so? On this topic, can parts for these presses be found these days?
#3 I only have what is shown in these pictures. If anyone here has one of these presses, and can tell me about any parts that are missing, that would be most helpful. Pictures, even more so. Pictures of a properly setup press of this type would be fabulous. Also, are manuals for this press available for download anywhere? In short, beyond what is shown in the photos, what else is needed?
#4 Of the re loadable metallic cases, I shoot .38spc, 9mm, .357mag, 7.62X39, .308win, 30-06. My guess is that if I have a problem, it will be with the 30-06, but if anyone knows for sure, it would be great to know if this press is able to handle these cartridges.
#5 Lastly, I have heard much conflicting info about dies. One person says most all dies will fit most all single stage presses, and you only have to worry about manufacturer on progressive presses.
Another unrelated source says that the steel and nickel cases I had considered "unlreloadable" are technically reloadable, but that they are very hard on the reloading equipment, the dies in particular, and require additional arm effort. I don't plan to reload any steel or nickel cases, but for my morbid curiosity, it would be nice to know the answer.
A couple of questions about reloading in general.
Of those calibers listed above, I shoot the most 9mm with .308 coming in close behind. Looking at the pressures involved, it *seems* that 9mm is a safer round to start with, especially as I am not entertaining any thoughts of producing hot loads, and in fact will be making loads on the lower end of the scale for the cartridge. Is reloading for all the calibers listed above too ambitious of an end goal once I get competent with my equipment?
I don't know this, but I suspect that the pistol cases listed can share primer, and that the 38spc/367mag and 308/30-06 can share both primers and some bullets, not sure about the 7.62X39, but maybe it can also have some parts in common with the other 30 caliber rifle rounds? For that matter, is that kind of interchangeability considered a good thing or an additional risk of mishap?
Anyway, I guess some or even most of my questions will be answered when I read the first book, but any info or tips will be most appreciated.
http://img10.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp3500.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp3501.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp3502.jpg