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Posted: 2/2/2008 4:47:37 AM EDT
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I'm new at this. Have a couple hand guns, a shotgun and am building an AR-15in.23 cal. Considering getting into reloading mostly for the .223. In looking around I see some recommendations that discourage it due to the risks of explosions in the process or damage to the firearm. Yet it seems a lot of people do it safely. How risky is it in reality? How much tooling do you really need to do it safely? John |
Just because you cant double charge a case doesnt mean its safer. There are plenty of ways to screw up. All easily avoided. You need to pay attention, no talking on the phone, no tv, ect. I'v bet i've loaded around 2 million rounds. I had a test batch of 45 autos that had 1 round with not enough powder. It drove the bullet to just stick the 200 gr swc nose just out barrel. It had enough pressure to cycle the slide and load another round. Something felt odd about it. I hesitated and the guy I was shooting with say to hold on. Glad I did because I believe that Star PD would have went into several pieces. The reason I mention it is I was distracted and knew I may have screwed something up. I should have pulled the bullets on the 25 or so I had loaded.I did this in the second year I reloaded. I became lax for a second and I could have hurt or killed mysels or someone else. Dont let this get you down though. I now have a hobby I enjoy almost as much as shooting. Hell I have ammo I reloaded over 15 years ago. A few days ago I loaded soe that I no lnger have a rifle for. ( 6.5X55) Just because I ran across componets I had for a load I wanted to try but never got around to. Someday I will. It is easier to justify buying a gun you have loaded ammo for  .Starting out I would try one caliber in handgun and one in rifle. Keep the commponet list short. Example: I would buy one powder, bullet, primmer at least for the first few sessions. Lot harder to scew up if you have less to screw up. I have thrown away a hopper full of powder because I wasnt absolutely shure what it was after sitting and I neglected to label. I have sever powders that look alike but nowhere the same burn weight or charge. Just develop a routine and stick to it. If you think you messed up you just may have. Easier to fix on the bench than the hospital. Buy a scale and a bullet puller. These will be you 2 most important tools. |
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