GETTING STARTED IN RELOADING

[@Davis18361]

This guy doesn’t miss. Thanks for another amazing learning video

[@ram_bam]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your channel. Your no BS approach to everything is incredibly refreshing. You have an old school vibe about you that is really lacking in today's society. You're one of the few content creators that I feel is trustworthy when it comes to product recommendations. Thanks for your contributions and commitment. If you ever decide to setup a Patreon page, I'll be a subscriber for sure.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Thank you for the gracious compliment and the contribution.

[@mefirst5427]

Yes agree, it might seem easier at first just to get any kits, but they put low quality stuff in the kits. I spent bit more time and effort put together a tools/parts list and get them individually.

[@dalemoorman664]

Really nice video. Still mulling over mandrels. Lots of good nuggets in here. Wish I had found this sooner

[@jackbuckley4471]

Been hand loading a lot of years, this is good stuff.

[@bentaylor216]

Great video. Wish I'd seen it 5 years ago- would have saved me a lot of cash!

[@b01tact10n]

I learned from another handloader, and mirrored his bench. The potential and possibilities became endless, of what I can make for my 30'06. Best hobby ever!

[@plm3006]

Perfect timing on a subject that needed to be covered. Thanks

[@cw2a]

We atarted a series due to all the requests as well. Good show man.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Yep, there is a lot of new reloaders out there looking for guidance. Unfortunately, most information available is from competition loaders, horrible reloaders, or sponsored guys trying to sell products. With the fall of books and internet forums, new reloaders are looking hard for direction.

[@b01tact10n]

I love the process of everything, safely from prep to finished loads. Awesome bench, Lyman reloading manuals are great reading material also for beginners to Seasoned. I have the 505 scale also the trickle charger and have been using both for years making great loads. I then upgraded to the 1500 chargemaster and wow that machine is awesome very accurate. Handloading unleashes the potential, versatility of all your rifles. A must for very serious hunters. Even the 1st batch will shoot simular or tighter groups than regular store-bought due to making sure all cartridges are the same! Custom made accuracy hunting loads are a must. This guy knows what he is talking about so I viewed enough vids to trust his knowledge of everything. I know you have had successful hunts due to your knowledge of firearms, cartridges, choice of hunting projectiles, ethics, above all safety first mindset. If I ever chose to get a magnum rifle, it would be the Winchester .338 Magnum with 250 grain Nosler Partition ammo because I witnessed my handloads in action.

[@b01tact10n]

Correction possibly an ironsighted Rem700 chambered for the .338 Winchester Magnum, great accurate reliable caliber 🤔😁

[@briansmith2616]

Friday night with Desert Dog! It's a good night

[@luvtahandload7692]

Great vid, DD! I would probably start a beginner out slightly different but the nice thing about reloading is there are probably half a dozen different ways to do everything. Thanks Dog!

[@barbermot]

Thanks, that really helped!

[@KenaiDon]

Thanks for doing this video, there's a lot of info out there but nice to get the Hunters perspective.

[@roddecker1900]

Warning people DQ my opinions. I bought a big blue press for uspsa ( formally ipsic). And hunting ammo. Now I am trying to increase learning curve. Hope to see more wonderful Dd videos

[@whatthefluxwelding4042]

Lmao I remember the first 44 Rem Mag I loaded. I thought the same " I'm a reloader now " lol.

[@22vampyre]

After handloading for 37 years, my recomendation is to buy the best you can afford, and buy a good powder scale.

[@cory8791]

I have to disagree I think that the rcbs rock chucker kit is great for beginners it comes with about everything you need to get started in one box ! Great vid!

[@b01tact10n]

Same, 505, Lyman reloading manual, I mainly load Nosler and Hornady. Nosler Partition 180s for my 30'06 Yukon Moose hunting loads. I load 200 grain Nosler Partition ammo for dangerous game, the 220 Partition ammo caused too much damage on the AK Brown bear that roamed into my camp. I think the sweet spot is the 180 😁

[@YellowHammer26]

👍👍 Thanks for the info…….nicely done

[@Thebushcraftdude2day]

Hey Desertdog think you could try to get you're hands on one of the new CZ 600 lux edition rifles. They look very nice but would like to hear you're opion of one compared to the discontinued cz 500 rifles and other CRF rifles.

[@Channel_98.6]

I'm just re-starting myself into loading. I started way back mainly to save a little money by creating essentially factory ammo. (I don't think it actually saved anything, but that was my excuse at the time.) I've rekindled that interest now, not to save money but to create really good loads. One question I have is about the powder nodes. (Nodes here is new to me. I don't recall seeing anything about that 40 years ago.) The discussion seems to imply that velocity is not dependent on seating depth. How correct is that conclusion?

[@kennethbillman5701]

Great video, thanks for sharing

[@rg8249]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the ProChrono Digital was one Litz tested. I had one for 20 years and it worked well. John Barsness compared it with the Oehler and found it to be very close to where it's the one he recommends if you don't need to spend much more on the Oehler or Labradar.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

I will admit that the Competition Electronics "ProChrono" is the best of the cheap optical chronos; but it has nowhere near the accuracy and consistency of a properly set-up Lab Radar or a Magnetospeed. I still use my ProChrono for shotgun loads, because it's still the best available system for that (when set-up correctly for a shotgun).

[@heerkrupp64]

Good Video well done.

[@shaneboyle9982]

Great video 🤟🇺🇸

[@jrhunt414]

Love your channel Desert Dog. I have been trying to get into reloading for the past 2 years. I simply want to reload my 45-70 encore and 30-06 for deer and moose ammunition. The biggest hurdles that I have faced is trying to justify the equipment costs when the only components I have yet to find is bullets and brass. Without powder or primers it makes it hard to justify. I have however found great interest in reading reloading manuals and have picked up Hodgden, Hornady, and Nosler manuals and have learned a lot about the science of reloading. Hoping to find primer and powders soon so I can move forward. For now I have a Lee Loader in 45-70 that can reload on a stump in the field.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Keep pounding online vendors and the Hogdon web site. You have to keep checking and eventually, you'll get lucky. I scored 8lbs of CFE223 online last month, and 8lbs of H4350 2 months ago. There was a big primer dump in January and I was able to stock up. It takes lots of work and luck to score these days.

[@WvMnts]

Great video👍

[@trodjameson7034]

One big unanswered question is what do you seat your bullet at as a sort of "default" setting when doing your powder node??? Since that is step 2, when you are shooting with chrono checking powder nodes what is your seat depth? Since finding your accuracy node (seating depth) is done afterwards at step 3? Hope my question was clear. Thank you

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

It depends on the bullet and/or magazine limitations of the rifle. I try to start load development with mono-metal bullets (like Barnes) 0.050" off the lands. I try to start load development for lead-core bullets at 0.020" off the lands. Sometimes, magazine length will not allow this and you have to start load development at an OAL where cartridges reliably feed from the magazine. Some rifles have ridiculous amounts of free-bore (like Weatherby and some Tikkas), and you have to just seat the bullet where the case neck puts enough tension on the bullet bearing surface.

[@YERAFirearms]

Can you share some targets, verifying your selected node for depth and MV stability?

[@philliphofer9850]

What about a flash hole deburring tool DD? I use mine all the time One and done. I’ve seen some gnarly flash holes on cheaper brass Ha ha

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

I no longer use cheap brass. I figured that the short lifespan and my time spent fixing flasholes, pockets, and weight-sorting were not worth the cost savings.

[@johnmollet2637]

Oof, he's going to do it. Popcorn, check. Tasty beverage, check. Time to open Pandora's Box... Just kidding Desert Dog, I know you've been hesitant about doing this one. I just want to say good on you man, I'm sure a lot of people will get some great information or a different perspective. Now to plagiarize a line from another channel, "Down the rabbit hole we go."

[@adrianhead4792]

Hi mate I'm looking at getting the mec marksman press for myself, how do you find if with larger (longer) brass? 375H&H, 404 Jeffrey etc. I can't find any specs or measurements for ram stroke online, I'm sick of having to squeeze projectiles in at all sorts of angles to get them into the cases with my current Texan press. Cheers

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

It handles all of the common 3.60" COAL dangerous game cartridges great (375H&H, 404J, 416 RM, 458 Lott). MEC claims you can load 416 Rigby on the Marksman. I load my 505 Gibbs on another press.

[@adrianhead4792]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 thanks for the reply and info mate

[@blairbreland1443]

Guess you havent figured out hot or near the top loads are hard on primer pockets.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

What made you jump to that wild conclusion??? Nowhere in this video did you see a hot or near top load! Sounds like you are trying to make a point out of nothing.

[@MrHf4l]

How many rounds would you say it takes you to work up a load?

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

It depends on dozens of different variables. I've done it with 10 rounds, and I've seen it take 100 rounds.

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

I got in to reloading in 2020 right before all the shortages hit so I haven’t done a huge amount yet as I’m trying to conserve what components I did acquire then and trying to build my supply up. Anyway my question is, I have the Hornady OAL gauge that you used in the video. When trying to measure bullet jump I’m getting inconsistent results. I can measure 5 times and get 5 different measurements. Is it just me? Maybe I’m putting inconsistent pressure on the bullet when I push it into the barrel?

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Reloaders like to claim "we are measuring to the lands", but this isn't true. We are really measuring to "bullet jam". Don't be afraid to push that bullet in tight to get your measurements. This is the only way to get consistent data.

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 Ok thanks, that may be my problem. I’ll definitely try that. I have been putting pretty light pressure on it.

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 That fixed my problem, I’m getting very consistent results now! Thanks DD. Do you ever use magnum primers in .270 and 30.06? I ask because I happen to have a lot of them.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

@@NCWoodlandRoamer Only with ball powder. With those powder charges and stick powder, magnum primers actually do worse than standard primers in 30-06

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 Ok thanks as always for the information.

[@dustinschaefer1]

My dad always told me that you can't touch primers with your hands. Is that true or is that a myth?

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

Myth. Absolutely no difference between touching and not touching with clean hands.

[@michaelshuey1614]

Amen Desert Dog

[@PNWredneck]

Do you have any recommendations for dies? I’ve always used Lee dies, tried Redding and have been disappointed. The decapping pin won’t stay in place, and the design requires a stuck case remover as opposed to the ingenious Lee dies where you can tap a stuck case from the top of the die.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

I find Lee dies to have the worst quality of all dies. Lee makes some great things, but dies are not one of them. Forster, Redding, and even Hornady make great dies. RCBC Matchmaster dies are also great.

[@clapton924]

You forgot dies. For anyone wondering, just buy Redding dies and forget about it. Also, you will not save money by reloading!

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

I deliberately left dies, brass, powder, etc out of the video. These are more based on personal preference and availability and are specific to your cartridge. Forster also makes fantastic dies. I'll even admit that Hornady and the RCBS Matchmaster dies are really good. About 60% of the dies I end up using regularly are Redding.

[@clapton924]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 I have also heard that Forster dies are top quality; but I can hardly ever find them in stock. RCBS are ok but I don't like their basic seating dies. The Hornady custom dies are pretty nice, but I find they are often about the same price as a Redding 2 die set. Bushing dies...well that's another animal. I can tell you have a background in competitive shooting. Good advice here. Cheers!

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

@@clapton924 Yep, I've always had to order my dies directly from Forster and wait six months to get them. This I why I only own about 5-6 sets of Forster Dies (Wilson is the same). Actually, reloading does save lots of money in my experience; especially when you factor in using brass 10-15 times.

[@falba1492]

Ultimate Reloader did a very extensive test on single stage presses, 3 years ago. Apart from the video, there is an article with extensive test results. The link is below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqLGinxmfJebp68 I went with concentricity as my first priority, and chose RCBS’s Summit press. It’s a very compact and smart design. I got away from my arbor press and Wilson seating dies. Too OCD for simple hunting loads. Desert Dog, I see you use the Hornady Lock N Load Die Bushings and Conversion Kit. I was afraid it might interfere with concentricity. Am I wrong? What are your thoughts?

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

The LnL bushings have no negative impact on concentricity. Myself, and most experienced reloaders disagreed with much of the results in that video. My experience, using the same verification methods, did not match his results. The Hornady Classic is one of the worst presses I have ever owned, but he gave it high praise (I guess they are a sponsor). I make ammo that consistently shoots in the teens at 100 and 1/2moa at 1k with my MEC press with LnL bushings. I dumped my arbor press for the same reason you did. I only use it to test seating pressure when I change brass prep.

[@falba1492]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 Funny you say that, because I’m of the opinion Hornady presses and dies suck. The MEC was on my radar about 4 years ago, but i wasn’t able to find one in inventory. Everyone talks about the incredible mechanical advantage it has. Very smooth. I liked the Summit could be converted into an arbor press with a simple attachment, but more trouble than it’s worth. I still wasn’t completely out of that mindset. The Summit is very underrated, imo.

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

@@falba1492 My buddy has the summit. He only uses it as a seating press (sizes on a Coax). He likes that it's highly portable, and he often brings it to the range to test for accuracy nodes.

[@falba1492]

@@desertdogoutdoors1113 - I took a 5 gal bucket, and cut out a round base for the Summit, which fits into the bucket. Toss my things in, top off with a lid, and ready to roll. The public range will not allow us to reload from behind the bench anymore. Does your friend size on the Coax because it’s just easier? Btw, You mentioned the Hornady dies are decent. I tried a set of the regular dies, not the match set, about 10 years ago. Compared to my Forster and Redding dies, I was not impressed.

[@russellapplegate5661]

Desert Dog Have you experienced any additional run out due to the Hornady lock and load bushings?

[@desertdogoutdoors1113]

No