Reloading preferences...

[gd3006]

What are your reloading preferences? If you had to use only one press/dies/powder/bullet/primer/etc. what would your choices be? For a start:

1. press - RCBS Rockchucker
2. dies - hornady
3. powder - Alliant
4. bullet - Nosler Ballistic Tips
5. primers - Federal

favorite cartridge to reload for - 7mm rem mag

[mortensen]

I originally started out with Lee (Anniversary Kit), graduated to RCBS and now use the Forster press and dies. I'm not looking for speed, but accurate loads for precision benchrest shooting.

I instruct a basic reloading class at our range and I use the Lee Anniversary reloading kit. Why, because I want the new students to be famaliar with some of the older reloading methods such as to properly use a 'beam' powder scale. I also bring along a couple of RCBS electronic scales for a comparison, and if they do pursue reloading, the first thing they'll get rid of is the 'beam scale' and go with an electronic scale. This is a beginning point for their new found hobby and potential cost is always a consideration.

When you begin reloading you will require a reloading manual. I have them for Hodgdon, Speer, and Sierra. However, much of this same information can be obtained off the internet.

Example: (Hodgdon) This site can be a little tricky to get around until you get famaliar with it.
data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Also, Hodgdon offers a 'Burn Rate Chart', fastest to the slowest. Includes all powder manufacturers. Not a bad reference to have on hand.
www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

[buzzard]

I started out using whatever I could find.......CHEAP!! I have graduated a little, still cheap but done for other reasons.

PRESS- Lyman Crusher
DIES-Hornady or RCBS Precision
POWDER-IMR
BULLETS-Speer or Nosler
PRIMERS-CCI BR

I still use the balance beam type scale. Don't like the sensitivity of electronic scale as far as temps go. I still trickle every load to finish it out and weigh each round. Slow I know, but my time is cheap.
I use a chrony every time I play with a new round or change powder lots to check the speeds compared to last lot. As well as when I change type or brand of primers.

I can honestly say, no cartridge is my favorite. I like loading all of them. I reload more 22-250 than anything only because that is my varmit gun of choice. Most time consuming to reload would be the 30 or 357 Herritt. Anneal, size, cut off, trim, fire form takes awhile!!

[mortensen]

Once you begin to master the 'beam scale', you can eventually work fairly fast. I just seem to have a hand-eye cordination problem with them.

A couple things I don't like to reload is a .223 caliber. I spend more time preping this case than lets say 30 caliber. Also my reloading slows down when I go to a faster powder like H335.

I can make pretty good time when I'm reloading .243, 25-06, 7-08, or .308, and especially when I'm using H4350 or H4831.