New to reloading

[Yoshewa]

I just did a quick check on Bass Pro Canada, and they are selling the Supreme Master kit, with the 5-0-5 scale for $359+$14 shipping then I'd get the $50 rebate as well....merry Christmas to me....lol

[CheeseBurger]

You can't go wrong there! Sorry if I missed it but what calibers will you be reloading?

[Yoshewa]

I'll be primarily loading 30-06, and possibly 7.62x39. Once i buy an sks...lol

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Yoshewa

I'll be primarily loading 30-06, and possibly 7.62x39. Once i buy an sks...lol

To load for man SKS to make it worth while you will need to by a progressive loader.
The cost of factory ammo far outweighs anything you can do to minimize loading costs, unless you are wanting big game hunting ammo.

My thoughts on the SKS itself are better left unsaid.......
Cat

[Yoshewa]

The reason for loading for sks is to stay away from corrosive ammo.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

To load for man SKS to make it worth while you will need to by a progressive loader.
The cost of factory ammo far outweighs anything you can do to minimize loading costs, unless you are wanting big game hunting ammo.

My thoughts on the SKS itself are better left unsaid.......
Cat

X2

Never had nor saw the draw to an SKS....I would rather pimp out a 10/22 personally and have something useful

LC

[Yoshewa]

10/22 project complete.....

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Yoshewa

The reason for loading for sks is to stay away from corrosive ammo.

Wash it in hot soapy water after and corrosive ammo is not an issue.
I have been doing this for years with my black powder rifles and shotguns.
Ballistol is also very good if you do not want to go the soap and water route.
Cat

[Yoshewa]

Ok, RCBS Supreme Master Kit bought and shipped now. Looking at dies and now comes another question.

" F L" designates full length die, but what is a small base die set?

Does anyone have some used ones for 30-06??

[densa44]

And better yet there are 100's of loads, all the way down to .22 cal bullets.

Lots of fun to shoot, 4000 fps out of the 06.

I bought one of those scales 45 years ago and I still use it.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Yoshewa

Ok, RCBS Supreme Master Kit bought and shipped now. Looking at dies and now comes another question.

" F L" designates full length die, but what is a small base die set?

Does anyone have some used ones for 30-06??

Stay away from the small base dies - they are needed unless shooting a pump or semi and even then I rarely need them

A Lee deluxe set will give you a full length fie and a collet neck die which will extend your brass life
Cat

[Mutt58]

I would get a decent scale (rcbs 505) first .
Then I would get a lee loader kit in my caliber of choice.
If not a lee loader I would get a lee hand press and a delux die set so you could neck size if you have a bolt action,
These tools are all inexpensive and make great ammo.
Be sure to get a good scale ,a lot of lee stuff is pretty junky.

[Yoshewa]

Next question is about the powder....the manual doesn't show all powders and the powders that are available aren't shown. Is there a list of compatible powders or equivalents? I've seen the burn rate charts but they all say that one should not deviate from what the manual says.....is this just a nice way of making sure they don't get sued?

[Au revoir, Gopher]

Originally Posted by Yoshewa

is this just a nice way of making sure they don't get sued?

Maybe, or maybe it is a nice way of keeping a rifle from blowing up on you.

One of the nice things about having multiple manuals is that there will be different powders listed.

ARG

[whitetailhntr]

Originally Posted by Yoshewa

Next question is about the powder....the manual doesn't show all powders and the powders that are available aren't shown. Is there a list of compatible powders or equivalents? I've seen the burn rate charts but they all say that one should not deviate from what the manual says.....is this just a nice way of making sure they don't get sued?

Try this link http://www.imrpowder.com/basic-manual-inquiry.html
It list pretty much every cartridge/powder combo for both IMR and Hodgdon powders. I find it to be a great reference tool to compare against your loading manuels. Buy a few different manuels, you can never have to many of them.

[Yoshewa]

Originally Posted by whitetailhntr

Try this link http://www.imrpowder.com/basic-manual-inquiry.html
It list pretty much every cartridge/powder combo for both IMR and Hodgdon powders. I find it to be a great reference tool to compare against your loading manuels. Buy a few different manuels, you can never have to many of them.

That helps a lot, thx! Doesn't show nosler e-tip in 168 gr tho, unfortunately....

[260 Rem]

If the manual groups a number of potentail powder loads (typically from slowest burn rate to fastest), I always start with a powder that is on the "slow" end, which fill 90% or more of the case. I seldom attempt to compress as it can result in inconsistent seating depths if the neck tension is on the low side. I have "counselled" several new to reloaders having difficulty getting accuracy with powders that are not close to filling the case. In most cases, they say they chose that particular powder because it was cheaper because they got more loads per pound. In most cases, this thinking is false economy.

[Submoa_hunter]

x

[Yoshewa]

Word to the wise, be careful if you are ordering from Huntington Die Specialists....they apparently have never heard of brokerage fees.... Asked them to ship with a courier that includes brokerage fees...they shipped my package, and when I called about it they said that they don't even know what it is....so I refused the package and had it sent back to them, they are threatening charging my credit card a return few and a restocking few...I have not much nice to say about that company at this time....

[32-40win]

Actually , Huntington is one of the best there is, sorry, but, it was your method of shipment that was at fault. Always use USPS/Canada post, not a courier.
If they will not ship USPS/Canada post, do not buy from them.
Just having that discussion with a vendor, UPS is 36.00 frt chg, plus a 47.00 brokerage fee, on a small 300.00 shipment, USPS/CP is 42.00, plus a 5.00 brokerage fee. You have to go to a different part of the UPS and Fedex site to see the brokerage fees, it doesn't tell the shipper about it, until you refuse the shipment, then he sees it.

Websites for the powder mfgrs and the bullet mfgrs, that publish data on the web, are in Hotwheels81's sticky for new reloaders, at the top of this section. Plus a lot of other useful info.

[elkhunter11]

Asked them to ship with a courier that includes brokerage fees..

Why would you ask them to ship with a courier that charges brokerage fees? Why do you want to pay more, when you can have them ship USPS, without having to pay brokerage fees? It sounds like you caused the problem, not them.

[Yoshewa]

Originally Posted by 32-40win

Actually , Huntington is one of the best there is, sorry, but, it was your method of shipment that was at fault. Always use USPS/Canada post, not a courier.
If they will not ship USPS/Canada post, do not buy from them.
Just having that discussion with a vendor, UPS is 36.00 frt chg, plus a 47.00 brokerage fee, on a small 300.00 shipment, USPS/CP is 42.00, plus a 5.00 brokerage fee. You have to go to a different part of the UPS and Fedex site to see the brokerage fees, it doesn't tell the shipper about it, until you refuse the shipment, then he see it.

I've only ever heard good things of Huntington, this is why I ordered from them. The shipping method that I choose was cheapest. They chose UPS as the courier, after I wrote in the comments "cheapest that includes brokerage". When I called them he said he doesn't even know what brokerage was. I offered an explanation, however I stopped when he began laughing at me. So I asked about their return policy which was replied with "why would you order something if you were just going to return it" I'm very disappointed with their lack of tact and customer service. I'm merely explaining my one and only experience with Huntington, which unfortunately was not a positive experience. I am a firm believer of voting with my wallet.....I will be voting a lot this year...

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Why would you ask them to ship with a courier that charges brokerage fees? Why do you want to pay more, when you can have them ship USPS, without having to pay brokerage fees? It sounds like you caused the problem, not them.

I agree...you don't always pay brokerage by default...by telling them to ship including brokerage fees you left the door wide open to what carrier to use.

Next time specifically ask if the ship USPS if not....don't order. I think most of us have learned this the hard way.

Take it as a learning lesson and bite the bullet and make it right IMHO.

LC

[Yoshewa]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

I agree...you don't always pay brokerage by default...by telling them to ship including brokerage fees you left the door wide open to what carrier to use.

Next time specifically ask if the ship USPS if not....don't order. I think most of us have learned this the hard way.

Take it as a learning lesson and bite the bullet and make it right IMHO.

LC

Yes, perhaps you are all correct. I did say use cheapest shipping including brokerage, even tho usps has brokerage but they include it in their original shipping price and not surprise the receiver with a bill. I should have learned that when dealing with Americans, one needs to really be clear on what is expected of them and be almost pedantic in explanations.

This will be, and has been chalked up to life experience and I'll just pay the stupid tax one more time.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Yoshewa

Yes, perhaps you are all correct. I did say use cheapest shipping including brokerage, even tho usps has brokerage but they include it in their original shipping price and not surprise the receiver with a bill. I should have learned that when dealing with Americans, one needs to really be clear on what is expected of them and be almost pedantic in explanations.

This will be, and has been chalked up to life experience and I'll just pay the stupid tax one more time.

In the future INSIST they the vendor ships USPS ONLY!
If they even mention any other form of courier tell them it's no deal!
Shipping UPS cost Oldbbadger almost twice for a recoil pad as the pad was worth Canadian!!
He was not aware that the store was going to ship it UPS, and we could not get that specific pad in Canada.
We he talked to the guy store, the fellas said he could ship it back, but UPS would not refund anything.
Cat

[elkhunter11]

I should have learned that when dealing with Americans, one needs to really be clear on what is expected of them and be almost pedantic in explanations.

I deal with a few American companies on a regular basis. I choose to deal with those companies , rather than try and purchase certain goods from Canadian vendors, because those particular American vendors stock what I need, and they know their product, so they send exactly what I need. It's not about being American or Canadian, it's about knowing your product, and providing good service to your customers.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

My thoughts on the SKS itself are better left unsaid....... Cat

Ever the gentleman.

BTW, I agree.

[elkhunter11]

Ever the gentleman.

BTW, I agree.

Count me in as one more that agrees.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Count me in as one more that agrees.

Is there a spare seat on the wagon? I need a spot....

LC

[Rdamours]

The rockchucker is great press. If you don't want the outlay of cash for a whole kit you can get the parts from the forum if you are lucky like dies, etc.

I'm still reloading with an old RCBS JR3 press that get's the job done for my amount of reloading and will probably outlive me as they are built to last. The scale I picked up is electronic and is a Hornady that I picked up online. The powder trickler, and other odds and end don't really add up to much so I'm reloading on the cheap for the amount of reloading I'm doing. I've maybe run a thousand rounds through it over time and am slowly stockpiling some pet rounds for each rifle.