What are the easiest mistakes you learned the most from when reloading?

[bob4]

Make sure each round you seat a bullet in actually has powder in it. If not the primer will just push and stick the bullet into the rifling a bit when it ignites. It is a pain to get the bullet out.

Not to mention if you don't think about it and chamber the next round and pull the trigger. DANGEROUS thing to do. If something doesn't go boom, doesn't sound or feel right stop and look.

 

[NBShooter]

I have found that Hornady 140 eld-m shoot the best so far out my particular rifle

Put a mat down on the cement floor as I've wrecked the mouth on so many dropped cases !

lol just did this last night haha

 

[therifleman556]

Buy a chronograph. Don't wait, do it now.

 

[Tidus56]

Make sure each round you seat a bullet in actually has powder in it. If not the primer will just push and stick the bullet into the rifling a bit when it ignites. It is a pain to get the bullet out.

This is my greatest fear with reloading.

 

[SilentPew]

+1 to a chrono.
Not knowing validated velocity will really hinder the ethical distances you can hunt as well as shorten distances on targets if you plan to make first round impacts. Plus, it's science so it's fun.

 

[LoneTraveler]

When I was in our state police academy in 1971 to become a wildlife officer, I never will forget what an old instructor said, "Never assume anything" It will make an ***/out of /U/ and /Me/. ***/U/ME. If you assume anything be prepared for an unknown outcome, Which could be dangerous or expensive when loading ammo.

Get a 3 ring notebook and see through page protectors and keep good records.
Info on Case, Primer, Powder and Weight, Bullet by make, weight and design, and OACL set by proper distance from barrel lands, are information you need to make good shooting ammo. And stay away from bad loads.
Keep records of every load you do. Also keep targets or pictures of targets in the book.
Will allow you to repeat good loads and save a lot of time and money repeating loads that did not work in your rifle.

The first thing to remember in loading Ammunition is BE SAFE.
Get at least 2 reloading data books and compare load data. Be careful of data and suggestions of cutting loads for certain bullets like Barnes, Hornady GMX and Nosler E-Tip series bullets or any other mono bullets. These bullets can cause pressure problems without proper load data.

Good Luck. And, "Welcome to the Hull Fillers Society".

 

[NBShooter]

My largest mistake reloading would have to be confidence before testing. Don't load a bunch of ammo assuming it will be accurate, in fact never assume anything when reloading. Always use caution and follow the books, work your way up, not down from someone on the internet who claimed it was a "safe hot load". If accuracy is the goal, work up a few different loads and go validate their potential on paper before making 100+ rounds. Ask me how I know haha, the bullet puller used to be a good friend of mine. All that being said, your HMR is a GREAT rifle and will really like stuff in the 140gr range, particularly the 143gr ELD-x for a hunting load.

So far I run about 5 test loads per batch @ 3 rounds each. Increasing powder by .2gr per load find the lowest sd and best group and roll with it. My rifle seams to like the 140gr eld-m bullets so I'll stick with them for a while.

 

[nmbarta]

Don't put too much faith in what you read on the internet. Lots of good information out there but it can be tough to sort through the good and the bad, people can write whatever they want so don't trust any charge weights or other critical info without verifying through a reliable source.

 

[NBShooter]

+1 to a chrono.
Not knowing validated velocity will really hinder the ethical distances you can hunt as well as shorten distances on targets if you plan to make first round impacts. Plus, it's science so it's fun.

Luckily a good friend remmy700 has a nice magnetospeed to determine all of that. Someday I'll fork over the cash for one so I'm not reliant on him but he's more than willing to go shooting anytime. Hell hes the one that got me into this whole mess haha.

 

[Muddyboots]

1 - no distractions at the bench people or otherwise
2 - one powder, one primer and one caliber on a time on the bench at any given time.
3 - Write up you reloading procedure accounting for every single task you make to load a round and print it post it next to bench as a ongoing reminder especially if you have periods of time between loading. Build consistent reloading process.
4 - check your scale constantly with calibration weights to insure good consistent weights.
5 - Manuals are there to prevent you from harming yourself. The loads are MAX and are not lawyer loads. Use a manual for load data and not something you took off the internet unless you have the confidence and knowledge to work a load up on your own.
6 - NEVER start a any MAX load under any conditions whatsoever. ALWAYS work your loads up for your rifle gradually. Different powders, brass, primers and bullets (even different lots) can cause instant pressure problems.
7 - Stay off the lands with your loads until you have the equipment to measure accurately and the knowledge to understand pressure.
8 - A stiff bolt is not the only pressure sign to be aware of and stop shooting immediately until you have resolved the pressure signs.
9 - Temperature has a huge impact on load pressure so a load that is fine in January may be serious pressure problem in July.
10 - record every single load you make. Use a marking system to differentiate the loads in each lot that you are testing. I've used different color Sharpies on the primers or bullets to color code each load step. One of the positive aspects of tracking loads is you know the barrel count as well.
11 - get a really good bullet puller. You will make mistakes and will want to save the load as much as possible. I have saved a lot of components with RCBS puller.
12 - 2x on the floor mat. It also traps dropped primers etc and keeps them from rolling around.
13 - I was over sizing my brass for quite a while until I bought the tools to show me how to properly headspace my brass. I wasted a lot of brass!
14 - I switched from measuring the COAL to the tip of the bullet to measuring the ogive OAL when I bought the headspace tools years ago and they really teach a lot more about consistent reloading.

Reloading is like a really good pie recipe. You have to use good components, measure accurately, and have a reloading recipe that has repeatable accuracy. You really have to track and record your data so when you look back at a load, you can legitimately decipher what you did and can repeat it. Just like the pie, why did it taste so good?

I have more mistakes that I've made over 40+ years of reloading to share but I've done enough scare even myself.
Muddy

 

[cape cove]

My advice to a new guy would be to always use the same shell holder that you adjusted you sizing die with. I once ruined 50 brass for my 300 Win mag by using a different shell holder. Not all shell holders have the same dimensions and you could easily induce headspace with a different one. Even from the same maker I will measure them. JM2C

 

[NBShooter]

Hell of a lot of great info from y'all! Thanks for all of the replies!

 

[okie man]

One thing too add is never be in a hurry! Be consistent in ever step of the process. The ultimate goal is too complete every step the same, it will show in the end at the range and field

 

[SilentPew]

One thing too add is never be in a hurry! Be consistent in ever step of the process. The ultimate goal is too complete every step the same, it will show in the end at the range and field

This^
Treat it like a hobby. Enjoy it. If it becomes a chore then rolling your own becomes mundane.