How did you learn to reload?

[metricmonkeywrench]

I’m a hands on type of guy to start with. Basic general idea, supported by a mentor as a sounding board. Transversely I was his initial mentor on bullet casting

[AZ Pete]

When I was 12 (1960), Dad decided to hunt deer with me and my older brother. He bought a used FN 30-06, and my brother and I got second hand Model 94's. Soon after he acquired used reloading equipment in the form of a Pacific C, a Redding scale, a Redding powder measure and a Speer #3 manual. He tried loading, but didn't shoot much. So I taught myself to load for the 30-30, using the one box of cartridges that came with my Winchester. About five years later I bought a Blackhawk and loaded for that too with cast bullets that I made, again self taught. I didn't start shot shell loading until 1976.

[Tall]

I bought a Lee 1000 around 1984 and started using it because I was poor and needed ammo to shoot in my new Model 19 Smith. I reloaded the three boxes of factory ammo that I had bought thousands of times. There were two boxes of 38 Special and one box of 357 Magnum.

[Saxon]

father and his brother were really into shooting and reloading
uncle a bit more then dad,
about 1977 ish 9 years old they taught me how to reload,
been doing it ever since

[Wolfdog91]

When I was like 18 somone from one of my other forums asked for my address. Said they had some old reloading just they wanted to give to get me started. Well was happy to get anythign so sent them my address and was expecting some old rusty stuff from out of a barn and to my surprise I got a lee challenger kit with a note that thanked me me for my service ( just graduated BCT). Well forever be in dept to that person.
But yeah my dad didn't reload and actually was pretty scared of me doing it in the house , dint have a uncle or coworker or anything so I just hopped on line. Got some used serria manuals but they didn't really help too much , not the best when it comes strictly from reading. So off to YouTube and various reading on Google

[tarbe]

1974, I was still 16.

My Father didn't even own a firearm of any kind...but somewhere in the gene pool I picked up the gun bug.

Read everything I could get my hands on and started when I bought my first centerfire rifle.

50-something different cartridges 49 years later I am still at it.

Wonderful hobby we have!

[fiberoptik]

Found this forum. Bought moulds 1st. Bought a Lee Anniversary Reloading kit & Lee’s 2nd Reloading book. Read lots.


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[VariableRecall]

I started my reloading journey in 2020. I got old enough to purchase my own handgun in my state, and jumped on the opportunity as soon as I could. Bought my S&W Model 10-5 as shown in the profile pic, and when .38 special became as expensive as it’s became now, I knew there had to be a better way to keep it fed.

I had learned about reloading and was earlier interested in it recreationally, but I didn’t jump into it until I actually had something to reload for. I was thinking I could start reloading when I had my life more together but the ammo crunch certainly changed my plans. I used a mixture of reading older reloading manuals online, watching videos, and getting some firsthand experience from a mentor from the forum.

[OS1880]

I was always interested in reloading. I mentioned it to a co-worker who was an avid shooter but not a reloader. The next day at work he gave me all the reloading stuff he had been given. I mean everything, RCBS single stage press, assorted dies, lube sizer, case trimmer, powder, primers, and brass, plus other essentials needed. I went out and bought ABC's of reloading read it cover to cover twice. Then I tried my hand that was 10 years ago. My wife loves it because it keeps me busy and out of her hair.

[Kestrel4k]

Wow, was very suprised that the #1 category (by far), was reading books and manuals.

My dad got me into reloading as a teenager; then at college, another mentor in the gun club there. He was definitely a 'stack it deep' type of person, lol.

[dagger dog]

Was browsing the closeout table at a local sporting goods store and saw a Lee Loader on discount along with 2 boxes of fifty 158 grain LSWC's, the loader was for 357 Mag which was what I needed for my Ruger Service Six, the store had powder Herc 2400 and the instructions in the Lee box matched that, I made a mistake buying magnum primers and had to take them back to exchange for SPP's.

Everything totaled about 35 bucks ! This was in the mid 70's. So I started pounding out rounds of 357 Mag on the living room coffee table along with my buddy Tom. Making a complete round was fun
but the real fun was shooting them, I had a case of butterflies in the belly when I shot the first cylinder, a memory I'll keep 'till I die !

[Charlie Horse]

I read an old book by John Wooters. Still have it. That, and I bought a Lee Loader for my 22 Hornet. Still have it, too.

[cap_n_america]

Wasn't so much mentoring more like do this after he got apparently tired of me (10 yrs) hanging around while the adults were trying to play cards (Canasta). I'd already read his entire collection of outdoors magazines and was bored
.
I'd hunted with Dad so I was already used to shooting but Uncle G W was a killer, self employed and semi retired he worked when he wanted or needed and cruised around on backroads varmint hunting in between towns drinking or trading and by trading it was guns or something that made his job easier. The only time I ever saw him target shooting was sighting in his newest acquisition .

Anyway he set me loose resizing and depriming and seating and crimping the 2 things I couldn't mess up
That stuck with me forever so once I was able to acquire my first handguns it was a no brainer to reload then after the cost of the first couple hundred jacketed I realized that casting was the only answer to shoot as much as I wanted

[technojock]

I had a RCBS reloading manual and about that time I got on the old Fidonet firearms forum. Back then I save every Ed Harris post and he would also answer all my questions no matter how dumb. Ed was like a mentor although I never met him...

[Big Tom]

Started 20+ years ago after I got a 45-70 from my wife and saw the ammo prices for that caliber. Bought a few reloading manuals, needed components, a RC IV and started it. Sweaty fingers when firing the first round... Since then started reloading for all calibers I need (except for .22) and look at it as a hobby. Reloading enough in the winter time to get me through the summer every year.

[Soundguy]

Read a couple manuals.. bought a few more and then some gear.. did more reading than loading in the beginning.. but it's been a fun hobby.

[Hannibal]

School of Hard Knocks. No mentor. A few reloading manuals. I made a ton of mistakes and learned something new every time.

So far, I've never had a firearm damaged due to my mistakes, but I've always been very cautious.

But I've never forgotten that tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to make a BIG mistake.

[GuyKickinit]

Reading, learning, more reading, more learning, still reading, still learning.

[Smk SHoe]

Started in the late 80’s. Newly married and a young active duty specialist. No extra money. Bought a rcbs partner press kit and read everything I could. Really honed my skills trying to make a marlin 30-30 lever gun act like a bench gun. Fast forward 30 plus years and the equipment I have bought could finance a new house. I buy new guns in different caliber’s just so I can reload something new. I have talked friends into the odd caliber rifle just to have something new to reload and cast for.
It is a sickness

[corbinace]

from the chart inside the Lee loader kit for .357, at about 14. About 1974-5, so the internet was too slow to watch many videos. I still have all my fingers, through sheer luck.