Henry Rifle Forums

From reading these forums I have found that there are quite a few who reload .
I have my Big Bou 44 Mag and I have found I can eat a lot of ammo!
The day I got it I chewed up $150 in ammo! Which as you know in this ammo climate is only about 150 rounds, at best.

I have high powered rifles like 270 WSM and such that I only fire 60-80 rounds a year through. Im not too interested in reloading that. But my 44 is one I would like to learn on!

I know almost nothing about reloading beyond there’s the case, primer, bullet and powder.
As a complete greenhorn where should I start?

Thanks
Mike

I suggest a good manual, from either a press manufacturer and or one of the bullet companies.
It will have all the info you desire, besides it will have the load data also.
I started with the Lee as that was the press that I bought.
I now how Several.
I started with the pistol calibers then started adding a rifle set here and there and more pistols, now I have dies for every CF cartridge that I own, plus a couple that don't.

RP

Yep to get the most fun out of shooting the large calibers like .45 Colt and .44 Mag loading your own is the way to go. I load for .44 Mag and Special among others and it is great to load them to the level you will most enjoy. For me I like mid level 44 Mag loads like a 240 gr. cast or plated bullet with 9 gr. Unique. I have a 1873 Uberti/ Winchester that just loves a 200 gr. Xtreme plated bullet with same 9 gr. Unique which is about like a top end .44-40 load. Find some back issues of Handloader magazine for the caliber you want to load plus read a good loading manual like Lyman.

I did a lot of research on loading equipment and went with the Dillon 550B since it was easy to change over to other calibers and the customer service is great when needing dies and such. Now I load for most all I shoot. Nowdays 44 Mag and 45 Colt can run you 50-60 bucks for box of 50 and might not be the load your gun will like.
However right now primers and some powders are hard to find and $$$ when you find them.

I've been reloading for almost fifty years. I do many calipers as well. I would suggest a starter kit of RCBS or Lee.
I started with just a small press but now I've had a Rock Chucker for many years. I use a hand held Lee Primer with
automatic feed to do all my priming.

There are lots of manuals.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=reloading+man ... a=shopping

There are also a lot of free online manuals.
https://www.xxl-reloading.com/Manuals

I use old Lyman and Speer manuals.

Now as to components....
Some are hard to find, some not.

For 44 Mag I would get the manual, press and dies, then select what powder, primers and bullets to get after
researching the manuals.
A lot depends on what is available.

Always start with light loads and work your way up. I shoot a reduced load in all my target shooting. It's a lot more fun that way.

There are a lot of good options for equipment. Dillion is very good.

Here is what RCBS offers.
https://www.rcbs.com/presses/single-sta ... -9356.html

I would suggest a kit like this.
https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-kits/rock-chu ... -9366.html

Here are some excellent video's.
https://www.rcbs.com

DeathValleyMike wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 3:48 pm

...

In addition to a reload kit suggested by cooperhawk
you'll want a case tumbler for cleaning brass,
an RCBS case prep center (or similar)
and a case trimmer so that your cases get trimmed to a consistent length
and of course 44mag die set

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 5:03 pm

Yep to get the most fun out of shooting the large calibers like .45 Colt and .44 Mag loading your own is the way to go...

I can vouch for 45 colt fun shooting too.

Mags wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 29, 2022 12:37 am

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 28, 2022 5:03 pm

Yep to get the most fun out of shooting the large calibers like .45 Colt and .44 Mag loading your own is the way to go...

I can vouch for 45 colt fun shooting too.

Ditto!!

RP

The great primer shortage seems to be easing a bit meaning it's hit & miss (pun intended) although your not loading yet I'd buy primers when you find them , you'll have no problem selling or trading if you don't use them

Yes, you will need a case trimmer and RCBS has one of those. I don't think the fancy power one is
worth the extra money. I use the manual one and it's pretty easy to use.

https://www.rcbs.com/rcbs-kits/case-pre ... 90366.html

As for a tumbler, I purchased an ultra sonic case cleaner from Hornady, I have a tumbler but I like this better.

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gea ... /p/1376087

I know this gets expensive, but you can save a lot of money if you shoot a lot.

By now you're probably thinking this is too expensive. Well, it is but you can start for less if you
don't mind working a little longer.
Here's a starter kit that might work for you to get started. Lee makes quality stuff.

https://leeprecision.com/lee-loader-45-colt.html

Tagging onto cooperhawks post, the starter kit for 44mag...
https://leeprecision.com/lee-loader-44-mag.html

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022386158?pid=772721

I found a blemished one somewhere, and an open box tumbler with the media.

A Lee Challenger Press and Lee Carbide dies in .44. Mine came together in a kit a few decades ago. I’ve been using it since. Not fast - but it loads pretty consistent rounds. A good scale is required. Should pay for itself in less than year or so depending on how often you shoot.

I have never trimmed a pistol or revolver case in 50 years of loading. They don't need it. I would suggest a single stage loading kit from RCBS. It will last a lifetime and with dies can load almost all pistol and rifle calibers.

The Happy Kaboomer wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 05, 2023 12:40 pm

I have never trimmed a pistol or revolver case in 50 years of loading. They don't need it...

That's your choice but I will politely disagree. You're lucky if all your cases after years of firing and resizing stayed the same length. If you don't crimp at all or adjust crimp individually for each reload then I can understand why you don't see a need to trim. To me adjusting crimp each reload separately/individually is tedious.

From one reload to the next, without adjusting the crimping die, the cases need to be the same length for consistent crimp reload to reload.

Mags wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 05, 2023 2:31 pm

The Happy Kaboomer wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 05, 2023 12:40 pm

I have never trimmed a pistol or revolver case in 50 years of loading. They don't need it...

That's your choice but I will politely disagree. You're lucky if all your cases after years of firing and resizing stayed the same length. If you don't crimp at all or adjust crimp individually for each reload then I can understand why you don't see a need to trim. To me adjusting crimp each reload separately/individually is tedious.

From one reload to the next, without adjusting the crimping die, the cases need to be the same length for consistent crimp reload to reload.

Doesn't the Lee FCD eliminate that? I use one in a seperate step and don't trim handgun cases.

Rifletom wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 05, 2023 3:07 pm

:
:
Doesn't the Lee FCD eliminate that? I use one in a seperate step and don't trim handgun cases.

Like Kaboomer, my equipment is RCBS. I had to lookup the Lee FCD. According to Lee's instruction sheet the case is crimped and sized in one step. They do have a case length warning.

Trim length is not critical. However, be certain that your cases are no longer than
specifications; as a case excessively long will pinch the bullet in the end of your gun’s
chamber and cause dangerous pressures. Cases trimmed excessively short cannot be
crimped.

Ahh, good find Mags.

Rifletom wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 05, 2023 3:07 pm

Doesn't the Lee FCD eliminate that? I use one in a seperate step and don't trim handgun cases.

Keep in mind that the Lee FCD has two different styles of crimpers. The straight wall dies have the standard crimping with a post seating sizing ring. IOW it's the same crimper as their normal die with a sizing ring added.

For the necked case calibers it uses a collet style crimper, which is a whole different animal than standard crimp dies be they roll or taper. I love the FCD for my rifle calibers. I no longer use the FCD I got early on for 9mm.