Reloading Basics (Decisions To Make)
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- Опубликовано: 13 мар 2010
- A look at what reloading is all about and the various decisions one needs to make before getting started. More specific and shorter videos will follow on various aspects of reloading. This is a lengthy video, but it's for people considering the adventure of reloading, so I'd think it would be at least a bit interesting to them.
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Hickok45 videos are filmed on my own private shooting range and property by trained professionals for educational and entertainment purposes only, with emphasis on firearms safety and responsible gun ownership. We are NOT in the business of selling firearms or performing modifications on them. Do not attempt to copy at home anything you see in our videos. Firearms can be extremely dangerous if not used safely. 
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Who's here 10 years later? What a treasure of a human being. Like the Bob Ross of gunpowder.
Feb 2021 and it’s my first time watching this. Groper Biden is the president and ammunition is getting scarce these days. Living through 2 terms with President Obummer, I’ve learned to “buy it cheap and stack it deep”. With the Democrats in the White House it’s, “Marty, We’re going BACK to the Future!!” LOL Be strong, be safe my “Merican” cousins. Peace Be To Journey!
Actually, I just "discovered" Hickok45, and he answered all of the important questions for someone thinking about getting started in reloading, and he did sort of leave out one important thing. Something that reloading gives you is the ultimate control over the ammunition you shoot, so you can tailor the ammunition for the sort of shooting you do. For instance, when I was loading .45acp for USPSA competition, I'd make sure that the load made major-power factor, while loading for bowling pin shooting, I'd use a heavier bullet but a lighter load, for less recoil, even though the round wouldn't make major power factor for USPSA. And I'd load light, plinking loads for my .44Mag, or monstrous, big-game hunting loads to only be shot in my Ruger Redhark. The variety of loads and components were great.
Mr. Rodgers of Revolvers!
Bob Ross of gunpowder....lol
It's September 2021, I still watch this video
Me
2024 ANYONE?
HELL YEAH
Back here again, considering reloading again
@@joshuaalveygo for it. I'm going to for sure
Yuppp
14 years ago I was 12 years old 😂😂😂
Hickock45: "you might see this video 2 months from now"
Me: Watching the video 9 years later lol
Lol me too
10yrs later!
10 yrs laters 😂
3/6/20 just now finding his videos
10 for me..
This man is a treasure. His kind of humor, honesty, intellect, and humility is something this world needs more of.
I was thinking the same thing.
I could not agree more with you.
cant imagine him being angry
tantivymuckermaffikk need more teachers like him.
Watch his outtakes videos. You'll see him lose his temper a couple of times...
"smoking is not advisable while reloading. I will let you figure that out." classic Hickok quote.
if you don't smoke how are you going to figure if your powder is good or not ?
Smoke some pot later.
Also maybe have a quick escape route and don't mishandle the primers.
@@rayfaulkner8458 woah pot bro
Agreed, had me laughing too!
I have reloaded for 42 years and use a RCBS single stage. To me reloading while it is to save money, but it is also a way to kick back and relax. When I sit down to reload I most times reload 500+ at one sitting. People make damn sure you turn off all TV's and radio's so you are not destracted and do something dumb like double charge a case. Use a Reloading tray and after you charge the 25 cases that fit in most trays look into the cases to make sure there is powder in each and that none have been double charged with powder
Single most important step right there! Check for doubles!
I have a tray on each side...put from one into the other
Watching this in 2019, still quality information.
Patrick Johnson same
@@jacobfreeman5054 Same
@@jacobfreeman5054 I'm just starting to reload and who would give good advice and it's Jan 2020
2020 Still people benefitting from this.
2020 I just watched this. Great video!
A friend recently got me into reloading. For me, I realized it is not about saving money. I've found it to be a very satisfying hobby. Love it!
DEFINITELY a hobby...you must enjoy a past-time for it to gain the status of 'hobby'...otherwise it's simply drudgery and work...
Yeah, considering your initial investment, you've got to load a helluva lot of ammo to make it pay. I'm looking at circumventing the insane laws here in Commiefornia. 😡
@@davidwilliams5292 Well you know, most of the founding fathers of this country at one time or another were all smugglers.
I love hearing him talk. Not only do I TOTALLY respect the years of experience. He just has a way about him that I totally believe he's not selling anything. Just telling it like it is. Damn - There's no school like old school. Thank you Hickok45. Sincerely, thank you.
ABSOLUTELY...!...coming from the coast of Maine OH AYUH !
“The circle of life!”
11 years later, found an amazing treasure. I had to pause and check when this vid was made as he mentions “gun sale and lack of ammo has gone up in the last year or so” here I thought he made it in 2020…come to find out he made it over 11 years ago!
The gift that keeps on giving!
Thank you sir, love watching your lengthy videos, there’s something about your humor, truth, honesty, raw truth that just makes me sit through them all!
just goes to show its a cycle, we get new gun owners, we run out of ammo in stores, prices go up every couple years.
It's not only about cost. It's a very rewarding hobby. Sticking to one set up is fine but trying different bullets, propellant etc is half the fun.
"I can read your your mind, I can also read your messages." I love this guy.
I agree...the first 60 seconds are worthy of an Academy Award, lol.
That actually reminds me of the beginning scene of Lord of War.
@@GreatMercenary exactly
"No smoking while you are reloading. I'll let you figure that one out"
Eric Effert He definitely got a laugh out of me there.
Lol for sure, hickok45's dry humor cracks me up
Many eyebrows have been lost to people smoking while reloading...maybe a house.
That's right, It's possible they blow up their house. But in all likelihood they will probably just loose an arm or something. "Smoke on smoker!" That's what I say. But then again, I'm not reloading. I'm just smoking cigarettes. And that's bad enough on its own for my body. I'll pass on having my face detonated thank you very much. :)
I’m just watching this 10 year old video…love the information and amazing that Hickok mentions $8-$9/box 50 rounds, 9mm ammo at Walmart….my how things have changed…I just paid $25/box of 50 rounds at Carter’s Country in Houston and no centerfire pistol ammo sold at Walmart…I haven’t been able to find 22 caliber ammo at Walmart in over a month. I’m dreaming of finding a 9mm multi-stage press set up under the Christmas tree this year with all the accoutrements (powder, primers, brass, bullets, primer can to turn them all in one direction, primer tube, and more!) And if I’m really good maybe I’ll look in my stocking hung with care over the fireplace and find a 36-caliber black powder pistol with the reloading press, “built-in”! Love all Hickok videos and look forward to coffee and his Sunday Shoot-arounds first thing in the morning. (Shoot-around #50 is tomorrow??)
"Thus is the circle of life."
Classic!
"2 months from now"
Me ten years later due to the beer virus.
FML lol
The F-ing RONA!
@@brenttesterman1198 The political virus
I am here in 2021
I got into reloading for the purpose of saving. After I got into it, the main benefit was that while I was spending as much I was actually shooting more. Later, I found that a major advantage was being able to develop loads that suited you needs. Among the needs met were having mild recoil target loads, having cast lead bullets, and more recently having a load that shoots to point-of-aim on a fixed sight revolver. Your mileage may vary.
I'm 73 and have been reloading for nearly 50 years. I started on a Hornady single stage press, moved on a Hornady progressive. I currently use a Dillon 550C. I like the deprime and seat primers by hand. I donj't reload to save money, I reload because I enjoy passing time reloading. Right now, I've been reloading 44 mag and shooting them in either my Ruger Super Blackhack or my Redhawk. I'm not picky about my bullets, I like Berry's bullets.
Love Hickok and his video's, this is a good one too. I started reloading in 1970 at the ripe old age of 14, I was shooting trap at a local club and going through a lot of AA shells. I ended up with a Mec 600 Jr, that still serves me to this day. Along side that sits a RCBS RCll single stage that has loaded everything through the decades including my National Match years with my only addition in the 80's being a Dillion SDB doing ten's of thousands of rounds in 45acp for IPSC and IDPA . What I have learned, a single stage press will work for 90% of the shooters out there unless your only going to shoot one round and need volume. The secrets, deprime before you clean your brass so the primer pockets are cleaned and spent primer compound isn't screwing up your media and buy a little press like an old Lyman Spartan, mount it to a piece of scrap 2x6 and clamp it to the dining room table for brass prep. Mine cost me $15 on Ebay years ago and if your only doing pistol brass or small rifle like 300BO or 223 you can load finished rounds with it. Now, 2020 update. You can save a ton of money reloading especially if you do a lot of shooting. That $20 pound of 231 is now $30 but it's a lot cheaper than paying over $1 a round for rifle ammo (308W), buy your bullets in bulk and you can save over 50%. Pistol rounds are even cheaper, 9mm will cost you $12 a box of 50 with tax but shoot cast and you can load them for $.12 each and if you cast your own, 5c each in 9mm. Free pick up brass, bullet cast from old wheel weights, 3c for a primer and a couple cents for powder. A pound of powder like Unique or Bullseye will load over 1500 rounds. $2.50 or so for a box of 50 and you don't have to worry about ammo hoarding and shortages.
I used to do reloading with my dad when I was younger, and wanted to do it again. I inherited his reload equipment and supply and last time I worked with it I was like 8, so I don't remember a lot. but this video was helpful to get me started again. I love that he recorded this 10 years ago and its applying to today with the ammo shortage ect. lol
I just gotta say hickok, your the best guy here on RUclips. I try finding a video on something and over 80% of the time you already have something on it. I just wanted to say thank you
Hickock45 will be required viewing for generations. Thank you, Sir, for putting you knowledge down on video for all to learn.
Should be required reading at college !
"you might see this video 2 months from now" im seeing it 7 years from then
I'm 8 years +. Lol
8-1/2 here... :)
8-1/2 here... and happy to see the same blue machine I use!
8 years and 9 months
8 years and 10 months here.
Actually I just got a good chuckle watching this. I started in 1964 and Lee actually had a little set to handload by the plastic hammer method!🤣 You could buy primers for about $8 per thousand! Most of my bullets where hand cast from free wheel weights. Brass was free from the highway patrolman. But it still was more expensive to reload even back then.
You forgot to say reloading can be an addictive hobby for some. Now 75.
almost 7 years old... still one of my favorite hickock45 videos.
"you might see this video 2 months from now"
...or 10 years from now!
A five year old video that taught me more about reloading ( I've been circling reloading for over 30 year....Sort of like an indecisive buzzard....) than I've read in all the magazines and books on the subject I have in my collection. Thank you.
If you are going to load multiple calibers, you will need a die set for each and also parts for the press. It can run into quite a cash outlay. I find that pistol and small rifle rounds are best loaded on the Dillon 550B. For big rifle rounds I use a single stage press. The O press is very strong for the resizing of large rifle rounds. Usually you are only loading 20 to a 100 rounds. I get better rifle accuracy with a single stage press.
I have been handloading since 1973. That's part of the enjoyment of shooting for me. I enjoy it. It's a winter thing. Still using RCBS junior single stage since 1973. Great video, thanks.
I love the cool "circle of life" bit.
At age seven,I sat on a tall stool and watched Dad handload for his 1911 commercial Colt for the next match. He had a Lyman orange colored powder measure. He would cast 185 wc and let me set a bullet into the luber sizer . Miss him.
At least you had good memories with him
+Raymond Jokerst - More dads need to do these type of things with their sons and daughters. I have a million different stories like this with my Dad. Luckily I still have him, and can make even more memories with him. It made me tear up a little to hear about you missing him and think about losing my Dad. I recently got into reloading and have involved my son. He loves it so much that he will step away from his already limited time with his Xbox just to come sort brass or load some 45ACP or 300 blackout. Things like this are one of the most important that we can do for our kids (short of teaching them how to be a morally decent person). Thanks for sharing!
+Kettenhund75 I wish I could reload but I don't have the money to and I don't want to get in trouble with the law
+Kettenhund75 And I agree with you on these things
Luis, have no fear! Reloading ammo won't get you in trouble with the law unless you do something illegal with it (like knock over a 7-eleven or sell it for profit). Lee sells an anniversary reloading kit for just over $100 that has everything you need to reload except brass, primers, powder, and boolits. It's a great deal and you can upgrade as you go along if you choose.
I raised my hand, but he didn't stop...
I bet your shoulder is tired as hell by now 😂
Before I watch your video and before I step outside for a smoke. I wanted to thank you for your time and your camera man/womans time and work online. Me and others sure do appreciate it. Thank you.
Hickok45 is a National Treasure ! And his sense of humor is for the ages. Thank you.
i have been reloading with a single stage press for over 50 years. I use the same RCBS press i bought when i started. I probably have not lost 10 rounds total while get my press adjusted, That's total, all calibers. But i like to reload even if i don't shoot that much. To me it is a test of discipline exercise. accuracy and precision are paramount. To me, i'm constantly creating a better , prettier round. I just don't slam cartridges together. I like the process and do not dread the process. have fun ,be safe. I even load some rounds for friends where i don't have a particular caliber. good video...
In my Humble and Biased opinion, the Best people in the world are Southerners...Myself a Mississippian should bear no weight in my comment but this gentleman here shows what we truly are all about...
It's true that you don't save money, but for the $20 I would have spent on one box of .38 special, I can make 3 boxes...Makes me feel less guilty for shooting off 50 rounds that took $6.75 to make vs buying ammo, plus you feel good that you even have something to show for after-a pocket full of brass to reuse.
I feel the same way. And to add to what you say, I feel great about being self reliant. If ammo starts getting scarce, I don't have to worry. Guys like us though, have to worry about a ban on powder and primers....that's what scares me.
@@a226sig Reloading materials raise in price. How long does it take to recuperate the money spent on reloading tools? You're not self reliant unless you manufacture your own from primers to bullet. I buy blazer 45 auto for 10 a box. I wonder how much it costs to reload for 45 auto.
How do you feel in 2021, when those boxes are now $40 and $50?
Glad you bought that loader now, aintcha?
@@abolishguncontrollaws5689 Not anymore you don't....
@@abolishguncontrollaws5689 .45 auto isn't worth reloading. First the firearm throws the brass away and it can be hard to locate all casings. Second it headspaces off the mouth of the case so it must be exactly the right length. Third different bullet shapes don't always feed well in them. load ramps are not always the same. Blazer ammo is what I try to get whenever I can. Just let it fly.
Great video on reloading , but I'm flat broke. Do you have any videos on freeloading?
Just keep an eye on what's going on in the world; lots of "freeloaders" out there demanding to live the "good life" without lifting a finger. :-)
The world is LOUSY with freeloaders...just pick any major metropolitan area, move there, look around and follow along...
@1/7th -Cav. 1972C.I.B 'That's demon-rats... that's right, you heard me, demon-rats' :p
@This is the best name I could come up with now dats cawntree i reckon
@@hickok45 please do more reloading videos. Also please review a s&w model 586 classic. Also try to get a new alchemy custom 1911 for review. Love your videos and have been watching religiously since you started.
This man is ready and would survive anything
I started reloading in 1975, soon after I bought my first revolver, using an RCBS Jr single stage press. 45 years later I'm still using it, having loaded many thousands of revolver, pistol and rifle rounds. Tha k you for the great video and the demo of the progressive press.
This has to be hickok45 best video intro.
HAHAHA LMAO HANDS DOWN xD I love when he says "and thus is the circle of life" as the 9mm pops out lol
I agree lmao
Too good, I busted up laughing...
I would like to know if the INTRO was John's idea or Hickok's idea (just curious)
it's like white morgan freeman
Another great video. I'm watching from Australia. Appreciate hearing your experience on this matter Hickok. We love all your stuff down here. Just realised this video is ten years old. Keep 'em coming Sir.
8 years later and this video is still gold! such is the wisdom, wit, and humor of a true gentleman-gunner that could only be hickok45. thank you, sir!
I love watching your videos, Sir. You have made me feel like a friend of yours. I sure enjoy watching your videos and appreciate the time you have taken to make them. Please continue to make them and God Bless you.
"Acooterments" Love me some Hickok45. Thank you for the great video on reloading, sir!! Super educational and much appreciated. Thanks for your videos!!
My husband reloads all our .380 and .357 on A Hornady press. Its actually a good couples bonding activity fun to sit, watch and shoot the breeze. Or just annoy him to death that's fun too.
@Medina Real Estate what's your point? It's 2020 if he is gay so what.
@Medina Real Estate what the hell are you talking about, being gay is not legal. Even if you are trolling you sound stupid for even saying that.
@American Gold Eagle You're
@@carsarecoo Technically he just stated a fact, said nothing else.
@@Suspect002 actually he deleted his previous comments trying to say gay marriage is illegal and other homophobic crap.
Some treat it like rocket science,,,,,,Your approach is spot on,,,,,,and non-complicated
Progressive presses are great if you’re loading the same thing over and over. I load more than 10 different calibers, and am always trying different bullet weights and designs. So I use a single stage press. By the time I had a progressive press set up I could load 100 rounds on the old single stage. So for me “slow and steady wins the race”😊😊
I never understand how any of your videos get dislikes
people are jealous of his awesomeness!
I'm sure liberal anti-gunners come across him. I am not sure if they hate not only him but all of us that love guns or...somehow develop enough intelligence to realize we enjoy life and our guns so it makes them jealous. Then the liberal disease gains controls of them again....and they hate us again.
Yeah there are people that claim to love and own guns but then claim to be liberal....honestly in my opinion they cant co-exist together.
But very few videos dont have some dislikes...
Haters gotta hate.
Its probably a negligent dislike😉
The tacticool oper8ors gotta h8.
Love this. Looks like you need an upgrade. We can help Hickok.
I need an upgrade too LOL. im on a lee single, but ive already made up my mind a xl750 is in the very near future.
@@Texas_Radical The Xl750 is a excellent machine, you're going to love it.
9 years on and this video is still educating the masses. Hickock45 is America's real dad/uncle/grandpa. I could sit and listen to this man talk for days.
Hickok45 is the greatest. He is just an ordinary guy ,so humble. He is just one of us.We are lucky to have him.
You had me at "Circle of Life"...
hickok45: "you might see this video 2 months later"
Me watching 13 years later
When I buy a new caliber I immediately buy the die set (and components) for that caliber. I like to say... "They can never take all the guns because there's simply too many, but they *CAN* shut off the manufacturing of ammo. _....and do it almost overnight."_
BTW? A 'turret press' is a good in-be-tween. I love mine.
this video and the hornady 2nd edition reloading bible are the holy grail for this kind of information.
Mr. Hicock! ive been watching your vids for just a few months and i have learned so much. also, your range makes me homesick for tennessee. thank you for all you do!! cheers from West Virginia.
Love all your vids. Thanks for doing what you do.
I'd love for you to do another intro to reloading video like this with some of the beginners kits out there. Especially with the recent uptake in precision long range shooting and the panic buyers
Wow been watching hickok45 for 5-6 years now and never knew he made a video on his reloading technique. My grandfather reloaded, my father still reloads so I also reload. My dad started teaching me when I was around 12-13 so I've been reloading close to 25 years now. I've heard so many people say you can't reload steel cases, that is actually a myth! You absolutely can reload most steal cases, the caveat being a lot of them are berdan primed making it next to impossible to remove the old primer. There are methods of removing berdan case primers but I wouldn't consider it unless we where in a zombie apocalypse. But as far as steel cases they can be cleaned, resized, trimmed and reloaded. Some people think the steel is too hard and will damage your dies/reloading equipment, but the steel they make bullet cases from is generally softer than bullet brass or at least very very close to the same on the hardness scale. With that said I do not generally reload steel cased bullets unless it's a hard to find ammo or something I shoot a whole lot and just want some throw away bullets where I'm going to shoot in a place where I don't want to pick up my spent shells. Another warning about steel cases is they do have a anti corrosion coating and once that wears off they will rust fairly easily but can be avoided by a little gun oil coating after you finish reloading them.
P.S. I am no expert! So do not take this as advice but simply my opinion and experience. I have reloaded hundreds if not thousands of steel cases and never had any of them fail or cause damage to any of my guns or reloading equipment.
love your channel. watch all the time, then i came across this. and i been wanting to learn and start reloading..ive been collecting brass and lead for awhile. and i been melting lead down into ingots.all i need to save for and get is the equipment..9MM about all i want to load maybe 38s.
me and my brother both own Dillon presses e got in good used cond on ebay and to date we sill have not spent any money on replacement parts,, a call to dillons great customer service and they ship the parts no questions asked,, they have a great product and great people running the place,, a great company to work with,
During my day at college, one of the things I look forward to is getting in my car, drink my coffee, and watch some hickock
I have 56 years into the reloading hobby now and i agree it's a hobby of a lifetime.. I don't load to save a lot of money , i load because i can taylor loads to my needs and i load two wildcats ctgs now that one cannot buy factory loaded ammo anywhere... It's a lot of fun and very relaxing to reload... I discovered quite some years back i could not buy the ctgs loaded with the bullet weight i wanted , now it's time to learn the art of casting bullets too... Nothing like it .. Great video as always ...
It’s a breath of fresh air to listen to you! No B.S you just share your knowledge and let people decide for themselves! Always a fan of Hickock45 thank you sir
This is more relevant than ever right now.
"I can read your mind. I can also read your messages." Lol, never fails to crack me up.
His reloading bench looks very similar to the way my brothers did. I felt like a little clutter made it a good thing. Miss my late older brother and the time we spent reloading. He taught me the process almost 40 years ago when I bought a rifle for hunting deer and target shooting. It was a nice
bolt action .308 Winchester caliber rifle. Sierra 168 grain boat tail hollowpoint matchkings or 150 grain Nosler ballistic tip bullets would impress fellow shooters at the range with their accuracy. Lyman was the go to reloading manual we used. I still have it in my book shelf with his hand written notes in it. Life was better than good back then.
I've always appreciated hickok45---so knowledgeable, free of vulgarity, sarcasm etc. long live the Tennessee marksman
Another reason to reload is lack of ammo.
Also I'm having a hard time finding primers right now 8/21/2020
Hence the reason for flintlocks. Even trying to find flint and black powder is a bitch. Have to make your own powder soon. Already casting bullets from lead i got from a metal supply place
I have a few points to try and add, lol. I started reloading a few years before you, just a few, 1969 .... I started the way you did, with the single stage RCBS. That brings me to the first point -- Gaining experience, I think everyone should start with the single stage.... Learning to reload, setting the dies, changing shell holders, you know, I'm not going to go through the hundred or so different operations necessary to set up and make "safe" accurate rounds demand a long learning curve. I still, especially on my "very accurate rounds" ie, 6.5x47L etc., only use a single press, and for reasons of making certain each round is exactly the same, hand primed, trimmed, cleaned, polished, hand weighed powder, run out, concentric, none of this lends itself to the progressive machine... Don't miss understand me, for the average round the 550B can't be beat.... As far as setting my equipment and leaving it, I love to develop different load for each pistol or rifle for each different job, plinking, serious paper punching, big game, small game, long range varminting etc.... I noticed that you leave your powder in the measure, not me, it cost to much and I want my powder as fresh as possible...
just for your info, I regularly load for 380, 9mm, 30 carbine (pistol), 357sig, 38, 357mag, 40s&w, 44mag and 5.56/223, 22-250, 22-250AI, 243win, 6.5x47Lapua, 270win, 270AIwin, 7mm win mag, 30'06, 300 Weatherby, I know I've left out a couple. Oh and 12ga progressive also. It's been a wonderful hobby, I reload for my friends, although I don't do anything for them, they load all there own shells, including cleaning etc. I will let them use the equipment and I'll try and make sure they don't make any major fo-pa's (sp) (give me a break it's 2am and I'am tired, lol.... It has turned out to be a major amount of fun for myself, my son's and my friends. When we were all younger and hunting all of them would gather, starting several months before the season and start reloading, I made them polish, clean, trim, set all the equipment, read one of more than half a dozen reloading manuals on hand, on that matched the manufacture of there particular bullet. They had to take all there equipment, including primers, powder brass and bullet home with them. I didn't want the extra powder and primers around here, I store enough of it. I could go on for a long time about safety extra, but in truth it's been a ball throughout the years... more later, oh boy you say.... lol.... night night,
Desert, signing off.
Mike Hale Thanks for the advice. Any particular reloaders you would recommend for beginners? Brand wise I should say.
I just bought a Hornady single stage starter kit. It seems to have just about everything required except the shell holder and the dies. I have not had a chance to use it yet though as I've spent all of my money on the press and have no money for components.
Just use a progressive AS a single stage while learning. That way you don't waste money, and get the experience.
I have a Ruger LCR 9mm and I reload 9mm. My hot loads with 115-grain hollow points work great through the Ruger LCR 9mm even shooting one-handed. However, when I bought 9mm 115 grain Federals at Walmart the factory shells would jump the crimp after the third shot and jam the revolver. Either I have a tighter crimp on my reloads or Federal has a very hot load in its 9mm's. Federals were $9.95 full metal jacket 115 grain from Walmart. I started reloading in the 1960's and I started reloading 9mm's in the 1990's on a Lee Pro 1000. Lee Pro 1000 can be a headache to work. However, the Federal 9mm worked fine through my Glock. I really like your videos and you supply really good information. I enjoy watching many of your videos. Thank you for taking time to make them all. God Bless you and yours. I love to shoot also.
"Thus is the circle of life" - Hickok45 2010
Absolutely beautiful.
I lost my self when he said smoking is not advisable while reloading
I always end up in your video when I search for any gun topic :). You are amazing. I am just learning or holding a gun in my hand, since, 1 month :). But, you have a lots of valuable info. Thanks.
Welcome to the wonderful world of shooting.
May be the best instructional on reloading. But not surprised that a teacher is good at teaching!
I love you man. Hate that these videos will disappear from RUclips soon.
I don't think that will happen.
OCD is kicking in ugh. Let me come over and rearrange that shelf in the background. Those boxes are all over the place and tipped sideways or stacked ontop of smaller boxes aaaaaaahhhhhhh
There are a number of good channels with similar subject matter but yours stands above the rest. You speak to the ordinary participants and not to some specialty niche or another. You come across as a knowledgeable mentor rather than an authority that knows it all. Kudos!
Twelve years later. . . At this point just for my USPSA gun in .40 S&W I've loaded over 100,000 rounds. That ammunition if bought retail would have cost about $40,000 per 100,000. Since I cast my bullets and re-use the brass until it cracks my cost for handloads is about $5,100 per 100,000 at pre-2020 prices. Since there hasn't been a lot of competition activity since early 2020 I haven't had to buy components at the new prices.
Wow! You actually can read my mind. Just starting out and wondering about the costs, savings, etc. I like the way you lured me in somehow to watch this when it was exactly what I needed to know. ..and from ten years ago.
Great videos and spot on content. Wish you lived next door.
"Some of you that might see this 2 months from now..."
8 years later I'm watching and writing to say thank you!
No drinking, no smoking? killjoy, I was planning on smoking, drinking and committing all manner of debauchery whilst reloading. Informative and interesting video.
Been a big fan for a long time. This video is what got me started in reloading a handful of years ago. Great to watch it again. If you ever find the time I sure many people would like to see a video on gun collection storage, safes, cases, ext. Thanks again for all you do. The videos and info are great!
Sir want to thank you for a lot of great info. I've been reloading for about 4 years and I enjoy it a ton. My reload info is that if you want to do it just for the money you might want to just buy factory stuff. It's really a hobby to be enjoyed and I really enjoy it.
"You might be watching this 2 months from now"
It's been 13 years...
Well you will be saving if you only shoot the same amount as you would with factory ammo. If you shoot more, well, then that's a self-control issue not a cost issue ;)
+JustifyJustin Yep, shoot all you want or can afford; you'll save some pennies per shot either way. You WILL shoot more, though; it's just a fact. :-)
+JustifyJustin That is a true statement, after you've saved enough to offset the cost of the reloading hardware and components.
still a money saving endeavor. whether you spend the savings on more supplies to make more ammo or spend the savings on something else is a non-issue
It's a cost-control issue... ;)
reloading is kinda like home brewing.. once you get over the initial investment, the cost-saving can swiftly become moot as you expand your hobby..
Gotta love Hickok45
Literally one of the best if not the best gun tuber on RUclips
If you don't want that single stage press I'll take it off your hands
10 years later I realized that I need to start loading my own ammo
I know, right?
Wanted to reload for years but never jumped in. When 325wsm prices became absurd, and then hard to find, I made the plunge. It is not so black and white,and learning advanced reloading gets involved. However, I'm sorry I waited so long. Reloading is captivating,therapeutic and fulfilling. Fantastic hobby ! Hickock always makes useful videos for beginners.
I have that old Pacific press. It was my first one and it's the press I use all the time. I love it. .32mag ---> .45 Colt and 30/30 and 45/70. Never needed a progressive press. I load for myself and my wife. It's not real fast but it's relaxing. Very good video. Thank you.
6:36 "so catch me if im going too far in detail, so raise your hand or something"
12 years later primers are up to $100 per thousand.
I started reloading a few years ago thanks to this video. Very glad I did especially in the situation we are in now.
How’s it going?
This has to be the most informative video about reloading I've ever seen and it wasn't boring either. Thank You Mr. Hickok 45👍
Well it is now 2017 and The Communist Republic of California is going to require a back ground check to buy ammo. And, no one in California will be able to buy ammunition online.
So my reasons for getting into reloading is not because of cost, but to stick it to the man and allow me to continue buying on line. AND to fill up some of my soon to be retirement time.
My reloads would be used in two fashions 1) for plinking targets at the range 2) to keep my CZ 97B concealed carry loaded.
I would like to reload 9mm, 45 acp and maybe 556. I have a 9 mm conversion barrel for my Glock 23 so I rarely shoot 40 SW.
I will be saving my casings in the future but for starters I will buy bulk casings, bullets, primers and powder online.
I guess my question is, for the year 2017 what books do you recommend I read.
Great video
Did you read New World Order by Pat Robertson? 1991 by the famous broadcast journalist
And here I thought the "Circle of Life" was something from a Lion King movie, lol.
Photo314159
is his a joke?
Yes. You know, like the song from Lion King?
thanks for all the great videos,I just got back into shooting as my parents moved to tn.,"lots of places to enjoy the sport", having lived in atlanta I had gotten away from the hobby. The reloading video is excellent as all your videos have been. What I really like about what you do is the responsible way you do it and the educational format,not just blowing stuff up or mindless blasting like some channels,thanks again.
The best intro to a RUclips video I have ever seen! "Thus is the circle of life" absolute class!
I started learning to reload with my dad back in 1974. I cannot recommend that anyone starting to reload should learn on a progressive press. Each die that you use has its own learning curve and it will take you some study, time, and practice to master it. If you are trying to learn to set up every type of die on a progressive all at the same time, you will go crazy, you will waste a lot components (and money), and hopefully you will NOT blow yourself up. Learn reloading skills on a single stage setup, it will take you a fair amount of time, then once you are genuinely up to speed, go to a progressive if desired. If you reload rifle, you want a single stage press in your inventory anyway because quality is everything in rifle reloading. Consider that unless you shoot hundreds of rounds a week, you really don't need a progressive.
Dad taught me on a rcbs jr. I graduated after 35 yrs to a turret press. I'm old schooled. lol.
+CplSki USMC I've been reloading for about 6 months, and my first press was a Hornady Progressive. I agree with you sentiment, but you should start off treating the progressive press as a single stage press. I did reload my first couple hundred 9MM and 38 Special rounds on my progressive, but I did them using only a single die a time.
That said, I couple months ago, I did buy a Lee Classic single stage press as well. There is plenty of tasks where having a dedicated single stage makes sense. For instance, I use the single stage with an universal decapping die rather than running dirty brass in my sizer die and on my progressive. I think that if you buy a single stage press it won't be wasted money. It'll still be useful once you graduate to a progressive or turret press.
+sketchykg That's a good way to learn and still start with a progressive. Smart. I'm sure that you will be very successful with reloading. Keep 'em in the bullseye friend.
+CplSki USMC A progressive press is not some monster ... it's just multiple single presses sharing the same base and stroke of the operating lever.
They are simple to operate:
Set up the sizing / de-priming die, being very honest about what the case gage is telling you. Likely the sizing die will need considerable fiddling because of movement while being locked down. Once you get it FIRMLY locked down where it needs to be, it will likely stay there. Still, measure frequently (you would be well advised to do this with a single stage press, too -- you can't control what you don't measure.)
When you've got that squared away, put a primer in a case (it should be recessed .002" - .003" when seated against the inside face of the primer pocket) and set up the powder drop. Drop. Weigh, Adjust until you get things "just so" at the powder drop station. When using spherical powders, a progressive powder drop should be able to hold an average of about 1 gn variance in powder weight. Weigh 5, noting the individual weights and the total weight. If the individual weights are in the right neighborhood (+ -), then the average weight should be very close to exact. You are NOT making hand-loaded match rifle fit only for virgins and unicorns and biblical heroes ... a prog press is for making very GOOD ammo, not very PERFECT ammo.
Then set up the following dies using the same cartridge or two. You won't need any more than that if you "sneak up" on each stage and make certain that the preceding stage is properly set before moving to the next. Bullets vary, so your final overall length will also vary a small amount. The crimp (if any) is "by eye" ... I go for enough crimp to see with the naked eye, but not so much that the bullet can't get out of the case before the whole thing blows up in my face.
The operating manual for my Dillon press describes the whole procedure and, if you read it closely enough, is actually quite detailed. I'd be very surprised if the other manufacturers don't include similarly detailed manuals.
If each die is set up correctly in its individual station, then the whole assembly will work like what it is ... a well oiled machine. No magic needed.
The thing only LOOKS daunting, but it's just the same number of simple steps you would use to set up the same number of single stage dies. So think of it as just 5 or 6 single stage presses. Set the dies up in the same order you would for 5 or 6 single stage presses and to the same level of precision.
If you can't set up a progressive press, you can't set up a single stage press, either. If you CAN set up a single stage press, you can set up a progressive press, too.
In my opinion (finally ... a summation!)
The real "decider" is what your wallet can handle and how many rounds you expect to make over the course of any reasonable spread of time. There is no need to buy a progressive press if you only expect to reload a couple hundred rounds a few times a year. However, if you are planning to load several thousands in that span, definitely go as high-end as your means will allow.
It's easier to learn on good tools than it is to learn on junk made of welded-together compromises.
+W Canaday I've been reloading for a long time... I know how to set up a progressive. I know how to set up each die, primer feed, powder drop, bullet feed... all the goodies. Someone brand new to reloading does not know these things and trying to figure out all these things at once AND make them work progressively to turn out a SAFE and successful load is a big challenge and potentially a dangerous one. I'm a firm believer in the KISS method... once you become proficient, THEN buy that progressive.