New and Need some help!!

stewy_66 · Rookie Member Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 3

Hey ya'll, well im new here and new to the reloading parts of things and need some help. I am looking for someone to give me some tips and starter points. I have no book or anything i can make reference too, so i am going to need a lot of help. I do my reloading at a buddy's house and dont get to play with things to often.
I just bought a new Sako 85 finnlight in 7mm Rem Mag. Bought some IMR 4350 powder. Im thinking about shooting some Nosler Accubonds 140 gr. or some Hornady 139gr SST's. I will be using Remmy Primers and majority of my Brass is Nickle Winchester.
Just wondering what everybody thinks, and am wondering if some people can give me some good loads for the 7mm or starter loads and get me started with lenghts and all that good stuff........any help is muchly appreciated!!! Thanks in advance!!!!

Gil Martin · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: New and Need some help!!

Welcome to the Forum. My recommendation would be to get a reloading manual and read it from cover to cover. I prefer Lyman, but Hornady, Sierra and Speer are also good sources of information. All the best...
Gil

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 4:51 pm Post subject: Re: New and Need some help!!

You really need to get a manual or two ands do a little homework first. After getting a good understanding of the basics you'll find lots of great help here. I like to use the manual from the manufacturer of the bullets I'm using.

What are you planning on hunting? That will help determine the best bullet. Have you looked at the reloading info available on this site yet?

Bushmaster · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: New and Need some help!!

stewy_66. Welcome to this fine site...

Like Gil and Mike (me too). I would get a copy of Lyman's 48th or 49th Edition and read it. The other manuals that they (Gil and Mike) suggested are good sources for what you need.

We will be glad to help you any way we can, but first you have to take the first step and help us...The Lyman only costs $20...

coyotehunter_1 · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: New and Need some help!!

stewy_66, welcome !!! Very Happy

The gentlemen above know of what they speak... good advice from all.

We certainly don't want to see you or anyone else getting injured because of a possible powder overload or by using the wrong powder type. Sad

Reloading manuals are the way to go. If you can't find them locally then there are several companies on the web that carry them.

One source for reloading supplies is: www.midwayusa.com

English Mike · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: New and Need some help!!

Another endorsement here for Lyman's 48th & 49th edition manuals.
They're a whole lot more than mere load lists & answer a lot of the "why's" about the way things are done.
DO get more than one manual & also check out the various powder & bullet manufacturers websites, as they have plenty of information as to load/bullet combinations.

stewy_66 · Rookie Member Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 3

Thanks guy for your quick respsonses. I guess i will have to go out and purchase a Manual, Here in New Brunswick my options are very limited, guess i will have to try to find one on ebay or something. I have basic's of the laoding down, i was just kind of looking to see what everyone thought about the powder and bullets i planned on using, and if anyone had any good 7mm loads that i could maybe try out. My last set was i beleive 66 grs of IMR4350. 140 gr accubonds, they shot actually quite well, but it was my first time to the range with my new rifle and first actually firing it so i was more interested in getting used to the gun then seeing what excatly that load could do.

Also was looking into buying a loading set up. liek i said here in new brunswick i am very limited, so i would have to buy and order from some place in the US i guess which could be costly. Was looking at the 50th anniversary Lee Kit, good or bads remarks???????????
Thanks again in advance for your help!!

Vince · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:33 am Post subject: Re: New and Need some help!!

Welcome stewy_66. I endorse fully what the guys above have already said.

There is a wealth of knowledge here, and the holders of that knowledge are more than happy to pass it on and help a new shooter/reloader.

Cheers, Vince

RePete · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:21 am Post subject: Re: New and Need some help!!

You do need a manual - regardless.

There's a lot of info from the powder manufacturers and on the 'net.

Take what people post and check the info against the books/mfg's site. People do make mistakes and type in the wrong powder charge (been there, done that). It will usually get picked up BUT sometimes not.

The Lyman is, IMHO, a must have manual, but I like Sierra's.

One thing to remember is that when someone posts a load, that is really only applicable to their rifle and that you will need to drop 10% and work up.

I load the original M118LR load and that is about 1.5gr overcharge from SAAMI spec, and it's absolutely safe in MY rifle and may not be in someone elses.

Good luck and do ask questions but do get at least 1 manual (the Lyman) and also get the freebies that the powder manufactures publish.

sniper · Last edited by sniper on Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:08 am; edited 1 time in total

Yet one more vote for manual(s). Welcome! Read(not just the loading section) and understand. It will save much discontent.

A company called Loadbooks has information from a lot of loading manuals for a single caliber. Sometimes the data don't agree, but will give some sort of comparison.

Lyman is good, Speer is my go-to manual, but I have Hornady and RCBS, too.

Elvis · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:41 pm Post subject: Re: New and Need some help!!

gee im another to say get a manual. they dont cost much beg borrow one from a shooting buddy and read it if nothing else it will tell you what to look for /look out for.I check new loads from a minium of 2 sorces before using/loading usually a manual and powder manafactuers wee booklet that cost about $5 and the net gives me a third option.

fnuser · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:09 pm Post subject: Re: New and Need some help!!

used book stores are a great place to get bargains on reloading manuals, be careful not to get a very old manual as some powders just aren't around like HiVel, and the old c.u.p. method of pressure rating has been improved on w\ the p.s.i. saami specs. not that the old loads were dangerous, just not neccesarily as good. Always go at least halfway down the charge weight to start. Max is MAX! what you gain will not be worth the wear and tear on your brass, barrel, or maybe even receiver if you stubbornly exceed those listed. It's called Diminishing returns and it's real. Not to mention trying to get a dance partner with a bolt sticking out of your skull would be challenging to say the least. Seriously stuff is just too expensive, and life with vision is too dear to error anywhere but on the conservative side. Have fun, be safe.

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:54 am Post subject: Re: New and Need some help!!

fnuser..S.W. Missouri? Could you be more specific?