How hard is it to start off in reloading wanting to match grade handload. Is it imposible or possible? What procedures make a match grade handloaded bullet.

Also I am going to start ordering my equipment. Where is THE place to order reloading supplies? Also, if I want to match grade reload is there any special equipment that I should buy other than the regular equipment.

I hate to say it, but its impossible. You can lucky with just the right load.

Unless you got a buddy to give you pointers, its a learning process. Whats important, whats not important.

I know I wanted the same when I started. And made alot of mistakes over trying to be perfect from the start. I hope you got a few people to help you get started. Some books will make you go crazy.

For match grade, bullet runout, and neckrunout will be your biggest enemies. I have seen alot of people start reloading, and most all wants to take shortcuts where they shouldn't, but put so much effort into things that give you miniscule gains.

For example one new loader, I seen was trying to lock down his locknut on his dies so he wouldn't have to set them up again. His shoulders was different eachloading. And he couldn't shoot the same ammo in different rifles. Setting your shoulder the same everytime is important. A head and shoulders gauge from stoney point will help this.

Then others put so much effort in loading .001" from the rifling and gets themselfs into trouble. Others have neglected chamfering and neck lube, to have necks pulled all out of wack. You could see the bullet wobble by spinning in thier hands.
This is where my concentricity gauge is great. You can actually see you mistakes.

I regret alot of things I have bought. I regreted digital scales to only send them back. I have regreted compitition necks sizing dies, neck turning tools, neck thickness gauges. But one thing I don't regret is a heads and shoulders gauge and bullet comparitor and real nice calibers. Also my concentricity gauge I love too.

Key to match grade is repeatability. You can always adjust the load for accuracy.

It is mostlya matter of experience and knowledge but good equipment is a must.A good teacher is invaluable but trial and error is still part of the learning curve.The more experience and knowledge that you obtain,the easier it will be to develop high quality loads.All of that takes time so,if you are asking if it is likely that you will be loading top quality loads in short order,I have to say that it is not likely without a good teacher guiding you.

I wouldn't say it's impossible to load match grade ammo right off the bat, but it does take proper equipment and quality components and it is going to be unlikely that you'll achieve these results until you've had some time to experiment with the intricacies of handloading. When I got started my desires were much like yours. Although I had no plans to enter shooting matches, I wanted top notch accuracy nevertheless. I knew I didn't want some cheap starter kit, not even the RCBS Rockchucker kit, which I'm sure is very nice. I wanted the best single piece of equipment for each particular job. So, I did some research and askedquite a few questions oninternet forums. Eventually Iassembled a list of equipment and e-mailed it to Sinclair Int'l to see what theythought. The gentleman who called me back was very helpful. He agreed with most ofthe items on my equipment list, but suggested substitutions for some other things on it. So, I ended up ordering all my initial equipment from them and since then I've added several other things and usually, but not always, I'll order it from Sinclair.

That's all I've got time to say right now. I'll try to get back on later to see if you've got any specific questions. I highly recommend, though, that you get in touch with the folks at Sinclair Int'l. They're good to deal with. There are other good outfits out there too, but I just prefer Sinclair. Take a look at their website:

www.sinclairintl.com

I know it will be difficult but my goal is to make the best cartrige for my rifles. If precision equipment will help me off the bat that is what I would like to start off with. Can someone give me a run down on precision equipment (everything) that I will need to take me from step one to a finished load?

Also, is there a BEST "How To" book out there that can bring me from Step one to the finished process of loading a Match Grade Bullet?

Thanks

I am pretty new to re-loading but I have done pretty good to this point. Now, I havent tried to gte to match grade or anything, but my loads are consistent. I re-load due to the affordability factor. I cant afford to buy 2 boxes every two weeks. Anyway, the books really help, and as well, practice shooting a bunch with a chronograph. I am working up an elk hunting load and am finding out that it is a long process. Fun though, EJ

Actually ,once you get used to developing loads,the process isrelatively simple and not astime consuming as you might think.The keyis being able to see pressure signs and being able to interpret your groups.

I'd suggest you first off learn to make safe loads.....in the process you just might discover a lot about accuracy.

Further don't get the mistaken impression that reloading is the key to accuracy.....IT'S NOT!!! It's one component and won't compensate for a rifles poor bedding or other flaws.....make sure your rifle is capable of delivering the accuracy you are striving for before trying to achieve something from ammo that isn't in the cards.

You've asked a good question and there's no simple answer. You can drive yourself batty trying to solve a problem with the wrong component.

One more thing.....have a reasonable standard to shoot for...remember that a helluva lot more 1/2" groups are fired on the internet than at any bench.

what are you shooting for a rifle?... you keep talking about match grade ammo, do you have a match grade chamber and barrel to shoot it out of?... if not get that match grade out of your mind for now... without the appropriate bullet launcher, match grade is like putting lipstick on a sow...

if you do have an appropriate launcher then there are custommicrometer dies that will assist in custom crafting ammo... be prepared to spend atleast 3 times as much for the micro dies as a set of good standard dies though... you'll want a top quality electronic scales for weighing powder, bullets and cases... you need a primer pocket uniformer, and a flashhole reamer to clean up the inside of the primer holes and uniform the flash holes... lets not forget case trimmers, neck turners to uniform the necks, plus deburring tools for inside and outside the neck... a good digital readout calipers is also essential for checking measurements, and don't forget a comparator for making sure bullets, case necks etc are all in line... I'm thinking you can round up all this stuff for about $1200 or a bit more...

if you're loading for an off the shelf rifle, get a RCBS Rockchucker set up and have at it... consistency in your loading technique and experimenting with different bullet, powder, primer combo's will tell you where you're getting your best results from... you'll still need to do case prep work though at the primer end to insure consistent ignition...

reloading can get as intense or as much fun as you want to make it... personally I like to make it fun, otherwise it's not worth doing...

The rifle is a Remington Model 700 Scendero chambered in the 7mm RUM. Since there is only one cartridge that is made factory now. Reloading is the way I need to move.

I have a custome muzzel break and had a trigger job done on the rifle. I have a custom match grade rifle builder down the road from me. I will be bringing him my rifle in the near future to determine what else if anything I can do this rifle to get what I am looking for.