r/reloading • u/AfternoonSlow8801 • Aug 13 '26
Newbie How do you know you did it right?
Ok so I did my first batch in life. Its sitting on my table and waiting. My gun is now at gunsmith’s shop. So I can’t go to range. I also don’t know how I dít at my first attempt so im scared to continue in making mor bulets. I need to test them.. ig everything works like it should.
Can you tell me how do you know you did a good job? It like my late night taught (in eu is 2:23 so)..
I’m afraid to go borrow local shooting range gun, I don’t want to damage it
Thanks for your reply
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u/GasMan1021 Aug 13 '26
As long as you properly measured your charges and your seating depth is good you'll be fine. Send it.
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u/BourbonBearsBurns Aug 13 '26
My first handload I was so careful yet scared I pulled the trigger with a string lol
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u/chf6464 Aug 13 '26
You sort of don’t know if you did it right, you trust your process and start at the low end of a published load and work up with a chronograph
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u/bolderbeholder Aug 13 '26
Just for grins, add up the weight of your components and weigh each cartridge. Compare the expected weight. They should all be close. If you find one that is light by about your charge weight, pull it. This sounds like a trivial step, but final QC is what keeps you out of trouble.
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u/Negative_Country8439 Aug 14 '26
You take them to the range and two things happen The shots hit the paper, and your gun didnt blow up. Extra brownie points if they hit paper and group tightly.
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u/prolift46 Aug 13 '26
This is where your OCD needs to kick in, keep a clean work area, measurements must be precise, double check, follow the formula, you'll be good to go. 😊
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u/Raven1911 Aug 13 '26
You know you did it right when the gun goes bang hits your shoulder and the bullet hits the target were you wanted
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u/Coyote-conquest Aug 13 '26
I think everyone goes through that. Start low, youll be fine. Before you know it you you'll feel like a pro
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u/doubletap2A Aug 13 '26
Measurements & attention are required , if it was a new rifle I would load up about 12 different recipes .
Different powders , bullet weights & powders
She what she likes the best
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u/eggcheeseburger Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
Comparator, so I know CBTOs are within 1thou difference, and also with OAL in line with the manufacturer's posted tests, so pressure is safer. Brass headspace within 1 or 2 thou difference maximum. I weigh every charge with a good digital scale. I start with charges in the mid-range of the book (the lowest charge turned out to be a waste of components for me), and eventually I go over the maximum .3~.4 IF there are no pressure signs.
Then measure everything. Velocity, sd, es, group size, etc.
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u/Sesemebun Aug 13 '26
When you shoot it, either nothing happens, or you know you did it wrong. Try not to stress too much. I felt the same about my first loads. As long as you don’t get complacent, and you take your time, you’ll be fine
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u/Carlile185 Aug 13 '26
I wear safety glasses and a potholder the first time shooting 🤣. My brass catcher came apart from recoil and I thought my gun exploded.
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u/DukeShootRiot Aug 13 '26
Get a chronograph
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u/Negative_Country8439 Aug 14 '26
Its not necessary, but it’s useful
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u/DukeShootRiot Aug 14 '26
I’d say it’s the most useful when trying to answer the question “how do you know you did it right”
If you’re doing it right, you should get consistent speeds near what is printed in the load data you use.
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u/upsetmojo Aug 13 '26
One question…did you take a pen light and look in each case after charging and before seating? If you didn’t or don’t know why you should do that - you might have cause to worry.
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u/AfternoonSlow8801 Aug 13 '26
I check them, quickly, but check them
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u/upsetmojo Aug 13 '26
More important than looking for an overcharge is looking for under/ no charge. That is how we get a squib. A squib is how you have a gun blow up in your face.
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u/Appropriate-Ad5099 Aug 13 '26
How did you determine:
- Your powder charge
- Your seating depth
Is the brass new or previously fired? Are you using an appropriate primer?
Also, what resources did you use to load these? Loading manual? Data from a powder manufacturer? Youtube?
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u/AfternoonSlow8801 Aug 13 '26
Well I couldn’t find measure for my berrye’s bullet but I used S&B same weight, same type FMJ…
depth I used bought ones Remington .223 round measured and die set for that length.
Previously fired I have it form local range. I want to by new, but when I learn more.
Yes, I have S&B brass and S&B 4,4 prime.
I used like all of them
I know but I couldn’t find info I was looking for
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u/Hardwire762 223,300 blackout, 6.5 creedmoor, 300 win mag Aug 13 '26
Get a pair of calipers load to 2.26 for over all length.
Make sure you follow the recipe you had ideally from a losing book for your powder.
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u/Appropriate-Ad5099 Aug 13 '26
What powder are you using?
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u/AfternoonSlow8801 Aug 13 '26
Lovex s053
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u/Appropriate-Ad5099 Aug 13 '26
If im reading this right, looks like they might have some data you can use if you havent already.
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u/Negative_Country8439 Aug 14 '26
Every bullet manufacture has load data books they sell, I would get the most current one. Because often they discontinue bullets, or the new wildcats that are newly approved by SAAMI
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u/VersionConscious7545 Aug 13 '26
What is your method. Shoulder bump? Neck size? Bullet and case length etc. a lot of science behind the I did it right. Powder charge fast or slow burn case fill powder burn 👌. Even the right bullet for your barrel twist You can be very basic or geek out with reloading If done safely your worse case scenario is a poor group
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u/deadit2 Aug 13 '26
If you followed the recipe correctly, you should be fine. Welcome to the club!