Kyhunt":1sn0mjqy said:
I figure it will be several months before I load my first round of ammo. Lots and lots and lots of reading to do.
Hi,
Welcome to our "addiction!" Oops, I meant "hobby."
Reading as much as possible is a good thing. Remember to be critical while doing so in the sense that you're going to be wading thru a lot of data, a lot of suggestions, and a lot of opinions. Watch for similarities between the books to be able to recognize what's worth remembering. And get used to the idea of cross referencing from one book to another: typos and other mistakes sometimes DO get into print. Also, data changes over the years for a variety of reasons, so try to use the most current editions of the books when making your comparisons!
Any chances you have a friend who's already a reloader who'd be willing to act as a mentor? Most reloaders I know are happy to share their experiences and methods--this is one of those "picture worth 1000 words" deals! If you don't know anyone personally, ask around at your favorite range: you may find someone offers beginner classes in your area.
Add a bit of a ramble...
I don't know if your new 50th Anniv. kit has the "older" Challenger press, or the newer "breech lock" version. I have several iron presses, and bought a 50th Anniv. kit a few years ago to "learn" how well the lighter, alloy Lee presses hold up. Mine came w/ the old model. The older one is quite capable of handling all the everyday loading chores, but it IS a light duty tool compared to many, so I've found a couple of things will help to get the maximum life and reliability out of that press. They apply to the heavier ones, too:
Keep it clean and lubricated! I wipe the ram clean and put a droplet of oil on it each time I start a session. I also do the same thing when I'm done depriming before starting other operations: that primer dust is abrasive, and will wear your press quickly if allowed to. Though it's probably more of a problem w/ alloy presses, Joe (J Miller) reports even an "iron" press can be worn badly if oil is added to primer dust to make "lapping compound." So only oil a clean ram! I also add a droplet of oil to each of the pivot points, then wipe down any excess. It doesn't take much oil...
And then, don't force anything! None of the everyday loading tasks take all that much force. Teach yourself to use a smooth, even stroke on the handle, and when you reach the stops, STOP! Folks have broken virtually every kind of press out there, and while a factory defect is always possible, I suspect there's a lot of 800 lb gorilla action going on based on personal observation!
Have fun learning, and be sure to ask all those "stupid questions" before doing anything you don't quite understand!
Rick C