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I got me Lee challenger kit last week and had a crash course in reloading yesterday from Wes Ramsey. I got my bench set up today and started working. I've got about 85 pieces of brass prepped for powder and bullets and have 3 successful loaded cases. I have learned some things today that I thought I would pass on to those of you who are thinking about reloading, and to possibly amuse some of you who already do.
1. A tumbler is more of a necessity than a want.
2. I probably should have waited for my trickler. A coffee straw isn't nearly as efficient.
3. When deciding what depth you want to seat your bullets it's best to start out shallow and go deeper until you reach the desired depth.
4. If you don't have a bullet puller use a shell that already has powder in it.
1 unsuccessful case
5. A crimping die does a great job getting the bullets tight in the brass.
6. After crimping a shell you cannot seat the bullet in deeper.
2 unsuccessful cases
7. It takes very little motion to cause powder to spill out of the pan.
8. When taking your powder dump apart have something under it to catch powder. (I think I'm going to set mine up like your Wes, I screwed it to the bench)
9. When chambering a load make sure that the bullet is deep enough.
10. You can get a stuck load out of the chamber with a cleaning rod.
11. Make sure you have plenty extra brass because you are probably going to screw some of it up.
1. A tumbler is more of a necessity than a want.
2. I probably should have waited for my trickler. A coffee straw isn't nearly as efficient.

3. When deciding what depth you want to seat your bullets it's best to start out shallow and go deeper until you reach the desired depth.

4. If you don't have a bullet puller use a shell that already has powder in it.

5. A crimping die does a great job getting the bullets tight in the brass.
6. After crimping a shell you cannot seat the bullet in deeper.

7. It takes very little motion to cause powder to spill out of the pan.
8. When taking your powder dump apart have something under it to catch powder. (I think I'm going to set mine up like your Wes, I screwed it to the bench)
9. When chambering a load make sure that the bullet is deep enough.
10. You can get a stuck load out of the chamber with a cleaning rod.
11. Make sure you have plenty extra brass because you are probably going to screw some of it up.