So I unboxed everything today to see what exactly I have and what I don't have. The only thing that I can not find is a tumbler/brass cleaner. Any recommendations?

All of the equipment is RCBS. I also have all the dies of what I shoot as he did the reloading years ago. I did find his notebook with details of all the different loads he was using.

Next question, all powder was stored in ammo cans as well as the primers. Is there any concern with them going bad? Everything has the date he bought it written on top. All of the powder was bought between 1995-2001.

I also found several reloading manuals, Nosler #2, Lyman 45 edition, Hornady vol 2, speer vol 2, and Game Loads and Practical Ballistics by Bob Hagel. Should I also buy a more recent manual?

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Posted by jdavid1

Member since Jan 2014

2471 posts

Posted on 9/14/21 at 4:20 pm to ItsBernie

quote:
tumbler/brass cleaner. Any recommendations?

I started with a sonic cleaner, then went to a hornady dry tumbler, and now I have a Frankfort stainless steel wet tumbler. If I had to do it all over again I would have went straight to the wet tumbler. Wet tumbling is not even in the same ball park as dry tumbling. It's a little more up front cost, but the pins last forever unlike the dry media.

quote:
all powder was stored in ammo cans as well as the primers. Is there any concern with them going bad?

Depends on where it was stored. If it was stored in a climate controlled area then you should be fine. If it was exposed to any humidity then you will have problems with the powder.

quote:
Should I also buy a more recent manual?

It would never hurt to have more manuals. Especially the most up to date manual with all the new powders/projectiles.

This post was edited on 9/14/21 at 4:23 pm

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Posted by btrcj

Baton Rouge

Member since Mar 2019

641 posts

Posted on 9/14/21 at 4:36 pm to ItsBernie

Powder and primers should be good. Stored in ammo can should have kept them dry. Heat is another enemy. Where were they stored?

2 types of tumblers. wet and dry. I do wet with SS pins now. I think it is easier and cleans better. Look on YouTube and see which you would like.

As far as buying newer manual it is not a bad idea but I would just look at the power sites and get updated data for now.
Always verify data with published data from a manual or manufacturer's website.
Read the notes you found but verify all loads.

I personally like Lyman manuals for instructions but they are all good.
Be mindful of the safety protocols. Never start with max loads, guard against double charges, verify all data etc.....

Be safe and have fun!!

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Posted by TigerOnThe Hill

Springhill, LA

Member since Sep 2008

6837 posts

Posted on 9/14/21 at 7:30 pm to ItsBernie

quote:
All of the equipment is RCBS. I also have all the dies of what I shoot as he did the reloading years ago. I did find his notebook with details of all the different loads he was using.

RCBC=good stuff. Regarding personal load data, I have a 3 prong binder (the kind you buy at the start of the school year for $0.20 apiece) for every gun I load for. I started this when Nosler Ballistic Tips were just hitting the market so my folders are color coded by the color of the NBT for that gun. For example, all 30 calibers (308 Win, 300/221, 30 Alaskan Bower, etc) loads are in green binders while all 22 calibers (223 Rem, 22 Nosler, 221 Fireball, etc) loads are in red binders.

quote:
Next question, all powder was stored in ammo cans as well as the primers. Is there any concern with them going bad? Everything has the date he bought it written on top. All of the powder was bought between 1995-2001.

Powders and primers should be ok as long as they're not stored in extreme temperature or exposed to wet (primers and powders) or high humidity (powders). I store mine in a closet that has an air/heat vent. Be sure your powder containers are well sealed and don't have any holes. In 35 years of loading, I've only lost 2 cans of powder, one to corrosion in the inside metal container (IMR doesn't use metal cans anymore) and one to a small hole in a plastic Vihtavuori container.

quote:
I also found several reloading manuals, Nosler #2, Lyman 45 edition, Hornady vol 2, speer vol 2, and Game Loads and Practical Ballistics by Bob Hagel. Should I also buy a more recent manual?

Congrats on the Bob Hagel book. I always enjoyed his writings. Those books should be fine for "how to" instructions, but you need more recent data for the recipes. You can find lots of good online data (Barnes, Hodgdon, Nosler and Sierra). I frequently buy new books, but I like books. You can save a few $$s if you want by using online data. BTW, Sierra also has a great phone app.

Enjoy your new hobby and keep us updated.