How to Reload Ammo

Has this ever happened to you?

You're shooting at a range and you see someone scurrying about trying to snatch up your spent brass. Or maybe someone came up to you and asked you for your brass when you were done.

In either of these situations, you were probably curious and left wondering, “Why?” More than likely, this person was planning on reloading.

If you've been around firearms and shooting for more than a few minutes, you've likely encountered someone who reloads their own ammunition.

If by some chance you haven't, you will.

It's a common and popular practice within the gun community — and rightfully so.

Read on to find out more about reloading and how you can get involved in this long-standing tradition.

Reloading, or handloading, is a popular practice in which shooters create their own ammunition.

There are numerous reasons for doing so, and despite sounding intimidating, it's actually very easy to get started with reloading.

Additonally, they are relatively few barriers to entry, and contrary to how it may come across when you first hear of the practice, it doesn't take a wealth of technical knowledge to begin reloading yourself.

Typically, reloading consists of reusing the brass casing from a previously fired round by removing the used primer and replacing it.

You also put in new powder and insert a new bullet.

One of the main reasons for the popularity of reloading is money.

After an initial investment in some basic equipment, you can save yourself considerable money per round by loading your own ammunition; that alone makes the practice worth considering.

Another reason for the practice's popularity is the element of control it provides over your ammunition.

There are various methods for putting together the individual rounds, and a plethora of things can be adjusted and tweaked to provide you with a round that suits you and your shooting style.

From changing how the round feels as it travels to adjusting recoil or accuracy, there are no shortage of ways to tailor your ammo to fit your needs.

Lastly — and this one may often be overlooked — reloading ammunition gives you more knowledge in how the overall shooting process works.

By engaging in reloading as an aspect of your overall shooting hobby, you learn more and have a deeper understanding of how this aspect of shooting works. This can translate to better shooting.

Getting started with reloading does require some equipment. Let's take a deeper look into what's needed / recommended.

Brass Tumbler
Since you're going to be reusing brass from rounds that have already been fired, the first thing you need is a way to properly clean it.

This isn't just for appearances; you want the brass to be free from debris, dirt, and anything that could negatively impact the firing of the bullet.

This can be accomplished with water and detergent if you choose, but you must then make sure it's completely bone dry before proceeding to the next step in loading.

The most common way that reloaders clean their brass is with a brass tumbler.

A tumbler is a plastic bowl with a motor attached that vibrates the shells clean. When using a tumbler, you need to use a media. This is an abrasive to help clean the shells.

Tumbler media can be something natural, such as walnut shells, but you can also purchase an abrasive designed specifically for this purpose.

Either way, once you've tumbled the brass, you need to sift it to clean off the media.

This is a shorter process than waiting for it to dry, and some tumblers have a sifting feature built in for additional convenience.

Reloading Press
Next, you'll need a reloading press. It's used for a number of steps in the reloading procedure, from resizing the brass to putting in a new primer.

The press is the focal point of the whole process.

Reloading Dies
In addition to the press, you need reloading dies.

These attach to the press and are caliber specific. You need one die for sizing and removing used primer; another for expanding the brass opening to accommodate the new bullet; and a third for seating and crimping the bullet into place.

Sometimes crimping is done using a fourth die.

Powder Dispenser
A powder dispenser is a device that lets you measure out a specific amount of gunpowder by pulling a lever.

While you could certainly measure powder by hand, that can be a tedious process.

Powder Scale
While a dispenser is optional, the scale is not. A scale ensures you have exactly the right amount of powder within your cartridges.

This is where the control portion comes in as well: With a scale, you can ensure a very precise amount of powder every single time you reload.

Matching your preferences and expectations in exactly the same way with each reload allows you to tweak your rounds to your liking each time.

Without a scale, you'll have no way of knowing if you got it right.

Calibers
Calipers are a tool used to measure the distance between two opposite sides of an object, and they can be a great help for ensuring accurate measurements.

The most common use for calipers in reloading is to make sure that your cartridge is the correct overall length.

Reloading Manual
To ensure you're hitting the right specifications for the rounds you reload for, you'll want a manual.

A loading manual can be a lifesaver when it comes to making sure your reloads are right.

It's definitely not advisable to reload without the right manual.

Rifle-Specific Equipment
If you're planning to reload rifle brass (and why wouldn't you), there are few specific items required for working with those cases.

Rifle brass can stretch a bit when firing.

To accommodate this, you'll want a case trimmer. This helps resize the brass to the correct length for reuse.

In addition to the case trimmer, you may want a deburring tool to clean up the rough edge from trimming the cases.

You’ll also need some case lube. Handgun ammo doesn't necessarily require this, but it's a must for rifle rounds.

If the equipment list is starting to make the process sound complicated, don't worry. It can sound like a lot, but once you gather the supplies and get started, it's easier than you think.

Now that you have your equipment, let's get down to business.

Time for the fun part! The actual reloading varies slightly from caliber to caliber, but as a general rule the process includes the following steps:

• Inspect
• Clean
• Resize
• Trim
• Prep
• Seat the Primer
• Load the Powder
• Seat the Bullet
• Crimp the Bullet
  
  

The individual steps below will vary based on whether you’re reloading rifle ammo, handgun ammo, or shotgun shells.

However, the basic process is the same.

You’ll need a reloading press to reload your own ammo, and there are many types available, including single-stage, turret, and progressive reloaders.

Before you get started, remember that reloading can be dangerous if you don’t follow proper procedure, so if this is your first time be sure to read these instructions very carefully.

Inspection
Begin by inspecting the casings for any that are unusable. Cast out any with dents, dings, corrosion, or cracks. You want the brass to be of good quality, since its condition will affect how your ammo shoots.

Cleaning
Next you’ll clean the casings. You can do this with a brass tumbler and some sort of medium, such as ground-up walnut shells or corn cobs. Tumbling the brass helps clean it and make it look polished.

Resizing
After cleaning, resize the casings as needed to fit the proper dimensions. Bringing the brass back to its original specifications helps make sure it feeds reliably. First, the old primer is popped out (called depriming), and depending on the type of press you have, the brass is resized at the same time on a resizing die.

Trimming
Depending on the type of round you’re making, there may be some trimming that has to be done before the case can be reloaded. There are hand tools and electric options for this step. This step is where calipers may come in handy, as they let you check for the proper length of your round.

Re-Check Cases
Check the cases again and remove any used primer, if necessary, at this stage. Make sure they're clean, smooth, and of the right size before going any further. If they aren't, either throw them away or repeat the previous steps to get them ready. As time goes on, you'll get more familiar with the process and it will become a habit.

Now, you're ready to load!

Seat the Primer
To load the cases, start by using the press to insert the primer. There are various ways to do this. Some are hand tools, while other presses seat a new primer during the resizing stage.

Load the Powder
Once the primer is properly seated, you'll load the properly weighed powder into the round.

Make sure it matches the specifications and the range you want for your own shooting preferences. There are many types of powder available, and while many will likely work for your caliber, some powders are more specific to a particular caliber or bullet weight.

Using a reloading manual may be helpful here, as you can look up correct size dimensions for length as well as types of powder.

There are many options for loading your cases with powder. Powder drops are usually part of a reloading press, while others are standalone powder measures.

Remember that it’s extremely important to ensure the right amount of powder is used.

Seat the Bullet
Finally, using your seating die, insert the bullet.

The bullet is placed just inside the top of the case and then it’s run through a bullet seating die to secure it.

Crimp the Bullet
Sometimes a crimp is added to the top of the case where the bullet sticks out to make it more secure.

Voila! You've reloaded your own rounds.

Reloading is a fun process that only gets more addictive as your skill increases, which can lead to more experimentation with seating positions, powder loads, and new equipment purchases.

Before you know it, you'll be a seasoned veteran showing the newbies where to buy their first tumbler, and your handload accuracy will be the envy of everyone at the range.