The Ultimate Guide To Rifle Ammunition

If you are a shooter, then you probably know the importance of being able to reload your weapon properly, and it’s no different when it comes to reloading rifle ammo.

Now reloading ammo isn’t actually an easy task. You have to be prepared before getting started. So, in this article, we’ll tell you about all the preparations you need to take and how to reload ammunition for your rifle.

Before we get to the main topic, first, let’s take a look at all the advantages of reloading by yourself.

Why You Should Reload Your Own Ammunition

Reloading your own ammo can help to save a lot of money. How is this so, you ask?

Well, even though the process requires some money to buy the equipment, it actually enables more shooting for the same amount of money. The brass case of the bullets cost a lot, and you are actually saving money by reusing them! How much money you will be able to save will depend on the caliber, so this will vary.

Here are a few reasons why you should reload your own ammo;

• You can have your very own, custom-made bullets! This is something most hunters and competitors really like about handloading.
• You can get better control of your ammo, and also your rifle.
• You can even make ammo that does not even exist anymore!
• Most important of all, you can have a whole lot of fun! Handloading is a skill, and it is certainly quite an impressive one!

How to Reload Ammunition for Your Rifle

So, below is a guide on how to reload your rifle in a smart and efficient manner.

Step 1: Have an Adequate Space and Setup

Reloading ammunition doesn’t require any special space, but the key things you need to have while setting up the spot is:

• Proper lighting
• Enough room to accommodate a table (the table needs to be very strong and sturdy, and at least 6” long)
• Some extra desk space for the tools needed

Step 2: Buy the Necessary Materials

Now, before starting the reloading process, you will need to buy the adequate materials and tools required. The amount of money spent on equipment will vary from person to person according to the type of tools and materials bought.

Here is a list of all the materials you will typically need:

Reloading Press

There are a variety of reloading presses available –

• Single Press: this is the most recommended press for beginners. It is called the single press as only one die can be mounted at a time.

Advantages of the Single Press

• Cheap
• Simple to use
• Safe

Disadvantages of the Single Press

• Slower due to the fact that only one step of the reloading process can be done at a time
• Turret Press: The name of this press reflects the fact that it uses a turret or rotating disc to operate. This press is recommended for those who want to load one or two calibers.

Advantages of the Turret Press

• It is faster than the single press as it can mount more dies at a time –  about 4 to 8
• It does not need to be reloaded every time

Disadvantages of the Turret Press

• It is more expensive than the single press
• Progressive Press: The progressive press is truly ‘progressive’ in terms of speed. It can load hundreds of rounds of single calibers at the same time. This press is recommended for those who participate in competitive shooting.

Advantage of the Progressive Press

• The fastest press

Disadvantages of the Progressive Press

• Complicated to use
• Most expensive of the three presses

Dies

There are three different types of dyes –

• Full-Length Size Dies: These dyes are used to resize the full length of the case.

Advantages of the Full-Length Size Dies

• They can be used to resize handholds in all rifles

Disadvantages of the Full-Length Size Dies

• It may shorten the case life
• Small Base Dies: These are just another variety of full-length size dyes.

Advantages of the Small Base Die

• Ideal for semi-automatic rifles

Disadvantages of the Small Base Die

• Not great for rifles other than semi-automatic ones
• Neck Size Dies: These are used to resize only the neck of the case.

Advantages of the Neck Size Dies

• They do not shorten the case life.

Disadvantages of the Neck Size Dyes:

• The cases resized by these dyes can only be used in the rifle originally fired from

Case Lubricant

There are a variety of case lubricants available. For example, spray lubes, dry lubricant, sizing die wax, and lube pads are some of the most commonly used lubricants.

Rifle Primer

They are of two types, one for large rifles and one for small rifles.

Powder Measure

Some of the best-rated powder measures are – Lee Precision 90058 Perfect Powder Measure, Hornady Lock-And-Load Powder Measure, Lyman Powder Measure, and RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure.

Case Cleaning Tool

There are a few different tools available for case cleaning: vibratory brass case cleaners, rotary tumblers, brass case cleaning liquids, and tumbling media.

Caliper

There are two types of calipers available; digital and dial.

Scale

Two types of scales are available: the traditional balance beam scale and the digital scale.

Case Trimmer

There are several families of case trimmers –

1. The lathe type, which is the most common
2. The fixed adjustment type, which is based on simplicity and low cost
3. The on-press trimming type, which is very fast
4. The low volume precision type
5. The high volume precision type

Priming Tool

The best priming tools include –

1. RCBS 90201 Universal Hand Priming Tool
2. RCBS 90200 Hand Priming Tool
3. Frankford Arsenal Perfect Seat Hand Primer Seating Tool
4. Lee Precision 90230 New Auto Prime Hand Priming Tool
5. Lyman Products E-ZEE Universal Priming Tool

Reloading Manual

Some of the best ones are –

• Sierra Bullets Reloading Manual
• Hornady- Handbook of Cartridge Reloading
• Hodgdon Powder Co.- Annual Reloading Manual
• Lyman Reloading Handbook
• Barnes Reloading Manual Number 30745

Step 3: The Procedure  

After getting all the necessary tools and materials ready, you are finally ready to start the reloading process. There is one thing that is better to know before that –  the parts of a bullet cartridge.

The parts of a standard cartridge are :

• Brass casing
• Gunpowder
• Bullet
• Primer

The reloading process consists of the following steps –

1. Preparing the case – firstly, you will need to clean the case using the case cleaning gear. This should be done outside the house as there is potential for lead contamination. Additionally, it is quite a loud process.
2. De-priming – after cleaning, you need to remove the primer using the priming tool or a screwdriver.
3. After de-priming, you need to resize the brass using the die. Use the caliper to measure the diameter of the required case head and the length of the case and use the case lubricant if required.
4. After resizing, use the case trimmer, and if there are any sharp edges, then use the de-burring tool to smoothen things out.
5. Clean the inside of the case to remove any residue.
6. Now that the case is ready, it is time for priming. A primer should be seated from 0.001 to 0.002 inches below the case head. Use a micrometer or caliper for measuring this distance.
7. Use the powder measure and scale to weigh the right amount of powder for your rifle. The reloading manual will provide the measurements.
8. Use the reloading press to reload.

Cautions You Need to Take

Exercising caution while reloading your rifle is of utmost importance. There are some strict guidelines to be followed –

1. Always wear safety glasses. Otherwise, primer and gunpowder can get into your eyes and can cause some serious irritation and damage.
   • Make sure your reloading equipment and space is clean, or it will lead to increased exposure to lead and even cause lead toxicity and poisoning.
   • Make sure to store primers and powder away from heat or fires, as they can get ignited and cause explosions.
   • Always keep the primer and powder out of reach from children, as they may ingest or inhale them or set fire by accident.
   • Never store primers in bulk, as it may lead to mass detonation
   • Do not use unknown primers, even if you bought them yourself previously. The manual for reloading specifies how much of each type of primer to use, and unknown primers can not be specified accordingly.
   • Additionally, outdated, moist or damp primers and gunpowder must not be used as they behave differently.
   • Always follow the manuals while loading primers. And never use an amount of primer that has not been surely recommended as this can cause explosions, increased recoil force, and, thereby, injuries.
   • Avoid lead exposure. Follow some simple rules to ensure this –
2. Wash your hands thoroughly after reloading, to avoid accidentally ingesting lead while eating. This will also prevent the lead from getting into your eyes or nostrils while rubbing them with your hands.
3. Always wear a dust mask while handloading to avoid inhalation.
4. Never eat or drink while reloading in order to avoid ingestion.
5. Clean out your reloading equipment and area regularly to prevent further exposure to lead.

Conclusion

Any skill learned is an asset, and hand-loading is quite a valuable and cost-effective one. Now that you have the wonderful knowledge of reloading ammo, go ahead and enjoy! And impress some people while you are at it!